- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 April 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 17 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent the Scottish Legal Aid Board considers that a block fee regime would encourage additional usage of the courts in civil legal aid matters and what evaluations have been undertaken on this matter.
Answer
The Scottish Legal Aid Board is by statute an independent body. It is not for Scottish ministers to speak for the board on its opinions. This question should be raised with the board. However, I await proposals from the Law Society of Scotland on fees for civil legal aid work.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 March 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 15 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive how many properties were converted into sheltered housing complexes by local authorities in (a) 1999, (b) 2000 and (c) 2001.
Answer
The numbers of dwellings converted into sheltered housing in the years 1999-2000 to 2001-02 are shown in the following table.
| 1999-2000 | 2000-01 | 2001-02 |
| Conversions | Very sheltered | Sheltered | Very sheltered | Sheltered | Very sheltered | Sheltered |
| Aberdeen City | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Aberdeenshire | 0 | 72 | 0 | 88 | 0 | 0 |
| Angus | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Argyll and Bute | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Clackmannanshire | 0 | 20 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 17 |
| Comhairle nan Eilean Siar | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dumfries and Galloway | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| Dundee City | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 154 |
| East Ayrshire | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| E. Dunbartonshire | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| East Lothian | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| East Renfrewshire | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| City of Edinburgh | 0 | 0 | 0 | 285 | 0 | 0 |
| Falkirk | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fife | 0 | 1,320 | 0 | 85 | 0 | 2 |
| Glasgow City | 64 | 0 | 60 | 0 | 60 | 0 |
| Highland | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 29 |
| Inverclyde | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| Midlothian | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Moray | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| North Ayrshire | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| North Lanarkshire | 0 | 30 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| Orkney Islands | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Perth and Kinross | 0 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Renfrewshire | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Scottish Borders | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Shetland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| South Ayrshire | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| South Lanarkshire | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| Stirling | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| W. Dunbartonshire | 0 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| West Lothian | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Scotland | 64 | 1,480 | 61 | 495 | 60 | 202 |
Source: Housing Capital Programme 1999-2000 to 2001-02.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 March 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 12 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-24120 by Mr Jim Wallace on 27 March 2002, whether it will specify all the omissions from the published version of the contract on HM Prison Kilmarnock in each case showing in which part of the contract the omissions were made, what information has been omitted and on what grounds it was omitted.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:The categories omitted were detailed in the response to question S1W-24120. These were omitted on the grounds of security, commercial in confidence and unnecessary detail in the case of lengthy lists of fixtures, fittings, etc.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 22 March 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 10 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12540 by Mr Jim Wallace on 21 February 2001, what its (a) base case, (b) best case and (c) worst case estimates were for the cost of HM Prison Kilmarnock.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:The net present value (NPV) of the contract for HMP Kilmarnock was £133 million, based on the agreed contract pricing. The NPV of the public sector comparator was calculated on a pre- and post-risk basis, amounting to £263 million and £290 million respectively.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 22 March 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 10 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it pays any additional fees when the number of prisoners at HM Prison Kilmarnock is greater than the number of places available for prisoners.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:Details of the payment mechanisms are given in the contract published on 8 March 2002, on the SPS website.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 22 March 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 10 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12540 by Mr Jim Wallace on 21 February 2001, what methodology is used to estimate the cost of the Scottish Prison Service's provision of a custodial service equivalent to that provided at HM Prison Kilmarnock, detailing the assumptions made with regard to the calculation of net present value, inflation rates, interest rates, design costs, construction costs, financing costs, staff costs and any other relevant costs.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:The costs for Kilmarnock Prison date back to 1997, the date of contract signature. The most up to date estimates for the delivery of a modern customised service were prepared for the SPS Estates Review, published on 21 March 2002. Full details of the methodology and relevant assumptions are contained in the consultation documents.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 22 March 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 10 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12540 by Mr Jim Wallace on 21 February 2001, what methodology it used to calculate the net present value for HM Prison Kilmarnock and what assumptions were made in regard to the rate of inflation, interest rates and any other relevant factor.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:The net present value for HMP Kilmarnock was calculated based on the cash flow over the 25-year operating period, discounted at 6%, according to HM Treasury guidance.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 22 March 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 10 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what penalties have been incurred under the contract to operate HM Prison Kilmarnock by the operators of the prison.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:There was a start-up performance deduction of £190,912, and there have been performance related revenue deductions totalling £494,746.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 22 March 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 10 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21184 by Mr Jim Wallace on 14 January 2002, whether the cost of the Controller and his staff is included in the costs for HM Prison Kilmarnock given in the answers to questions S1W-9796, S1W-10002 and S1W-11308.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:No.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 March 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 8 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will present proposals for the provision of portable liquid oxygen that may be prescribed by GPs.
Answer
I will make an announcement on this issue in due course.
