Seòmar agus comataidhean

A procurement plan is currentlybeing developed to deliver a fleet of new rolling stock for a range of major projects(including Airdrie to Bathgate) and passenger growth initiatives from 2009 onwards.

The procurement process willbe carried out with the cooperation of the current operator, First ScotRail, inconsultation with Transport Scotland, commencing in early 2007.

Transport Scotland hascarried out extensive consultation with the rolling stock supply industry, and theindustry’s view is that this timescale is perfectly robust. The industry also hasadequate production capacity to meet our needs and that of other potential orders.

Transport Scotland hasthe operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more informationif required.

The rolling stock procurementplan, currently being developed by Transport Scotland, is exploring a range ofoptions. I refer the member to the answerto question S2W-26843 on 23 June 2006.

The class 334 train has beenused as the “base case” for the timetable model on the Airdrie to Bathgate line.Whether these trains will be deployed on the route remains to be decided.

All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facilityfor which can be at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Transport Scotland hasthe operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more informationif required.

Transport Scotland has undertakena feasibility study into the possibility of the electrification of the Edinburghto Glasgow route. The rolling stock procurement plan currently being developed todeliver a fleet of rolling stock for the Scottish rail network, will work with orwithout electrification of the Edinburgh and Glasgow route as the industry has sufficientcapacity to produce the required number of vehicles to meet our requirements underany plausible scenario.

Transport Scotland hasthe operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more informationif required.

The rolling stock procurementplan, currently being developed by Transport Scotland, is exploring a range ofoptions. I refer the member to the answerto question S2W-26843 on 23 June 2006.

The class 458 trains have beenconsidered for use in Scotland. However, their performance characteristics are feltto be unsuitable for our requirements without major modifications. We continue toexplore whether these changes would represent good value for money.

At this time therefore, no decisionhas been made on the actual type of rolling stock that will service the route.

All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facilityfor which can be at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Transport Scotland hasthe operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more informationif required.

To facilitate the developmentof a rolling stock procurement plan, Transport Scotland is currently exploringa range of suitable options through discussions with a number of major train manufacturersacross the UK, Europe and beyond. They have all responded positively to thesediscussions and expressed their willingness to produce trains in line with our needs.

Procurement of the vehicles will,of course, be through a competitive process in line with EU legislation.

Transport Scotland hasthe operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more informationif required.

The Scottish Executive collectssnapshot data on the number of households in temporary accommodation as at the endof each quarter. Data on households with dependent children have been collectedsince March 2001. The following table shows the numbers of households with dependentchildren in temporary accommodation as at 31 March for 2001 to 2005 as a percentageof all households. Figures for March 2006 will be published later this year.

Households with Children inTemporary Accommodation by Local Authority Area as at 31 March: 2001-05

	Households with Children in Temporary Accommodation					% of all Households with Children
	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005
Scotland	1,438	1,329	1,618	2,031	2,373	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.3	0.4
Argyll and Bute	9	10	21	23	57	0.1	0.1	0.2	0.2	0.6
West Dunbartonshire	9	13	27	38	32	0.1	0.1	0.2	0.3	0.3

Source: HL2 returns submittedby local authorities to Scottish Executive Development Department Analytical ServicesDivision (Housing Statistics)

Notes:

1. Number of households fromhousehold projections published by General Register Office for Scotland (2000,2002 and 2004 based).

2. Percentages have been roundedto the nearest 0.1%.

We have introduced the HomelessPersons (Unsuitable Accommodation) (Scotland) Order 2004 to ensure that where childrenare accommodated in temporary accommodation this is of the best possible standardand causes minimum disruption to families’ lives. We are also encouraging localauthorities and their partners to act to prevent homelessness wherever possibleand have established an Innovation Fund to support demonstration projects. Bothauthorities report having taken action toprevent homelessness occurring, based on evidence available as to the causes ofhomelessness in the area and focussing on early intervention and the provision ofappropriate support. They also report working with local housing providers to ensurethat the quality of temporary accommodation is improved and that homeless families’access to permanent housing is maximised.

The information is not availablein the format requested. However the following road safety schemes have been implementedon trunk roads in these areas since 1999.

