Chamber and committees

Maximum charge increases for2006-10 were set by the Water Industry Commission in its final determination ofcharges for that period. The information sought is available at http://www.watercommissioner.co.uk/SRC_2006-2010/on page 371.

The Scottish Government had nocorporate plans to celebrate Christmas. However, Christmas Day was a public holidayand Boxing Day a privilege holiday. In addition, and in keeping with previous years,the following arrangements were in place:

Christmas trees in the main buildings

An official Scottish GovernmentChristmas Card

Canteens in the maingovernment buildings offered a Christmas lunch menu

Staff received a four hour flexicredit.

 

Water charge levels are set byan independent process of economic regulation led by the Water Industry Commissionfor Scotland.

The day-to-day deployment ofpolice officers is a matter for individual chief constables, but we are supportingthem in their various initiatives to cut bureaucracy, exploit new technology andfree up officer time for redeployment to operational and front line duties.

For example, Central ScotlandPolice is pioneering a mixed economy model which aims to challenge existing workingpractices and drive forward modernisation across the force. Strathclyde Police Boardhas recently approved plans that will free up over 100 desk jobs currently beingcarried out by uniformed officers.

I have also asked the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland toconsider efficiencies that might be released from centralising police recruitmentand, as the member is aware, I continue to press the UK Government to change legislationto release police from the requirement to support VOSA (Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) in carryingout roadside checks – something which they are not required to do in England andWales.

These are examples of the goodwork going on in all Scottish forces to support the government’s commitment to anadditional 1,000 officers in our communities.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-6786 on 3 December 2007. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilities for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Scottish ministers will continueto provide support to encourage the growth of the shipbuilding industry in Scotland. The Scottish Government is in regular contact with UK counterpartsto ensure Scotland’s position is fully represented and to support and encouragethe growth of the sector in Scotland. In addition, Scottish Enterprise will continue to encourageindustry growth through the Scottish Marine Technologies Training Project - a comprehensiveplan designed to ensure the development of the skilled workforce that is essentialto the future success of the industry.

Scottish Enterprise hasbeen working closely with, and has provided a range of support and advice to, FergusonShipbuilders in Port Glasgow. Ferguson Shipbuilders is probably the only Scottishcivil shipyard currently with the capability to undertake the recent contract forthe construction of a vessel for the Islay service. Scottish Enterprise’s work has been undertakenwith a view to ensuring the company maximises its opportunity to bid for any appropriatework, aimed at helping to retain and to create Scottish jobs. However, while ScottishEnterprise can bring appropriate invitations to tender of which it is aware to theattention of private companies, it is not able to influence what are private companydecisions on whether to bid. Any decision on whether or not to tender is a matterfor the company’s own commercial judgment.

The operator of the Islay service,CalMac Ferries Limited, were fully involved in all aspects of the tendering andcontract award for the new ferry to serve this route. This included the developmentof the specification and design of the new vessel.

Caledonian Maritime Assets Limitedare obliged to follow EU procurement guidelines in tendering the contract for newvessels. Ferguson Shipbuilders originally expressed an interest and were invitedto tender. However, early in the tender period Ferguson Shipbuilders withdrew fromthe tender competition. Consequently no Scottish shipbuilders tendered for the contract.

The contract to construct thisvessel has been awarded by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited to Gdansk StoczniaRemontowa SA and the vessel will be built in Gdansk, Poland.