- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 August 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 5 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with stakeholders regarding plans for a new town station in Stranraer.
Answer
Currently there are no plans for a new town station at Stranraer. Transport Scotland is working collaboratively with local and regional authorities to undertake the South West Scotland Transport Study - Initial-Appraisal: Case for Change. This will consider the rationale for improvements across all modes in the area, with a particular focus on access to the ports at Cairnryan. The study will feed in to the process of gathering robust evidence to enable decisions on support for infrastructure improvements including for potential new rail stations.
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 August 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 5 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to invest in an upgrade of the A77.
Answer
Since 2007 the Scottish Government has invested approximately £59 million in road maintenance and £35 million in four separate schemes on the A77, in addition there is planned investment on the A77 Maybole Bypass with construction costs of £30 million. Transport investment has to be supported by robust evidence and that is why Scottish Government is undertaking the South West Scotland Transport study. This study is considering the rationale for improvements to road, rail, public transport and active travel on the key strategic corridors including the A75 and A77 as well as the railway corridors to Stranraer and Carlisle via Kilmarnock and Dumfries, with a particular focus on access to the ports at Cairnryan.
An Initial-Appraisal report will be produced which will include recommendations setting out possible transport interventions which will be considered through the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2).
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 August 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 5 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to transport connections at the ferry port of Cairnryan.
Answer
Transport Scotland is currently working collaboratively with local and regional authorities to undertake the South West Scotland Transport Study – Initial-Appraisal: Case for Change. This will consider the rationale for improvements across all modes in the area, with a particular focus on access to the ports at Cairnryan. The study will feed in to the process of gathering robust evidence to enable decisions on support for infrastructure improvements.
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 17 August 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 5 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to protect community benefit funds when a wind farm is sold on.
Answer
The Scottish Government views the voluntary payment of community benefits from renewables developments as an opportunity for local communities to share in the benefits of their energy resource.
Our Good Practice Principles for Community Benefits from Onshore Renewable Energy Developments published in 2014, set out national standards on community benefits. This encourages the development of a legally binding contract between parties covering the lifetime of the project/asset.
The Scottish Government is currently reviewing its Good Practice Principles for Community Benefits (and shared ownership). This work is being taken forward with a view to ensuring that communities continue to benefit from large scale renewable energy developments.
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 August 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 5 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to invest in an upgrade of the A75.
Answer
Since 2007 the Scottish Government has invested £75 million in road maintenance and approximately £50 million in six new schemes along the length of the A75 to improve overtaking and remove known pinch points. Transport investment has to be supported by robust evidence and that is why Scottish Government is undertaking the South West Scotland Transport study. This study is considering the rationale for improvements to road, rail, public transport and active travel on the key strategic corridors including the A75 and A77 as well as the railway corridors to Stranraer and Carlisle via Kilmarnock and Dumfries, with a particular focus on access to the ports at Cairnryan.
An Initial-Appraisal report will be produced which will include recommendations setting out possible transport interventions which will be considered through the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2).
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 June 2018
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 20 June 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to tackle the reported high levels of COPD in the Stranraer area, and whether this will include the installation of new air monitoring equipment.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 20 June 2018
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 June 2018
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 13 June 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides for the funding of further education courses in Dumfries and Galloway.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 13 June 2018
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 24 May 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 6 June 2018
To ask the Scottish Government how many funding applications have been received by the South of Scotland Economic Partnership, and how many of these (a) have been successful and (b) are waiting to be processed.
Answer
In the 2018-2019 Budget, the Scottish Government identified £10million to drive forward inclusive growth and support communities across the South of Scotland. The budget will support the work of the South of Scotland Economic Partnership, enabling additional activity to take place supporting businesses and communities. A range of individuals, groups and organisations have made initial approaches to the Partnership to explore the potential for funding and whether to progress their ideas and submit applications for support. There have been nine formal applications for funding, with two approved and seven under consideration.
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 24 May 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 6 June 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what process is in place for funding applications to the South of Scotland Economic Partnership.
Answer
Those with potential projects seeking funding should submit their ideas to the South of Scotland Economic Partnership ( [email protected] ).
The Partnership will consider initial enquiries and the potential for those projects to progress to a formal funding application. Projects progressing to a formal funding application will require a business case setting out information about the project and its contribution to inclusive growth. The business case will be assessed by the Partnership against a set of agreed and consistent criteria including demonstrating: a clear link to the Partnership's priorities; additionality, activity that could not otherwise have happened; ambition, making a significant difference; partnership; and leverage of other funding sources.
The Partnership will then submit a recommendation to the Government to decide on whether or not to approve the funding application. The process will be set out on the Partnership's website.
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 May 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 5 June 2018
To ask the Scottish Government how many on-board compliance inspections Marine Scotland has conducted each month as part of the scientific trial of electrofishing for razor clams, also broken down by how many boats have failed the inspection, and how often after their initial inspection can boat owners expect their craft to be further inspected.
Answer
The scientific trial commenced on 1 February 2018. Vessels selected to participate are required to undergo an inspection by Marine Scotland to ensure that each vessel and its operation fully meets the criteria for the trial. There have been 17 such inspections (5 in February, 7 in March, 4 in April and 1 in May) and each of these vessels have now received a derogation allowing them to commence fishing. Vessels are not failed on initial inspection and operators are given the opportunity to address any identified shortcomings prior to any derogation being issued, the time taken to address operational issues varies from case to case.
Marine Scotland Compliance deploy resources based on regular risk assessment. Since the start of the trial there have been 6 boardings of razor vessels at sea and 13 inspections following landings undertaken by Marine Scotland Compliance. These numbers do not indicate a heightened risk. However inspections would be increased if intelligence received warranted it or if infringements were detected.
