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Based on the current proposals, the estimated cost of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link is £140 million. Strathclyde Passenger Transport’s consultation gives two options for the St James Spur: building the line either on a viaduct or an embankment. A comparative cost estimate has been made between the two, giving indicative costs of £11,000 and £9,500 per linear metre respectively. For robustness, the estimated total figure of £140 million assumes that the viaduct - the more expensive option - will be implemented. However, no decision has been made about the preferred spur option at this stage, reflecting on-going public consultation and consideration of a number of issues, such as severance of playing fields and the visual impact of the scheme.

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-13619 on 18 January 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/wa.search.

The level of fuel tax is a reserved matter. The Executive has regular discussions with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including fuel duty. Scottish ministers will continue to ensure that Scotland’s interests are placed firmly on the agenda in Whitehall on tax, as on other matters, through direct contact with Treasury Ministers.

No this is not normal procedure for such projects. We look forward to receiving a copy of the Consultation Report from Transport Initiatives Edinburgh Ltd when it is published.

The Scottish Executive’s broadband strategy is facilitating the rollout and uptake of broadband technology across Scotland. Project ATLAS fits within this overall strategy but is led and funded by Scottish Enterprise. Issues about use of public funding and the benefits achieved are, in the first instance, operational matters for Scottish Enterprise.

We are continuing to develop our proposals to extend the dual carriageway at Crubenmore by around 2km at a cost of £5.4 million and to provide 4km of additional overtaking opportunities between Kincraig and Dalraddy at a cost of £4.3 million. I expect to publish draft orders for these schemes this year. A number of other improvements are planned and work has begun on a route improvement study which will report in the autumn.

BEAR Scotland Ltd’s performance on trunk road maintenance, which is monitored by the independent Performance Audit Group, has been generally satisfactory. Following an audit by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, it is understood that the Traffic Commissioner proposes to hold a Public Inquiry to hear evidence from Bear Scotland Ltd. In relation to drivers’ hours during bad winter weather. It is possible that any ruling from the Traffic Commissioner following the public inquiry could affect the current interpretations regarding drivers’ hours during winter maintenance operations and in these circumstances it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.

We are taking forward the work on the A82 Route Action Plan as a matter of priority. I expect the study to report in October of this year, and the findings will be made public as soon as possible thereafter.

The Executive has been and continues to be in regular discussion with the UK Government regarding the proposed new gambling legislation and the implications for Scotland.

The Scottish Parliament has now agreed that the relevant provisions in the Gambling Bill which confer powers on Scottish ministers, including the power to set fees and make regulations on the conditions to be attached to gambling premises’ licensing and permits, should be considered by the UK Parliament.

The Executive fully supports the development of the new sports centre for Grantown-on-Spey and is delighted that the project has been awarded funding of £300,000 from sportscotland’s lottery-funded Building for Sport programme.

Local authorities have a statutory responsibility to ensure adequate provision of sport and leisure facilities for their residents. As in the case of the sports centre in Grantown-on-Spey, funding may be available from sportscotland through the Building for Sport programme. Applications are assessed by sportscotland against set criteria for the programme and ministers have no role to play in considering individual applications.

With regard to access for children to sports centres, many local authorities already have strategies in place to encourage increased access. However, this is an issue which has been identified as important in achieving targets 1 and 2 of Sport 21. The strategy to deliver these targets is seeking to create or amend existing discount schemes and also consider the provision of transport subsidies to ensure that potential barriers are removed which restricts access to sports facilities and participation in sports programmes.