Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-02449

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 21 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what initiatives it has introduced osupport (a) cycling and (b) the cycling infrastructure in (i) Dumfries and Galloway and (ii) nationally in each year since 2007.

The Scottish Government has introduced a range of initiatives to support (a) cycling and (b) cycling infrastructure in (i) Dumfries and Galloway and (ii) nationally since 2007 as detailed in the following tables.

Initiatives have been assigned to the year in which Scottish Government grant funding was first awarded. In some instances the initiative may have been first announced and applications sought in a previous year and a number of initiatives will have continued over a number of years. Because of this the following tables do not show all initiatives taking place in a given year.

In (i) Dumfries and Galloway the following initiatives and projects have been introduced in each year since 2007

(a) Cycling

Year	Initiatives Introduced with Scottish Government Support
2007
2008
2009	- Dumfries Smarter Choices Smarter Places 3 Year Pilot Project (including a range of cycling behaviour change projects) - Bikeability Scotland (cycle training for primary school pupils) - Dumfries and Galloway College Dumfries Campus (grant from Cycle Friendly Employer Scheme)
2010	- Dumfries and Galloway College Stranraer Campus (grant from Cycle Friendly Employer Scheme)
2011
2012	- Moffat CAN Cycle (grant from Cycle Friendly Communities Scheme) - Support for an i-bike officer to develop the programme in Dumfries and Galloway schools
2013
2014	- Support and advice on the development of an Active Travel Strategy for Dumfries and Galloway - Dalbeattie Community Partnership “Get Active Dalbeattie” (grant from Cycle Friendly Communities Scheme) - Dalbeattie Clinic (grant from Cycle Friendly Employer Scheme)
2015	- Cycling Dumfries “Bike Message Challenge” (grant from Cycle Friendly Communities Scheme) - Action for Children “Second Time Around” (grant from Cycle Friendly Communities Scheme)
2016	- Barony College Intern Programme (grant from Cycle Friendly Campus Scheme) - Gatehouse of Fleet YMCA “Wheels of Fleet” (grant from Cycle Friendly Communities Scheme) - Better Lives Partnership “Children’s Bike Club” (grant from Cycle Friendly Communities Scheme) - “The Biker Buddies” (grant from Cycle Friendly Communities Scheme)

(b) Cycling infrastructure

Year	Initiatives Introduced with Scottish Government Support
2007	- Funding for improvements to cycle infrastructure on Garroch Loaning, Dumfries - Funding for improvements to the Newton Stewart to Moss of Cree cycle route - Funding for improvements to the Stranraer to Cairnryan cycle route
2008	- Funding for improvements to cycle routes to Annan Academy and Kecklegirth Primary School - Funding for improvements to the Newton Stewart to Moss of Cree cycle route
2009
2010	- Funding for improvements to NCN7 to resolve flooding issues in Fleet Forest, near Girthan
2011	- Funding for improvements to the St Mary’s Industrial Estate Link path in Dumfries
2012	- Funding for improvements to the New Abbey Road to MacMillan Bridge cycle route in Dumfries - Funding for a feasibility study into the development of a cycle route from Dumfries to Mabie Forest
2013	- Funding for improvements to the Mill Road/Mill green cycle path in Dumfries - Funding for the final design and construction of a cycle path from Dumfries to Mabie Forest
2014	- Funding for the Queen Street street design project in Dumfries - Funding for design/feasibility study work on proposed upgrades to NCN7 on Forestry Commission Scotland land near Gatehouse of Fleet - Funding for design/feasibility study work on a proposed cycle route on Moffat Road in Dumfries - Funding for design/feasibility study work on a proposed cycle route from Glasgow Street to College Street in Dumfries
2015	- Funding for design/feasibility study work on proposed active travel links to Dumfries General Royal Infirmary Hospital in Dumfries - Funding for design/feasibility study work on a proposed cycle link from Moffat Road to Dumfries High School and Marchfield in Dumfries - Funding for design/feasibility study work on a proposed cycle connection between Hecklegirth Primary School, Queensway and Douglas Gardens in Annan
2016

(ii) Nationally the following initiatives and projects have been introduced in each year since 2007

