Parliamentary questions

Fergus Ewing

2,894 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

27 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the tariff rebate subsidy scheme has been suspended and, if so, (a) on what date the decision to suspend the scheme was taken and by whom, (b) what consultation was undertaken prior to any such decision, (c) when it will decide whether to re-instate the scheme and (d) what econom…

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has carried out investigations into the administration of the Tariff Rebate Subsidy (TRS) scheme for bulk freight, following concerns that one or more of the operators in receipt of support under the scheme may not have been complying w…

26 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-5091 by Mr Andy Kerr on 21 January 2004, whether it will provide a breakdown of the #6.7 million capital expenditure on the Holyrood project in 1998-99 into payments (a) to architects (b) to the construction manager (c) to construction engineers (d) …

Answer · Andy Kerr: <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> </td> <td> Breakdown </td> <td> Cost </td> </tr> </thead> <tr> <td> (a) </td> <td> Architects </td> <td> £1.2 …

23 Jan 2004 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer whether there is not, within the full trade contract entered into between the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body (SPCB) and Flour City (UK) Ltd, any legal duty of confidentiality owed to the trade contractors whether by the SPCB, the construction managers or anyone else and, if there this,…

Answer · George Reid: Within the full tradecontract entered into by the SPCB and Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd,there is no general obligation of confidentiality owed by the SPCB. Theconstruction manager, in that capacity, does not contract with tradecontractors, and con…

23 Jan 2004 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer whether any errors, as referred to in 8.5 of the pro forma trade contractors agreement in the Construction Management Agreement for the Holyrood project, have been detected in the drawings and designs provided by Flour City (UK) Ltd.

Answer · George Reid: The convener of the HolyroodProgress Group has confirmedthat Flour City'sdrawings were checked and subsequently developed to a conclusion, between thedesign team and the various replacement trade contractors, including amendments to suit differing constructio…

23 Jan 2004 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer whether unpriced copies of the two letters of intent entered into between the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body and Flour City (UK) Ltd will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Answer · George Reid: The SPCB has received advicefrom its construction law legal advisers that documents relating to the FlourCity Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd contract should not be disclosed, as theymay form part of the productions in any litigation which may follow.

23 Jan 2004 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer whether the architects for the Holyrood project did not comply with the instructions in the Scottish Parliament Building User Brief that the shape of the debating chamber should be of a horseshoe or semi-circular arrangement when they brought forward designs that based the shap…

Answer · George Reid: The Scottish ParliamentBuilding User Brief suggests that “a horseshoe or semi-circular arrangementwould appear to be the most appropriate” This wording allows the architect somelicence to explore variations to that layout. I understand from the convener of th…

23 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government regarding the impact on the Scottish budget of any increase in the salary of the former Permanent Secretary for the year prior to his retirement.

Answer · Andy Kerr: None.

20 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of each component of the cost of relocating the headquarters of Scottish Natural Heritage to Inverness, detailing the assumptions upon which each is based, with particular reference to its estimate regarding (a) obtaining new premises in Inverness, (b) …

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Chief Executive ofScottish Natural Heritage (SNH) wrote to the Parliament’s Finance Committee on 10 November 2003 withdetails of the cost estimates for various aspects of the relocation included inSNH’s project plan. As Tavish Scott made clear to the Fina…

20 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking, or plans to take, to improve the rate of collection of council tax.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Responsibility for billing andcollecting council tax rests with local authorities. Council tax in-yearcollection rates have improved year on year since 1998-99. In recent years, the Scottish Executive has introduced legislation to allow the advancementof the …

20 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking, or plans to take, to improve the time within which housing associations pay their bills to suppliers; whether each such association publishes a record of the percentage of bills paid within 30 days and, if not, whether the Executive will require them to do so.

Answer · Margaret Curran: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive, Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is asfollows:Registered Social Landlords(RSLs) are regulated and inspected by Communities Scotland. Communities Scotlanddoes not, however, get involved in the…

20 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been dismissed from each local authority's employment in each of the last five years.

Answer · Tavish Scott: This information is not heldcentrally.

20 Jan 2004 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer what information the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) has in respect of whether the parent company guarantee from the construction managers for the Holyrood project was to be obtained without charge; whether it can now be obtained without charge, and whether the SPCB can requi…

Answer · George Reid: I am informed by the convenerof the Holyrood progress group that a parent company guarantee is beingprovided without charge.

20 Jan 2004 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer what information the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) has in respect of who took the original decision not to require a parent company guarantee from the construction managers for the Holyrood project; what information the SPCB has in respect of whether advice was given in rel…

Answer · George Reid: The SPCB has no informationon any of these issues. The file record is unclear as to why the parent companyguarantee was not taken up before now.

20 Jan 2004 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will now require the construction managers for the Holyrood project to provide a parent company guarantee.

Answer · George Reid: I am informed by the convenerof the Holyrood progress group that a letter has now been issued to Bovis LendLease requesting that they provide a parent company guarantee in accordancewith Clause 20.1 of the construction management agreement.

