Chamber
Plenary, 14 Mar 2007
14 Mar 2007 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Edinburgh Airport Rail Link Bill: Final Stage
In the preliminary stage debate on the bill, I said that inadequate information on the project's funding and on alternative and more cost-effective methods of establishing a rail link to the airport had been provided to the Parliament, and I requested that the promoter and the Scottish Executive provide further information on those matters for the later stages of the bill. I make no apologies for doing that.
The Edinburgh Airport Rail Link Bill Committee also expressed frustration at the lack of funding information. It is only now, with a settlement of BAA's contribution to the project, that the picture has become clearer. I note from the consideration stage report that the value of that contribution is significantly lower than the £80 million that was being bandied about at one point. That suggests that BAA's negotiating strategy of branding EARL "desirable but not necessary" has, from its standpoint, achieved the desirable result of ensuring that its contribution has been slashed to a fairly token level, which has consequently increased the cost to the taxpayer.
As Mr Andy Kerr demonstrated only yesterday, it is amazing what largesse is available in the weeks and months leading up to the dissolution of a Parliament. As the Minister for Transport, Mr Scott, has confirmed, 99 per cent of EARL's costs will be borne by the Scottish Executive's budget. A very firm believer in the principle that money grows on trees, he has assured the committee and this Parliament not only that the Scottish Executive will fund almost the entire EARL project but that the money is in place for all the other major transport infrastructure projects that the Parliament has approved to date—not forgetting, of course, the Cabinet's recent commitment to a second crossing over the River Forth, which, as far as expenditure is concerned, will dwarf them all.
I remain highly sceptical about whether all of this can be achieved and whether having a rail link and a tramline to Edinburgh airport can be justified, given the excellent service that Lothian Buses already operates to the airport.
The Edinburgh Airport Rail Link Bill Committee also expressed frustration at the lack of funding information. It is only now, with a settlement of BAA's contribution to the project, that the picture has become clearer. I note from the consideration stage report that the value of that contribution is significantly lower than the £80 million that was being bandied about at one point. That suggests that BAA's negotiating strategy of branding EARL "desirable but not necessary" has, from its standpoint, achieved the desirable result of ensuring that its contribution has been slashed to a fairly token level, which has consequently increased the cost to the taxpayer.
As Mr Andy Kerr demonstrated only yesterday, it is amazing what largesse is available in the weeks and months leading up to the dissolution of a Parliament. As the Minister for Transport, Mr Scott, has confirmed, 99 per cent of EARL's costs will be borne by the Scottish Executive's budget. A very firm believer in the principle that money grows on trees, he has assured the committee and this Parliament not only that the Scottish Executive will fund almost the entire EARL project but that the money is in place for all the other major transport infrastructure projects that the Parliament has approved to date—not forgetting, of course, the Cabinet's recent commitment to a second crossing over the River Forth, which, as far as expenditure is concerned, will dwarf them all.
I remain highly sceptical about whether all of this can be achieved and whether having a rail link and a tramline to Edinburgh airport can be justified, given the excellent service that Lothian Buses already operates to the airport.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid):
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S2M-5685, in the name of Scott Barrie, that the Parliament agrees that the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link Bill b...
Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab):
Lab
The Edinburgh Airport Rail Link Bill was introduced on 16 March 2006. It seeks powers to provide the promoter, Transport Initiatives Edinburgh Ltd, with stat...
Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab):
Lab
The member says that the bill will do a lot more than just provide for the building of a rail link to the airport, but has the committee fully considered the...
Scott Barrie:
Lab
The committee examined fully the effect that the proposal might have on services in the central belt and further afield. We put Pauline McNeill's point to Ne...
Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP):
SNP
In the evidence that he gave on behalf of Network Rail, Ron McAulay said that, if the EARL project is constructed,"that will have an adverse impact and … we ...
Scott Barrie:
Lab
I think that I addressed that point, in part, in the response that I gave to Pauline McNeill. Although some journeys that are diverted via the airport may ta...
Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD):
LD
Some concerns remain. The committee has said that there should be a code of construction practice and local construction codes. Will the member give us more ...
Scott Barrie:
Lab
The committee was satisfied by the fact that the requirement for a code of construction practice is incorporated in the bill. We will thus be able to ensure ...
The Minister for Transport (Tavish Scott):
LD
I thank the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link Bill Committee and its convener, Scott Barrie, for their work on the bill. I pay tribute to the committee clerks, the...
Pauline McNeill:
Lab
I put to the minister the same point that I put to Scott Barrie. Before I vote on the bill this evening, I would like an assurance from the minister that he,...
Tavish Scott:
LD
We considered the matter closely and we do not envisage that there will be anything other than a very minimal impact in relation to the Glasgow airport rail ...
Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP):
SNP
As the minister is now expressing confidence about the capacity of the industry to deliver the new rolling stock, can he tell us precisely what the additiona...
Tavish Scott:
LD
I cannot give Mr Adam that answer today, as we have only just entered the rolling stock procurement programme—as I have said repeatedly in written answers to...
Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP):
SNP
I will set out the SNP's position on EARL—I hope not in an insipid way. We offer a clear alternative to what all the other parties offer on the issue. We do ...
Tavish Scott:
LD
He is making it up.
Fergus Ewing:
SNP
It is the SNP's view—despite the minister's habitual running commentary, which we enjoy during these debates—that the money can be better spent on other proj...
Tavish Scott:
LD
Will the member give way?
Fergus Ewing:
SNP
In a moment.At present, our rail network is running at or near capacity. The SNP's view is that we must invest to increase that capacity. Otherwise, we will ...
Tavish Scott:
LD
Does Mr Ewing believe that Network Rail is wrong to have made the Edinburgh airport rail link part of its route utilisation strategy?
Fergus Ewing:
SNP
We do not believe that EARL is a pivotal part of Network Rail's route utilisation strategy. A more important part of the strategy is to reduce journey times ...
Bristow Muldoon (Livingston) (Lab):
Lab
Will the member take an intervention?
Fergus Ewing:
SNP
I will finish this point, if I may.We need to effect major improvements to our road network throughout Scotland. Plainly, it is not possible to make all impr...
Tavish Scott:
LD
Yes you have.
Fergus Ewing:
SNP
The minister says, "Yes you have," but the record will show that we have clearly stated that the SNP recognises that long-term objectives must include, for e...
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con):
Con
Does the member accept that if Scotland's capital is a great deal less competitive in communications than other European capitals, that will be to Scotland's...
Fergus Ewing:
SNP
I accept that point in principle. Indeed, the SNP has developed policies to tackle that very problem. For example, we will provide substantial opportunities ...
Tavish Scott:
LD
I am very glad about that.
Fergus Ewing:
SNP
Does the SNP support EARL? The answer is: no, no and no. Instead, we will invest the money for the good of the whole of Scotland.
David McLetchie (Edinburgh Pentlands) (Con):
Con
In the preliminary stage debate on the bill, I said that inadequate information on the project's funding and on alternative and more cost-effective methods o...
Iain Smith (North East Fife) (LD):
LD
Does the member accept that the major benefit of the rail link is that it will serve people who travel from elsewhere in Scotland, whereas the proposed traml...