- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 September 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 23 September 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what strategic benefits the Gourock interchange will deliver for railways in Scotland.
Answer
The Gourock Interchange project will enable rail, ferry, bus and taxi users to switch between travel modes in a modern purpose built environment.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 September 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 23 September 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what funds it expects to receive following Her Majesty’s Government’s rail review and whether these funds will be allocated from the budget of the Strategic Rail Authority or the Department of Transport.
Answer
As part of the Review of the Railways, the UK Government intends that greater responsibility for railways in Scotland will transfer to Scottish ministers.
The changes, outlined in the UK Government Future of Rail White Paper, remain subject to agreement on a fair and appropriate transfer of resources from the UK Government to the Scottish Executive.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 September 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 23 September 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive whether ScotRail will be eligible to apply for the Access for All fund, established by the Strategic Rail Authority to improve access at rail stations, and, if not, how the Executive will support access improvements to stations.
Answer
The Access for All fund will be prioritised on a British National basis. I understand that the Strategic Rail Authority intend to publish a consultation paper in November that will cover the scope for applications to be made to the Access for All fund as well as the criteria for prioritising stations.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 September 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 23 September 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what its most immediate transport infrastructure priorities are.
Answer
The key major transport infrastructure projects being given priority by the Scottish Executive are set out in the Transport White Paper Scotland’s Transport Future (published on 16 June 2004), available from the Scottish Parliament Reference Centre (Bib. number 33072).
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 September 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 23 September 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement it has in the current rollout of Global System for Mobile Telecommunication (GSM-R) masts.
Answer
GSM-R is primarily a rail safety matter – and therefore reserved. It is intended to improve communication between train drivers and signallers. The programme’s implementation is a matter for Network Rail, due to its responsibility for railway infrastructure and the safe and efficient operation of the rail network. The Scottish Executive is aware of the significant concern about some of the mast sites and will continue to monitor the situation and make appropriate representations to Network Rail.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 September 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 23 September 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive who will (a) own and (b) fund the proposed Edinburgh Airport rail station.
Answer
Ownership of the station is under discussion between Transport Innovative Edinburgh Limited, the British Airports Authority and Network Rail. The detailed funding arrangements for the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link has not yet been agreed.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 September 2004
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Current Status:
Awaiting answer
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is its policy to deny a child resident in Scotland looked-after status when it has been granted leave to remain in the country under asylum and immigration legislation.
Answer
Awaiting answer
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 September 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 23 September 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a list of rail stations that have been prioritised for access improvements and, if so, what the criteria are for such prioritisation.
Answer
The Strategic Rail Authority intends to consult shortly on its proposed Access for All programme, which seeks to identify stations that are a high priority for access improvements. It will consider – amongst other things – station usage, geographic criteria, and a project’s interaction with initiatives by third parties. Additionally, there are a number of on-going projects in Scotland which will enhance access to stations and their services. These improvements include better provision for disabled people and enhanced public transport, cycle and pedestrian access.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 September 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 23 September 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the proposal to devolve further powers to it in respect of railways, whether rail funding will be allocated through the block grant or the National Track Access regime; what its powers over Network Rail will be; whether it or the Office of the Rail Regulator will have the power to direct Network Rail’s investment in Scotland; in what way Network Rail will be accountable to (a) it and (b) the Parliament, and whether the devolution of additional powers will enable the Executive to control the operation of railway infrastructure and to lead its development, including operational maintenance and renewal.
Answer
It has been agreed with the UK Government that, in future, the Scottish Executive will specify network outputs to be delivered by Network Rail and fund Scottish infrastructure costs. This agreement is subject to a fair and appropriate transfer of funding to enable the Executive to undertake these additional responsibilities. Network Rail will be responsible for operating the network and for its performance.
The Office of Rail Regulation will have the same responsibilities in Scotland as in England and Wales, covering safety, performance and cost. In reportingon its performance, Network Rail will separately identify activity in Scotland.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 September 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 23 September 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive who will be responsible for future maintenance costs associated with the disabled access footbridge at Lockerbie rail station.
Answer
Provision for maintenance until the end of the current Office of the Rail Regulator control period will be included in the cost analysis that will be part of the project development work. A key consideration is that any additional infrastructure will require the maintenance and station long-term charge costs to be underwritten by others. This area will be explored in more detail during the project development work.
