- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 24 September 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 12 October 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what role it played in the appointment of the directors of Partnerships UK.
Answer
The Executive is a minority shareholder and the role it plays over the appointment of directors of Partnerships UK is appropriate to the level of shareholding it holds. The board of PUK is made up of members from the private sector and two non-Executive Directors appointed by HM Treasury. There is an Advisory Council which oversees the work of PUK and is made up exclusively of members from the public sector. Scottish ministers are represented on the council.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 24 September 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 12 October 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1353 by Tavish Scott on 29 July 2003, whether it is able to sell its interest in Partnerships UK on the open market.
Answer
No, the Scottish Executive shares are held in a share category established specifically for a holding by ministers and not for open market trading. The share structure of Partnerships UK is intended to ensure a balance of private and public sector interests within a private sector classified company, and it is important that this structure be maintained and Scottish interests recognised. Accordingly, the Scottish Executive has no plans to dispose of its shareholding in a body that provides the dedicated and non-conflicted private sector expertise and resources essential to support the public sector in building better partnerships across the UK.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 24 September 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 11 October 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of its expenditure on capital projects is spent on commissioning art works.
Answer
There is no predetermined percentage allocated on the commissioning of art work for capital projects. Expenditure on art is decided on a case-by-case basis.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 24 September 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 11 October 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1351 by Tavish Scott on 29 July 2003, how much it has paid to Partnerships UK since July 2003, broken down by project.
Answer
The following table shows how much the Scottish Executive has paid to Partnerships UK since July 2003.
| Year | Amount (£) | Reason |
| 2003 | 10,652 | Carrying out Key Stage Reviews on schools PPP projects prior to issue of Invitation to Negotiate / appointment of Preferred Bidder |
| 2004 | 84,122 | Carrying out Key Stage Reviews on schools PPP projects prior to issue of Invitation to Negotiate / appointment of Preferred Bidder |
| 2004 | 176,250 | Support for development of Non Profit Distributing Organisation model and piloting in Argyll and Bute schools |
| 2004 | 16,391 | Support for East Lothian Council following one of the members of the PPP consortia being placed in administration |
| 2004 | 13,113 | Supporting the Partnership Agreement commitment to end the toll regime on Skye Bridge |
| 2004 | 4,110 | Work carried out on Inverness Airport |
| 2004 | 14,151 | Development of a new stage of Key Stage Review for PPP schools which focuses on systems in place when the project becomes operational. Also training on Outline Business Cases for local authority project managers |
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 24 September 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 11 October 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1351 by Tavish Scott on 29 July 2003, whether Partnerships UK has repaid any of the fees paid by, or incurred any financial penalty repayable to, the Executive in relation to its work in the (a) Midlothian Council and (b) East Lothian Council area.
Answer
We are not aware of any basis for the Executive to seek reimbursement of fees from Partnerships UK in relation to its work in the Midlothian and Easy Lothian Councils’ areas.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 24 September 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 11 October 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1351 by Tavish Scott on 29 July 2003, why it reimbursed (a) Midlothian Council’s and (b) East Lothian Council’s fees for Partnerships UK.
Answer
Both Midlothian and East Lothian Councils’ schools PPP projects were regarded as pathfinder projects as they were the early projects in the development of the current £2.5 billion schools PPP programme. Partnerships UK provided specialist advice and expertise in support of these projects and their involvement was beneficial to other local authorities taking forward future PPP proposals for schools. Specifically, expertise was gained on many management interface and commercial issues, and the Scottish Schools Standard PPP Contract was developed.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 24 September 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 11 October 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1351 by Tavish Scott on 29 July 2003, what role was played by Partnerships UK in the PPP projects for schools in the (a) Midlothian Council and (b) East Lothian Council area.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-10910 on 11 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/search_wa.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 24 September 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 11 October 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of its civil servants have been seconded to Partnerships UK.
Answer
No Scottish Executive civil servants have been seconded to Partnerships UK.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 24 September 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 8 October 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on the recovery of fines in each of the last five financial years and in the current financial year.
Answer
Fines recovery is carried out by the Scottish Court Service in relation to fines imposed in the High Court and Sheriff Courts and by local authorities in relation to other fines. Expenditure is also incurred by the police, who are often involved in the recovery process and the legal aid budget if the accused is represented or advised at any stage in the recovery process. Specific expenditure relating to these activities falls to be covered by wider budgets administered by each of the authorities concerned. As such the information requested, relating to the total level of expenditure incurred in the recovery of fines, is not available in the format requested.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 24 September 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 8 October 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on commissioning new art when it commissions new capital projects.
Answer
The Scottish Executive does not have prescribed policy for commissioning new art when it commissions new capital projects. Art work is considered on a case-by-case basis.
