Parliament Workbench
Data: Motions & questions to 19 Nov 2026 · Votes to 12 Nov 2026

Motion For Debate · S4M-04165 · Session 4

Rail

Carried Lodged by Elaine Murray Lab Lodged 17 Sep 2012 Debate 19 Sep 2012 1 supporter

The motion

That the Parliament notes the announcement on 4 July 2012 by the Minister for Transport and Veterans of a revised Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP); believes that this announcement should have been made first to the Parliament rather than via a press release during the summer recess; believes that this reflects the lack of consultation and information available on the revised EGIP; understands that, among the changes, vital elements have been lost, including the cancellation or reduction of the planned electrification of various sections of railway lines, which would have improved journey times and lessened the environmental impact, as part of an overall cut of £350 million; calls on the Scottish Government to confirm who took the final decision to reduce EGIP's budget and explain the rationale behind the changes to the original plans; recognises the concerns that have been expressed by trade unions and the business community regarding the cuts to EGIP and believes that this decision runs counter to the Scottish Government’s stated aim of investing in infrastructure to stimulate the economy and to the SNP’s 2011 manifesto commitment on EGIP, and expresses concern that, as a result of these changes, businesses, passengers and areas will lose out.

What MSPs voted on: the motion as amended

Labour’s motion was rewritten by an SNP amendment (S4M-04165.2) before this vote. A vote ‘for’ was a vote for the SNP’s wording.

That the Parliament
197 words removed by S4M-04165.2notes the announcement on 4 July 2012 by the Minister for Transport and Veterans of a revised Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP); believes that this announcement should have been made first to the Parliament rather than via a press release during the summer recess; believes that this reflects the lack of consultation and information available on the revised EGIP; understands that, among the changes, vital elements have been lost, including the cancellation or reduction of the planned electrification of various sections of railway lines, which would have improved journey times and lessened the environmental impact, as part of an overall cut of £350 million; calls on the Scottish Government to confirm who took the final decision to reduce EGIP's budget and explain the rationale behind the changes to the original plans; recognises the concerns that have been expressed by trade unions and the business community regarding the cuts to EGIP and believes that this decision runs counter to the Scottish Government’s stated aim of investing in infrastructure to stimulate the economy and to the SNP’s 2011 manifesto commitment on EGIP, and expresses concern that, as a result of these changes, businesses, passengers and areas will lose out.
S4M-04165.2 SNP welcomes the substantial increase in the number of people using rail; recognises that punctuality and reliability are currently at record levels; notes the record investment in rail since 2007, including new lines between Airdrie and Bathgate and Stirling and Kincardine; also welcomes the announcements of 21 June and 4 July 2012 by the Minister for Transport and Veterans of a £5 billion programme of future investment in rail, including the new Borders Railway, and details of the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP); further recognises that EGIP will bring faster journeys, new trains, enhanced capacity, a new station at Edinburgh Gateway, improvements to Edinburgh Haymarket station and previously unplanned improvements to Glasgow Queen Street; further welcomes the commitment to future electrification of the network through EGIP and the High Level Output Specification, and believes that this announcement is fully consistent with the Scottish Government’s stated aim of investing in infrastructure to stimulate the economy and that, as a result, businesses, passengers and areas will benefit.

Final wording as read into the Official Report at Decision Time. The marked changes are worked out by this site from the amendment texts and match that wording.

Amendments

  1. S4M-04165.2 SNP Keith Brown Agreed vote, 64–55
  2. S4M-04165.1 Liberal Democrat Jim Hume Not put to a vote (worked out by this site: never called at Decision Time: not selected or not moved)

Signatures by party

1 MSP besides the lodger · 0 from other parties
Lab 1

Party on the day each MSP signed. Signing a motion is voluntary and not whipped. Who signs whose motions

Vote

1 division
  1. 19 Sep 2012
    Rail
    S4M-04165as amended by SNP
    Carried
    64 for, 55 against, 1 abstained

Amendments

2
  1. S4M-04165.1
    Rail
    Jim Hume LD Lodged 18 Sep 2012
    No recorded vote
  2. S4M-04165.2
    Rail
    Keith Brown SNP Lodged 18 Sep 2012
    Carried
    64 for, 55 against

Supporters

1 MSP

Lab 1

Show all 1 supporter by party

Lab 1

Party shown is each supporter’s party when the motion was published.

In the Official Report

3 contributions mention S4M-04165
  1. 19 Sep 2012
    Rail
    Elaine Smith Lab Meeting of the Parliament

    The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-04165, in the name of Elaine Murray, on rail.14:40

  2. 19 Sep 2012
    Decision Time
    Tricia Marwick Meeting of the Parliament

    There are six questions to be put as a result of today’s business. The first question is, that amendment S4M-04165.2, in the name of Keith Brown, which seeks to amend motion S4M-04165, in the name of Elaine Murray, on rail, be agreed to. A…

  3. 19 Sep 2012
    Decision Time
    Tricia Marwick Meeting of the Parliament

    The next question is, that motion S4M-04165, in the name of Elaine Murray, as amended, on rail, be agreed to. Are we agreed?Members: No.