- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 May 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 3 June 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether all road and bridge projects will be funded by the Scottish Futures Trust when it becomes operational.
Answer
The Scottish Government announced on 20 May the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) initiative to be supported by a new company established in the public sector. The SFT company will be formed this summer and will work with the public sector and market. One of its objectives will be to assist the public sector to produce aggregated strategies for the delivery and funding of infrastructure investment projects.
- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 May 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 3 June 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding mechanisms it proposes to adopt for public works prior to the Scottish Futures Trust becoming operational.
Answer
There is a range of funding mechanisms available to public bodies for investment, and public bodies should continue to use the funding mechanism most appropriate to the investment they are undertaking to secure best value for money. The Government has published its infrastructure investment plan that includes £14 billion of capital investment over the next three years.
We do not agree with the standard form of PFI being used for mainstream projects which have a standard risk profile as it has allowed excessive returns for private investors. Our preference is for the non profit distributing model to be used for these projects as returns for the private investors are capped and surpluses are returned for the public interest.
- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 May 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 3 June 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive which private bodies it expects will contribute to funding projects through the Scottish Futures Trust.
Answer
There is a wide range of bodies which will be interested in investing and lending to Scottish public projects. Public procurement rules oblige public bodies to invite responses to their requirements through open competition.
- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 May 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 3 June 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected (a) revenue and (b) capital underspend or overspend is for each local authority for the financial year 2007-08.
Answer
Although responsibility for financial control rests with each local authority, the Scottish Government collects revenue budget and outturn information from each local authority but the provisional outturn information is not yet available for 2007-08.
Given the rolling nature of capital expenditure plans, which are updated on an on-going basis to reflect new projects, slippage in programmes and revised assumptions on resourcing, the concept of over or underspends on capital expenditure does not apply in this context.
- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 May 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 3 June 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how many offices are allocated to the First Minister; where they are located, and how many private office staff are based in each location.
Answer
There are three offices allocated to the First Minister.
| Office Base | Staff Based in this Location |
| St Andrew’s House | 10 |
| The Scottish Parliament | 0 |
| Bute House | 0 |
Staff periodically work from both the Scottish Parliament and Bute House as required but their main base is in St Andrew’s House.
- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 May 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 3 June 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what underspend or overspend is projected for each directorate for the financial year 2007-08.
Answer
Details of the end year financial position are currently being finalised. I will announce provisional outturn for the Scottish Government when figures become available.
- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 May 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 3 June 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-12920 by Kenny MacAskill on 20 May 2008, how much dedicated funding it has allocated for counter terrorism for (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11.
Answer
The Scottish Government has already allocated £12 million dedicated funding to the Scottish police for counter terrorism this financial year and we are considering proposals for additional funding. This funding is in addition to funding allocated by individual chief constables for counter terrorism work from their overall budgets.
Funding for 2009-10 and 2010-11 will be considered at a later date.
- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 May 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by Adam Ingram on 3 June 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it gives to councils regarding the provision of fish in school meals on Fridays.
Answer
None. It is for local authorities and schools to devise school meal menus which comply with the Hungry for Success recommendations.
- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 May 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 3 June 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive in what legal form the Scottish Futures Trust Development and Delivery organisation will be established, including details of the legislative framework under which the organisation will be covered.
Answer
The Scottish Futures Trust will be a company. The Development and Delivery arm will be a public sector classified body.
- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 May 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 3 June 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the first project to be financed under the Scottish Futures Trust to commence.
Answer
The Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) company will be established this summer and will immediately become engaged with delivery and funding issues across a wide range of infrastructure sectors. The formation of at least two “community hubs”, including primary/community care facilities, will be early projects developed by SFT.
