- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 May 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 24 May 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to reduce the number of NHS boards and, in the event that NHS Argyll and Clyde is reformed, whether its debt would be annulled or transferred in whole or in part to any successor body or bodies.
Answer
I refer the member to the statement I made to Parliament on these matters on 19 May 2005.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 May 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 24 May 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will conduct a survey into the value of recreational sea angling to the economy.
Answer
The Scottish Executive, in partnership with the Scottish Inshore Fisheries Advisory Group, is considering the commissioning of a report on the economic impact of sea angling.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 May 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 23 May 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what account it has taken of research into the effects of artificial fluoride on the presence of naturally-occurring fluoride, in light of the publication of An Action Plan for Improving Oral Health and Modernising NHS Dental Services in Scotland.
Answer
We are not aware of any researchinto the effects of artificial fluoride onthe presence of naturally-occurring fluoride.
The individual responses to theconsultation Towards Better Oral Health in Children informed An Action Plan forImproving Oral Health and Modernising NHS Dental Services in Scotland and thesubsequent announcement by First Minister that we will not be changing the current legislation on fluoridation of watersupplies.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 May 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 19 May 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any arrangement to prevent the destruction of redundant sleeping cars stored by Porterbrook Leasing to enable these cars to be used as extra sleeping cars for the West Highland Line and, if not, how much it will cost to purchase new sleeping cars.
Answer
The Executive has no plans to require First ScotRail to lease additional sleeping cars as there is already sufficient capacity within the fleet. Purchase of new sleeping cars would be subject to a procurement process before reliable estimates of the costs involved could be ascertained.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 May 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 19 May 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the creation of a rail link between Glasgow airport and Glasgow city centre would have on reducing traffic from the M8 to the city centre (a) without and (b) with a park-and-ride facility at the airport connection.
Answer
Strathclyde Passenger Transport (SPT), the promoter of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link, are in the final stages of analysing the impact that their proposals will have in reducing congestion on the M8. This information will be available towards the end of May, but will not include a comparison in respect of with/without park-and-ride, as this does not form part of their scheme proposal.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 May 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 19 May 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will carry out a feasibility study into the (a) cost per unit of refurbishing the redundant sleeping cars stored by Porterbrook Leasing for use on the West Highland Line or other sleeper service, comparing that to the cost of purchasing new stock, and (b) economic costs and benefits of laying on extra sleeping cars for existing rail sleeper services and whether such a study would consider the potential benefit to the tourist industry of such services and the adequacy of the existing marketing of the service.
Answer
The franchise agreement allows the Executive to receive a range of information about sleeper services on a regular basis, on marketing, demand, costs and revenues. In addition, service development is considered on an on-going basis by First ScotRail and by the Executive as part of franchise monitoring.
First ScotRail estimates that the costs of refurbishing redundant sleeping cars would be significantly less than purchasing new rolling stock. They also advise that currently there is no need for additional sleeping cars as there is sufficient capacity within the existing fleet, which is itself being upgraded through a £1 million investment as part of the franchise.
Services to support the tourism industry are important. First ScotRail is already committed to providing a three car sleeper service on the Fort William route during the summer at weekends. This provides 50% greater capacity than the base for the rest of the year and reflects demand at peak times.
The Executive has no plans to carry out a feasibility study as outlined in the question.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 May 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 19 May 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what provision it has made in the franchise to First ScotRail for expansion of the West Highland Line service by (a) more train journeys and (b) securing extra rolling stock and whether its transport policy includes any commitment that the West Highland Line should be expanded by more train services, extra sleeping cars or any other means.
Answer
The franchise allows the Executive to require additional services to be provided. Any proposal to run additional services would be considered alongside the existing service level commitment and needs across the rail network. Expansion of the West Highland Line service would be possible if there was a robust business case.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 May 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 19 May 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what provision it will seek, in connection with the proposed rail link from Glasgow Airport to Glasgow city centre, for park-and-ride schemes to encourage users of the M8 to leave their cars at the airport connection and take the rail link into the city centre and, if no such park-and-ride scheme forms part of the proposal submitted by Strathclyde Passenger Transport (SPT), whether it will invite SPT to add such a provision.
Answer
The Scottish Executive supports the current design of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link as proposed by Strathclyde Passenger Transport (SPT). If the SPT or a local authority wished to pursue a proposal for a park-and-ride facility such a project would be assessed by the Executive in the normal way.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 May 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 19 May 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to ensure that the redundant sleeping cars stored by Porterbrook Leasing are not scrapped and can be used on the West Highland Line if the service is developed.
Answer
The decision on storage and future leasing arrangements is for First ScotRail and Porterbrook to make within the terms of the franchise requirement. The Executive is satisfied, having consulted with First ScotRail, that sufficient capacity exists within the fleet currently under lease to First ScotRail to allow for development of the West Highland Line Service in line with anticipated demand.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 May 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 18 May 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-15893 by Nicol Stephen on 26 April 2005, under which subsection and paragraph of sections 103 and 104 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 it acted in purchasing plots referred to in Annex B of the letter of 24 March 2005 containing Scottish ministers' decision on the M74.
Answer
The powers for acquiring land that are contained in sections 103 and 104 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 have to be read with the remainder of Part IX of the act, which provides further provisions depending on what use the land is to be put.