(a) Cycling

Year	Initiatives Introduced with Scottish Government Support
2007	- Softer Measures Grant Scheme (supporting a range of cycling behaviour change projects)
2008	- Cycle Friendly Communities Grant Scheme (supporting a range of community based cycling behaviour change projects, originally called the “Community Cycling Innovation Fund for Scotland”) - Cycle Friendly Employer Grant Scheme (supporting a range of workplace based cycling behaviour change projects) - Cycle Friendly Schools Award and Grant Scheme (acknowledging and supporting school based cycling behaviour change work in primary schools) - Give Everyone Cycle Space information campaign (originally called “Give Me Cycle Space”)
2009	- Smarter Choices Smarter Places Pilot Programme in 7 towns across Scotland (including a range of cycling behaviour change projects – full list of projects supported available at: http://www.transport.gov.scot/system/files/documents/tsc-basic-pages/SCSP_-_Goingsmarter_-_Final_version_-_Do_not_edit.pdf) - i-bike Officer Programme (school based behaviour change programme) - Dr Bike Programme (programme of advice and training on bike maintenance and safe cycling)
2010	- Make Your Move Pilot (whole community approach to supporting travel behaviour change – piloted in Kirkcaldy, Fife) - Bikeability Scotland (cycle training for primary school age pupils)
2011	- Cycle Friendly Secondary School Award (acknowledging and supporting school based cycling behaviour change work in secondary schools)
2012	- Active Travel Champions (workplace based behaviour change programme) - Essential Cycling Skills pilot programme (cycle training for adults)
2013
2014	- Practical Cycle Awareness Training for Light Goods Vehicle/Passenger Carrying Vehicles pilot (in Edinburgh)
2015	- Cycle Friendly Campuses Award and Grant Scheme (acknowledging and supporting cycling behaviour change work in Further and Higher Education settings) - School Summer Cycle Camps (supporting pupils in secondary schools to gain skills and confidence to encourage their peers to cycle more often) - Play on Pedals (roll out of programme of balance bike training for nursery age children first piloted in Glasgow and North Lanarkshire with People’s Postcode Lottery Funding) - Extended £5 million Smarter Choices Smarter Places Programme across Scotland (including a range of cycling behaviour change projects – full list of projects supported available at: http://www.pathsforall.org.uk/component/option,com_docman/Itemid,537/gid,1843/task,doc_download/)
2016	- Workplace Engagement Programme (supporting a range of workplace based behaviour change activities, including Active Travel Champions, a Workplace Network, Active Travel Planning for Workplaces and a series of Active Travel Challenges) - Big Bike Revival (supporting free, community based bicycle refurbishment and training on bike maintenance and safe cycling)

(b) Cycling infrastructure

Year	Initiatives Introduced with Scottish Government Support
2007	- Connect 2 Grants Scheme
2008
2009	- Short Links Grants Scheme
2010	- Street Design Pilot Projects (in Kirkcaldy and Elgin)
2011	- Community Links Grant Scheme
2012
2013	- Street Design Programme roll-out
2014	- Safe Routes to School Grant Scheme
2015
2016	- Community Links Plus Design Competition & Grant Scheme

Question reference: S5W-02423

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 21 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to carry out the outstanding repairs to fixtures and fittings in property belonging to each Police Scotland local region.

Question reference: S5W-02450

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 21 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what projections Transport Scotland has made of future vehicle numbers on the (a) A76, (b) A75, (c) A7 and (d) A701 between Dumfries and Moffat.

Transport Scotland maintain a range of traffic forecasts on all trunk roads in Scotland using the national transport model, The Transport Model for Scotland. It has a base year of 2014 and produces forecasts for a number of future years. Future forecasts of demand are based upon a range of assumptions including population growth, fuel prices, economic activity, land-use changes. There is uncertainty associated with these assumptions which increases over time.

Details of current and forecast traffic flows on the selected trunk roads in Dumfries and Galloway are shown in the table below The current traffic flows are taken from Automatic Traffic Counters at the locations described in 2014.

All Flows are Vehicles per day

Current Flows

Primary Scenario Forecast Traffic Flows

Year

Road No.	Traffic Count Location	2014	2022	2032
(a) A76	North of Newbridge Drive	9880	9600	9300
(b) A75	West of Annan	10280	11800	12900
(b) A75	East of Crocketford	10160	11500	12100
(c) A7	A7 South of Canonbie	4180	5400	5600
(d) A701	North of Locharbriggs	5720	6400	6500

Question reference: S5W-02836

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 21 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the re-opening of junction 45 to northbound traffic on the M6.

There have been no direct discussions between the Scottish Government and the UK Government. However there have been on-going discussions over a number of years between Highways England (formerly Highways Agency), Transport Scotland, Local Authorities and Community Councils. An initial meeting took place 13 April 2011 and subsequent meetings were held on 13 December 2013, 15 August 2014, 19 March 2015, 15 April 2016 with the latest held on 15 September 16. As the motorway junction is in England, this is essentially a matter for Highways England.

Question reference: S5W-02795

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 21 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its position on the possible electrification of the Dumfries-Kilmarnock rail line; how much it would cost to electrify the line, and what the reduction in journey times would be.

