Chamber and committees

We consulted widelyon the reforms which will be made to the enterprise networks, including with nationaltrade union representatives. No specific discussions took place with trade unionsin the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley area.

The main costs willconsist of the remuneration to panel members and their secretariat support. Panelmembers’ expenses will be reimbursed, and remuneration will be offered at a rateof £400 a day, which is consistent with the current rate for members of the MentalHealth Tribunal and other similar bodies. This panel is expected to devote 15 workingdays per person to undertaking its task in relation to the revised accident andemergency service proposals from NHS Ayrshire and Arran, at a total estimated cost (including expenses) of £26,000.

This panel’s full-time secretariat consists of asecretariat manager, panel facilitator and secretariat officer. The secretariatalso provides full-time support to the panel that is considering the NHS serviceproposals for the Clyde area, chaired by Professor Angus Mackay. Bothpanels commenced their work in September 2007 with Professor Mackay’s panel scheduledto publish its report in late November. The panel chaired by Dr Andrew Walker thatis considering the revised accident and emergency service proposals from NHS Ayrshireand Arran and NHS Lanarkshire is expected to produceits final report in early January 2008. The total estimated staffing cost for thesecretariat for the period September 2007 to January 2008 is £45,313.

These are preliminary,estimated costs - I will publish the full, final costs in the Scottish ParliamentInformation Centre when the work of the two Independent Scrutiny Panels is complete.The cost of both panels is being met within existing Health Directorates budgets.

We have no plansto purchase the rolling stock required for a half hourly rail service betweenGlasgow and Kilmarnock and have not therefore considered the cost of doing so. Aswith other rolling stock required to operate the ScotRail franchise, it isexpected that any additional rolling stock required for the extra servicesbetween Glasgow and Kilmarnock will be leased by the Franchisee.

Two additionaltrains will be required to provide a half-hourly service.

We expect the franchiseeto lease additional rolling stock allowing trains to be cascaded across theFirst ScotRail franchise and a half-hourly rail service between Glasgow and Kilmarnock to be provided.

Subject to marketavailability, we expect that rolling stock to provide the service will be inplace by spring 2009.

We expect thefranchisee to lease additional rolling stock allowing trains to be cascadedacross the First ScotRail franchise and a half hourly rail service betweenGlasgow and Kilmarnock to be provided. We will not therefore go through aprocurement process and as such no finance has been allocated.

Precisearrangements for membership of the regional business advisory boards will besubject to further consideration by Ministers. The principal objective will beto secure meaningful business involvement in the boards, however, appropriatewider representation will also be sought.

This has not yetbeen determined but such matters will be taken into account in due course.

We consulted witha broad cross section of the Scottish business community during the process todevelop the enterprise networks reform proposals. No particular constituencieswere targeted, however, we did consult with the Chamber of Commerce whosemembership has wide geographic coverage.