- Asked by: John Scott, MSP for Ayr, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 12 December 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive which 20 roads have had the highest number of (a) accidents and (b) fatalities in each of the last five years.
Answer
The following tables provide statistics requested and includes estimates per km of road.
| 2003 |
| Injury Road Accidents | Fatalities | |
| Road | Number of Injury road Accidents | Per km of Road | Road | Number of road Accident Fatalities | Per km of Road |
| A8 | 315 | 3.99 | A9 | 21 | 0.05 |
| A90 | 255 | 1.05 | A90 | 14 | 0.06 |
| A82 | 229 | 0.84 | A77 | 12 | 0.08 |
| A9 | 227 | 0.52 | A96 | 11 | 0.07 |
| M8 | 190 | 2.18 | A72 | 7 | 0.08 |
| A77 | 173 | 1.15 | A82 | 7 | 0.03 |
| A92 | 159 | 1.07 | A770 | 5 | 0.38 |
| A71 | 149 | 1.34 | A811 | 5 | 0.10 |
| A7 | 127 | 0.96 | A85 | 5 | 0.03 |
| A1 | 120 | 1.36 | A92 | 5 | 0.03 |
| A89 | 120 | 2.03 | B7078 | 5 | 0.14 |
| A814 | 109 | 1.65 | A71 | 4 | 0.04 |
| A96 | 101 | 0.60 | A713 | 4 | 0.05 |
| A726 | 99 | 2.02 | A8 | 4 | 0.05 |
| A78 | 91 | 1.32 | A84 | 4 | 0.08 |
| A702 | 90 | 0.68 | A93 | 4 | 0.02 |
| A761 | 89 | 2.78 | A701 | 3 | 0.03 |
| A85 | 88 | 0.58 | A726 | 3 | 0.06 |
| A70 | 83 | 0.68 | A74 | 3 | 0.25 |
| A91 | 83 | 1.00 | A75 | 3 | 0.02 |
| 2004 |
| Injury Road Accidents | Fatalities | |
| Road | Number of Injury Road Accidents | Per km of Road | Road | Number of Road Accident Fatalities | Per km of Road |
| A8 | 307 | 3.89 | A9 | 17 | 0.04 |
| A90 | 271 | 1.12 | A90 | 13 | 0.05 |
| M8 | 238 | 2.74 | A77 | 12 | 0.08 |
| A82 | 214 | 0.79 | A82 | 7 | 0.03 |
| A9 | 213 | 0.49 | A85 | 7 | 0.05 |
| A71 | 177 | 1.59 | A92 | 7 | 0.05 |
| A77 | 137 | 0.91 | A96 | 7 | 0.04 |
| A7 | 130 | 0.98 | A91 | 5 | 0.06 |
| A92 | 124 | 0.84 | A70 | 4 | 0.03 |
| A96 | 123 | 0.74 | A71 | 4 | 0.04 |
| A85 | 105 | 0.69 | M74 | 4 | 0.08 |
| A814 | 99 | 1.50 | A701 | 3 | 0.03 |
| A89 | 99 | 1.68 | A702 | 3 | 0.02 |
| A726 | 96 | 1.96 | A72 | 3 | 0.04 |
| A78 | 95 | 1.38 | A8 | 3 | 0.04 |
| A702 | 93 | 0.70 | A83 | 3 | 0.02 |
| A1 | 90 | 1.02 | A859 | 3 | 0.03 |
| A761 | 90 | 2.81 | A87 | 3 | 0.02 |
| A70 | 89 | 0.73 | A916 | 3 | 0.19 |
| A803 | 89 | 1.62 | A93 | 3 | 0.02 |
| 2005 |
| Injury Road Accidents | Fatalities |
| Road | Number of Injury Road Accidents | Per km of Road | Road | Number of Road Accident Fatalities | Per km of Road |
| A8 | 269 | 3.41 | A82 | 10 | 0.04 |
| A90 | 235 | 0.97 | A90 | 9 | 0.04 |
| M8 | 222 | 2.55 | A85 | 7 | 0.05 |
| A82 | 210 | 0.77 | A92 | 7 | 0.05 |
| A9 | 192 | 0.44 | A947 | 6 | 0.09 |
| A77 | 153 | 1.01 | A1 | 5 | 0.06 |
| A71 | 143 | 1.29 | A75 | 5 | 0.03 |
| A96 | 139 | 0.83 | A9 | 5 | 0.01 |
| A7 | 126 | 0.95 | A923 | 5 | 0.10 |
| A92 | 120 | 0.81 | A7 | 4 | 0.03 |
| A1 | 110 | 1.25 | A70 | 4 | 0.03 |
| A814 | 106 | 1.61 | A76 | 4 | 0.04 |
| A89 | 94 | 1.59 | A96 | 4 | 0.02 |
| A803 | 90 | 1.64 | A701 | 3 | 0.03 |
| A70 | 87 | 0.71 | A71 | 3 | 0.03 |
| A761 | 84 | 2.63 | A713 | 3 | 0.04 |
| A726 | 76 | 1.55 | A74 | 3 | 0.25 |
| A85 | 73 | 0.48 | A77 | 3 | 0.02 |
| A702 | 72 | 0.54 | A811 | 3 | 0.06 |
| A721 | 72 | 1.53 | A814 | 3 | 0.05 |
| 2006 |
| Injury Road Accidents | Fatalities |
