Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20136 on 26 March 2014. 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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Measures will be put in place in the contracts to ensure disruption during construction is minimised as far as is possible. Two way traffic will be maintained in each direction during peak times and agreed key events in order to keep the disruption to a minimum at those times. At this stage in the project's development it is too early to determine what impact, if any, the construction works are likely to have on rail traffic.

The David MacBrayne Ltd (DML) Group is undertaking a commercial technology transformation programme focussed on network connectivity, digital customer services and data management. This will improve DML’s customer experience, make it easier for customers to engage with DML, and improve ways of working within the business by enabling better internal communications. The programme is fully aligned to Scotland's national digital strategy as well as enabling community sustainability. The programme is also aligned to Transport Scotland's smart and integrated ticketing strategy.

Procurement is being undertaken in line with procurement best practice governance and in the accordance with the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2012. The tendering is being led by the DML’s internal procurement team.

The technology transformation programme covers a number of dependent projects which will deliver through 2014 and 2015. Where appropriate, and in line with best practice, DML will bring in short-term external contractor resource to supply specialist skills. The level of this resource will vary throughout the contract life cycles. All projects are sponsored by a member of the David MacBrayne Ltd Group's management team and include appropriate subject matter experts from the business.

When DML started their procurement in January 2013, the Scottish Wide Area Network (SWAN), led by the Scottish Government contract had not been awarded due to a delay caused by a legal challenge by BT. The court case was resolved to a point where the contract was awarded in February 2014. The expectations of the SWAN team were that only the lead partners would be able to contract before 2015. However, due to the nature of DML’s requirements and geographical spread, SWAN would need to make use of the Next Generation Broadband project infrastructure which is due to be completed at the end of 2016 in the Highlands and Island and 2017 for the rest of Scotland. Therefore the earliest opportunity for DML to roll out a SWAN service would be likely to be 2017, so the SWAN roll-out plans do not fit with DML’s timetable. However, DML’s network will be standards based which allow them to interface with SWAN in the future and the DML supplier contract will allow for this.

As DML are currently engaged in the procurement phase of the main projects it would not be appropriate to comment on potential suppliers or technologies. The anticipated level of investment is currently commercially confidential.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20136 on 26 March 2014. 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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20136 on 26 March 2014. 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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Phase 1 of the Aberdeen to Inverness line improvements, which includes the new stations at Dalcross and Kintore and phase 2 of improvements on the Highland Main Line are fully funded within the Office of Rail Regulations (ORR) overall regulatory determination for Control Period 5 (2014-19) and will be delivered by Network Rail by March 2019.

Future phases of the Highland Main Line project will be delivered in subsequent control periods to 2025 and future phases of Aberdeen to Inverness by 2030. Associated funding requirements will be determined by the ORR.

Improving the connection between Perth and Inverness will be by both an upgrade to the Highland Main Line and dualling of the A9. Both projects promote sustainable economic growth by better connecting Inverness and the Highlands with the Central Belt. Both the A9 Dualling Programme and the Highland Mainline are programmed to be completed by 2025.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20136 on 26 March 2014. 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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Variable message signs are used by the Scottish Government to manage the trunk road network by providing advanced warning to drivers of emergencies and incidents. That is their primary use. Only when there are no emergencies or incidents to report, the signs are used to warn drivers of events that may cause delays in the future (e.g. road works or major events), provide reliable journey time information and to also promote background messages that support road safety, network operation and other related campaigns.

The background messages have been developed in consultation with a number of key stakeholders and we try to apply them with a degree of intelligence. For example, if a route has a high motorcycle accident rate during the summer, we will display relevant road safety messages on that route during that period. If traffic queues on a route every morning, we will display car sharing or public transport messages on that route during the morning peak.

We believe our network of 205 variable message signs is an important asset, which should be fully utilised to influence driver behaviour and promote a safer and more efficient transport network. We constantly look for opportunities to improve the effectiveness of our background messages and will look to introduce a message to stress the importance of regular eye tests.

In 2012 there were 12 cases where it was considered that drivers with uncorrected defective eyesight had contributed to injury road accidents. Information on contributory factors is collected by the police as part of the GB wide ‘STATS 19’ accident data collection. It should be noted that they reflect the reporting officer’s opinion at the time of reporting the accident and are based on the information which was available at that time, and have not been revised in the light of any subsequent extensive investigation.