Borders Railway (Funding)

General Questions – in the Scottish Parliament at 2:00 pm on 22 April 2004.

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Photo of Christine Grahame Christine Grahame Scottish National Party 2:00, 22 April 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in light of recent newspaper reports, it has agreed its share of funding for the Borders railway. (S2O-2049)

Photo of Nicol Stephen Nicol Stephen Liberal Democrat

The Scottish Executive has not agreed its share of funding for the Borders railway in light of recent newspaper reports.

Photo of Christine Grahame Christine Grahame Scottish National Party

Well, there is an honest answer. However, how does that square with other newspaper reports, which I hope the minister has read, that his colleague Jeremy Purvis said—hint, hint—that we should not worry about the funding for the Waverley line because the coalition is committed to it? If Mr Purvis is right, how can the minister say what he just said? I presume that Mr Purvis is wrong and that there is no commitment to fund the Waverley line. Can the minister make the position clear once and for all?

Photo of Nicol Stephen Nicol Stephen Liberal Democrat

I notice that there are still no recent newspaper reports committing the Scottish National Party to the funding of the Waverley rail line. As recently as 31 March, I met with the Waverley railway partnership at a meeting that was convened by Mr Purvis, Mr Robson and Ms Brankin, who actively promote the scheme with other members of the Executive and me to ensure that the Executive provides funding. We now have all the information that we require on the Waverley railway partnership's business case. I will be able to make a decision once I receive from my officials the full report on the completed business case, which I will get soon.

Photo of Jeremy Purvis Jeremy Purvis Liberal Democrat

I am delighted that Miss Grahame is such an avid reader of my press releases. The minister will know that, at the meeting that I convened and chaired on behalf of constituents and the Waverley railway partnership, the issue was the importance of considering long-term, strategic planning for the benefits of the project. Does he agree that that is a better approach than one of carping from the sidelines?

Photo of Nicol Stephen Nicol Stephen Liberal Democrat

It is important to point out that if a new railway line is built in an area such as the Borders, it can bring significant economic, environmental and social benefits. I heard comments on the radio this morning—rather than getting them from one of Mr Purvis's or Ms Grahame's press releases—about general movements in housing costs in Scotland and how, in anticipation of the benefits of the Waverley line, there is growing confidence in the Borders and a shift in housing prices there. Investment in public transport can result in such tangible benefits, which are encouraging to see.

We must go through the full process of analysis and consider all the economic and social benefits for the community. We must also consider the potential benefits for business from tourism and so on. All that work is being done. The Executive is anxious to support the Waverley line scheme, but the right appraisal process must be completed. I am pleased that, because of the meeting on 31 March, the councils and other partners in the Waverley railway partnership have responded. I believe that we have received all the information that is necessary to make a final decision.

Photo of David Mundell David Mundell Conservative

So that I can clarify the position once and for all in my column in the Border Telegraph , will the minister tell us when he will make the announcement on the funding?

Photo of Nicol Stephen Nicol Stephen Liberal Democrat

The track record of the Conservative party, not only in relation to the Borders rail link but in relation to any of the other major public transport projects that the Executive is supporting, is non-existent. It was the Conservatives who pulled money out of public transport and neglected our railways for decades. Given such insecure foundations, it is interesting to see David Mundell now try to put Executive members under pressure on the issue. We are determined to make the decision soon. We are committed to the Borders rail project, as was pointed out in the partnership agreement, and I am confident that, over the next few years, not only with the Borders railway but with a £3 billion programme of investment in Scotland's transport over a 10-year period, we will start to transform the quality of public transport in Scotland. That is something to which I hope everyone in this chamber is committed.

Photo of Rhona Brankin Rhona Brankin Labour

The minister and the Parliament will be familiar with my making the point that Midlothian has absolutely no train service whatsoever. It is one of the few areas in Scotland still to be in that position. With regard to the business case for the Waverley line, is the minister aware of the importance of being able to transport my constituents into Edinburgh in order to support the city's economy? Is that matter being considered in addition to the benefits to both Midlothian and the Borders?

Photo of Nicol Stephen Nicol Stephen Liberal Democrat

It is important to emphasise the fact that there are significant benefits to Midlothian, East Lothian and areas other than the Borders as a result of the Borders rail link to Edinburgh. All those benefits will be looked at and quantified as part of the assessment of the business case that comes forward from the Waverley railway partnership.

Another important announcement that was made this week concerned our investment in Waverley railway station. Without an expansion of the facilities and capacity at Waverley station, it would not be possible to accommodate all the ambitious plans that we have for the Borders railway, the Airdrie to Bathgate line or the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine line. We want to invest in a whole range of improvements and it is vital that we get cracking with those decisions as soon as possible so that we can get on with the really important part of the job—implementing and delivering new rail projects on the ground.

Photo of Sarah Boyack Sarah Boyack Labour

I welcome the minister's answer and particularly his comments about not just developing the Waverley line but having somewhere for it to stop when it reaches Edinburgh. In the context of that answer, will he clarify whether the new platforms and train paths at Waverley station have the capacity to take the Waverley line, or whether other, much needed, central Scotland rail projects will be assumed in that welcome initial stage of the development of Waverley station?

Photo of Nicol Stephen Nicol Stephen Liberal Democrat

The initial stage that we announced this week, which will increase capacity from 24 trains per hour to 28 trains per hour, can accommodate the Borders railway line and the other projects that I mentioned.