- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 24 September 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 11 October 2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether internet providers will be obligated to connect premises in a way that delivers 30Mbps as part of the R100 programme.
Answer
Under the Scotland Act 1998, the legal and regulatory responsibility for telecoms in the UK rests solely with the UK Parliament and UK Ministers. On that basis, the Scottish Government has no powers to obligate Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to provide services to premises in Scotland.
We are using our economic development powers to subsidise a supplier (or suppliers), through the Scottish Governments £600 million Reaching 100 Percent or R100 programme, to deliver a wholesale broadband network capable of delivering speeds in excess of 30Mbps in areas that would not otherwise be served by a commercial service and, in this way we are addressing and helping to overcome market failure. The chosen supplier(s) will be obligated to have an anchor service provider in place and to encourage a wide range of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to use the network.
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 10 September 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 25 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what consultation was undertaken regarding the installation of a pedestrian crossing in Crocketford and with whom.
Answer
A meeting was held with residents of Crocketford and Springholm on 21 March 2017. Mr Humza Yousaf, Minister for Transport and the Islands attended the meeting alongside representatives from Transport Scotland and Police Scotland.
At this meeting the Crocketford residents requested that, along with additional speed reducing measures, a pedestrian crossing be provided. Transport Scotland subsequently commissioned Scotland TranServ (STS) to investigate if there was a demand for a crossing based on current assessment criteria. The investigation found that the most effective crossing facility for the A75 in Crocketford is an uncontrolled pedestrian crossing. Two uncontrolled crossings are programmed to be installed in Crocketford by the end of November 2018.
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 September 2018
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 26 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what contact it has had with the Welsh Government since the recent Joint Ministerial Committee meeting.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 26 September 2018
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 September 2018
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 20 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its commitment to fund the regeneration of the Stranraer Waterfront.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 20 September 2018
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 September 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 12 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support the food and drinks industry.
Answer
We continue to work with farmers, food producers and industry bodies to drive forward the Ambition 2030 food and drink strategy. Our new Programme for Government sets out a range of new measures to support the sector, building on the range of work that is already ongoing.
Indeed, direct investment and support to the food and drink sector in Scotland from the public sector across a range of areas including skills, education, research, industry development, standards and capital investment equates to approximately £100 million per annum.
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 10 September 2018
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 11 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Dumfries and Galloway Council regarding the closure of the new North West Community Campus in Dumfries.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 11 September 2018
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 17 August 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 5 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to protect community benefit funds when a wind farm is sold on.
Answer
The Scottish Government views the voluntary payment of community benefits from renewables developments as an opportunity for local communities to share in the benefits of their energy resource.
Our Good Practice Principles for Community Benefits from Onshore Renewable Energy Developments published in 2014, set out national standards on community benefits. This encourages the development of a legally binding contract between parties covering the lifetime of the project/asset.
The Scottish Government is currently reviewing its Good Practice Principles for Community Benefits (and shared ownership). This work is being taken forward with a view to ensuring that communities continue to benefit from large scale renewable energy developments.
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 August 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 5 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what plans the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity has to visit the major trunk routes in Dumfries and Galloway to review their condition.
Answer
The Scottish Government recognises the importance of the A75 and A77 in connecting the most south westerly communities of Dumfries and Galloway, including the ports at Cairnryan, with destinations in west and central Scotland. The condition of the trunk road network, which includes the A7, A75, A76, A77, A701 and A751 in Dumfries and Galloway, is inspected by Transport Scotland's Operating Companies on a weekly basis. A safe and efficient trunk road network for all road users is of paramount importance to the Scottish Government.
I travelled to Stranraer via the A77 for a meeting with members of Dual the A75 and A77 Action Groups and local MSPs on the 22 August.
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 August 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 5 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to invest in an upgrade of the A75.
Answer
Since 2007 the Scottish Government has invested £75 million in road maintenance and approximately £50 million in six new schemes along the length of the A75 to improve overtaking and remove known pinch points. Transport investment has to be supported by robust evidence and that is why Scottish Government is undertaking the South West Scotland Transport study. This study is considering the rationale for improvements to road, rail, public transport and active travel on the key strategic corridors including the A75 and A77 as well as the railway corridors to Stranraer and Carlisle via Kilmarnock and Dumfries, with a particular focus on access to the ports at Cairnryan.
An Initial-Appraisal report will be produced which will include recommendations setting out possible transport interventions which will be considered through the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2).
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 August 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 5 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to invest in an upgrade of the A77.
Answer
Since 2007 the Scottish Government has invested approximately £59 million in road maintenance and £35 million in four separate schemes on the A77, in addition there is planned investment on the A77 Maybole Bypass with construction costs of £30 million. Transport investment has to be supported by robust evidence and that is why Scottish Government is undertaking the South West Scotland Transport study. This study is considering the rationale for improvements to road, rail, public transport and active travel on the key strategic corridors including the A75 and A77 as well as the railway corridors to Stranraer and Carlisle via Kilmarnock and Dumfries, with a particular focus on access to the ports at Cairnryan.
An Initial-Appraisal report will be produced which will include recommendations setting out possible transport interventions which will be considered through the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2).
