Chamber and committees

The replacement of medical equipment, including CT scanners, is a matter for NHS boards. NHS boards are given general revenue and capital allocations and it is for the boards to decide, based on their local knowledge, of local needs, how these resources should be deployed. In 2005-06 NHS Greater Glasgow received a formula capital allocation of £55.661 million which is an increase of 9.2% over the 2004-05 allocation. The board has also been allocated an additional £9.925 million specifically for the provision of medical and diagnostic equipment. However, as I previously confirmed, following from the planned NHS Greater Glasgow Board meeting on 17 May, when the 2005-06 capital programme is due to be discussed and formally approved, a replacement scanner will be in place at the Western Infirmary within three months.

The disposal of the MV Pioneer by Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd was carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Scottish Public Finance Manual, which states that “holdings of assets should be kept under constant review with a view to disposing of surplus assets as quickly as possible” and “the best possible price should be obtained for surplus assets. Assets should therefore normally be sold on the open market.”

It is important to note that these instructions do not require that in all cases assets must be sold on the open market.

In this case, I understand that Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd. obtained an independent valuation of the vessel last year and placed it in the hands of ship brokers for disposal. Following four expressions of interest and a firm offer to purchase the vessel, the CalMac Board took the collective decision to accept that offer, which was 22.2% in excess of the independent valuation that had been obtained. The board also took into account savings in lay up costs from an early disposal.

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-16255 on 12 May 2005. 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.

The vessel was not sold on the open market, but was disposed of privately at a price some 22.2% higher than a current independent valuation and that minimised lay up and other costs. The company acted reasonably in its disposal of this surplus asset and secured an acceptable price in accordance with Scottish Public Finance Manual best practice.

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-16255 on 12 May 2005. 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.

In 2005-06, if the poundage rate was reduced from 46.1p to 41.5p, the forecast of non-domestic rate income would be £1,756 million.

In 2005-06, if the poundage rate was reduced from 46.1p to 42.2p, forecast non-domestic rate income would be £1,786 million.

The total revenue from non-domestic rates in 2004-05 is estimated to be £1,813 million. The most recent forecast of non-domestic rates income for 2005-06 is £1,951 million. Both figures are taken from Annex 7 of Finance Circular 08/2004, a copy of which is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 34705).

The Horse Passports (Scotland) Regulations2005 were made on 21 April 2005 and laid before Parliament on 22 April 2005.

This is a matter for NHS boards,who make their own decisions about internal management arrangements. That discretionis of course subject to normal employment legislation, good practice relating toemployee relations and the rights of staff under national pay and conditions ofservice.