Fergus Ewing

14 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what work is to be carried out in order to repair and resurface the single track sections of the A830; by what date any such work will be carried out, and whether BEAR (Scotland) Ltd will consult Mallaig Community Council in connection with these matters.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: A structural maintenance scheme has been identified for implementation this autumn. The precise nature and scope of the works is currently under investigation and will be finalised during the design period over the summer months. A consultation exercise invol…

14 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a reduction of landing charges at Inverness Airport would support promotion of the tourism industry and, in particular, increase the number of visitors travelling to Inverness Airport.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive's support to Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd already ensures the maintenance of air services which provide tourism access to the Highlands.

14 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make any additional assistance available to Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd in order to enable the company to reduce the standard tariff landing charges at Inverness Airport and, if so, whether such assistance will enable such charges to be reduced to the levels of airp…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Charges at the airports operated by Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd, and grant to the company, will continue to be set at levels which will ensure the maintenance of essential air services.

14 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-23591 by Dr Elaine Murray on 7 March 2002, whether the annual Scottish award for the best publicly funded building will be awarded this year; what consultation there will be as to whether an award should be granted this year; whether the award will b…

Answer · Elaine Murray: I indicated in my earlier answer of 7 March that how to take this forward is currently under consideration. That remains the position. However, I have decided that a Scottish award will not be initiated this year.

13 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any representatives from the tourism industry sit on the Nicholson Committee and, if not, whether any such representatives can be appointed to the committee and whether the committee can be expected to have full and proper regard to the interests of tourists and the tourist indust…

Answer · Jim Wallace: There is no representative of the tourism industry as such on the Nicholson Committee, as it is not possible to include every field of interest if the committee is to function effectively. However, that does not preclude the committee having full and proper r…

12 Mar 2002 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer whether the guarantee document granted by Flour City International Inc. in respect of the obligations of Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd was signed by John W Tang, President and Chief Executive Officer and Johnson K Fong, Chief Financial Officer and, if not, who signed the docume…

Answer · David Steel: The Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group has confirmed that the parent company guarantee was signed by Johnson K Fong for and on behalf of the Guarantor.

12 Mar 2002 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer when legal advice in regard to the recovery of losses resulting from the insolvency of Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) was first sought and from which firm; when such advice was provided, and who is now responsible for taking any decision to incur further costs in the recovery of loss…

Answer · David Steel: Information is currently being sought from the Parliament's legal office which will enable the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body better to consider its position. The Parliament's own legal directorate has been taking specialist legal advice from Shepherd …

12 Mar 2002 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer on what date the tenders were received for the contract for the MSP block wall cladding and windows; on what date the Holyrood Project Team considered the tenders; on what date a recommendation was made by the Holyrood Project Team to the Holyrood Progress Group on which company should be …

Answer · David Steel: Tenders for the MSP cladding and windows were received and opened on 9 October 2000 and I understand from the Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group they were considered by the Design Team, Cost Consultant and Construction Manager from then until 25 January …

12 Mar 2002 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer on what date the initial contract between Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd and the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body became binding.

Answer · David Steel: I understand from the Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group that the Interim Contract was executed on 29 January 2001.

12 Mar 2002 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer on what date the Parent Company Guarantee was (a) dated and (b) received in respect of the obligations of Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd.

Answer · David Steel: The Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group has confirmed that the Parent Company Guarantee was dated 28 September 2001 and was received by the Construction Manager, Bovis Lend Lease Ltd, on 5 October 2001.

12 Mar 2002 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer, further to his answer to question S1W-20309 on 7 December 2001, whether there should now be an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the award of the contract for the MSP block wall cladding and window package of the Holyrood Project to Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd and ho…

Answer · David Steel: The evidence provided on the skills and abilities of Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd prior to the letting of the contract for the MSP building cladding package is being assessed by Audit Scotland as part of their routine audit of the Scottish Parliam…

12 Mar 2002 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer what evidence was provided of the skills and abilities of Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd prior to the contract for the MSP block of the Holyrood Project being awarded to it.

Answer · David Steel: The evidence provided on the skills and abilities of Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd prior to the letting of the contract for the MSP building cladding package is being assessed by Audit Scotland as part of their routine audit of the Scottish Parliam…

12 Mar 2002 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer what the detailed breakdowns are of (a) the current estimate of #3.9 million losses to the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body resulting from the insolvency of Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd and (b) the previous estimate of losses of approximately #2 million.

Answer · David Steel: I understand from the Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group that tenders for the various elements of the MSP cladding package are presently being evaluated and therefore it is not possible to provide a detailed breakdown of this figure. The previous estimat…

12 Mar 2002 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer how much (a) has been spent and (b) is due to be paid in legal costs in connection with the attempted recovery of debt from Flour City International Inc in respect of the losses to the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body resulting from the insolvency of Flour City Architectural Metals (U…

Answer · David Steel: Information is currently being sought from the Parliament's legal office which will enable the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body better to consider its position. The Parliament's own legal directorate has been taking specialist legal advice from Shepherd …

12 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22710 by Ross Finnie on 18 February 2002, what representations or correspondence it has received expressing an opinion on section 9(2)(a) of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill as introduced and, of these, how many (a) supported and (b) opposed the inclu…

Answer · Ross Finnie: Section 9(2)(a) was included following representations received during the consultation on the draft Land Reform (Scotland) Bill. Since the introduction of the bill, concerns have been expressed by some that the inclusion of this provision will curtail the ac…

12 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-23474 by Ross Finnie on 11 March 2002, whether the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill as introduced will clarify the question of whether there is a law of trespass and what its current position is on whether there is such a law at present.

