Chamber and committees

The Scottish Executive shares in Partnerships UK (PUK) are held in a share category established specifically for a holding by ministers and not for open market trading. Financial information on PUK is available from Companies House at www.companieshouse.gov.uk.

The non-profit distributing organisation (NPDO) model is being piloted as an alternative option to the standard PPP approach and was not designed to replace the standard PPP approach.

The pilot has already been successful in attracting competitive bids, thus passing a key market test. It will have to demonstrate value for money in the same manner as every other schools PPP project in order to gain confirmationof Scottish Executive funding prior to contract signing. Other authorities interested in this approach, and their professional advisers, have been kept fully appraised of developments during the pilot, and a broader-based exposition of the pilot will be offered to interested public authorities and the market following contract close later this year.

No. PPP, including use of private finance, uses robust forms of procurement process, contractual arrangements, specification, and firmness of price.

No. PFI/PPP is one method of infrastructure investment in a “mixed economy” approach pursued by the Scottish Executive. The proportion of the total infrastructure investment delivered through PPP will vary annually dependant on the types of projects being brought forward by NHS boards and their suitability, on value for money grounds, for delivery through PPP.Details of the total infrastructure investment plan can be found within Building a Better Scotland, Infrastructure Investment Plan: Investing in the Future of Scotland launched on 25 February and which can be accessed at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/finance/iipifs-00.asp.

The Scottish Executive has no plans to combine planning and title conditions.

I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

We are keen to encourage registered social landlords (RSLs) to maximise the positive impact they can have on communities beyond the provision and management of housing. This should be done within the framework of the Executive’s Closing the Opportunity Gap objectives. However, we are clear that RSLs are not obliged to get involved in this wider agenda and each RSL must make any decision based on its own circumstances.

A full explanation of our policy on supporting the Wider Role of RSLs can be found at www.communitiesscotland.gov.uk.

The Scottish Executive has no plans to introduce national title and planning conditions.

Scottish Executive funding has enabled councils and their partners to setup community warden schemes throughout Scotland which are now helping to deal with many of the problems faced by deprived neighbourhoods. The impact of these schemes is being assessed through a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation programme. Earlier pilot schemes have shown a positive impact on factors such as vandalism and fear of crime. Wardens are contributing to closing the opportunity gap by improving the quality of life in deprived neighbourhoods.

The courts are responsible for enforcing compliance with Convention rights. Under the terms of the Human Rights Act 1998, all public authorities are required to act in a way that complies with the European Convention on Human Rights. Individuals whose rights have been breached by a public authority can take their case before the Scottish courts and ultimately to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

In addition, under the terms of the Scotland Act, the Scottish Parliament and Executive are bound to comply with the European Convention on Human Rights. If they do not comply, and if a Scottish court upholds a challenge, actions of the Scottish ministers and the Scottish Parliament can be struck down as being unlawful.

The obligation placed on the Scottish Executive and other public bodies to comply with Convention rights in areas for which they responsible applies to everyone in Scotland regardless of their nationality or residence. The obligation placed on the Scottish Executive only extends to compliance of the Convention in relation to matters within the devolved competence of the Scottish Parliament.