Year	Route	Location	Description of Measures
1999-2000	A82	Garshake Road Junction	Right turn facility
2000-01	A82	Crosslet	Anti-skid treatment
2000-01	A82	Dumbuck Quarry	New signs, anti-skid treatment
2000-01	A82	Milton to Dumbuck	New signs, anti-skid treatment
2000-01	A82	Balloch to Tarbert Route Accident Reduction Plan	Signing, lining, anti-skid treatment, safety fence, chevrons and bollards
2000-01	A82	Stoneymollan Roundabout	Anti-skid treatment, signing, chevrons, transverse yellow bar markings and carriageway markings
2000-01	A828	Connel to Ballachulish Route Accident Reduction Plan	Signing, lining, anti-skid treatment, chevrons and bollards
2002-03	A82	Barloan Roundabout	Anti- -skid treatment, signing, chevrons, refurbishment of yellow bar markings and carriageway markings
2003-04	A82	In the vicinity of Greenhead Road	Closure of central reserve gap, vehicle activated sign, anti-skid surfacing, signing and lining
2003-04	A82	Milton	Carriageway markings
2004-05	A82	West of Dalnottar Interchange to Gavinsburn	Carriageway markings
2004-05	A85	Approaches to Lakefield Railway Bridge	Anti-skid surfacing , vehicle activated signing.
2005-06	A83	Loch Fyne Oyster Bar Junction	Signing, lining with red screed to identify existing right turn ghost island
2005-06	A85	Connel to Lochawe Route Accident Reduction Plan	Anti-skid surfacing, signing and lining
2005-06	A82	Ar Rhuba Mor	Signing
2005-06	A83	Loch Gair	Anti-Skid Surfacing, signing and lining

 

Information about projects undertakenon the local road network in these areas is a matter for the local authority.

Transport Scotland hasthe operational responsibility for this area and can be contacted for more informationif required.

The information requested isshown in the following table.

	Argyll and Bute Council (£ Million)	Increase %	West Dunbartonshire Council (£ Million)	Increase %
1997-98	104.687	0.4	112.239	-2.3
1998-99	105.352	0.6	109.574	-2.4
1999-2000	108.878	3.3	115.424	5.3
2000-01	111.694	2.6	118.784	2.9
2001-02	120.464	7.9	131.795	11.0
2002-03	131.200	8.9	141.489	7.4
2003-04	145.735	11.1	154.660	9.3
2004-05	157.810	8.3	164.698	6.5
2005-06	166.670	5.6	174.674	6.1
2006-07	173.486	4.1	176.841	1.2
2007-08	177.935	2.6	181.567	2.7

Notes:

(i) There have been a numberof adjustments to the GAE totals over the period covered, including from 2006-07the transfer of concessionary fares provision from schemes locally administeredby councils to a national scheme administered by Transport Scotland. If concessionaryfares are taken out of the 2005-06 figures for consistency, the increases between2005-06 and 2006-07 would be 4.8% for Argyll and Bute Council and 1.4% for WestDunbartonshire Council.

(ii) Grant aided expenditureprovision is neither a budget nor a spending target. Rather it is part of a methodologyused in the local government financial settlement for calculating the overall levelof support the Scottish Executive provides through the block revenue support grant.

(iii) The methodology used inthe local government financial settlement protects those councils with falling populations(such as West Dunbartonshire Council). It ensured for example that in 2006-07, allcouncils received a revenue support grant increase of at least two per cent over2005-06.

The Executive has increased resourcessubstantially to Argyll and Bute and WestDunbartonshire Councils, as indeed to all councils in Scotland, toenable them to deliver community care policies in their areas. Grant Aided Expenditure for community care across Scotland hasmore than doubled from £810 million in 1997-98 to £1.7 billion in 2006-07. Thatincludes £162 million this year for free personal and nursing care; £48 milliona year specifically to support more older people at home, and £13 million from thisyear for faster access to home care. In September 2004 we introduced the targetof increasing, by 2008, the number of older people receiving intensive home careto 30% of all older people receiving long-term care.

The capital consents issuedunder section 94 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to each council fornon-housing capital borrowing is shown in the following table.

£ million

Years	Argyll and Bute Council	West Dunbartonshire Council
1999-2000	10.060	5.742
2000-01	10.766	5.809
2001-02	12.463	8.713
2002-03	16.184	6.185
2003-04	18.531	7.655

Notes:

1. Figures given excludecapital receipts.

The consent system ceased from1 April 2004, with the introduction of the Prudential regime. 2. Inaddition to the non-housing consents, Argyll and Bute and West Dunbartonshire Councilsreceived allocations of £1.6 million and £5.7 million respectively in each of the years above for housing capital expenditure.