Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government is promoting the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route which will reduce congestion at the Bridge of Dee.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-18527 on 17 December 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.

Scottish ministers are committed to undertaking necessary improvements prior to handing over responsibility for the detrunked road to Aberdeen City Council. Thereafter future maintenance will be the responsibility of Aberdeen City Council.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-18961 on 8 January 2009. 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.

The Scottish Government has not identified a preferred option in the NESTRANs study.

The position of Scottish Ministers is that necessary improvements will be undertaken prior to handing over responsibility for the detrunked road to Aberdeen City Council.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-18961 on 8 January 2009. 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-18800 on 8 January 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.

The Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) has recommended 29 transport schemes over the next 20 years that will let us plan for the delivery of an efficient, integrated transport network fit for the 21st century.

The recommended schemes include proposed rail enhancements between Aberdeen and Inverness and between Aberdeen and the Central Belt that will significantly improve connections between the cities and deliver much of the benefits of the Aberdeen Crossrail project both at better value to the taxpayer and contributing significantly towards the strategic objectives of the National Transport Strategy.

The £1 million of additional funding has been included in the allocations to community justice authorities (CJAs) for 2009-10 to achieve the desired outcome that offenders start their community service orders more quickly, and for orders to be completed in a shorter timeframe. Operational decision-making as to how best to deploy this funding to achieve this outcome based on local conditions, rests with the respective criminal justice social work departments of the local authorities in consultation with the area CJA.

I gave a very clear message on the prioritisation of measures within the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR). Delivering the Forth Crossing is the strategic transport priority for Scotland. Alongside this, we will deliver rail interventions such as the Edinburgh to Glasgow Improvements Programme, improvements to the Highland Main Line and improvements between Aberdeen and Inverness. We expect to have delivered these interventions by 2017.

We will prioritise the remaining schemes such as project 23, in accordance with our investment hierarchy of maintaining and safely operating existing assets, making best use of existing capacity, and targeted infrastructure improvements subject to funds becoming available.