- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 11 March 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 20 June 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make an order to lower the speed limit to 30 mph on A95 at Cromdale, as indicated on the plan sent by the Secretary of Cromdale and Advie Community Council to it on 9 February 2004, and what the reasons are for its position on the matter; whether any objections were raised by local residents during the consultation process on a proposed order; how many objections there were to the proposed order and, of these, how many were from local residents, and how much the consultation cost, including time spent by civil servants working on it.
Answer
As stated before, I wish to overrule the objections and proceed. It is now one year since the objections were received and officials have had more than adequate time to carryout all investigations. In the absence of this work being done timeously, I wish to confirm the order now. I appreciate that this involves a certain risk.
The following is a corrected answer (published on 20 June 2005); see below
Nicol Stephen: A response to the above question was issued on 20 June 2005 in error.
In 2004 the Scottish Executive published a draft order for a 30 mph speed limit on the A95 at Cromdale. Two objections were lodged; neither of these were from local residents. Information submitted by the objectors in support of their objections has been considered in conjunction with the advice given in SOID Circular 1/93 Speed Limits – Guidance for Roads Authorities.
Further consideration is now being given to identify actions aimed at addressing the substance of these objections. This will include the installation of a temporary 30mph speed limit and monitoring of driver behaviour for a trial period. I have asked officials to meet the Community Council to discuss these actions. The intention of the Executive remains to proceed with the confirmation of the draft order.
The consultation costs amounted to £450.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 June 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 16 June 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the First Minister will reply to my letter of 3 March 2005 regarding bank accounts for employees who are not UK citizens.
Answer
Mr Tom McCabe, the Minister forFinance and Public Service Reform, replied on 13 June 2005.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 June 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 16 June 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive how many air services from Scottish airports initiated under the Route Development Fund scheme are still operating.
Answer
A total of 27 year-round routeshave been supported since the inception of the Route Development Fund by the Scottish Executive. Of these routes, seven have ceased and the remaining 20 routes are continuingto operate on a year-round basis.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 June 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 16 June 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive which permanent senior staff of the consultant assisting it with its review of the HITRANS proposals have worked with major international airlines as airline route planners, airline economics specialists or in similar capacities and for how long.
Answer
The consultancy company employedby the Scottish Executive is AviaSolutions. The company’s website address is
www.aviasolutions.co.uk on which thekey personnel are listed.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 June 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 16 June 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive which consultant assisted it in assessing the routes and airlines for Route Development Fund assistance.
Answer
The consultancies which assistedin Route Development Fund assessments were AviaSolutions and York Aviation. Thewebsite addresses of the companies are:
www.aviasolutions.co.uk and www.yorkaviation.co.uk.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 June 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 16 June 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive which consultant has been assisting it with its review of the HITRANS proposals and whether it has employed any other aviation consultants on similar reviews.
Answer
The consultancy company employedby the Scottish Executive is AviaSolutions. The company’s website address is
www.aviasolutions.co.uk No other consultancyhas been employed.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 June 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 16 June 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for the delay in implementing the HITRANS proposals for enhanced air services in the Highlands and Islands, given its support for these proposals in the partnership agreement.
Answer
The Partnership Agreement committedthe Scottish Executive to fully evaluate the HITRANS’ proposals for a Highlands andIslands air network. Further work, commissioned by HITRANS, developed its proposalsand this has been similarly evaluated. With this evaluation now complete, my priorityis to get on and deliver the economic and social benefits which improved air servicesand bus fares can bring for the Highlands and Islands.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 June 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 16 June 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it, or its consultants, have had with Loganair on the review of the HITRANS proposals for enhanced air services in the Highlands and Islands and whether any other regional airlines were contacted as part of this review.
Answer
The Scottish Executive and its consultant have discussed the technical and operational feasibilityof the HITRANS’ proposals with Loganair and other airlines serving the Highlands andIslands.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 June 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 16 June 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average increase in the use of air services within the Highlands and Islands has been in the last 15 years compared with the increase in air passengers to and from Scotland and what the reasons are for any difference.
Answer
Over the last 15 years, the averageincrease in air passengers in the Highlands and Islands was 0.7% per annum compared to 8.5% per annum for Scotland.
The principal reasons for thedifference are the commencement of air services by no-frills carriers at Scotland’s mainairports and the decline in oil related traffic at airports in the Highlands andIslands.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 June 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 16 June 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on which EU countries use public service obligations (PSOs) to support air service networks in remote communities, how many services PSOs cover and how this position compares with the situation in the Highlands and Islands.
Answer
The EU countries which use PublicService Obligations (PSOs) under EC Regulation 2408/92 to support air service networks,including routes in and to peripheral communities, are:
France
Germany
Greece
Ireland
Italy
Portugal
Spain
Sweden
United Kingdom.
The Scottish Executive does not have definitive up-to-date information on the number of PSOs imposedon air routes in these countries. The 2002 HITRANS’ commissioned report PublicService Obligations in Europe: a comparative study compared the extent to which PSOs are applied acrossdifferent European Union/European Economic Area member states and features of theway PSOs are applied in each country.
The 16 PSOs which have been imposedon lifeline air routes in the Highlands and Islands are as follows:
three by the Scottish Executive to Campbeltown, Tiree and Barra from Glasgow;
six by Orkney Islands Councilto Westray, Papa Westray, North Ronaldsay, Eday, Stronsay and Sanday from Kirkwall;
five by Shetland Islands Councilto Foula, Papa Stour, Out Skerries, Fair Isle and Unst (not operated) fromTingwall/Sumburgh, and
two by Comhairle nan Eilean Siarbetween Stornoway-Benbecula and Benbecula-Barra.
