- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 July 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 14 August 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has in respect of any financial consequentials from the announcement in the 2007 UK budget of a new £80 million community fund for small community groups.
Answer
The Scottish Government’sspending plans for the period 2008-11 will be announced in late autumn, when thestrategic spending review is concluded.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 July 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 14 August 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the current funding arrangements provided by (a) it and its agencies and (b) local authorities to voluntary organisations have been for a period of less than three years.
Answer
This information isnot available centrally.
We support the practiceof three-year funding for the voluntary sector across the public sector and encouragethe use of longer term funding agreements, where possible, to provide a stable andefficient operating environment for the sector.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Friday, 06 July 2007
-
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
-
Date lodged: Friday, 06 July 2007
-
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
-
Date lodged: Friday, 06 July 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 24 July 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive where and when the public information exhibitions on the new Forth road crossing announced by the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change (Official Report c. 1132) will take place.
Answer
Transport Scotland iscurrently planning a programme of events for the end of August. The details andlocations will be confirmed as soon as possible with advertisements appearingthe local press.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Friday, 06 July 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 24 July 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers to be a tolerable minimum lifespan for the proposed new Forth road crossing.
Answer
Any new crossing will beconstructed with a 120 year design life. This assumes a regular and appropriatemaintenance cycle in order to sustain the structure.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Friday, 06 July 2007
-
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
-
Date lodged: Friday, 06 July 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 24 July 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has ruled out charging tolls on the new Forth road crossing once it has been completed.
Answer
Further work on fundingoptions for the crossing will take place over the summer to allow a decision tobe made in autumn 2007.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Friday, 06 July 2007
-
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
-
Date lodged: Friday, 06 July 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 24 July 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive how many journeys were made by HGVs across the Forth Road Bridge in each of the last three years.
Answer
This information is a matterfor the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA) and can be accessed on FETA’swebsite at:
www.feta.gov.uk.
FETA records information fortraffic and revenue purposes on vehicles that cross the bridge, with a singlecategory for all vehicles in excess of 3.5 tonnes. The figures within thiscategory for each of the last three calendar years (northbound only) are shown inthe following table.
| Year | Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes |
| 2004 | 703,824 |
| 2005 | 728,810 |
| 2006 | 716,699 |
