Michael McMahon

Answer · Keith Brown · 22 Mar 2016

The contract for the Design, Build, Finance and Operation of the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements Project was awarded to Scottish Roads Partnership (SRP) in February 2014. No staff employed by Transport Scotland or SRP are employed on zero-hour contracts. Sub-contractors are employed directly by SRP, and are subject to private commercial contracts. I can confirm seven individuals out of a workforce of 984 are currently employed on a zero-hours contract, which is less than 1% of the total workforce. We are working with SRP to identify whether it is feasible to offer more stable forms of employment and hours of work to these individuals.

Transport Scotland is committed to supporting Scottish Government’s initiative to encourage fair and progressive work practices. While employment law remains reserved to the UK Government, the Scottish Government is doing everything it can to promote good working practices with the powers available.

Answer · Richard Lochhead · 10 Nov 2015

This appeal was decided by a reporter from the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division of the Scottish Government, acting under delegated powers. The reporter's decision on this appeal was issued on 14 August 2015 and was final, subject to the right of any interested party to appeal to the Court of Session within six weeks of the date of the decision. As the decision is final it would not be appropriate to comment on the merits of the decision.

Answer · John Swinney · 9 Nov 2015

Information is available on the Scottish Government website at the following link:
http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Economy/GERS/queries/008.

Answer · Alex Neil · 3 Nov 2015

The funding for the project at Strathclyde Business Park was provided by SPRUCE (Scottish Partnership for Regeneration in Urban Centres). The SPRUCE fund was developed by the Scottish Government (SG) utilising the Joint European Support for Sustainable Investment in City Areas – which is an innovative way of using SG/European Structural Funds monies to lever in significant co-investment from public/private sectors; providing loans or equity investment to revenue generating projects.
Decisions on projects to be supported are made by the Amber Infrastructure Group who adheres to the guidelines laid down in an agreed investment strategy. They were appointed by the European Investment Bank as the independent investment manager for the fund. The Scottish Government is not involved in discussions with applicants around potential investments and does not make decisions on whether or not to support projects.
Amber has indicated that it was in regular discussions with Fusion Assets on this project since 2012 with a final investment decision made in August 2015

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse · 6 Oct 2015

On 29 October 2014, during a parliamentary debate, Roseanna Cunningham, then Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs, advised that she would write to the Regulatory Review Group (RRG) who were undertaking a review of Part III of the Fire Safety (Scotland) Act to request that the group extend the remit of the review to include the competency of persons who offer their services as fire risk assessors.
RRG agreed to the request, and we understand that its report is expected to be published before the end of 2015. We will consider carefully all recommendations for Scottish Government arising from the review, including any on the competence of fire risk assessors.

Answer · Fergus Ewing · 1 Oct 2015

The Regulatory Review Group has completed the evidence gathering stage of the review and is now progressing the report. The report and findings of the review will be published once finalised which is anticipated before the end of 2015.