Parliamentary questions
Peter Peacock
1,395 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
25 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much public funding has been awarded to the Connected Communities project annually since its inception.
Answer · Jim Mather: Connected Communities is led by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and it is HIE who deal with all operational matters around its funding and delivery.</p>
25 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13675 by John Swinney on 9 June 2008, whether a local authority issuing bonds or borrowing for the purpose of lending to another local authority would be required to recover the costs involved in raising the finance from the local authority to which …
Answer · John Swinney: The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1975 provides that a local authority may lend to another authority on such terms as may be agreed between them.</p>
25 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13675 by John Swinney on 9 June 2008, what advantages accrue to a local authority in borrowing from another for the purpose of financing capital expenditure over borrowings from any other lender or by the direct issue of bonds itself.
Answer · John Swinney: It is for each local authority, as corporate bodies, to determine what type of borrowing, and what arrangements for borrowing, offer best value to them.</p>
25 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13675 by John Swinney on 9 June 2008, whether any finance borrowed by one local authority from another counts within the affairs of the receiving local authority for the purpose of the operation of their prudential borrowing arrangements.
Answer · John Swinney: The “Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities” issued by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy defines debt as the sum of borrowing and other long term liabilities. Borrowing refers to all external borrowing as taken from t…
25 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13675 by John Swinney on 9 June 2008, whether any finance borrowed in order to lend to another local authority counts within the affairs of the initial local authority for the purpose of the operation of their prudential borrowing arrangements.
Answer · John Swinney: The “Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities” issued by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy requires a local authority to take account of all external debt. However, if part of the external debt of a local authority incl…
25 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13675 by John Swinney on 9 June 2008, whether there is any limit to how much finance a local authority can raise in order to lend to another local authority.
Answer · John Swinney: The Local Government (Scotland) 1975 Act provides a local authority with a power to borrow for the purpose of lending to a “relevant” authority or to any community council established under the area of the local authority, Such borrowing may only be undertake…
25 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what powers local authorities have to issue bonds for the purpose of directly paying for capital expenditure wholly or in part outwith their local authority area, where their purpose is to be a principal funder for an activity not within their statutory responsibilities.
Answer · John Swinney: Local authorities have a statutory power to borrow money through the issue of bonds by virtue of the provisions contained within the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1975. The purposes for which a local authority may borrow are also detailed in the 1975 act.</…
25 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what powers local authorities have to issue bonds for the purpose of directly paying for capital expenditure on projects outwith their local authority area, where the principal beneficiaries of any expenditure are not within their local authority area.
Answer · John Swinney: Local authorities have a statutory power to borrow money through the issue of bonds by virtue of the provisions contained within the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1975. The purposes for which a local authority may borrow are also detailed in the 1975 act.</…
25 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what powers local authorities have to issue bonds for the purpose of directly paying for capital expenditure on projects outwith their local authority area, where the sole beneficiaries of any expenditure are not within their local authority area.
Answer · John Swinney: Local authorities have a statutory power to borrow money through the issue of bonds by virtue of the provisions contained within the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1975. The purposes for which a local authority may borrow are also detailed in the 1975 act.</…
24 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the term “advisory community” on page 14 of Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust refers to consultants.
Answer · John Swinney: The term “advisory community” is used in <i >Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust</i> (Bib. number 45605) to mean all types of advisors that would be able to provide the expertise the SFT company may require periodically. This would include consultants.<…
24 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will confirm that the Scottish Futures Trust as envisaged and set out on page 13 of Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust will be a private sector classified body.
Answer · John Swinney: The intended classification of the two arms of the Scottish Futures Trust are made clear on page 13 of <i >Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust</i> (Bib. number 45605).</p>
24 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what advantages it considers will be derived from a private sector classified body which has a public sector ethos, as set out on page 13 of Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust.
Answer · John Swinney: The explanation for the proposed form of the Scottish Futures Trust company is set out in <i >Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust</i> (Bib. number 45605).</p>
24 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the proposed legal status will be of any infrastructure investment board, as set out in Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust.
Answer · John Swinney: The establishment of an infrastructure board for Scotland is a proposal to be discussed with various stakeholders. It is not essential for it to have corporate legal form, but such details will be considered as part of the next stage of the Scottish Futures T…
24 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is planning to create another local authority; for what purpose, and to what advantage.
Answer · John Swinney: There are no plans to create another local authority at this time.</p>
24 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much risk capital it envisages the Scottish Futures Trust having at its disposal and where such capital will come from.
