Questions and answers

Question reference: S4W-06447

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 March 2012
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 16 April 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will upgrade the (a) Trochry and (b) Amulree exchange to full platform ADSL in 2012.

Question reference: S4W-06162

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 March 2012
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 22 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to reduce bureaucracy for businesses seeking to obtain a licence under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.

NHSHealthScotland is conducting on behalf of the Scottish Government a wide ranging evaluation of the implementation and compliance with, Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.

In addition, the Scottish Government has started work to review the guidance issued to licensing boards under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, and to looking at other aspects of licensing legislation to see if changes are necessary.

We are committed to ensuring that the sale of alcohol is appropriately regulated.

Question reference: S4W-06163

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 March 2012
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 22 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve the licence renewal process under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.

Question reference: S4W-06107

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 March 2012
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 20 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make Fife rail services a priority for investment.

The Scottish Government is striving to provide a high quality passenger experience for travellers using the Fife rail services through the following investments:

Class 170 diesel trains used on Edinburgh via Fife to Dundee/Perth/Aberdeen routes are currently undergoing both internal and external refurbishment works to be completed by late 2013.

All automated audible public announcement equipment at 40 Fife stations will be renewed over the summer. This will increase the flexibility of staff to communicate locally to inform passengers during times of disruption.

Routes between Edinburgh, Perth and Dundee including Fife Circle are expected to be electrified in phase 3 of the electrification of the strategic rail network, as outlined in the Strategic Transport Projects Review, published in 2008.

Question reference: S4W-06108

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 March 2012
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 20 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with ScotRail about improving rail services in Fife, including providing (a) additional carriages on morning services and (b) a higher frequency of services.

(a) The current service frequency in Fife is specified in the Franchise Service Level Commitment and was significantly enhanced in December 2008.

(b) ScotRail is also obliged to allocate its available train fleet to provide passengers with a reasonable expectation of a seat within 10 minutes of boarding a train, and to minimise any forecast overcrowding.

Transport Scotland meets regularly with ScotRail and Network Rail on operational and timetabling issues. Following on from these discussions, ScotRail has recently consulted on alterations to morning peak services to provide an earlier arrival into Edinburgh from Fife stations. This consultation feedback will be used to inform future service provision.

ScotRail monitor the number of carriages required for service in advance of each timetable change and review this following any change. An assessment of passenger loadings on peak services is currently taking place to inform a longer term review of provision within Fife. Any proposed alterations will be delivered from within existing franchise budget, resources and infrastructure.

Question reference: S4O-00817

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 March 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what the benefits of Perth having city status would be for the local and national economy.

Question reference: S4F-00518

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 March 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 March 2012

To ask the First Minister what action is being taken to prevent those not actively farming from being able to claim agricultural subsidies.

Question reference: S4W-05746

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 17 February 2012
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 1 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what investment it will make to improve broadband in Highland Perthshire and the (a) Glenshee and (b) Killin areas.

On 31 January, the Scottish Government published Scotland's Digital Future - Infrastructure Action Plan.

The action plan sets out our ambition and commitment, and the clear steps we will take to deliver world-class, future proofed digital infrastructure across all of Scotland by 2020, with a step change by 2015. By 2015, we are aiming for speeds of 40-80 Mbps for 85-90% of the population, and the best possible speeds for those where it is not yet possible to deliver 40-80 Mbps. We have so far secured over £250 million of public sector investment to deliver our 2015 targets.

This funding will be allocated in two closely related procurements: the current Highlands and Islands procurement, and a separate procurement for the rest of Scotland. Highland Perthshire, Glenshee and Killin will be included within the scope of this separate procurement for the rest of Scotland.

We will produce a procurement strategy for the rest of Scotland by the end of March 2012. Our intention is to commence this procurement by summer 2012 and award a contract in the first half of 2013 at the latest.

Question reference: S4O-00733

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 February 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider the interim operating base at Perth Community Fire Station as the permanent base for the proposed single fire and rescue service.

Question reference: S4F-00478

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 February 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 February 2012

To ask the First Minister what impact Rangers FC going into administration will have on the economy.

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