On what dates since 1 July 1999 ministers have made reported statements or comments in support of the Larkhall rail link and what timescale…

Strathclyde Passenger Transport is the lead authority taking this project forward. As the Scottish Executive is the major funder of the Larkhall to Milngavie rail link, Scottish ministers have made numerous reported statements and comments in support of this rail link. Key statements made include the joint funding package with Strathclyde Passenger Transport of £23 million (27 August 2001) and, more recently, the agreement in principle by the Rail Regulator to a solution to issues around the performance regime applied to Railtrack (30 September 2002). I refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-3811 on 13 June 2000, S1W-5863 on 27 April 2000, S1W-14515 on 9 April 2001, S1W-17805 on 24 September 2001, S1W-17856 on 18 September 2001, S1W-19847 on 23 November 2001, S1W-20663 on 28 December 2001, S1W-20800 18 February 2002, S1W-21213 on 28 January 2002, S1W-22010 on 25 February 2002, S1W-22693 on February 2002, S1W-23553 on 15 March 2002, S1W-25032 on 9 May 2002, S1W-26181 on 17 June 2002, S1W-26336 on 17 June 2002 and S1W-29636 on 30 September 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.