Answer · John Swinney: This will be a matter for the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) company to consider once it is set up, primarily in the context of the planning for SFT Finance and Investment.</p>
24 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what is meant on page 11 of Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust by “This concept in outline suggests provision of assets is facilitated via a sponsor entity which is an organisation with a genuine reason for alternative residual use of the assets created on its behalf and is itself …
Answer · John Swinney: The concept mentioned at page 11 of <i >Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust</i> (Bib. number 45605) was the result of a preliminary investigation in attempting to enhance infrastructure investment. The detail and full impact of the concept will be furth…
24 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what functions envisaged for the Scottish Futures Trust could reasonably be said to be being already provided by the Private Finance Unit of the Scottish Government.
Answer · John Swinney: The aim of the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) is to support the effective planning, funding and delivery of public sector infrastructure investment across Scotland, providing a better deal for taxpayers as a result. This will be assisted through aggregation of …
24 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether its Private Finance Unit has ever been involved in assisting due diligence, in advising on standard contracts and in liaising with private finance providers and construction companies in delivery support for PPP projects, including on NPD PPP projects.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government Financial Partnerships Unit (FPU) has assisted parts of the public sector in carrying out due diligence on project business cases. It has developed and advised on standard contracts. It has provided no formal delivery support to the pr…
24 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the nature has been of the relationship between its Private Finance Unit and (a) local authorities and (b) private sector construction and finance companies and what advice the unit has provided to these organisations over recent years.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government Financial Partnerships Unit (FPU) has liaised regularly with those local authorities and private sector organisations involved in PPP projects.</p> <p >The FPU has provided no formal advice to private sector construction and finance c…
24 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that private sector involvement in the design, management and delivery of public capital works offers any advantages.
Answer · John Swinney: The delivery of new and replacement infrastructure is a key aspect of economic growth in Scotland and the private sector has always contributed to this. We recognise the benefit of partnership working between the public and private sectors, the value of priva…
24 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the private sector carrying risk for the building and maintenance of public assets brings any cost disciplines and advantages over more traditional forms of procurement.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government recognises the important role that the private sector can play in public sector infrastructure investment through the value of private sector know-how, delivery expertise and due diligence. However, we think that these benefits can be …
24 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the average difference in the cost of finance between wholly publicly funded and privately funded school construction projects.
Answer · John Swinney: Local authorities are responsible for the construction of the public schools estate. Data for schools procured “conventionally” by local authorities is not held centrally by the Scottish Government as affordability and value for money are matters wholly for t…
24 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of financing the Argyll and Bute NPD PPP project and how that cost compared with any other PPP undertaken over the same time period.
Answer · John Swinney: Information regarding the financing of Argyll and Bute Council’s schools NPD project can be found in the final business case which is available from the council. During the procurement, the council received comparative cost information as part of its commerci…
24 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it can take within the NPD PPP model to limit profit in regard to any element of a project.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answers to questions S3W-14593 to 14596 on 16 July 2008 which explain our preference for NPD in which excess profits do not arise. All answers to parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility …
24 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what rate of profit it will consider to be excessive in future and how will it judge this on a case-by-case basis.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answers to questions S3W-14593 to 14596 on 16 July 2008 which explain our preference for NPD in which excess profits do not arise. All answers to parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility …
24 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will define the excess profit arising from any element of any form of PPP and how it will control any such profit.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answers to questions S3W-14593 to 14596 on 16 July 2008 which explain our preference for NPD in which excess profits do not arise. All answers to parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility …
24 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, and by what means, capital is raised for the financing of projects where the providers of that finance can expect a profit on their investment.
Answer · John Swinney: A return is paid to private investors for all forms of public sector funds raised on the markets (other than funds raised through taxation and other direct receipts). When funds are raised in the market for a project it is consistent with that general approac…
24 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, under its proposals for NPD PPP projects, what options exist for the raising of the necessary capital finance.
Answer · John Swinney: The raising of the necessary capital finance in an NPD PPP project is a matter for the private sector companies involved. It is also possible for the public procuring body to inject capital contributions in order to assist affordability of the project. The Sc…
24 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, under its proposals for NPD PPP projects, which elements of the project are likely to, and can legitimately, make profit and whether any such profits will be taken by the providers of those elements of the projects.
Answer · John Swinney: Under current NPD procurements contractors which provide assets and services enter competitive bids which include normal profit margins. The funding element will include rates of return commensurate with current market terms. This process provides a “fixed pr…
24 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, under its proposals for NPD PPP projects, which elements of profit deriving from the whole project will not be distributed; how that will be determined, and how any such profit will be applied.
Answer · John Swinney: Under NPD contracts the delivery company is not able to make any dividend distributions. Surpluses within the company are used according to pre-determined purposes. These arrangements can be customised to suit particular circumstances.</p>