Wednesday 4 July 2012

SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Governance and Communities Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact on local authority planning department budgets of the costs associated with planning applications for wind farm developments. (S4W-08170) Derek MacKay: No such assessment has been made, however information on the general impacts of processing planning applications is given in page 1 of Consultation on Fees for Planning Applications 2012 published by the Scottish Government in March 2012. The consultation can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/03/3164/downloads.

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Executive , further to the answer to question S4W-07454 by Fergus Ewing on 13 June 2012, what percentage of the 30% emissions target has been achieved. (S4W-08201) John Swinney: The latest published performance data for the Scottish Government is for 2009-10 and shows a decrease in CO2 from energy use of 3.7% from the baseline year of 1999-2000. This published report can be found at: www.scotland.gov.uk/publications/2011/11/01111158/0. We have a number of actions underway to improve our performance. Under our Transforming Our Workplace programme we will reduce the size of the Scottish Government estate by 25% by March 2016 and improve the levels of occupancy in our remaining buildings by rationalising the use of space and exploring co-location opportunities. We are also undertaking a programme of work to improve the energy performance of our buildings. We intend to publish our environmental performance data for 2010-11 and 2011-12 in the autumn as part of our duty in regard to public sector sustainability reporting.

Elaine Murray (Dumfriesshire) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive what railway stations have been opened or reopened in each year since 1999 and how much funding it provided toward each. (S4W-08250) Keith Brown: Station Dunfermline Queen Margaret Howwood Beauly Brunstane, Newcraighall Edinburgh Park Gartcosh Kelvindale, Larkhall, Merryton, Chatelherault * Alloa ^ Laurencekirk Bathgate # Blackridge # Armadale # Caldercruix # Drumgelloch # Opened January 2000 March 2001 April 2002 June 2002 December 2003 May 2005 December 2005 May 2008 May 2009 October 2010 December 2010 March 2011 March 2011 March 2011 Total Cost 1.8 million 1.23 million 0.2 million 11 million 4.5 million 3.5 million 35.6 million 2.4 million 3.5 million 2.7 million 3.5 million 1.9 million 2.4 million 2.2 million Scottish Government Funding Nil Nil Nil SG 8.5 million Nil Nil SG 28.1 million SG 2.28 million SG 2.9 million SG fully funded SG 2.5 million SG fully funded SG fully funded SG fully funded

Notes: [*] Cost breakdown for the four stations delivered within the Larkhall line re-opening is not available but the total project cost was 35.6 million. [^] Station built as part of Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine line re-opening cost was 85 million. [#] Five stations built as part of Airdrie-Bathgate line re-opening cost was 375 million. New stations have recently been delivered within larger rail enhancement projects.

Elaine Murray (Dumfriesshire) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive which (a) housing developments and (b) local authority areas will participate in the New Supply Shared Equity with Developers Scheme. (S4W-08256) Keith Brown: The housing developments by local authority area that have been approved to participate in the New Supply Shared Equity with Developers Scheme in 2012-13 are provided in the following table. Developer Beshouse Residential Properties Limited Persimmon Homes Cruden Homes West Persimmon Homes Upland Developments Persimmon Homes Ogilvie Homes Limited Persimmon Homes PACT Enterprises Limited Persimmon Homes Pat Munro (Alness) Limited Pat Munro (Alness) Limited Rathven Investments Project Smithcroft Road, Glasgow Whiteacres Road, Parklands, Glasgow Golspie Street/Harhill Street/Govan Road, Glasgow Ashwood Gait, Edinburgh 76-82 Gorgie Road, Edinburgh Bowmore Road, Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire Dovecot Steading, Haddington, East Lothian Crookston Court, Larbert, Falkirk Hugh Place, Lochgelly, Fife Trondheim Parkway, Dunfermline, Fife Old Milnafua Road, Alness, Highland Sutherland Road, Dornoch, Highland Dalfaber Neighbourhood Centre, Dalfaber Drive, Aviemore, Highland Local Authority Area Glasgow City Council Glasgow City Council Glasgow City Council Edinburgh City Council Edinburgh City Council East Ayrshire Council East Lothian District Council Falkirk Council Fife Council Fife Council Highland Council Highland Council Highland Council Midlothian Council Midlothian Council Midlothian Council Orkney Islands Council Orkney Islands Council Scottish Borders Council