The Scottish Government is committed to rail electrification recognising the key benefits it brings in terms of improved journey times and connectivity, environmental benefits and reduced industry costs. As part of this commitment we will include all remaining non-electrified routes, including the Dumfries - Kilmarnock line, in future electrification strategies, however delivery will be subject to consideration against other rail priorities and sufficient resources being available.

Question reference: S5W-02501

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 21 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how much financial assistance it has provided in each year since 2007 to support cycling.

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN ANSWER

21 September 2016

Index Heading: Transport Scotland

Oliver Mundell (Dumfriesshire) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government how much financial assistance it has provided in each year since 2007 to support cycling.

S5W-02501

Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government has allocated the following budget to active travel annually since 2007:

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

2014-15

2015-16

Total Active Travel budget

(£ million)

24.9

15.4

14.1

18.1

17.5

20.1

21.35

39.2

Question reference: S5W-02259

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 August 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 20 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the flooding that took place across Scotland during the 2015 festive period, what it is doing to encourage the implementation of preventative flood measures.

The Scottish Government is working closely with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, local authorities, Scottish Water and others to deliver the flood risk management actions set out in the 14 Flood Risk Management Strategies published in December 2015. Taken together, the strategies form the first ever national flood risk management plan for Scotland. The strategies are supported by the 14 Local Flood Risk Management Plans which were published in June 2016. These local plans provide additional local detail on the funding and delivery timetable for actions between 2016 and 2021. The Scottish Government has reached agreement with COSLA on a ten year funding plan to deliver the actions set out in these plans, including 40 new flood protection schemes aimed at protecting around 10,000 properties across Scotland, and 134 flood protection studies to help find potential solutions for another 26,000 residential properties currently at risk. This agreement will give local authorities the certainty they need to deliver the actions set out in their Local Flood Risk Management Plans to help protect individuals, business and communities from the danger of flooding.

Question reference: S5W-02448

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 20 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what investment it has made in respect of (a) Lockerbie, (b) Gretna Green, (c) Annan, (d) Sanquhar and (e) Kirkconnel railway station in each year since 2007.

Since 2007 the Scottish Government has worked with ScotRail to deliver a number of improvements at these stations. Improvements include:-

Lockerbie	Installation of CCTV, Customer Information Screens, lifts and footbridge, accessibility improvements, waiting shelter, platform validator to support smart ticketing.
Gretna Green	Installation of CCTV and platform validator to support smart ticketing.
Annan	Installation of CCTV, platform validator to support smart ticketing, handrails and upgrade to lighting and stairs.
Sanquhar	Installation of platform validator to support smart ticketing.
Kirkconnel	Upgrade to car park lighting and installation of platform validator to support smart ticketing.

Question reference: S5W-02573

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 20 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on calls to reopen Thornhill railway station.

Although a new station at Thornhill does not feature in our current £5 billion investment programme in Scotland’s railways to 2019, we are committed to on-going improvements to rail services and connectivity.

Funding for new railway stations can be considered from the Scottish Government's £30 million Scottish Stations Fund which aims to lever in third party funding to provide new and improved stations. Projects will be considered subject to the Scottish Government’s investment priorities for the strategic transport network, a robust business case, affordability and other competing proposals.

Question reference: S5W-02485

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 20 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to ensure that SEPA flood map data is not being used inappropriately by insurers to assess flood risk for insurance purposes.

SEPA's Flood Maps do not show flood risk to individual properties, instead they identify areas which, as a whole, are at risk of flooding and its impacts. Insurance companies have their own flood maps on which to base their decisions, and SEPA’s Flood Maps should have no influence on insurance premiums. SEPA's terms and conditions have to be accepted before anyone can access the Flood Maps online which make it perfectly clear that the Maps must not be used for commercial purposes, or to set insurance premiums. SEPA is working with the Association of British Insurers, to help to increase understanding across the industry of the purpose of the flood maps (i.e. for community level decision making) and stress that they are not suitable for property level assessments.

SEPA has also taken action to inform insurance companies that work across the UK of the differences that exist between England and Scotland in the data available to insurers. Unlike the Environment Agency in England, SEPA does not provide specific flood risk datasets to the insurance industry.

When evidence is submitted to SEPA showing misuse of the flood maps, SEPA is proactive in dealing with the issue. In the first instance a letter of concern would be issued to the organisation responsible for the misuse, to reinforce SEPA's terms and conditions and to stipulate that the particular use of the maps brought to SEPA's attention is accountable to legal challenge. If an organisation continues to misuse the maps, and there is sufficient evidence to prove this, SEPA will take legal action against the organisation.

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