Questions and answers

Question reference: S3W-23167

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 April 2009
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 14 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive which communities in Tayside will not be broadband-enabled by June 2009.

The former Scottish Executive delivered access to broadband provision to every Scottish community, as defined using census output areas, in December 2005. This was achieved through its £16.5 million Broadband for Scotland project, in which BT, under contract to the Scottish Executive, upgraded 378 rural telephone exchanges for broadband provision.

The Scottish Government''s current Broadband Reach Project, which is being delivered by Avanti Caledonian Broadband Ltd, is providing a basic, affordable broadband service to the known demand from those households and businesses which still remained without broadband access following the Scottish Executive''s 2005 project, mainly due to distance from the exchange. Deployment of the current project commenced in July 2008 and will complete in May 2009. Locations within Tayside where at least one of the premises has been enabled for broadband under the current project are as follows:

Aberfeldy

Abernyte

Acharn

Alyth

Ardargie

Ardoch

Ardtalnaig

Auchterarder

Balintore

Blairgowrie

Brechin

Burnside of Kilry

Craichie

Craigdallie

Delnamer

Dykends

Enochdhu

Fasnacloich

Forfar

Forgandenny

Glenesk

Glen Fincastle

Glen Prosen

Glenalmond

Kingoldrum

Kirkmichael

Kirriemuir

Lawers

Montrose

Mosston

Abernythe

Path of Condie

Perth

Pitlochry

Rannoch

Rhynd

Ruthvenfield

St Cyrus

Strathtummel.

Question reference: S3W-23229

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 April 2009
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 11 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive how many higher education students have been declared bankrupt or have petitioned for bankruptcy in each of the last 10 years.

The following tables shows Scottish domiciled Student Loans Company (SLC) borrowers who have declared sequestration (been declared bankrupt) in each financial year from 1998-99 to 2007-08. This table includes both those who are currently undertaking higher education courses and those who have finished their studies.

Financial Year in which Borrowers Entered Sequestration	Number of SLC Borrowers Entering Sequestration
1998-99	75
1999-2000	110
2000-01	110
2001-02	135
2002-03	150
2003-04	205
2004-05	230
2005-06	320
2006-07	360
2007-08	320
Total	2,020

Source: SLC.

Notes:

1. Student numbers have been rounded up or down to the nearest five.

2. The figure are for Scottish domiciled borrowers only.

3. The SLC does not hold details of those borrowers who are petitioning for sequestration.

4. The figures include all those who have a loan product from the SLC or who have ever had one and have declared sequestration where the SLC has been notified of the sequestration.

5. Those declaring IVA (Individual Voluntary Agreement) or Trust Deed are not included.

Question reference: S3W-23174

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 April 2009
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 8 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline the investment provided for Stirling and Dunblane train stations since 2007.

Question reference: S3W-23173

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 April 2009
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 8 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline the investment provided for Perth, Dunkeld and Birnam, Pitlochry and Blair Atholl train stations since 2007.

All four stations have benefited from new investment, (Perth £350,000 Pitlochry £170,000 Dunkeld and Birnam £50,000 and Blair Atholl £50,000) from the Scottish Government, First ScotRail and Network Rail since 2007

Improvements to facilities include a renewed customer information systems (CIS) and an expansion of the car park at Perth along with the installation of closed circuit TV (CCTV) and CIS at Pitlochry. Other enhancements include new passenger help points and equipment to enable automated public announcements.

Question reference: S3W-23257

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 April 2009
Current Status: Answered by Tricia Marwick on 7 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body for what reason no portrait of Her Majesty The Queen hangs in the Scottish Parliament complex.

The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body are happy to consider suggestions for new acquisitions and to refer these to the Art Advisory Group for their advice in this area.

The Scottish Parliament''s Art Collection includes two significant pieces which commemorate the Parliament''s relationship with The Queen and which were presented to the Scottish Parliament by The Queen.

The Scottish Parliament mace, designed and crafted by Michael Lloyd, is present whenever Parliament is sitting and commemorates the founding of the Scottish Parliament with the words There shall be a Scottish Parliament - The Scotland Act 1998. The mace was presented by The Queen at the opening ceremony on 1 July 1999.

