Holyrood, made browsable

Hansard

Every contribution to the Official Report — chamber and committee — searchable in one place. Pulled from data.parliament.scot, indexed for full-text search, linked through to every MSP.

129
Current MSPs
415
MSPs ever elected
13
Parties on record
2,354,908
Hansard contributions
1999–2026
Coverage span
Official Report

Search Hansard contributions

Showing 60 of 2,354,908 contributions. Latest 30 days: 0. Coverage: 12 May 1999 — 25 Mar 2026.
The Convener: Con Committee
23 Nov 2006
Consideration Stage (Approach)
Members will recall that we have already considered and reported on a number of preliminary stage issues in our preliminary stage report, which the Parliament has today agreed.The committee is invited to consider and agree those topics in relation to which, having reached a vi...
The Convener (Phil Gallie): Con Committee
25 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
Good morning and welcome to the fifth meeting in 2006 of the Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill Committee. This will be our final oral evidence session at this stage of the bill. Once again, we have a full house of committee members and I am pleased to see t...
The Convener: Con Committee
25 Sep 2006
Objections<br />(Preliminary Consideration)
The committee is required to give preliminary consideration to the objections that are mentioned in papers AB/S2/06/5/2 and AB/S2/06/5/3. I invite members to express their views on the objections. Should we allow them to proceed to the consideration stage? A quick nod of heads...
Phil Gallie: Con Committee
22 Sep 2004
Edinburgh Tram (Line One) Bill: Preliminary Stage
Yes, to a point. I want to clarify that I understand the point correctly. Objection 181 suggests several elements of contravention of the ECHR, but the legal adviser seems to be saying that those issues can be considered in detail at the consideration stage, as with the other ...
Phil Gallie: Con Committee
22 Sep 2004
Edinburgh Tram (Line One) Bill: Preliminary Stage
In the past, I have found that many things that get tied up with the ECHR are weird and wonderful, and difficult to sort out. However, I would be most annoyed if we recommended to the Parliament that it should proceed with the bill, only for us to find out later that there are...
Phil Gallie: Con Committee
28 Sep 2004
Edinburgh Tram (Line One) Bill: Preliminary Stage
Will that paper be before us before we start considering the bill? Is that something that we can determine at the preliminary stage?
The Convener: Con Committee
04 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
I welcome the first panel of witnesses. They are David McDougall, president of West Lothian Chamber of Commerce; Douglas Millar, chief executive of Lanarkshire Chamber of Commerce; and David Elder, president of Lanarkshire Chamber of Commerce.I will put the first question to t...
The Convener: Con Committee
04 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
That is helpful. Thank you.
The Convener: Con Committee
04 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
Thank you. Mr Elder, do you have anything to add?
The Convener: Con Committee
04 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
I would like to ask a question arising from Mr McDougall's comments. At present, is there a high number of people from North Lanarkshire going eastwards passing people from Lothian going westwards?
The Convener: Con Committee
04 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
I would like to ask specifically about the £340 million, because I know that chambers of commerce are careful with their cash. Do you think that the project would be good value?
The Convener: Con Committee
04 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
That is an interesting remark.
The Convener: Con Committee
04 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
You say that bus services stop at 6 or 7 at night. Is there a reason for that other than a lack of passengers?
The Convener: Con Committee
04 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
Next week, the committee will take evidence on the location of stations, and on 18 September we will consider integration with bus services. We will cover those issues, but the chambers of commerce will not be back to give evidence. I think that Lanarkshire Chamber of Commerce...
The Convener: Con Committee
04 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
Your written evidence refers to an additional 16 car parking spaces at Airdrie station. Why 16, and why is that so important?
The Convener: Con Committee
04 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
There will be a large car park at Drumgelloch with additional parking spaces. Will that not attract existing users of Airdrie station a little bit eastward?
The Convener: Con Committee
04 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
I accept that.
The Convener: Con Committee
04 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
The committee has no further questions. Do the witnesses want to add anything to what they have said?
The Convener: Con Committee
04 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
Thanks very much, Mr Elder. I thank the panel for coming along today. I ask Mr Craig, Mr McFarlane and Ms Woodburn, from Scottish Enterprise, to step forward. I welcome you all. You have seen the format, and we will start the questions immediately. I start with a question simi...
The Convener: Con Committee
04 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
I recognise that £340 million is quite a sum. At the same time, to invest it in the railway perhaps brings both short-term and longer-term results. If Glasgow, the Lothians or Lanarkshire had their portion of that £340 million to spend, would they have better ways of spending ...
The Convener: Con Committee
04 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
The promoter suggests that the provision of the line will create something like 1,500 jobs through connectivity by 2021, which is about 150 jobs a year. Is that good value from Scottish Enterprise's point of view? Is that figure realistic? Would you be more optimistic?
The Convener: Con Committee
04 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
Thank you for coming along and for your submissions.I ask the representatives from North Lanarkshire Council to come to the table and welcome them to the committee. You have sat through the first part of the meeting, so you will understand the format. I will start with a quest...
The Convener: Con Committee
04 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
So the £340 million investment in the transport link will be a real aid to your development ambitions.
The Convener: Con Committee
04 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
We do not have a copy of the economic appraisal document to which reference has been made. From the figures that were given, the document sounds interesting. Would it be possible for a copy to be passed to the clerk as soon as possible?
The Convener: Con Committee
04 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
It would be good to have the North Lanarkshire input.
The Convener: Con Committee
04 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
In your response to Janis Hughes, you said that the railway line was a very important development. With respect to your overall ambitions of social inclusion and economic development and so on, is the railway line the most important thing that can happen?
The Convener: Con Committee
04 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
After we have finished our evidence-taking session with this panel, we will break for lunch. Therefore, the witnesses from West Lothian Council and others who want to slip out until after lunch are free to do so. However, I am sure that they are riveted by the evidence that we...
The Convener: Con Committee
04 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
We will return to buses at a later date, but this panel will not return. You may ask your question if you feel that it is relevant to the panel.
The Convener: Con Committee
04 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
Is it perhaps to the council's advantage not to have the discussions on contributions at this stage, because there will still be the possibility of pulling in funding at a later stage, as each application is dealt with, at which point the money would presumably go back to the ...
The Convener: Con Committee
04 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
The committee will consider the points that you have made. Do you have anything to add?
