Chamber and committees

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.

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.

The Scottish Executive remainsfully committed to ensuring that sufficient trains are provided to meet projectedpassenger demand and does not expect the re-opened Airdrie to Bathgate line to havea detrimental impact on the existing Helensburgh services.

The rolling stock procurementplan currently being developed by Transport Scotland includes considerationof requirements for services between Airdrie and Bathgate. Details of which vehicleswill be deployed on each route are still being developed.

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

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.

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

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

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.

At this time, no decision hasbeen made on the actual type of rolling stock that will service the route.

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

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 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.

Capacity has been significantlyincreased on rail services in Scotland with the introduction of 29 new Class 170turbostar diesel trains in 2004 and the procurement of a further four Class 170trains in 2005. This has allowed better deployment of resources which in turn hasallowed the available capacity on some services at peak times to be increased. Inaddition, a number of platform extensions has now been completed on the Dunblane/Bathgateto Edinburgh line, the East Kilbride line and the Fife Circle thusallowing longer trains with additional capacity to stop at these stations.

Therehas been a number of new services and service enhancements across the Scottish railnetwork, including:

newLarkhall-Milngavie services introduced in December 2005 increasing the frequencyof services between Hamilton and Glasgow and Milngavie and Glasgow;

Invernet project introduced fivenew services in the Inverness area in December 2005;

improvedfrequency of services between Lanark and Glasgow;

increasein services on the Barrhead line to run earlier in the morning and later in theevening;

extendedservices between Motherwell and Cumbernauld now operating later in the evenings;

anew commuter service in the morning peak from Ayr to Glasgow, and

a new hourly Sunday service betweenCumbernauld and Glasgow Queen Street.

The Scottish Executive is committing70% of our transport budget to public and sustainable transport over the periodof our 10-year investment plan. Since 2003, we have introduced a number of initiativesaimed at promoting sustainable transport, including:

A national concessionary faresscheme, with funding capped at £159 million for 2006-07, enabling older and disabledpeople to travel free anywhere in Scotland by bus;

The £22 million Bus Route DevelopmentGrant, which provides kick-start funding for new and enhanced bus services;

£1.2 million Regional SelectiveAssistance funding towards Scotland’s first large-scale biodiesel plant, near Motherwell;

£1 million grant funding towardsregional transport partnerships to fund travel plan officers;

£750,000 core-funding of CyclingScotland, an independent organisation, to provide a greater focus on achieving thetargets of the National Cycling Strategy;

£9.5million in grants to cycle charity Sustrans to develop the National Cycle Networkin Scotland, with a further £8 million announced on £20 June 2006;

Funding worth £575,000 in eachof three years for the stepchange pilot initiative, which aimed to encouragea more efficient use of cars and an increase in alternative modes of travel at locallevel;

£56million towards the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG), which recognises the publicservice aspect of bus services, and passes on benefits to passengers through mitigationof fare increases, and

Publishing Scottish PlanningPolicy 17, which promotes an integrated approach to land use, economic development,transport and the environment.

In addition, since 2003 we havecontinued to support further initiatives, including:

Traveline Scotland, a telephone,internet and SMS travel enquiry service providing public transport timetable andjourney planning information to travellers in Scotland;

Transport Direct, the UK-widedoor-to-door journey planner and travel information service:

Awards through the Freight FacilitiesGrant scheme, which aims to encourage thetransfer of freight from roads;

School Travel Co-ordinators;

Grant funding towards safer routes to school and cycling, walking and saferstreets projects (CWSS)

Working with the UK Governmenton new fuel technology such as biofuels and low carbon vehicle technology), and

Publishing the National TransportStrategy which will take a broad view of the development of Transport in Scotland overthe next 20 years.

The Scotland-wide free bus schemefor older and disabled people was introduced on 1 April 2006. Older and disabledpeople who hold a National Entitlement Card can travel free by bus anywhere in Scotland on localbuses and long distance scheduled coaches throughout the day. The Executive’s RuralCommunity Transport Initiative enables mainly elderly and disabled people and otherswho are unable to access conventional public transport to visit family and friends;to access shopping, medical and other social facilities and to take part in communitylife.

On rail, First ScotRail, as partof the £10 million Station Investment Plan, are committed to improving access atfour major stations, in addition to investing £250,000 per year in small scale works,including ramps to platforms, anti-skid flooring on footbridges, stair markings and installationof handrails, to improve access at stations throughout Scotland. The choice of workswill be carried out with Mobility Access Committee for Scotland andTransport Scotland.

On ferries, the Executive ismaking every effort to improve passenger access facilities at the shore to vesseltransition stage for its network of lifeline ferry services. Record levels of piersand harbours grants have been paid out to qualifying projects. The Executive hasalso invested almost £25 million in piers and harbours since 2000 involving improvementsto passenger access.