Parliamentary questions
Jeremy Purvis
909 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
11 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Forth Replacement Crossing is the number one priority of the Scottish Transport Projects Review.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Forth Replacement Crossing is a priority of the Strategic Transport Projects Review. We are also prioritising a range of railway interventions that will proceed in parallel.</p>
11 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what basis the cost of the Forth Replacement Crossing was previously estimated by the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change to be £4 billion and on what basis this was later reduced to £2 billion.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The new estimate of £1.7 billion to £2.3 billion is based on the same elements as the previous estimate of £3.2 billion to £4.2 billion.</p> <p >The significant reduction in costs can be attributed to the reduced width of the bridge, made possible by utilisi…
11 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what financial arrangements it has put in place to fund the projects listed in the Scottish Transport Projects Review.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) itself is not a funding document, and, as such, does not specifically identify funding sources or propose new revenue streams.</p> <p >The delivery of the schemes listed in the STPR will be prioritised in future…
11 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Forth Replacement Crossing will be open by 2016 if the Scottish Government does not receive a £2 billion increased capital budget from HM Treasury.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-18816 on 14 January 2009. The Scottish Government has not requested an increase in capital budget to build the Forth Replacement Crossing (FRC).</p> <p >The FRC has very high priority in the Scottish Governme…
11 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects an answer from HM Treasury on whether the Scottish Government will receive a £2 billion increased capital budget to build the Forth Replacement Crossing.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-18816 on 14 January 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/Apps…
11 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what dialogue it has had with HM Treasury on increasing Scotland’s capital budget to fund infrastructure investment other than the Forth Replacement Crossing.
Answer · John Swinney: I wrote to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 28 November 2008 to confirm our plans for accelerating capital in Scotland following the pre-budget report announcement and I wrote again on 3 December 2008 requesting £87 million of further acceleration of …
11 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it made a request to HM Treasury for a £2 billion increased capital budget to build the Forth Replacement Crossing and whether the details of its dialogue with HM Treasury on this issue are publicly available.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government has not requested an increase in capital budget to build the Forth Replacement Crossing.</p> <p >We have asked HM Treasury to consider re-profiling our capital budget over the next 20 years to allow an increased capital budget during …
11 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the Strategic Transport Projects Review is predicated on the Scottish Government receiving an increased capital budget from HM Treasury.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) itself is not a funding document, and, as such, does not specifically identify funding sources or propose new revenue streams.</p>
11 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism will speak in debates on the Scottish economy.
Answer · Jim Mather: I have spoken fully and consistently in Parliament about issues relating to the Scottish economy and my own portfolio and will continue to do so in future.</p>
21 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimate is of inflationary costs on the capital expenditure for the Waverley line between May 2007 and the scheduled commencement of construction by May 2011.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: In my statement to Parliament on 5 March 2008, I explained that I could not give an exact cost for the railway, because to announce a headline number would prejudice commercial negotiations. Inflation forecasts are subject to especial uncertainty in the curre…
21 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is exploring opportunities to accelerate the procurement of the Waverley line to bring forward the scheduled financial close from December 2010.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland has engaged in market testing with potential contractors in order to expedite the procurement process leading to financial close. It is also examining options to accelerate some construction work in advance of financial close for the main c…
21 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the leadership structure of the Scottish Futures Trust will be.
Answer · John Swinney: This will be for the board of the Scottish Futures Trust to determine.</p>
21 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to whom the Chief Executive of the Scottish Futures Trust will report.
Answer · John Swinney: The Chief Executive will report to the board of the Scottish Futures Trust.</p>
21 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who will interview applicants for the post of chief executive of the Scottish Futures Trust.
Answer · John Swinney: The interview panel will consist of the Chair of the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT), one of the non-Executive Directors of SFT, and a senior official from the Scottish Government.</p>
21 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who will appoint the chief executive of the Scottish Futures Trust.
Answer · John Swinney: The board of the Scottish Futures Trust in consultation with Scottish ministers will appoint the chief executive.</p>
21 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive where a full job description and salary details are available for the post of the chief executive of the Scottish Futures Trust.
