I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:No. The SPS has carried out research into the rates of return to custody but the data is not on a prison specific basis. Details are published in the SPS research bulletins.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:Because the answer given to question S1W-27013 referred to an earlier response to question S1W-26061, performance points were converted back to ensure that the details of the number of assaults in each category were correct. Neither the raw data available on each incident nor the overall number of performance points incurred in respect of Schedule F for each period gave the response to the question which was asked.

The draft framework decision on the confiscation of crime-related proceeds, instrumentalities and property seeks to ensure approximation of confiscation provisions across member states. It is based on the premise that, in order to combat effectively cross-border organised crime, effective measures must be in place to trace, freeze, seize and confiscate the proceeds of crime. The Scottish Executive is studying the draft framework decision to determine what the implications might be for Scotland.

The information requested is contained in the following table for the three Scottish Executive private finance initiative contracts. It is the responsibility of other public authorities to monitor their own private finance initiative contracts. The figures include the costs of technical and professional supervision and non-technical monitoring of contractual performance and penalty clauses. They include an estimate of staff time involved. Payments cover the monitoring of construction of new works as well as operation and maintenance. The cost of monitoring contracts during construction would occur whether the contract was under conventional procurement or the private finance initiative. These respective costs are evaluated before the PPP commences and the PPP has to demonstrate better value for money.Broadly equivalent costs are incurred in relation to professional fees for the preparation, construction and operation of conventionally-funded projects.

	Skye Bridge	M6 DBFO	Kilmarnock Prison
1997-98	74,359	1,219,547	Nil
1998-99	45,403	1,108,260	Nil
1999-2000	32,156	1,073,500	240,000
2000-01	39,357	341,472	230,000
2001-02	11,019	200,000	240,000

Note:1. The figures for 2001-02 for the Skye Bridge and M6 DBFO are lower than the previous four years because the previous four years include costs related to monitoring the construction phase.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:In the process of monitoring performance against the contract, the SPS requires Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited (KPSL) to provide detailed information on a wide range of outputs. Where relevant, that information has helped inform answers to parliamentary questions. On occasion the SPS has sought and will seek information from the operator in relation to parliamentary questions consistent with the Scottish Executive published policies for dealing with parliamentary questions and the Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information.We are committed to being open and accountable and have published, with the agreement of KPSL, the Kilmarnock contract.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-28228.

No. The guidance is in respect of How to Appoint and Manage Advisors to PFI Projects. Such guidance was not relevant to the appointment to perform the financial review of the SPS Estates Review.

The Treasury Taskforce's Technical Note No. 6: How to Manage the Delivery of Long Term PFI Contracts refers to contract monitoring in the development (award of the contract to the commencement of delivery of the services) and delivery (the provision and use of the contracted services during the remaining life of the contract) stages.Of the three Scottish Executive private finance initiative contracts, the technical professional consultant which monitors the M6 DBFO on behalf of Scottish ministers had its procedures audited by the Scottish Executive in December 2001, with a follow up in January 2002. An audit of the contract monitoring procedures in relation to Kilmarnock Prison will be included in the strategic audit plan covering the period 2003-06. Monitoring of the Skye Bridge contract is the responsibility of a unit within the Executive, and its procedures have been checked through internal audits over the period.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:Except where disclosure of parts of the contract would not be in the public interest as specified in Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information, SPS are making arrangements to publish the contract. Once this work has been done in association with the contractor a copy will be placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:In addition to those listed in the answer given to question S1W-24351, SPS meets the costs of non-domestic business rates as it does for every Scottish prison.