Taylor Wimpey East Scotland Hopefield Grange, Bonnyrigg, Midlothian Mansell Homes Queensberry Properties Limited Vogrie Road, Gorebridge, Midlothian Woodland Grange, Dalkeith, Midlothian

Orkney Builders (Contractors) Papdale Loan/Close, Orkney Limited Orkney Builders (Contractors) Back Road, Orkney Limited Berwickshire Limited Station Drive, Todlaw, Duns, Scottish Borders

Developer Stanley Brash Construction Persimmon Homes Cruden Homes East Ogilvie Homes Limited Persimmon Homes Tighean Innse Gall Tighean Innse Gall Ogilvie Homes Limited

Project Wilderhaugh, Galashiels, Scottish Borders Blackadder Way, Chirnside, Scottish Borders Stirling Bridge, Stirling New Park Gardens, Stirling The Quarry, Doune, Stirling Allt Na Broige, Marybank, Isle of Lewis, Western Isles Tong Road, Isle of Lewis, Western Isles Atholl Way, Livingston

Local Authority Area Scottish Borders Council Scottish Borders Council Stirling Council Stirling Council Stirling Council Western Isles Council Western Isles Council West Lothian Council

Elaine Murray (Dumfriesshire) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications there have been for the purchase of council-owned properties under the (a) preserved and (b) modernised right to buy scheme in each year since 30 September 2002. (S4W-08257) Keith Brown: This data is provided by local authorities on the basis of financial years and is available up to 2010-11. The information is contained in the following table: Financial Year Applications under Preserved Right to Buy 28,245 20,700 20,808 16,462 14,291 11,328 4,826 3,442 2,679 Applications under Modernised Right to Buy 11 546 1,103 1,486 1,971 2,027 1,481 1,292 1,065 Total

2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11

28,256 21,246 21,911 17,948 16,262 13,355 6,307 7,734 3,744

John Lamont (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses have appealed their non-domestic rates since 2007 and what average time was taken to settle the appeals. (S4W-08321) John Swinney: The Scottish Government publishes quarterly statistics on Non-Domestic Rates Revaluation Appeals, providing information on the number of properties for which revaluation appeals were lodged at 2005 and 2010 revaluations and the rate at which these appeals have been resolved. These statistics can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Local-Government-Finance/NDR-Rates-Relief. Health and Social Care Stewart Maxwell (West Scotland) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards have established a fracture liaison service.

(S4W-08096) Nicola Sturgeon: Up and About or Falling Short?, a report of the findings of a mapping of services in Community Health and Care Partnerships (CHCPs) for falls prevention and management and fracture prevention in older people in Scotland, was published on the Scottish Government website in May 2012. The report was produced by the National Falls Programme in association with WorksOut as part of the Delivery Framework for Adult Rehabilitation in Scotland. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/05/6979/downloads. The report recognised that there is a need to capitalise consistently on opportunities to prevent recurrent falls and fractures, and it identified that 25 out of 38 CHCPs (this figure includes the three sectors within Glasgow CHP) have fracture liaison services in place. To help address this gap in provision, one of the recommendations in the report is that health and social care services should establish Fracture Liaison Services (or equivalent), with referral protocols and pathways to multidisciplinary services providing secondary falls prevention. The implementation of the actions and recommendations in the report will be monitored by the Scottish Governments Chief Health Professions Officer. Strategy and External Affairs Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that any of the recommendations made in the report by the Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee of the National Assembly for Wales, The future outlook for the media in Wales could be applied in Scotland. (S4W-08174) Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government is aware of the report by the Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee of the National Assembly for Wales, The future outlook for the media in Wales. There is a commonality between many of the reports recommendations such as on developing the Welsh broadcasting sector, increased production levels and greater accountability of broadcasting institutions to the Welsh people and recommendations previously made by the Scottish Broadcasting Commission.

Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how many and (b) what percentage of consultations by Ofcom it has responded to in the last two years. (S4W-08177) Fiona Hyslop: Ofcom is the independent regulator and competition authority for the communications industries, including telecommunications, broadcasting and the postal service. Since June 2009 Ofcom has conducted 234 consultations on a broad range of subject areas. The Scottish Government responds to consultations when appropriate; including responding to the recent consultation on licensing local television.

Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has a protocol with the UK Government for dealing with reserved broadcasting issues. (S4W-08178) Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has an over-arching Memorandum of Understanding with the UK Government on how to work together, responsibilities of the respective governments and best practice for the relationship. There is also a concordat agreement between the Scottish Government and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. The purpose of this document is to act as a guidance document on working practices to ensure a close and effective working relationship.

Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Executive what responsibilities owners of derelict listed buildings have to ensure that their property does not fall into serious disrepair. (S4W-08221) Fiona Hyslop: All building owners have a general responsibility to maintain their property. There is no specific additional responsibility for the owners of unoccupied listed buildings. If it appears to a local authority that such a building is defective or dangerous they are empowered under sections 2830 of the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 to carry out remedial works and to pursue the building owner for the expense incurred. Transport Scotland Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with representatives of the haulage industry regarding increasing HGV speed limits on trunk roads. (S4W-08226) Keith Brown: Officials from Transport Scotland meet representatives of the Road Haulage Association and Freight Transport Association periodically. Speed limits for HGVs on A-roads have been one of many issues discussed.

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider increasing HGV speed limits from 40mph to 50mph on trunk roads. (S4W-08227) Keith Brown: We currently have no plans to increase the speed limits applying to HGVs on trunk roads, although we do now have the power to do so under the Scotland Act 2012.

Elaine Murray (Dumfriesshire) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive how many new trains it has funded in each year since 1999. (S4W-08251) Keith Brown: Scottish Ministers assumed responsibility for the rail franchise in Scotland in 2005. The Scottish Government through ScotRail lease all of the trains in its fleet directly from Rolling Stock Operating Companies [ROSCOs] as part of its Franchise funding arrangements. These leases are in place until the end of the current Franchise in November 2014. ScotRail has added the following trains to its operating fleet since 2005. 2006 5 class 322 electric trains for use on Edinburgh N Berwick routes 2008 8 class 158 diesel trains for use on Aberdeen- Fife Edinburgh routes 2011 38 class 380 new electric trains in Ayrshire, Inverclyde and east Lothian.

Elaine Murray (Dumfriesshire) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive where the responses to Rail 2014 - Public Consultation have been published. (S4W-08252) Keith Brown: The responses have been published on the Transport Scotland website: http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/strategy-and-research/publications-and-consultations/railpassenger-services-2014.

Elaine Murray (Dumfriesshire) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consult further on the criteria that would initiate a break in the next ScotRail franchise after five years.

(S4W-08253) Keith Brown: The detail of the specification for the next franchisees is currently being drawn up. The criteria being considered for the break clause in the ScotRail franchise include growth in passenger numbers and improvements in overall performance. A programme of ongoing consultation with key stakeholders is currently being drawn up so that the development of the specification of the forthcoming franchises can be discussed.

Elaine Murray (Dumfriesshire) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) discussion or (b) consultation it has initiated regarding the (i) criteria for, (ii) governance of and (iii) application process for bids to the Scottish Stations Investment Fund. (S4W-08254) Keith Brown: Transport Scotland has received 12 enquiries about individual station proposals as a result of the announcement. The governance, criteria and application process for the Scottish Stations Investment Fund will be discussed and agreed with key stakeholders over the coming months. The outcomes of the Rail 2014 consultation will inform our thinking in this regard. In the meantime, interested parties are encouraged to discuss their proposals with their local Regional Transport Partnership, to consider whether these fit with local and regional objectives.

Elaine Murray (Dumfriesshire) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to bring forward proposals on future rail fare levels following its consideration of the responses to Rail 2014 - Public Consultation. (S4W-08255) Keith Brown: A range of options for the setting of regulated fares is currently being modelled. We also intend to expand fares regulation to protect those in rural areas as well as commuters. The levels at which regulated fares will be set for the next franchise will be included in the franchise specification. The following questions received holding answers:
S4W-08098 S4W-08135