| Road | Number of Injury Road Accidents | Per km of Road | Road | Number of Road Accident Fatalities | Per km of Road |
| A8 | 301 | 3.81 | A9 | 17 | 0.04 |
| A90 | 243 | 1.00 | A90 | 17 | 0.07 |
| A9 | 236 | 0.54 | A82 | 10 | 0.04 |
| M8 | 224 | 2.57 | A96 | 9 | 0.05 |
| A82 | 183 | 0.67 | A75 | 8 | 0.05 |
| A7 | 145 | 1.10 | A71 | 5 | 0.05 |
| A71 | 144 | 1.30 | A726 | 5 | 0.10 |
| A77 | 133 | 0.88 | A76 | 5 | 0.05 |
| A814 | 113 | 1.71 | A8 | 5 | 0.06 |
| A92 | 109 | 0.74 | A701 | 4 | 0.04 |
| A96 | 101 | 0.60 | A77 | 4 | 0.03 |
| A89 | 97 | 1.64 | A92 | 4 | 0.03 |
| A726 | 95 | 1.94 | A947 | 4 | 0.06 |
| A1 | 91 | 1.03 | A95 | 4 | 0.04 |
| A85 | 86 | 0.57 | A97 | 4 | 0.04 |
| A761 | 82 | 2.56 | M8 | 4 | 0.05 |
| A73 | 81 | 1.29 | A6105 | 3 | 0.06 |
| A803 | 79 | 1.44 | A72 | 3 | 0.04 |
| A70 | 78 | 0.64 | A84 | 3 | 0.06 |
| A81 | 78 | 1.34 | A91 | 3 | 0.04 |
| 2007 |
| Injury road accidents | Fatalities |
| Road | Number of Injury Road Accidents | Per km of Road | Road | Number of Road Accident Fatalities | Per km of Road |
| A8 | 254 | 3.22 | A82 | 13 | 0.05 |
| A90 | 243 | 1.00 | A9 | 13 | 0.03 |
| A82 | 226 | 0.83 | A90 | 11 | 0.05 |
| A9 | 218 | 0.50 | A76 | 7 | 0.08 |
| M8 | 193 | 2.21 | A77 | 7 | 0.05 |
| A77 | 136 | 0.90 | A83 | 6 | 0.04 |
| A71 | 127 | 1.14 | M8 | 6 | 0.07 |
| A7 | 118 | 0.90 | A1 | 5 | 0.06 |
| A92 | 114 | 0.77 | A85 | 5 | 0.03 |
| A96 | 106 | 0.63 | A93 | 5 | 0.03 |
| A814 | 105 | 1.59 | A96 | 5 | 0.03 |
| A1 | 103 | 1.17 | A970 | 5 | 0.04 |
| A85 | 94 | 0.62 | A75 | 4 | 0.03 |
| A89 | 92 | 1.56 | A8 | 4 | 0.05 |
| M74 | 85 | 1.62 | A92 | 4 | 0.03 |
| A70 | 81 | 0.66 | A702 | 3 | 0.02 |
| A75 | 79 | 0.51 | A71 | 3 | 0.03 |
| A761 | 79 | 2.50 | A752 | 3 | 0.24 |
| A702 | 76 | 0.57 | A8011 | 3 | 0.42 |
| A726 | 72 | 1.48 | A828 | 3 | 0.07 |
Source: Scottish Government STATS 19 Returns.
Note: Each sub-table lists only twenty roads, therefore, in some cases, other roads may have the same numbers of injury road accidents, or fatalities, as the last road shown in a particular sub-table. For example, the A701 was not the only road which had three fatalities in 2003.
- Asked by: John Scott, MSP for Ayr, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 3 December 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive why there is only one closing date for applications to the Rural Development Contracts - Rural Priorities scheme.
Answer
The Rural Development Contracts “ Rural Priorities Scheme is constantly open to new applications. There are no closing dates for applications.
It is currently intended to hold at least three assessment rounds per year for this scheme. Two assessment rounds have already been held this year (in August and October) with a further two rounds scheduled for December 2008 and February 2009.
Prior to each assessment round, all of the project proposals which are ready for assessment on a specific date are collated and the relevant information circulated to the members of the Regional Proposal Assessment Committees to enable them to consider these projects for funding. Where projects are not ready for assessment on the date the information is collated, they are simply rolled forward to the next assessment round.