The Honours of Scotland sculpture, commissioned by the Incorporation of Goldsmiths of the City of Edinburgh and made by silversmith Graham Stewart, symbolises the importance of the three honours of the Scotland; the Crown, the Sword and the Sceptre, in the history of the Scottish Parliament. The sculpture was presented by The Queen to mark the opening of the Scottish Parliament building on Saturday 9 October 2004.

Question reference: S3W-23259

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 April 2009
Current Status: Answered by Tricia Marwick on 7 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will hang a portrait of Her Majesty The Queen in the Scottish Parliament complex.

Question reference: S3W-23258

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 April 2009
Current Status: Answered by Tricia Marwick on 7 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what consideration it has given to hanging a portrait of Her Majesty The Queen in the Scottish Parliament complex.

Question reference: S3W-23119

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 April 2009
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 5 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-19420 by Tavish Scott on 21 September 2005, what the figures for traffic levels on the A9 trunk road between Perth and Inverness have been in each month in the last five years.

The figures below have been extracted from the Scottish Roads Traffic Database from January 2005 to March 2009. The figures are two-way flows (i.e. northbound and southbound flows combined) and are the average daily flow.

Traffic flow data for the trunk road network is published on the Transport Scotland website at www.transportscotland.gov.uk.

A9 Location	January	February	March	April	May	June	July	August	September	October	November	December
2005
Luncarty	11,850	13,579	15,170	16,240	17,108	17,547	18,913	19,818	17,558	16,721	14,109	13,314
Birnam	9,395	10,874	12,437	13,345	14,122	14,554	16,085	16,820	14,611	13,903	11,315	10,634
Moulinearn	9,012	10,539	12,173	13,150	14,207	14,735	16,588	17,467	14,888	13,922	11,042	10,222
Killiecrankie	6,427	7,565	8,694	9,309	9,966	10,392	11,842	12,651	10,620	10,050	7,992	7,476
Glen Garry	5,580	6,613	7,645	8,260	8,897	9,299	10,652	11,013	9,444	8,811	6,719	6,462
Dalnaspidal	5,588	6,627	7,671	8,284	8,941	9,338	10,691	11,057	9,460	8,827	6,721	6,468
Dalwhinnie	5,270	6,239	7,149	7,639	8,144	8,462	9,651	9,984	8,609	8,160	6,323	6,074
Kingussie	5,098	6,025	6,856	7,314	7,085		9,124	9,531	8,245	7,691	6,056	5,873
Aviemore	4,816	5,577	6,497	7,003	7,184	7,544	8,451	8,910	7,878	7,187	5,866	5,686
Tomatin	5,961	6,931	7,832	8,285	8,843	9,395	10,265	11,310	9,727	8,973	7,542	7,374
N Kessock			24,769	26,866	27,767	28,549	29,191	31,180	29,017	26,922	26,044	25,478
2006
Luncarty	12,282	13,950	13,859	17,417	16,887	17,963	19,050	20,083	18,019	17,032	14,755	13,815
Birnam	9,766	11,114	11,070	14,472	13,938	14,998	16,150	16,982	15,019	14,114	11,891	10,987
Moulinearn	9,334	10,835	10,743	14,344	13,955	15,211	16,663	17,859	15,202	14,130	11,571	10,550
Killiecrankie	6,672	7,799	7,670	10,313	9,846	10,703	12,003	12,822	10,830	10,179	8,357	7,759
Glen Garry	5,743	6,831	6,684	9,132	8,703	9,569	10,708	11,167	9,640	8,926	7,063	6,750
Dalnaspidal	5,751	6,840	6,715	9,169	8,751	9,619	10,754	11,214	9,661	8,964	7,098	6,765
Dalwhinnie	5,408	6,382	6,295	8,399	7,942	8,754	9,719	10,083	8,796	8,274	6,630	6,374
Kingussie	5,260	6,173	6,117	8,420	7,677	8,405	9,369	9,783	8,474	8,012	6,445	6,211
Aviemore	5,013	5,791	5,688	7,425	7,392	8,066	8,667	9,190	8,058	7,449	6,311	5,940
Tomatin	6,472	7,419	7,187	9,054	9,150	9,917	10,616	11,399	9,840	9,114	7,926	7,561
N Kessock	19,677		27,444	27,569	28,455	28,295	28,897	27,066	21,841	24,989	27,098	25,740