Answer · Ross Finnie: There is a law of trespass in Scotland. Part 1 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill creates a right of responsible access to land (including inland water) for recreational purposes and for passage. For the first time the bill creates clear and unambiguous gener…

7 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to the Boundary Commission for Scotland that, if the boundaries of the constituency of Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber are altered, the new constituency name should be "Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey" and not "Inverness and Badenoch".

Answer · Andy Kerr: This is a reserved matter and as the Scottish Executive does not have a statutory role, it does not intend to make any representations.

6 Mar 2002 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer which companies awarded contracts for the new Parliament Building at Holyrood, other than Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd, (a) had no assets other than #2 share capital, (b) had never traded in the UK and (c) did not produce a performance bond.

Answer · David Steel: None.

6 Mar 2002 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer what the current estimates are of any losses to the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body following the insolvency of Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd, giving a detailed breakdown of any such estimates.

Answer · David Steel: The Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group has confirmed that at this point in time, there are no identified losses. The additional costs to the project arising from the insolvency of Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd, are currently estimated as £3.85…

4 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any (a) powers and (b) plans to give financial relief to fish farms in respect of rents charged by the Crown Estates Commissioners and what information it has received on any such charges collected in other countries for the purposes of assessing their impact on the fish f…

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive has no powers and, therefore, no plans to give financial relief to fish farms, in respect of rents charged by the Crown Estates.<P>The fish farming industry has described the effect that the rents have on their competitiveness, in compa…

4 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has in respect of Crown Estates property and whether it will seek additional powers from Her Majesty's Government, with particular regard to fish farms.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Executive has no powers in respect of Crown Estates property, and has no intention of seeking any.

1 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10883 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 16 January 2001, what progress has been made in the delivery of online public services; whether it supports the delivery of such services through post offices and sub-post offices; whether the appropriate equipment will…

Answer · Allan Wilson: Our modernising agenda is about improving choice in the way services are delivered. The Scottish Executive is therefore committed to a multi-channel approach for the delivery of online public services and is continuing to explore a variety of platforms, inclu…

28 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on its commitment to promote an annual award for the best publicly-funded building; who is being asked to put forward nominations; when the first award will be made; what the award will be; whether buildings built under Public/Private Partnership schemes will b…

Answer · Elaine Murray: The creation of an annual Scottish award for best publicly funded building is one of a number of initiatives to which the Executive is committed under the policy on architecture. How we take this forward is currently under consideration. At the moment, Scotti…

28 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is one minister responsible for policy on architecture and, if so, which minister that is.

Answer · Mike Watson: I have overall portfolio responsibility for architecture. My deputy, Dr Elaine Murray has direct ministerial responsibility for policy on architecture.

28 Feb 2002 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer, further to his answer to question S1W-22708 on 18 February 2002, which design services that Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd was under contract to provide were not completed; what the cost of those services was to have been and, if no specific sum was stipulated under the contract…

Answer · David Steel: The design services not completed by Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd mainly comprised detailing of interfaces between complex cladding elements and the cost of completing that work would have been £117,500. I understand from the Convener of the Holyr…

27 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22875 by Allan Wilson on 22 February 2002, which locations are being considered for the relocation of the headquarters of Scottish Natural Heritage as part of the relocation review.

Answer · Allan Wilson: As stated in my reply of 22 February to the member, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) will undertake a review of its headquarters locations. No targets have been set for relocating public sector posts and all areas of Scotland will be considered. The review has…

26 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give details of any payments made to individuals following any finding of maladministration by any ombudsman and whether the powers to increase the level of awards that can be made are to be reviewed.

Answer · Peter Peacock: I am able to respond in respect only of ombudsmen whose jurisdiction covers Scottish public bodies for which the Scottish ministers have responsibility.<P>Information on payments made to individuals following recommendations by Scottish public sector ombudsme…

26 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has used its power of direction in respect of non-departmental government bodies and, if so, (a) when, (b) in respect of which bodies and (c) why it did so.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The information requested is not held centrally.

26 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it (a) has taken and (b) plans to take in order to promote the fish farming industry.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Executive's aim is to secure a sustainable and competitive future for the aquaculture industry in Scotland, as one of our most important rural employers. We will achieve this through a partnership with all the relevant stakeholders, working together to b…

26 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what investment it has made in fish farming since May 1999 in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001-02 and whether it will give a breakdown of how the investment was spent in each case.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Executive routinely makes direct investment in aquaculture through research and development work, in support of its statutory responsibilities for disease control and improving understanding of impacts on the marine environment; and through FIFG Structura…