Cairn Gorm Funicular Railway (Hansard, 4 July 1996)

§ Mr. Graham
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 14 March,Official Report, column 730, if he will publish the financial and economic assessment of the proposed Cairn Gorm funicular railway provided by Highlands and Islands Enterprise; and if he will make a statement. [35216]

§ Mr. Kynoch
The financial and economic assessment undertaken by Highlands and Islands Enterprise of the proposed funicular railway is subject to commercial confidentiality.

§ Mr. Graham
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what level of grant aid has been offered, by his Department or its agencies, to the Cairn Gorm Railway Co. to support the construction of a funicular railway on Cairn Gorm. [35217]

§ Mr. Kynoch
None. My right hon. Friend is considering a request from Highlands and Islands Enterprise for his approval to the proposed of financial assistance to the Cairngorm Chairlift Co. for the construction of a funicular railway on Cairn Gorm. No decision on the request has yet been taken.

§ Mr. Graham
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 29 April,Official Report, column 375, if he will list the criteria he will use to judge the application for approval to incur expenditure by Highlands and Islands Enterprise on the proposed Cairn Gorm funicular railway. [35215]

§ Mr. Kynoch
In considering the request from Highlands and Islands Enterprise for approval of the proposed financial contribution to the Cairn Gorm 511W funicular railway, my right hon. Friend will take into account a range of criteria, including the need to ensure that the proposed contribution represents value for money.

§ Mr. Graham
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what research has been commissioned by(a) his office and (b) the Highlands and Islands Enterprise to estimate the socio-economic benefits of the proposed Cairn gorm funicular railway; what was the cost of this research; and if he will make the results available to the public. [35213]

§ Mr. Kynoch
No research into such matters has been commissioned by the Scottish Office. The research commissioned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise is an operational matter for the organisation and I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.