Borders Railway

Question Time — Scottish Executive – in the Scottish Parliament at 2:30 pm on 2 October 2003.

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Photo of David Mundell David Mundell Conservative 2:30, 2 October 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria it will apply when assessing the business case produced to support a request for Executive funding of the Borders railway. (S2O-523)

Photo of Nicol Stephen Nicol Stephen Liberal Democrat

The business case will be assessed in accordance with the Scottish transport appraisal guidance.

Photo of David Mundell David Mundell Conservative

Will the minister confirm that, in order to provide the funding, he will require a positive net present value, as he required in the case of all the roads that were approved under the strategic roads review?

Photo of Nicol Stephen Nicol Stephen Liberal Democrat

The Scottish Executive is committed to supporting the construction of the Borders railway. We have already invested more than £2 million in the project by supporting the Waverley railway partnership. A bill is now before the Parliament and I hope that the project continues to make good progress. The Executive is committed to that.

Photo of Jeremy Purvis Jeremy Purvis Liberal Democrat

The minister will be aware of the long-term strategic importance of the rail line to my constituents and I hope that a long-term view will be taken when the business case is considered.

The Tories' conversion to rail is rather novel. Can the minister tell the chamber how many rail projects were completed under 18 years of Tory rule compared with how many have been supported by the Executive?

Photo of Nicol Stephen Nicol Stephen Liberal Democrat

"Very few" and "a lot" are the respective answers to those questions.

Photo of Christine Grahame Christine Grahame Scottish National Party

I have had a batch of written answers that tell me nothing about the criteria for assessing the business case for the Borders railway but are merely holding answers. Here is the minister's opportunity. I asked him which ScotRail routes would have passed the business case test that will be applied to the Waverley railway line, to which he answered:

"I shall reply to the member as soon as possible."—[Official Report, Written Answers, 1 October 2003.]

The time has come. Will the minister give me an answer?

Photo of Nicol Stephen Nicol Stephen Liberal Democrat

It is obviously important—[ Interruption. ] I will give the written answer in due course. I still do not have the information that Christine Grahame requests, but I will give her a full and fair answer as soon as I have the information.

It is important that Christine Grahame realise that all projects now go to STAG appraisal, as it is called. It is important that we have a procedure for assessing a range of projects. [Interruption.] I am not sure whether she wants to hear the answer, because she continues to interrupt. It is important that we have a method of appraisal for all projects, whether they are road projects or public transport projects. We now have such a system. I hope that she will welcome that, and also the shift in emphasis that we are making towards public transport investment.

We are committed to supporting the Borders rail link. Christine Grahame should have been present in the chamber last night when her party's spokesperson on transport was less than whole-hearted in his commitment to the Borders rail link. I am confident that it will be this Executive rather than any SNP Administration that will deliver the Borders rail link for Scotland.