Chamber and committees

It was announced on 19 March 2003 that Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils would together contribute 19% towards the total costs of the Western Peripheral Route. This sum will be divided equally between the two local authorities, meaning that each will contribute 9.5% of the total costs. The remaining 81% of total costs will be funded by the Scottish Executive.

The Scottish Executive Education Department published best practice guidance on The Administration of Medicines in Schools on 4 September 2001. Statutory responsibility for the administration of medicines in schools lies with NHS boards. The guidance emphasises that NHS boards/trusts, voluntary organisations or other health professionals should provide basic awareness training for all education staff on the most common medical conditions affecting school-age children, and specific training for those volunteering to administer regular or emergency medication. It also stipulates that school staff should never administer medication without appropriate training from health professionals. The guidance document can be accessed at: www.scotland.gov.uk/library3/education/amis.pdf.

A dedicated Art Steering Group was established in the first session of Parliament by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) to consider commissions, purchases and loans of art works for the new building. A progress report on the group's decisions is due to be made to the new SPCB, following which any announcement will be made.

A dedicated Art Steering Group was established in the first session of Parliament by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) to consider commissions, purchases and loans of art works for the new building. A progress report on the group's decisions is due to be made to the new SPCB, following which any announcement will be made.

Following completion of construction, scheduled for November 2003, and before the building can be occupied, testing and commissioning of all the building's essential systems will require to be completed. Thereafter it will be a matter for the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body to decide when the building should open, bearing in mind the need to minimise the cost and disruption involved in the migration of staff, services, furniture, and equipment.

In the region of 30 non-construction-related service contracts have been, or are in the process of being let for the new Parliament building. Each is at a different stage in the procurement process, but all contracts required for the running of the building are scheduled to be let prior to the end of December 2003.

The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body is required, on a quarterly basis, to provide information to the Parliament's Finance Committee on the progress of the project in respect of inflation and materialisation of risk in order to inform the committee's consideration of the annual Budget Bill. Once a new Finance Committee has been established, a report on progress and cost of the project will be made to the members of that committee. I would anticipate that reports will thereafter be made on a quarterly basis, in line with previous practice.

The Holyrood Progress Group was established by a resolution of the Parliament with a remit to oversee completion of construction of the new building. It is therefore expected that the Holyrood Progress Group will continue to provide advice to the Clerk and the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body in the management of the project until it is complete.

The specifications in the contract are closely monitored by the independent Performance Audit Group. To date there is no evidence to suggest that the current winter specifications are inadequate.

In such cases, there is a statutory requirement on education authorities to consult parents of pupils and school boards of the schools affected, and relevant church or denominational bodies.The Scottish Office issued advice when the relevant regulations were made, drawing education authorities' attention to them.