- Asked by: Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banff and Buchan, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 March 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 29 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the invoices received by the Scottish Ministers as required under paragraph 32.3 of the Minute of Agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotland and Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited for the Design, Construction, Management and Financing of a Prison at Kilmarnock require VAT to be paid and, if so, at what rate.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:Yes, at the current standard rate of 17.5%, but in accordance with section 41(3) of the Value Added Tax Act 1994 for qualifying contracted-out services, all VAT paid on invoices from Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited is fully recoverable.
- Asked by: Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banff and Buchan, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 April 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 29 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive which visits to prisons in Scotland and elsewhere were undertaken by PricewaterhouseCoopers staff in relation to the Financial Review of Scottish Prisons Service Estates Review.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:PricewaterhouseCoopers staff visited HM Prison Edinburgh.
- Asked by: Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banff and Buchan, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 April 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 29 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any members of staff from the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) and who at the time worked in a prison, attended the risk workshop referred to in section 2.7 of the Financial Review of Scottish Prisons Service Estates Review prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers and, if so, how many and what positions did they hold in the SPS at that time.
Answer
Personnel covering a range of expertise, including operational, professional, estates, financial and contracts staff participated in those processes.
- Asked by: Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banff and Buchan, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 April 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 29 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff from PricewaterhouseCoopers were involved in the Financial Review of Scottish Prisons Service Estates Review and how many working days were spent by them on the review.
Answer
Three were directly involved at various stages of the review, totalling approximately 70 chargeable days.
- Asked by: Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banff and Buchan, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 April 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 29 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive on what date ministers first received the Scottish Prison Service Estates Review in what was materially the form in which it was published and on what date was the first version, if different, received.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:The Estates Review document page V. refers.
- Asked by: Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banff and Buchan, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 April 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 29 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive how many members of staff from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) attended the risk workshop referred to in section 2.7 of the Financial Review of Scottish Prisons Service Estates Review prepared by PwC.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:Three.
- Asked by: Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banff and Buchan, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 April 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 29 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Prison Service Estates Review submitted to it by the Scottish Prison Service was changed in any material regard as a result of the Financial Review of Scottish Prisons Service Estates Review prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Answer
The Scottish Prison Service Estates Review document page V. refers.
- Asked by: Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banff and Buchan, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 February 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 26 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what direct support measures for the roll out of broadband services have been identified under the Highlands and Islands Partnership Programme.
Answer
Programme priorities have been outlined as infrastructure enhancements in remoter areas. An action plan has been drawn up and a more detailed description of project activities is being developed. Part of this process will entail the identification of effective demand to ensure project sustainability. I can confirm that a £11.5 million project led by Highlands and Islands Enterprise in partnership with Shetland Islands Council and Orkney Islands Council to link Shetland and Orkney with the UK mainland by submarine fibre-optic cable, was recently successful in securing some £1.5 million in European funds.
- Asked by: Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banff and Buchan, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 April 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 25 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what additional costs Grampian region will incur as a result of the recent UK budget.
Answer
The recent UK budget is good news for Scotland and good news for Grampian. As the First Minister set out in his statement on 18 April, the budget will benefit business, the health service, older people, children, families and people in and out of work. The detailed impact on Grampian or any other region will depend on the individual circumstances of the businesses and households in that region. To assess this precisely would require detailed economic analysis - but for every region we would expect the benefits to significantly outweigh the costs. It is our responsibility to make sure we make the most of the opportunities the budget offers.
- Asked by: Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banff and Buchan, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 March 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 25 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what commitments are made within the full development plan referred to at paragraph 31.1 of the Minute of Agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotland and Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited for the Design, Construction, Management and Financing of a Prison at Kilmarnock in respect of effecting a reduction in re-offending by prisoners after release.
Answer
The plan includes commitment to address offending behaviour through programmes accredited by the Scottish Prison Service; to provide throughcare opportunities including work on drug and alcohol related problems, and for prisoners to have opportunities to gain employment skills.