Answer · John Swinney: Information about the post of Chief Executive to the Scottish Futures Trust is available from Douglas Kinnaird at Macdonald Kinnaird recruitment (<a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>). Remuneration will reflect the responsibi…
21 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information on the operation of the Scottish Futures Trust will be publicly available.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-18114 on 3 December 2008. 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/web…
21 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what opportunity the Parliament will have to scrutinise the operation of the Scottish Futures Trust, as it is entitled to do with other government departments and agencies.
Answer · John Swinney: Scottish ministers are ultimately accountable to the Parliament for the activities of Scottish Futures Trust and will keep Parliament informed about its performance.</p>
21 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Futures Trust is wholly owned by ministers.
Answer · John Swinney: Yes. All of the shares in the company are owned by the Scottish ministers.</p>
21 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Futures Trust is a private limited company.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Futures Trust is a private company limited by shares under the Companies Acts. HM Treasury guidance indicates that it will be classified to the public sector in the Whole of Government Accounts.</p>
21 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why information on the appointment of the Chief Executive of the Scottish Futures Trust, described by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth as a company that is owned by ministers (Official Report c. 10601), was not available on the Scottish Government website.
Answer · John Swinney: Where a government body conducts its own recruitment, vacancies are not advertised on the Scottish Government website. The Scottish Futures Trust is conducting its own recruitment for the post of its chief executive.</p>
21 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive where the position of chief executive of the Scottish Futures Trust was advertised.
Answer · John Swinney: This is a matter for the Scottish Futures Trust. I understand that the position was advertised on 9 and 16 November in the <i >Sunday Times</i>, on 12<sup> </sup>and 13 November in the <i >Daily Telegraph</i> and on 16 November in the <i >Sunday Telegraph</i>…
21 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what costs were involved in advertising the post of chief executive of the Scottish Futures Trust, including payment to MacDonald Kinnaird recruitment consultancy.
Answer · John Swinney: The total cost of advertising the post of Chief Executive of the Scottish Futures Trust was £13,040.</p>
17 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what date Scottish ministers first made an official request to HM Treasury for funding linked to (a) the fossil fuels levy, (b) council tax benefit, (c) London Olympics regeneration spending, (d) prisons spending and (e) police and firefighter spending.
Answer · John Swinney: Representations to HM Treasury, by or on behalf of Scottish ministers, for funding linked to (a) the fossil fuels levy on 30 July 2007, (b) the suspension of the council tax benefit mechanism on 9 July 2007, (c) London Olympics regeneration spending on 9 July…
1 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the expected finish date was for the informal market testing of the Borders railway project and how many responses were received.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The informal market testing exercise was completed in August 2008. Responses were received from 10 contracting organisations and five funder organisations.</p>
1 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a public sector comparator into the method of funding the Borders railway project will be carried out.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: To ensure the project achieves value for money, the selected procurement route will have been compared against a traditional public sector comparator prior to any funding decision being made.</p>
1 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will rule out the PPP/PFI method of Design, Build, Finance and Maintenance (DBFM) as the means of developing the Borders railway project.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: It has already been identified that the Borders Railway project will be procured through the Non Profit Distributing (NPD) model. NPD offers better value for money than the expensive PFI model.</p>
25 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to recognise World Arthritis Day on 12 October 2008.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We support the aims of this year''s World Arthritis Day, in particular its emphasis on the need to provide people with arthritis with stronger emotional support. This is one of the main themes of our work on the management of long term conditions and a centra…
25 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to tackle rheumatoid arthritis, following the declaration by the European Parliament on 5 June 2008 calling on the Council of Ministers to establish national plans to fight rheumatic diseases.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Our national approach to managing long-term conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis is outlined in our Better Health Better Care Action Plan. Our aim is to draw on personal experience to develop services which address each person''s needs and which recognise …
25 Sep 2008 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many contacts there have been to Business Gateway services since that responsibility was transferred to local authorities.
Answer · Jim Mather: In total there have been 12,295 contacts to Business Gateway services, during the period 1 April 2008 to 31 August 2008. This includes contacts made to the Business Gateway website, the Business Gateway enquiry service and to Business Gateway services deliver…