- Asked by: John Scott, MSP for Ayr, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 3 December 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the number of closing dates per annum for applications to the Rural Development Contracts - Rural Priorities scheme.
Answer
The Rural Development Contracts “ Rural Priorities Scheme is constantly open to new applications. There are no closing dates for applications.
It is currently intended to hold at least three assessment rounds per year for this scheme. Two assessment rounds have already been held this year (in August and October) with a further two rounds scheduled for December 2008 and February 2009.
Prior to each assessment round, all of the project proposals which are ready for assessment on a specific date are collated and the relevant information circulated to the members of the Regional Proposal Assessment Committees to enable them to consider these projects for funding. Where projects are not ready for assessment on the date the information is collated, they are simply rolled forward to the next assessment round.
The number of assessment rounds in any one year will be reviewed in response to the number of project proposals coming forward for consideration.
- Asked by: John Scott, MSP for Ayr, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 3 December 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a risk assessment has been carried out on the implications of the spread of the varroa mite on pollination levels.
Answer
The Scottish Government has not received and is not aware of any reports or suggestions of any reduction in crop production due to declining honeybee populations as a result of varroa infestation. It has, therefore, not been considered necessary to carry out a risk assessment on the implications of the spread of varroa mite on pollination levels.
- Asked by: John Scott, MSP for Ayr, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 3 December 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has conducted into the control of the varroa mite.
Answer
While the Scottish Government has not, as yet, funded any research into the control of the varroa mite, the UK Government''s investment in research on varroa exceeds £2.2 million over the past 12 years.
There is also active research in many countries, information about which is shared internationally, an example of which can be accessed at:
Http://Www.Ento.Psu.Edu/Honeybeeresearch.Html.
The UK Animal Health and Welfare funders forum, which includes government research councils and the Wellcome Trust, is aware of the effects of varroa infestation. The Scottish Government is engaging with this group.
- Asked by: John Scott, MSP for Ayr, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 3 December 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the reduction in the honeybee population as a result of the spread of the varroa mite poses a threat to the pollination of agricultural crops.
Answer
The Scottish Government has received no reports or suggestions to date of any reduction in crop production due to any decline in the honeybee population in Scotland.
- Asked by: John Scott, MSP for Ayr, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 1 December 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how many road traffic accidents resulting in (a) injury and (b) fatality there have been on the A70 within the (i) south Ayrshire and (ii) east Ayrshire local authority areas in each of the last five years.
Answer
The following tables show the number of reported accidents on the A70 within the South and East Ayrshire areas by severity of the accident.
| South Ayrshire |
| | Fatal | All injuries |
| 2003 | 0 | 17 |
| 2004 | 2 | 13 |
| 2005 | 1 | 14 |
| 2006 | 0 | 18 |
| 2007 | 0 | 15 |
| East Ayrshire |
| | Fatal | All injuries |
| 2003 | 0 | 19 |
| 2004 | 1 | 15 |
| 2005 | 1 | 14 |
| 2006 | 0 | 15 |
| 2007 | 0 | 9 |
Source: Scottish Government (STATS 19 return).
- Asked by: John Scott, MSP for Ayr, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 27 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive when it next intends to commission a traffic survey on those sections of the A70 between Ayr and Cumnock and between Cumnock and the M74.
Answer
Traffic survey work of this nature is the responsibility of local authorities. However, I understand that some survey work has been undertaken by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport as part of their Regional Transport Strategy and I would refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17930 on 27 November 2008.
All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
- Asked by: John Scott, MSP for Ayr, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 27 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commission a report on the economic benefits to south and east Ayrshire of upgrading the A70 between Ayr and the M74.
Answer
I see no need for action by the Scottish Government given that the matter is currently being addressed by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) and their member councils of South Ayrshire, East Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire. SPT have already identified access to the M74 via the A70 and A71 as a key priority forming part of their Regional Transport Strategy.
I understand that SPT have funded developmental work by East Ayrshire Council on improvements to the A70 in 2007-08, and have received a bid from them for the 2008-09 SPT Capital Programme for improvements to the A70. The aim of this is to improve journey times, reliability and safety, in the context of improving the attractiveness of East Ayrshire, and improving access to the M74.
East Ayrshire Council has funded further work this year looking at the whole route of the A70/A71 to examine opportunities for future phased improvements. This is likely to form the basis of future bids for funding to SPT to determine future, long-term plans for the route.
- Asked by: John Scott, MSP for Ayr, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 27 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive when traffic was last surveyed by it or on its behalf on those sections of the A70 between Ayr and Cumnock and between Cumnock and the M74 and what the results were.
Answer
Traffic survey work of this nature is the responsibility of local authorities. However, I understand that some survey work has been undertaken by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport as part of their Regional Transport Strategy and I would refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17930 on 27 November 2008.
All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
