- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 January 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 20 January 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive whether an hourly rail service between Inverness and Edinburgh/Glasgow will be achieved by December 2011.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38686 on 20 January 2011. 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: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 January 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 20 January 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are plans to upgrade the three single track lines from Inverness.
Answer
Transport Scotland is working closely with Network Rail on developing the Aberdeen to Inverness Rail Improvements Project, which includes potential track upgrading along the 109 mile route.
However, we have no plans at present to upgrade the single track lines between Inverness and the Kyle of Lochalsh and Inverness and Thurso/Wick.
- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 January 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 20 January 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in delivering improvements to the Highland main line.
Answer
Ministers confirmed in the Scottish draft budget for 2011-12 that services operating between Inverness and the central belt will increase from nine to 11 trains per day. The increase in service frequency is expected to be introduced in the December 2011 timetable. In addition, Network Rail will undertake work on the route to reduce journey times. It is anticipated that this work will be completed in time for the May 2012 timetable.
The increases in service frequency and line speed enhancements form phase one of the Highland Main Line Improvements project. Transport Scotland is currently working closely with Network Rail and First ScotRail on the detail for the delivery of this phase.
- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 January 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 20 January 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide funding to the Rural Community Transport Initiative Small Projects Fund in 2011-12.
Answer
The Rural Community Transport Initiative Small Projects Fund closed on 31 March 2008. We have no plans to reintroduce the scheme.
- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 January 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 20 January 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in upgrading the secondary route via Newburgh from Hilton Junction on the Inverness to Edinburgh rail line.
Answer
Re-modelling of the Hilton Junction on the Edinburgh to Inverness rail line has taken place, which has provided improved line speeds as part of Network Rail''s track renewal programme.
Work to upgrade the track is still ongoing and should provide further line speed improvements along the route to Ladybank during 2011. Network Rail plans further improvements to Ladybank Junction, which is anticipated to provide additional journey time reductions. This work is expected to be completed in 2013.
- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 January 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 20 January 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are plans for trials of Meridian or Voyager train units between Inverness and Edinburgh/Glasgow.
Answer
ScotRail has no plans to trial these trains on these routes.
- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 January 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 20 January 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the speed improvements to reduce the Inverness to Edinburgh/Glasgow rail journey time by 35 minutes to be introduced.
Answer
The project will be delivered in phases and provides incremental journey time reductions.
The first phase of the Highland Main Line Improvements Project is anticipated to deliver journey time reductions from May 2012.
- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 January 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 20 January 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the trial upgrading of the engines on the current Turbostar train rolling stock has been successful.
Answer
The trial involving the upgrade of some engines fitted to ScotRail class 170 Turbostar trains was not successful on express routes.
- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 December 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 19 January 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive how many more insulin pumps would have been provided to eligible patients if the expected savings from Procurement Scotland’s multi-supplier ranked framework agreement had been implemented in full by all NHS boards.
Answer
Procurement Scotland is the Scottish Government''s centre for procurement expertise covering cross sectoral commodity strategies and contracts. NHS National Services Scotland''s National Procurement Division works closely with the Scottish Government on all aspects of procurement. As this purchasing strategy related to the health sector, it fell to NHS National Services Scotland''s National Procurement Division to agree, develop and award the contract.
The terms of the insulin pumps and consumables multi-supplier ranked framework agreement indicate that NHS boards must consider the use of the first ranked supplier in the first instance, and then the second and third ranked suppliers dependant on meeting clinical needs. On the assumption that each insulin pump and the related consumables were purchased based on the clinical need of patients, it is not possible to say if there would be any further savings achieved for reinvestment in more pumps.
- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 December 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 19 January 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of developing Procurement Scotland’s national multi-supplier ranked framework agreement for insulin pumps and related consumables.
Answer
Procurement Scotland is the Scottish Government''s centre for procurement expertise covering cross sectoral commodity strategies and contracts. NHS National Services Scotland''s National Procurement Division works closely with the Scottish Government on all aspects of procurement. As this purchasing strategy related to the health sector, it fell to NHS National Services Scotland''s National Procurement Division to agree, develop and award the contract.
This project is one of approximately 200 contracts currently managed by National Procurement''s Strategic Sourcing team. The combined annual expenditure of these contracts is some £700 million, however, the costs of developing individual contracts are not calculated separately.
