Current status: Answered by Elaine Murray on 8 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a projected underspend in the Historic Buildings Repair Grants Scheme in 2002-03 and, if so, what that projection is and what the actual spend is to date, expressed in cash terms and as a percentage of the overall budget.
I have asked Graeme Munro, Chief Executive of Historic Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:Against a total commitment of £12.7 million for the current year grantees are currently indicating to Historic Scotland that they intend to draw down £11.7 million, (this is against a budget allocation of £11.1 million). In calculating this figure, Historic Scotland has used the information provided by grantees, or the relevant professional advisers, about the progress of work on site. However, from experience, Historic Scotland does not expect a full drawdown of this amount. The figure is updated monthly. The actual spend to 31 October 2002 expressed in cash terms is £4.45 million or 41.6% of the budget. In resource accounting terms, valuations amounting to £3.3 million (31%) have been received by the agency.