Parliamentary questions
Jeremy Purvis
909 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
5 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost to it has been of employing temporary or agency staff in each of the last five years.
Answer · John Swinney: Temporary staff are used by the Scottish Government to cover temporary staffing needs for a number of reasons including pressures arising from maternity leave, sick leave, project work, unanticipated crisis and critical vacancies. Fixed term appointments are …
5 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many temporary or agency staff are employed in each of its directorates.
Answer · John Swinney: The numbers of fixed term appointments, student placements and agency staff on assignment with the Scottish Government at 31 July 2009 are shown in the following table. We are only able to supply information on numbers at Director General level.</p> <table …
5 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether appointments of Scottish Futures Trust staff will be made under the Scottish Government’s pay policy.
Answer · John Swinney: It is very important that the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) has the scope and flexibility to recruit and retain staff with specific experience and skills which are not generally available in the public sector. I have therefore decided that SFT should not be su…
5 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made towards each of the Scottish Futures Trust’s objectives as outlined in the Scottish Government news release of 20 May 2008.
Answer · John Swinney: As stated in the Scottish Futures Trust''s (SFT) published business plan for 2009-10, which can be obtained through the Scottish Parliament''s Information Centre (Bib. number 48319), SFT are addressing specific projects in or approaching procurement with a co…
5 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much money it estimates that the Scottish Futures Trust will save in 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24622 on 16 June 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/B…
5 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much money has been saved by the Scottish Futures Trust since its formation.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24622 on 16 June 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/B…
5 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence there is to show that the Scottish Futures Trust is providing “more bang for the people’s bucks” as the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth stated it would in a Scottish Government news release of 20 May 2008.
Answer · John Swinney: We have set the Scottish Futures Trust the clear target of achieving annual savings of between £100 million and £150 million on infrastructure investment once fully established and the work being undertaken, as set out in the published business plan which is …
5 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the Scottish Futures Trust offers a fundamentally different vision of the future of public services from that provided by previous administrations.
Answer · John Swinney: Yes “ it will mean a more responsible and effective delivery of public infrastructure which contrasts significantly with many of the projects undertaken previously through Private Finance Initiatives.</p> "Times
5 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-23730 by John Swinney on 26 May 2009, what timescale it considers to be in due course in relation to the Scottish Futures Trust’s development of proposals setting out how investment might be channelled for Scottish infrastructure priorities and when …
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24618 on 16 June 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/B…
5 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-23730 by John Swinney on 26 May 2009, whether the Scottish Futures Trust will be a direct funder of projects (a) in the long term and (b) during the current parliamentary session.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24618 on 16 June 2009 and to the statement made by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning on 17<sup> </sup>June 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parli…
5 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-23730 by John Swinney on 26 May 2009, how it defines the short to medium term in relation to the Scottish Futures Trust’s role as a direct funder of projects.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Futures Trust (SFT)<b> </b>will approve release of funding for projects as part of the school building programme in 2011. SFT is currently managing the Scottish Government funding for the hub initiative and is also working on projects where fundi…
5 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Futures Trust’s website will be operational.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Futures Trust have stated in their recently published business plan that their website will be operational by the end of June 2009. Copies of the business plan can be obtained through the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 48319)…
5 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-23730 by John Swinney on 26 May 2009, when the initial activities of the Scottish Futures Trust will be made public.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24613 on 16 June 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/B…
5 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Orkney Islands Schools NPD project was (a) first given outline business case approval and (b) publicly announced.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Orkney Islands Council was given an indicative offer of funding for its project on 28 November 2006, on the basis of an outline business case submitted earlier that year. On 12 March 2009, following quality assurance work by Scottish Futures Trust, the counc…
5 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-23730 by John Swinney on 26 May 2009, on which infrastructure priorities the Scottish Futures Trust is focusing its work.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24613 on 16 June 2009 and to the statement made by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning on 17 June 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s we…
5 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Futures Trust’s business plan will be published before the end of 2009 and on what date.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Futures Trust''s business plan for 2009-10, setting out its business objectives, activities and priorities for the current year, was published on 5 June 2009. Copies of the plan can be obtained from the Scottish Parliament''s Information Centre (…
5 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether its School Estate Strategy will be published before the end of 2009 and on what date.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Yes. The intention now is to publish the School Estate Strategy after the summer recess.</p>
5 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Futures Trust’s annual report will be published.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23792 on 26 May 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Bu…
14 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the budget for the Rural Petrol Station Grant Scheme.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We have no plans to increase Scottish Government funding towards the Rural Petrol Stations Grant Scheme. Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise have been responsible for the scheme since 1 April 2008.</p>
14 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget is for the Rural Petrol Station Grant Scheme for 2009-10 and 2010-11.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government is providing £100,000 in 2009-10 and in 2010-11 towards the Rural Petrol Stations Grant Scheme. Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise have been responsible for the scheme since 1 April 2008.</p>
14 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it had discussions with the British Bankers’ Association in advance of the announcement of the Scottish Investment Bank.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Investment Bank will not operate as a commercial bank and therefore there have been no discussions with the British Bankers'' Association.</p>
14 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Investment Bank will operate within the Banking Code.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Investment Bank will not operate within the Banking Code.</p>
14 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Investment Bank has been registered with the Financial Services Authority.
Answer · John Swinney: As initially constituted the Scottish Investment Bank would not need to be regulated by the Financial Services Authority. We will, however, keep this under review as the work to develop it progresses.</p>
14 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Investment Bank is being established as a regulated bank.
Answer · John Swinney: It is intended that the Scottish Investment Bank will be a mechanism through which Scottish based businesses can access a range of financial products in order to grow, create employment and maximise their contribution to the economy.</p>
14 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what input the Scottish Futures Trust has had in the preparation of an invitation to tender for Scottish Water Solutions.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Scottish Water issued the invitation to tender for joint venture delivery partners in April and May 2008. Since it was established Scottish Futures Trust has been kept aware of progress being made in this tender process.</p>
14 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the next tender for Scottish Water Solutions will follow a PPP limited company business model.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Scottish Water is taking forward the tendering of a future joint venture to aid in the delivery of their capital investment programme in the 2010-14 period.</p>
14 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Water Solutions will use a not-for-profit business model.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Scottish Water Solutions is majority owned by Scottish Water. The partners in Scottish Water Solutions are incentivised to deliver capital investment for less than the amounts set by Scottish Water''s economic regulator, the Water Industry Commission for Scot…
14 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether commercial shareholders will make a profit from the tender for Scottish Water Solutions.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: No amounts are payable to the consortia tendering for the joint venture to aid in the delivery of Scottish Water''s capital investment programme in the 2010-14 period if they are unsuccessful in their tender.</p>
14 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Futures Trust will deliver the next invitation to tender for Scottish Water Solutions.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Scottish Water issued the invitation to tender for joint venture delivery partners in April and May 2008. This tender seeks joint venture partners to cover the 2010-14 regulatory period and the subsequent period. The next invitation to tender is therefore a n…
8 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any concerns from (a) local authorities, (b) the Scottish Building Federation, (c) the CBI, (d) the Federation of Small Businesses, (e) Audit Scotland, (f) the Scottish Council for Development and Industry, (g) trade unions and (h) any other bodies over progress on …
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government maintains a regular dialogue with many organisations on the development of infrastructure and the Scottish Futures Trust.</p>