The Convener: Con Committee
04 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
We appreciate your written submissions and the oral evidence that you have given today. Thanks very much. We look forward to receiving the document to which we referred earlier.I suspend the meeting until after lunch, as I warned. We will recommence at 13:40.
The Convener: Con Committee
04 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
I welcome the representatives of West Lothian Council. You sat through this morning's activities, so you know the ropes. On that basis, you have probably guessed the first question. Could you use the £340 million better? Do you think that it represents wise investment and is i...
The Convener: Con Committee
04 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
Thanks very much. I think that the promoter will be happy with that response, but I will leave that to it.
The Convener: Con Committee
04 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
I wish to ask Mr Malcolm about transportation interests. One of the problems that I always encounter is the build-up of traffic on the M8 around Bathgate and Livingston, both at night and in the morning. Will the railway be guaranteed to do something to improve that, or will a...
The Convener: Con Committee
04 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
I acknowledge the wider aspects, but my question was more specific.
The Convener: Con Committee
04 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
Members have no more questions, so I thank all the witnesses for attending and for the evidence that they have submitted.We will hear from the promoter next. Welcome, gentlemen—some of us met last week when the committee inspected the line, which was interesting for all concer...
The Convener: Con Committee
04 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
In some of the assumptions that you have made—the assumption about the number of jobs that were likely to be created over 10 years has been referred to—it was suggested that you have been rather pessimistic. Could the factor of 1.81 be improved with further consideration?
The Convener: Con Committee
04 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
I want to pick up on economic development and social regeneration, about which others from deep within the communities have said much today. Given the objectives that have been set with respect to transport investment, how could the railway uniquely aid economic development an...
The Convener: Con Committee
04 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
I am concerned that you propose to run, at one particular station, a 30-minute service rather than a 15-minute service. I realise that you can adapt and change the scheduling of services as time goes on, but it seems to me that to have a reduced service at Drumgelloch station ...
The Convener: Con Committee
04 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
I am looking to get the maximum economic development gain from the project. I would expect that, after an investment of £340 million, a given station's service might improve.
The Convener: Con Committee
04 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
In your written evidence, you state that if the railway is not constructed, many of the areas that are already defined as deprived communities"would not develop as quickly as if the line was built unless other equivalent measures were adopted". You have explained that initial ...
The Convener: Con Committee
04 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
We will deal with bus services at a future meeting.Jeremy Purvis asked about the relation of new housing developments to planned stations. Can you give us a feel for that?
The Convener: Con Committee
04 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
We will hear from the Minister for Transport and Transport Scotland next week and the promoter will follow. That might be a good point to pick up then.
The Convener: Con Committee
04 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
I declare an interest in that rolling stock in Ayrshire and Inverclyde.I thank the witnesses very much for coming along. I suspect that we will see quite a lot of one another in the coming weeks. I have a point to make that I think the clerk has already spoken to you about. La...
The Convener (Phil Gallie): Con Committee
11 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
I formally open the third meeting in 2006 of the Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill Committee, and our second oral evidence-taking meeting.This is the first time that a committee of the Parliament has met in Airdrie—we are delighted to be in such palatial su...
The Convener: Con Committee
11 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
I have a feeling that if we do not come on to it, you will. Thank you for your welcome and for your opportunism in picking up on the traffic problems.
The Convener: Con Committee
11 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
I am sure that other people on the panel will pick up on that point, as will others who will contribute later.
The Convener: Con Committee
11 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
We have now gone through the whole panel. From now on, I ask those who wish to contribute on specific points in response to my colleagues' questions to concentrate on those points.
The Convener: Con Committee
11 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
Given how spread out Blackridge is, is it not the case that bus services would have to be added to take people to the station to coincide with the trains?
The Convener: Con Committee
11 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
To be fair, we have covered that, so the witnesses should just hit on any points that they feel have not been made.
The Convener: Con Committee
11 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
The committee certainly picked up on problems with the station in Armadale town centre.Jeremy Purvis wanted to come in on one point, but we have reached his questions. The witnesses have made such widespread comments that some of the issues will be addressed again in future qu...
The Convener: Con Committee
11 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
Mr Steele wants to come in. Once he has spoken, I will go to Janis Hughes and then the members of the panel can sum up their comments.
The Convener: Con Committee
11 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
Thank you for that. We will no doubt pick that issue up with the promoter later on.
The Convener: Con Committee
11 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
Thanks, Mr Webster. Karen Whitefield will make the final comments on what we are discussing.
The Convener: Con Committee
11 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
I thank the members of the panel for their contributions. You have given us a lot to think about. The promoter is listening in and I am sure that you have given it a lot to think about too. You have presented the local community interests very well indeed. Karen Whitefield ref...
The Convener: Con Committee
11 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
Network Rail will realise why we parked there. I ask those who were due to be on the first panel to step forward. We will be talking about the cycle path interests. I welcome the panel, which comprises representatives from Sustrans, TRANSform Scotland, North Lanarkshire access...
The Convener: Con Committee
11 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
Spokes has suggested that it is happy for cyclists to be squeezed in under bridges alongside rail tracks. Are there any dangers in that?
The Convener: Con Committee
11 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
We have not talked about cyclists taking their bikes on trains. The arguments about health apply at both ends. What are your views on the facilities that Network Rail and the train companies provide for cyclists? Should we consider those?
The Convener: Con Committee
11 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
None of your colleagues disagrees with that comment. Thank you for coming along. I am sure that your comments on signage will be picked up, possibly by the next panel, which includes representatives of North Lanarkshire Council.Mr Wagstaffe suggested that he might have somethi...
The Convener: Con Committee
11 Sep 2006
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill: Preliminary Stage
After that powerful contribution, Jeremy Purvis has a question.
← Back to list
Committee

Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill Committee, 23 Nov 2006

23 Nov 2006 · S2 · Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill Committee
Item of business
Consideration Stage (Approach)
Gallie, Phil Con South of Scotland Watch on SPTV
Members will recall that we have already considered and reported on a number of preliminary stage issues in our preliminary stage report, which the Parliament has today agreed.The committee is invited to consider and agree those topics in relation to which, having reached a view in its preliminary stage report, or generally, it does not wish the assessor to take any further evidence as set out in annex C. Do we so agree?

In the same item of business

The Convener (Phil Gallie): Con
Welcome to the eighth meeting in 2006 of the Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill Committee, for which, once again, we have a full turnout.T...
Members indicated agreement.
The Convener: Con
On the handling of the three objections that are concerned with the provision of additional stations, we agreed in our preliminary stage report that we would...
Members indicated agreement.
Alasdair Morgan (South of Scotland) (SNP): SNP
As the committee is to consider the three objections in group 37 and not refer them to the assessor to consider, will the approach to gathering evidence and ...
The Convener: Con
I think that that would be sensible. Perhaps the clerk could write to those objectors, indicating that, as the committee will consider their objections, they...
Members indicated agreement.
The Convener: Con
The clerk will write to those objectors accordingly.On the issue of the timetable for phase 1, as set out in annex B, we considered a provisional timetable a...
Members indicated agreement.
The Convener: Con
Members will be aware that the process at the first phase of the consideration stage is quasi-judicial in nature. Therefore, it is important that clear, enfo...
Members indicated agreement.
The Convener: Con
On paragraph 24, it might be beneficial to all parties if a more precise timetable is prepared that identifies which groups will be considered on which dates...
Members indicated agreement.
The Convener: Con
Paragraphs 26, 27, 28, 31 and 32 seek to ensure the smooth running of the oral evidence hearings. Do members agree that we indicate to the assessor that, whe...
Members indicated agreement.
The Convener: Con
Members will recall that we have already considered and reported on a number of preliminary stage issues in our preliminary stage report, which the Parliamen...
Members indicated agreement.
The Convener: Con
The committee is invited to agree that it will indicate to the assessor that he should feel free to question witnesses at any stage of their oral evidence, i...
Members indicated agreement.
The Convener: Con
A further way to avoid unnecessary repetition of oral evidence is for individual groups that fall within a similar geographical area, and whose objections ar...
Members indicated agreement.
The Convener: Con
The guidance on private bills states that the promoter should present its closing statement in relation to a particular group of objections immediately prior...
Members indicated agreement.
The Convener: Con
The paper proposes that, when the assessor concludes the oral evidence hearings, he will prepare and submit a report that includes recommendations on the obj...
Members indicated agreement.
The Convener: Con
There will be no extension to the deadline for the assessor's report, nor will the timetable for oral evidence be rearranged to accommodate last-minute discu...
Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): LD
Before I indicate agreement, I seek advice. If the assessor believes that more time is required for the discussions, will he be able to express that view to ...
The Convener: Con
Given the timetable for the bill, the date is more or less cast in stone. If the assessor picked up on anything exceptional, we would have to call an emergen...
Jeremy Purvis: LD
So that would be the mechanism. That is fine.
The Convener: Con
Are members agreed?