- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 May 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 26 May 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what study it has made of the possible economic impact of the proposed HITRANS scheme for air travel within the Highlands and Islands and how many additional jobs this might create, both directly and indirectly.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has made no specific study of the economic impact of the proposed scheme. As part of the proposal, HITRANS commissioned a study from Steer Davis Gleave which included an analysis of potential economic impacts in accordance with Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance. This study produced an estimate of employment impacts of 610 new jobs directly created, and a net total of 595 jobs indirectly supported, should the full proposal be implemented.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 May 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 26 May 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any challenge made within any EU state in respect of the application of a public service obligation to any air route or routes which has been put out to tender and what the details are of any such challenge.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is not aware of any challenge made within any EU state in respect of the application of a Public Service Obligation (PSO) to any air route. The European Commission is, however, currently investigating whether 18 PSOs imposed by Italy on routes between Sardinia and the Italian mainland conform with European legislation.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 May 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 26 May 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the length of public service obligation (PSO) relating to air routes should be increased from three years and, if so, what the duration should be; whether a longer period should be stipulated in the tender for any proposed PSO route, and whether a period longer than three years would provide a more reasonable opportunity to allow the public to become acquainted with the new route timetable and lower fares envisaged by the HITRANS proposal for air services for the Highlands and Islands.
Answer
The period under which a Public Service Obligation (PSO) is governed is contained in EC Regulation 2408/92. No tender can be issued for a period in excess of three years.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 16 May 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 26 May 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimates have been of the total deer population on the island of Rum in each year since Scottish Natural Heritage has had ownership of the island.
Answer
Monitoring of all forms of wildlife on the Rum National Nature Reserve is an operational matter for Scottish Natural Heritage.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 16 May 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by George Reid on 26 May 2005
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it has proposed a date for the next SPCB Question Time and, if so, what that date is.
Answer
I can confirm that the proposed date for the next SPCB Question Time is 2.15pm on Wednesday 15 June 2005.
- 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 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 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.