2007
Luncarty	12,436	14,072	14,822	17,188	17,178	18,048	19,095	20,518	18,015	17,276	15,270	13,848
Birnam	5,762	11,282	11,867	14,309	14,240	15,090	16,177	17,485	15,208	14,472	12,616	11,316
Moulinearn	9,518	10,981	11,740	14,412	14,512	15,429	16,585	18,198	15,508	14,577	12,085	10,733
Killiecrankie	6,719	7,875	8,271	10,197	10,335	11,082	11,979	13,297	10,985	10,382	8,756	7,903
Glen Garry	5,870	6,925	7,272	9,061	9,126	9,974	10,761	11,567	9,817	9,139	7,496	6,917
Dalnaspidal	5,892	6,943	7,318	9,114	9,198	10,043	10,821	11,620	9,873	9,188	7,454	6,915
Dalwhinnie	5,571	6,549	6,839	8,336	8,345	9,164	9,825	10,510	8,949	8,467	6,987	6,487
Kingussie	5,406	6,452	7,011	8,082	8,065	8,829	9,480	10,159	8,652	8,190	6,776	6,308
Aviemore	5,123	5,958	6,368	7,852	7,911	8,580	9,317	10,389	8,652	7,970	6,690	6,109
Tomatin	6,672	7,641	7,936	9,357	9,640	10,368	10,880	11,875	10,109	9,495	8,223
N Kessock	23,819	26,534	27,347	28,583	29,684	29,875	30,265	32,266	29,793	28,380	27,515	26,163
2008
Luncarty	12,538	14,422	15,536	16,133	17,819	17,490	18,227	19,593	17,558	17,115	14,494	13,367
Birnam				12,878	14,759	14,545	15,409	16,741	14,565	14,165	11,680	10,679
Moulinearn	9,595	11,234	12,555	13,045	14,883	14,816	15,963	17,418	14,875	14,449	11,602	10,496
Killiecrankie	6,887	7,982	8,994	9,334	10,498	10,491	11,420	12,224	10,364	10,153	8,263	7,556
Glen Garry	5,981	6,990	7,964	8,298	9,305	9,482	10,221	11,032	9,224	8,956	7,019	6,556
Dalnaspidal	5,984	7,014	7,993	8,324	9,376	9,554	10,289	11,110	9,288	8,983	7,027	6,571
Dalwhinnie	5,669	6,575	7,412	7,687	8,335	8,693	9,042	10,046	8,446	8,272	6,567	6,201
Kingussie	5,500	6,363	7,120	7,430	8,234	8,407	8,757	9,714	8,113	8,010	6,386	6,009
Aviemore	5,233	5,908	6,532	6,897	7,762	8,066	8,466	9,141	7,852	7,613	6,211	5,429
Tomatin												7,546
N Kessock	24,138	26,716	26,954	28,421	29,773	29,388	29,951	31,601	29,739	28,077	26,894	26,029
2009
Luncarty	12,572	14,181	14,455
Birnam	10,000	11,048	11,716
Moulinearn	9,651	10,922	11,821
Killiecrankie	6,907	7,745	8,231
Glen Garry	6,023	6,660	7,021
Dalnaspidal	6,034	6,827	7,290
Dalwhinnie	5,651	6,202	5,772
Kingussie	5,524	6,219	6,625
Aviemore	5,189	5,653	6,361
Tomatin	6,719	7,252	7,877
N Kessock	24,381	25,660	27,326

Where information is missing from the tables, this is the result of failure of the traffic counter or road works.

Question reference: S3W-23169

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 April 2009
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 5 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what investment there will be for Blair Atholl to promote itself as the southern gateway to the enlarged Cairngorms National Park.

Business partnerships already exist which will be able to build on the opportunities of being in the Cairngorms National Park, and I understand that discussions have taken place between these groups and the Blair Atholl Tourism Association. Local businesses can apply in partnership to Visit Scotland''s Growth Fund to support marketing.

On adoption of the revised boundary, the Cairngorms National Park Authority will install a prominent boundary marker on the A9 entry point to the National Park as well as a range of other signage. A proposal for an information point is also currently under consideration with funding from a range of partners.

Question reference: S3W-23116

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 April 2009
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 5 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive whether work on dualling the A9, as set out in the Strategic Transport Projects Review, will commence in 2012 and whether it will detail this work.

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