- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 May 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 26 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change agreed to promote, sponsor or assist 24-hour working six days a week for DB Schenker Rail freight trains on the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway line and, if so, when.
Answer
Scottish ministers have no powers to control the time of the operation of freight trains whose operators have secured rights to track access through normal rail industry processes.
- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 May 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 26 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the 2,200 ton trailing weight referred to in the minutes of the meeting between DB Schenker Rail, First ScotRail, Transport Scotland and Network Rail on 22 February 2008 was the same as the weight used in the 2002 Scott Wilson impact study and what the proposed increase in the trailing weight is following the lengthening of the Elderslie loop.
Answer
The weight used in the Scott Wilson Report was based on the use of 20 x HTA wagons each weighing 100 tonnes, therefore the Environmental Statement assumed a trailing weight of 2,000 tonnes.
There is no proposal to increase the trailing weight of Hunterston “ Longannet trains on the completion of the lengthening of Elderslie loop
The objective of the Elderslie loop lengthening project is to replace Arkleston up loop, which will be incorporated into the new four track layout east of Paisley. It will increase operational flexibility and allow freight trains to be recessed clear of the main line during perturbations.
It will not facilitate increases in the trailing weights of Hunterston “ Longannet trains as these trains are limited to 23 x HTA wagons due to constraints on the track and signalling within the Longannet Power station site.
Currently the Hunterston - Longannet trains are unable to be recessed in Elderslie loop and the timetable is constructed on that basis. Thus whilst the lengthening of Elderslie loop will allow longer, hence, heavier trains to use the loop, it will not impact on the trailing weight of the Hunterston “ Longannet trains.
- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 May 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 26 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change, Scottish Government officials or Transport Scotland consulted Clackmannanshire Council or the affected communities about the night-time operation of freight trains on the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway line and, if so, when and how they consulted.
Answer
No because the Scottish Government''s powers are limited to the specification of a franchise for the operation of passenger services in Scotland and for overnight sleeper services to London. Scottish Government powers do not extend to the operation of freight trains.
- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 May 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 26 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive, given the emails from DB Schenker Rail to Transport Scotland, First ScotRail and Network Rail on 30 November and 11 December 2007 regarding the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway line freight timetable study five showing “EWS horror at the loss of in excess of one hour in 83 mile (train) run” from Hunterston to Longannet, how many journeys were proposed by DB Schenker Rail prior to 13 May 2008; when night-time operation was first proposed and by whom, and what information it has on when the Office of the Rail Regulator granted rights to a timetable that included operation between 11 pm and 7 am on the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine section of the Hunterston to Longannet line.
Answer
The Scottish Government is not aware of how many journeys were proposed by DB Schenker but Network Rail offered 12 paths, Hunterston through to Longannet and return, in their initial offer based on no overnight working.
Proposals to undertake nighttime operations on the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway line were first communicated to Transport Scotland by EWS (now known as DB Schenker) on 15 February 2008.
The Office of Rail Regulation grant Network Rail a licence to operate the rail system, which is reviewed from time to time, and a revised licence came into operation on 1 April 2009. DB Schenker hold a network wide access agreement with Network Rail that is approved by the Office of Rail Regulation. Network Rail is responsible for determining freight timetables in conjunction with freight operating companies in accordance with their access agreements.
- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 May 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 26 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what requirement exists for Transport Scotland, Network Rail, freight train operators and the Office of the Rail Regulator to consult the affected communities prior to amending train timetables to include night-time operating and what requirements exist for these organisations to undertake a revised impact study when the original study specifically excludes freight trains between certain hours, such as between 11 pm and 7 am in the case of the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway line.
Answer
During the parliamentary process to support re-opening the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway line the Promoter, Clackmannanshire Council, submitted a memorandum to the parliamentary committee entitled the
Promoters Memorandum on Existing Railway Processes. This document set out that the hours of operation of the railway are not within the powers to be granted under the Bill and are regulated by other public bodies under a range of different legislation.
The Committees Consideration Stage Report May 2004 acknowledged these restrictions upon the Promoters by stating It is important to note that the scope of the Bill includes only the construction of a railway between Stirling and Kincardine (via Alloa) together with associated works. It is not within the scope of the Bill for it to be amended to include matters that pertain to the operation of the railway (for example the speeds of trains or the times at which they should run).
Network Rail is responsible for operation of railway infrastructure under the Railways Act 1993 and is responsible for determining freight timetables in conjunction with rail freight operating companies, who in turn respond to the needs of their freight customers.
- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 May 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 26 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive,given the discussions of the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway project steering group on version five of the timetable modelling study, at what point Transport Scotland offered or acceded to support any request from DB Schenker Rail to extend freight services including operation between 11 pm and 7 am contrary to the impact study by Scott Wilson and the statements at public meetings on the draft Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway line Bill.
Answer
Scottish ministers'' powers are limited to the granting of a franchise for the operation of passenger services in Scotland and for overnight sleeper services to London. Those powers do not extend to the operation of freight trains. Therefore, when advised by DB Schenker that it wished to operate coal trains at night, Transport Scotland accepted that this was a matter over which Scottish ministers had no control.
- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 May 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 26 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change became aware of the decision by DB Schenker Rail to apply to change the timetabling of freight trains on the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway line to include operation between 11 pm and 7 am.
Answer
On 6 February 2009, the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change received a briefing about noise and vibration complaints generating from public concern about the night time freight operations on the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway line.
- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 14 May 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 26 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-18865 by John Swinney on 8 January 2009, when the guidance on consulting service users before and during any tendering or retendering process will be published.
Answer
The development of guidance on social care procurement, including advice on consultation with service users, is being take forward by the joint improvement team as a priority. Service users and their representative bodies are fully involved in the development of the guidance, which we now believe will be available in the autumn.
- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 May 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 26 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is promoting the use of dried spot blood testing for hepatitis C virus infection.
Answer
As part of the Hepatitis C Action Plan, funding has been provided to evaluate dried blood spot testing for hepatitis C diagnosis. If evaluation shows that testing of dried blood spot specimens is as accurate as using conventional blood testing, such an approach could provide a convenient alternative for use across different settings and would be supported by the Scottish Government.
- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 May 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 26 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it or the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland has issued on the provision of substitute medicine and HIV medication, in particular highly active antiretroviral therapy, to people in police custody already prescribed such medicines.
Answer
The provision of medical care in police custody is determined at a local level, and each police force in Scotland has arrangements in place for the health care of those in their custody. The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland Health and Medical Services Reference Group, on which the Scottish Government is represented, is currently considering a range of issues relating to medical in police custody, with a view to identifying effective and efficient practices in the custody setting.
