- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 October 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 2 November 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is confident that the use of PPP and PFI in the procurement of public services is compatible with the aim of “managing public sector resources more effectively”, as referred to in Framework for Economic Development in Scotland and reiterated in Building a Better Scotland Spending Proposals 2005-2008, and what research it has carried out to support this point of view.
Answer
The Executive will consider whatever investment method represents the best approach given particular circumstances. A mixed economy approach is adopted in which conventional capital investment and Public Private Partnerships routes are available to all public sector bodies. What is important is that all appropriate routes are appraised and that the selected path represents the best approach for the taxpayer.
The track record of PPPs is well known as supported by several reports published by independent bodies, including audit bodies.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 October 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 2 November 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what spending will be cut to realise the real terms reduction in spending in the Communities budget, as referred to in Table 0.02 of Building a Better Scotland Spending Proposals 2005-2008.
Answer
The departmentalspending limit for the Communities portfolio rises by 3% per annum in real termsover the spending review period. Table 0.2, on Total Managed Expenditure includes,in addition, Annually Managed Expenditure, mainly in relation to the SupportingPeople Programme.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 October 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 2 November 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what role Partnerships UK will have in improving co-ordination with the private sector in the capital investment plan, as referred to in Building a Better Scotland Spending Proposals 2005-2008.
Answer
Partnerships UK provides a permanent and sustainable centre of expertise on Public Private Partnerships and is involved with the Scottish Executive in developing and expanding its PPP programme.
The Scottish Executive is improving communication with the private sector and the capital investment plan is an example of improved co-ordination between the public and private sectors in terms of construction and project delivery.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 October 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 2 November 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what role it has in the ethical approval of clinical procedures.
Answer
The Scottish Executive requires NHS boards to have in place clinical governance arrangements to oversee all aspects of local decisions about clinical procedures.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 October 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Hugh Henry on 2 November 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Human Rights Commission in Scotland proposed in the spending plans in the Justice section of Building a Better Scotland Spending Proposals 2005-2008 will have jurisdiction over conditions in Dungavel House immigration removal centre.
Answer
The proposals for establishment of a Scottish Human Rights Commission which were published by the Scottish Executive in 2003 confirmed that the commission will be a devolved body, and that it would therefore not deal with those issues which are reserved to the UK Parliament and UK ministers. The exact nature of the commission’s devolved responsibilities will be defined in the legislation establishing the commission.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 30 September 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 1 November 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive how many category A prisoners were released in error in each of the five years prior to the commencement of the contract for the provision of prisoner escort and court custody services.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:
The term “Category A” ceased to exist on 1 April 2002. The Scottish Prison Service had no Category A releases in error in the period 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2002.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 04 October 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 1 November 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will report on its consideration of the recommendations of Equipped for Inclusion - Report of the Strategy Forum: Equipment and Adaptations and Audit Scotland’s report, Adapting to the Future - Management of community equipment and adaptations - A baseline report.
Answer
I am currently considering the recommendations of the Strategy Forum: Equipment and Adaptations and I will respond to that report shortly. The findings of the Audit Scotland report have been accepted and steps are being taken to implement the three recommendations for the Scottish Executive.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 October 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 28 October 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the two new prisons proposed in Building a Better Scotland Spending Proposals 2005-2008 will be constructed using PPP or built within the public sector.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:
The first new prison is currently being procured using PPP.
Management and unions within the SPS, working in partnership, have been given the opportunity to compete with the private sector for the second new prison.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 October 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 28 October 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-10924 by Cathy Jamieson on 5 October 2004, whether the contract for prisoner escort and court custody services is cheaper than the previous system of escort and court custody provided by the Scottish Prison Service and the police.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:
I refer the member to the question S2W-11075 answered on 19 October 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 September 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 27 October 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-7558 by Cathy Jamieson on 20 May 2004, what the cost to the public purse would have been over the same period had the provision of prisoner escort services not been privatised.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:
I refer the member to the question S2W-11075 answered on 19 October 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
