- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 14 February 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 16 March 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made since September 2010 on final design work for the reopening of Conon Bridge railway station.
Answer
The development of a station at Conon Bridge was identified as a local/regional priority by HITRANS in their Regional Transport Strategy. Progress on the detailed design work for the station is a matter for HITRANS and its transport partners.
The meeting held on 10 September 2010 with Stewart Stevenson focused on the funding arrangements, such as, design work and construction costs for the proposed station. We will shortly be determining the outcome of HITRANS'' request for a contribution towards the design costs for the project.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 14 February 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 16 March 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive what further steps are needed for the reopening of Conon Bridge railway station; how the reopening process will be managed, and what the timescale is.
Answer
The steps required to be undertaken to enable Conon Bridge Station to be re-opened are:
| Network Rail Process | Timescales |
| Detailed Design Work | Up to 6 months |
| Procurement Stage | At least 6 to 9 months |
| Construction and Commission | Up to 12 months |
It is anticipated (subject to funding being made available) that Network Rail would take over the scheme as project manager to enable the procurement and construction work to take place.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 February 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 4 March 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider publishing guidance on the teaching of the theory of intelligent design such as Guidance on the Place of Creationism and Intelligent Design in Science Lessons published for England and Wales.
Answer
The curriculum in Scotland is not based on statutory prescription. It is for schools, in light of the curriculum framework within which they operate, to determine how best to organise the syllabus.
However, there are no plans to include intelligent design within Curriculum for Excellence guidance and there is no evidence to suggest that intelligent design is being taught in science classes.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 February 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 4 March 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the validity of intelligent design as a scientific theory and whether it should be taught in science lessons.
Answer
As intelligent design is not a scientific theory it is not included within Curriculum for Excellence guidance. Schools are free to determine, in light of the curriculum framework in which they operate, how best to organise the syllabus but there is no evidence to suggest that intelligent design is being taught in Scottish local authority schools.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 March 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 3 March 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth has had with Highland Council regarding the future of the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music.
Answer
I have not discussed this issue with Highland Council but the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning has and he clearly indicated his determination to achieve a successful outcome here.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 February 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 3 March 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive what average length of time it takes the Scottish Police Service to undertake a toxicology report.
Answer
The processing time for toxicology analysis carried out by the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA) on behalf of Scotland''s police forces varies from case to case, and depends on a number of factors. These include whether the analysis is for criminal investigations or post-mortem cases, the level of screening required and the range of substances identified from a sample.
The SPSA has provided average turnaround times for toxicology cases for the calendar year 2010. These are:
Post-mortem - 88 days from receipt at the SPSA laboratory to final report
Criminal cases (excluding drink driving) - 80 days
Criminal cases (drink driving) - 19 days.
As part of an ongoing modernisation programme at SPSA, the authority is reviewing all of its standard operation procedures and staff ratios in all disciplines and this will have a positive impact on the time taken for key analysis work.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 24 February 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 24 February 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made to secure the long term financial future of the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music.
Answer
We welcome the decision by Highland Council to maintain funding to the centre during school year 2011-12 as this allows time for all parties to consider how best to ensure its long term future, a process which is just beginning. The member already has an assurance of the Scottish Government''s determination to achieve a successful outcome to this endeavour.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 December 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 20 January 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the economic impact of the delays to traffic resulting from the planned repairs to the Cromarty Bridge.
Answer
No assessment of the economic impact to traffic delay has been made. The planned repair works are necessary to ensure the longevity and safety of the bridge and its users. Postponing the works would exacerbate the repair requirements and increase future costs. Traffic delays on the trial refurbishment contract were around 20 minutes at peak times and if journeys are planned in advance taking this into account the impact on the economy should be minimised.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 December 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 20 January 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive how many spans of the Cromarty Bridge remain to be repaired and what the estimated (a) cost and (b) duration is of the planned contract.
Answer
Sixty-three and a half spans of the Cromarty Bridge remain to be repaired after the current trial refurbishment contract is complete. The estimated cost of the remaining repairs is approximately £21 million, if the works were undertaken as a single contract lasting approximately 36 to 48 months. Alternative options may be looked at in the future to split the remainder of the refurbishment work into smaller duration contracts to avoid traffic delay over the longer period required for a single contract and to spread the overall cost over a number of years.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 December 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 20 January 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive what the design life is of the repairs planned for the Cromarty Bridge and how this compares with that of a replacement bridge.
Answer
The planned repairs at Cromarty Bridge have a design life of approximately 20 to 30 years, depending on the nature of the repair. Modern designed structures have a design life of 120 years, however regular maintenance and remedial works will be required throughout this period. Following the refurbishment repairs at Cromarty Bridge, the need for future maintenance will be significantly reduced due to the use of cathodic protection that slows down the rate of corrosion of steel used in reinforced concrete.