19 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has provided all relevant documents that relate to the designer competition to the Holyrood Inquiry and who within the Executive is responsible for ensuring that all such documents are provided.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The Executive hasco-operated fully with Lord Fraser’s Investigation in the provision of relevantdocuments to the Inquiry and has also provided documents to witnesses who havethen submitted them in support of their evidence to the inquiry.A small team h…

19 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether public sector staff who have a mobility clause in their contract are entitled to a redundancy payment if they decline to relocate along with their organisation.

Answer · Andy Kerr: This is dependent upon thecircumstances of each relocation. The entitlement of any individual employee toa redundancy payment will depend on the terms and conditions of service thatapply contractually to that individual. In some circumstances, the custom andp…

19 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a mobility clause in the contracts of employees of Scottish Natural Heritage and, if so, whether it will place a copy in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Employee contracts are anoperational matter for Scottish Natural Heritage.

14 Jan 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether further building development in Newtonmore, Kingussie, Boat of Garten and Nethybridge will be postponed for three years due to lack of capacity of the existing sewage works and, if so, what its position is on the matter.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Dealingwith development constraints in specific locations is an operational matter forScottish Water. Theseand other investment requirements, will be considered either in the currentQuality and Standards II programme, or in the Quality and Standards III proce…

13 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether its programme to fund outdoor pursuits for children will be provided all year round.

Answer · Peter Peacock: It is for local authoritiesto determine, in the light of local needs and circumstances, how and whenactivities supported by the available funding should be provided.

12 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the #69 million to fund outdoor pursuits for children has been allocated for capital expenditure and how this element will be spent.

Answer · Peter Peacock: None of the funding madeavailable under the Scottish Executive’s National Priorities Action Fund or the NewOpportunities Fund’s Activities Programme is specifically allocated for capitalexpenditure.Funding to support thebuilding or refurbishment of spo…

12 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the announcement of a #69 million programme to fund outdoor pursuits for children, how the total of #69 million was calculated, who will be responsible for implementing this programme, whether there will be a policy to avoid duplication of facilities, such as avoiding buil…

Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive has been committed to providing support for out of school hourslearning activities since 1999. The £69 million referred to in a recent mediaarticle is the amount of funding being made available to local authorities upto 2005-06 by the S…

8 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to conduct a review of its public sector procurement policy and practice in light of the impact of Ballast plc being placed in administration on the East Lothian public private partnership schools project.

Answer · Andy Kerr: There are no immediate plansto review the Executive’s public sector procurement policy.

8 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made in respect of the level of fees levied by Deloitte and Touche in relation to Ballast plc being in administration, in light of the impact of the matter on the East Lothian public private partnership schools project.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Matters concerning companiesbeing placed in administration are reserved. The Executive has no locus tointervene.

8 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the impact on the East Lothian public private partnership schools project of Ballast plc being placed in administration, what steps it will take to ensure that sub-contractors receive the money that they are due and whether it has any plans to introduce provisions to allow pu…

Answer · Andy Kerr: Wherea main contractor has been placed in administration, payments due to the maincontractor will usually form a part of that contractor’s assets and it is forthe administrator to determine whether any further sums are due from theconsortium.The Execut…

8 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in relation to the East Lothian public private partnership schools project contract with Ballast plc, there was any provision of a performance bond, parent company guarantee or other measure designed to protect against the insolvency or non-performance of the contractor.

Answer · Andy Kerr: It is normal in many publicprivate partnership situations to have measures of the kind you mention. Theseare generally required by the consortium lenders. These protect the lenders,and ultimately the public sector by assisting the consortium to providecontinu…

8 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish, or direct the local authority to publish, the contract documents in relation to the East Lothian public private partnership schools project contract with Ballast plc.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Publication of contracts isa matter for each client authority. The Scottish Executive encourages public authoritiesto comply with best practice on openness, for example, public authorities areexpected to publish final business cases. Information should only b…

8 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make any representations to Her Majesty's Government in support of an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ballast plc being placed in administration, in light of the impact of this matter on the East Lothian public private partnership schools project.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive does not intend to make any representations to Her Majesty’s Governmentin support of an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ballast plcbeing placed in administration.

8 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made in respect of the renovation or restoration of Kinloch Castle on Rum; whether it has any plans to restore and preserve the castle and, if so, how the restoration will be funded; what information it has on the current estimated cost of restoration, and whet…

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Executive has made nosuch representations and has no such plans. Kinloch Castle isowned and managed by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) so this is an operationalmatter for SNH to take forward.

7 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is in respect of the statement by Historic Scotland that Castle Tioram in Moidart should be ruins in a landscape and whether it has any plans to allow the castle to be restored and, if so, what steps it will take to facilitate the restoration.

Answer · Frank McAveety: Castle Tioram is a scheduled monument and thus of national importance for its archaeological and historicinterest. At the public local inquiry held in 2001 into an application forscheduled monument consent for the restoration of the castle, Historic Scotlanda…

6 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the civil service advice to ministers in respect of the relocation of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), with particular reference to the choice of Inverness as the location for the new headquarters for SNH and the input of SNH and its consultants in connection with …

Answer · Ross Finnie: The advice given to ministersis exempt from disclosure under Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information (Internal discussion and advice). This is in line with thelong standing convention that it is in the public interest to mai…