Chamber and committees

Information on the currenttransport projects portfolio, which is the main area of civil engineeringrelated activity within the Scottish Executive is published on the TransportScotland website at www.transportscotland.gov.uk. This helps the construction industry plan its futureworkforce requirements.

The former Strategic RailAuthority were responsible for tendering the current First ScotRail Franchise. the Scottish Executive does not hold the information requested.

None. We are not aware of anycompanies in receipt of RSA which have not registered, if required to do so. Notall businesses need to register with HM Revenue and Customs.

The impact on the Scottishworkforce of the transport plan for the London 2012 Olympic Games has notfeatured in any discussions the Scottish Executive has had with the STUC. the Scottish Executive works with construction industry stakeholders (including thetrade unions), Futureskills Scotland and the industry Sector Skills Councils inmonitoring forecast skills requirements for the construction industry in Scotland.Through Scottish Enterprise Glasgow, a £35 million Construction Skills Action Planis addressing the needs of the construction industry in Scotland.

In the last five calendar years,there were 780 offers of Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) accepted totallingover £290 million. In the same period the actual amount of RSA paid out was over£203 million and £22 million was recovered.

There are cases where grant repayablehas not been repaid in full. A table listing each company, the amount of grant dueto be repaid, the actual grant recovered and the amount not recovered, is availablein the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 42404).

We aware of allegations madeagainst one company in receipt of RSA and have passed details of this to HM Revenueand Customs, Debt Management Enforcement and Insolvency Service.

No. There are, however, a numberof sources which can be accessed to obtain additional information on companies.Such additional checks would depend upon the circumstances of the case.

We do not maintain records ofthis type.

The only company of which I amaware which has received Regional Selective Assistance grant and which has beenreferred to the Department of Trade and Industry’s Companies Investigations Branchis Simclar (Ayrshire) Limited, in administration. The administrators have a dutyunder the Company Directors Disqualification Act to report to the Insolvency Serviceon the conduct of the company’s directors. Colleagues and I have expressed our concernsabout the failure of this company to the DTI which has confirmed that CompaniesInvestigations Branch is considering the company for investigation using its powersin the Companies Act notwithstanding that the administrators have the reportingduty I have mentioned. The consideration of companies for investigation is a confidentialprocess and it is not the practice of the DTI to announce whether or not an investigationis taking or will take place.

Payment of RSA is usuallypaid in instalments and only after capital expenditure and job targets are met.Before final grant payment, claims confirming achievement of targets certifiedby an accountant independent from the company are required.