- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 14 August 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the total number of current funding arrangements provided by (a) it and its agencies and (b) local authorities to voluntary organisations are for a period of less than three years.
Answer
The information requestedis not held centrally.
We support the practiceof three year funding for the voluntary sector across the public sector and encouragethe use of longer term funding arrangements, where possible, to provide a stableand efficient operating environment for the sector.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 14 August 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive how many affordable homes it estimates will be required in each of the next four years in (a) Fife and (b) Scotland.
Answer
Local authoritiesare required to assess the extent and nature of housing need in their areas as partof their Local Housing Strategy and Development Planning processes. The government is currently conducting an exercisewhich is seeking to gain a consistent picture from local authorities of their assessmentsof affordable housing need for their areas, and the evidence which supports this.
A major piece of researchon housing need was conducted for the Scottish government by Professor Glen Bramleyand published in November 2006. This contains analysis of housing need by localauthority area, and at national level. Although the analysis does not examine projectedneed in each of the next four years, it contains projections for 2005, 2006, andat five year intervals thereafter. Further information can be found at:
http://www.communitiesscotland.gov.uk/stellent/groups/public/documents/webpages/cs_016551.pdf.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 14 August 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that the target to eradicate unintentional homelessness by 2012 is met in (a) Fife and (b) Scotland.
Answer
The Government鈥檚 homelessnesstarget is to abolish priority need by 2012. I refer the member to answer to questionS3W-1134 on 26 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament鈥檚 website the search facility for whichcan be found at:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 06 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 25 July 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the new Forth road crossing will be additional to the current Forth Road Bridge or a replacement.
Answer
The primary purpose of theForth Replacement Crossing study was to investigate the form, function andlocation of a replacement for the existing crossing. The study has alsoreflected on the potential role of two crossings being operated in future.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 06 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 24 July 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to consult the people, communities, businesses and voluntary organisations of Fife on the new Forth road crossing other than through the public information exhibitions announced by the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change (Official Report c.1132).
Answer
The public information eventswill present the facts which underpin the published study reports. Statutoryconsultation will be undertaken as part of the authorisation for the crossing.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 06 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 24 July 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimates are of the financial costs per year to (a) Fife, (b) the Lothians and (c) Scotland of closing the Forth Road Bridge to HGVs before a new crossing is complete.
Answer
The estimated cost to the Scottish economy of a ban on HGVs crossing the Forth Road Bridge before a new crossing is completed is estimated to be in the order of 拢20 million a year at current prices. This represents the cost to Scotland as a whole and comprises the increase in journey time and costs associated with HGV traffic diverting. Although the effects will be distributed across the whole of the Scottish economy, they will impact more acutely in the areas around the current bridgeheads. It is not possible to be more specific at this time.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 06 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 24 July 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to include a rail crossing, or other public transport provision, with the new Forth road crossing.
Answer
Provision for enhancedpublic transport will be incorporated into the replacement crossing in order tomanage predicted increase in demand for cross Forth travel. However, thecrossing will not include heavy rail since sufficient capacity exists on theexisting Forth Bridge to cater for predicted future demand for railtravel.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 06 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 24 July 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive on what date it expects the Forth Road Bridge to have to close to HGVs.
Answer
It is currently not knownwhen, or if, restrictions to HGVs will be required on the Forth Road Bridge. Thebridge is owned and operated by the Forth Estuary Transport Authority.Transport Scotland is working closely with FETA to ensure that it is aware inadvance of the timing, extent, and impact of any such restrictions should theybe required.
Transport Scotland hasoperational responsibility for this matter and can be contacted for furtherinformation.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 06 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 24 July 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to consult the people, communities, businesses and voluntary organisations of Fife regarding (a) the location of the new Forth road crossing, (b) whether the new crossing takes the form of a tunnel or bridge, (c) the timetable for starting and completing the construction of the new crossing, (d) the lifespan of the new crossing and (e) whether the new crossing will include provision for rail and other public transport provision.
Answer
Transport Scotlandwill hold public information events over the summer to present the finding of the Forth Replacement Crossing Study reports. This will involve hearing theviews of people who may be affected by any of the crossing options and willinclude discussion on the issues raised in this question where necessary.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 06 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 24 July 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what contingency plans it has in place to ensure that HGV vehicles are able to cross the Firth of Forth in the event that the current Forth Road Bridge has to close to HGVs before a new crossing is built.
Answer
Detailed planning work isbeing undertaken by officials from Transport Scotland, Scottish Executiveand the Forth Estuary Transport Authority to examine what measures might berequired.
