- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 August 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 23 August 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1864 by Stewart Stevenson on 17 July 2007, when it will be in a position to confirm that it is satisfied with the (a) accuracy of the cost and (b) assessment of risk involved in dualling the A9.
Answer
As I stated in myanswer to question S3W-1864 on 17 July 2007, further scoping work is underway andthis will feed into the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR). The STPR willassess potential future investment options against the Government’s strategic objectivesand will be formally appraised in accordance with the Scottish Transport AppraisalGuidance process. The STPR is due to report in summer 2008.All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 August 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 23 August 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any estimate has been made of the extent to which construction of the North Clyde Development Route will support the achievement of its regeneration, as well as transport, objectives in the west of Scotland.
Answer
The construction of the North Clyde Development Route is a matter for West Dunbartonshire Counciland Glasgow City Council as the relevant local roads authorities. Accordingly, the Executive has not made a specific estimate of the contribution which the route willmake towards its regeneration or transport objectives for the west of Scotland.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 23 August 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive how estimated construction costs per kilometre for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route compare with the benchmark costs per kilometre used by the Highways Agency in England and Wales in estimating construction costs for proposed new roads.
Answer
The estimate was notmade on a cost per kilometre basis.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 23 August 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any relaxation on building in the green belt will be permitted in relation to sites adjacent to or in the vicinity of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.
Answer
I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-2717 on 23 August 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 23 August 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive how many civil servants were involved in the review of major transport projects conducted in June; how many hours of staff time were dedicated to it, and what the cost was of conducting the review.
Answer
The review of majortransport projects was conducted by a small team of officials from Transport Scotland alongside their normal duties. Transport Scotland doesnot keep records of the time spent by officials on individual tasks.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 23 August 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what benchmark was used in terms of costs per kilometre for estimating the construction costs of the Waverley railway line and how this figure compares with the benchmark figures used by the Strategic Rail Authority in estimating construction costs for new lines elsewhere in the United Kingdom.
Answer
The promoter has reportedto the Scottish Executive that they did not use a benchmark cost/kilometre to calculatethe capital costs due to the number of variables along the route. Instead, the promoterused a “bottom-up” approach which was based on calculating actual quantities forthe construction components based on the preliminary design and applying the mostapplicable industry rates to these components. This methodology was widely acceptedto be a more robust approach to the benchmark cost/kilometre figures used by theStrategic Rail Authority in estimating construction costs for new lines else wherein the United Kingdom where there is insufficient information.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 August 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 23 August 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether First Scotrail has indicated a willingness to run trains on the Waverley railway line and whether it is willing to do so without any operational subsidy.
Answer
First ScotRail hasindicated an interest in the operation of the Waverley railway line, and would expect to do so on a basis consistent with the restof the ScotRail network.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 August 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 23 August 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding was allocated by the South East Scotland Transport Partnership (SESTRANS) for the Kirkcaldy to Portobello hovercraft trial and how SESTRANS will determine whether the trial was successful.
Answer
The Scottish Executiveagreed to support the hovercraft trial up to a maximum of £92,000 via SESTRAN. Theresults of the trial will be analysed in detail by SESTRAN and fed into the studycommissioned by them on possible Forth crossings.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 August 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 23 August 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to routes other than Kirkcaldy to Portobello for a Forth hovercraft.
Answer
The report commissionedby SESTRAN will give consideration of hovercraft routes from Kirkcaldy to Leith, and Burntisland to Granton. The report is not yet finalised.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 August 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 23 August 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence was presented to the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change to support his statement that works on the A9 that “will bring economic benefits to both the north of Scotland and the northern Isles”.
Answer
The economic appraisalfor the works referred to, showed a positive benefit to cost ratio demonstratingthe value of the scheme to the local and wider community.
