- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 02 July 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 23 July 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its staff are working on the Borders railway project.
Answer
Transport Scotland currently has four permanent staff allocated to the Borders railway project.
- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 02 July 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 23 July 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest estimated cost is of the Edinburgh-to-Glasgow rail enhancement; what the sources of funds are for this project, and when it will be completed.
Answer
The estimated Capital cost of the Edinburgh - Glasgow Improvements Programme (EGIP) remains £1,135 million.
The programme will be fully funded by the Scottish Government. Network Rail and the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) have confirmed that Network Rail''s Regulatory Asset Base (RAB) financing facility is available to finance the infrastructure elements of the EGIP programme.
The programme remains on schedule for final completion by December 2016.
- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 02 July 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 23 July 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to approaching the National Trust for Scotland to discuss joint working with Historic Scotland.
Answer
Historic Scotland works closely with the National Trust for Scotland in a number of areas and continues to develop its joint working agreed in the 2006 concordat between the two agencies.
The chief executives of Historic Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland meet regularly to discuss further opportunities to work together where it is appropriate and beneficial to both organisations.
Link to concordat http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/concordat-national-trust-2.pdf.
- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 June 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 23 July 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimated expenditure on publicity is for the first quarter of 2011 and how this compares with the equivalent period in each of the last three years.
Answer
The seasonal nature of some of the Scottish Government public information campaigns means that the majority of activity takes place over the winter and into the spring. This is a pattern consistent with previous years, both under this and the previous administration.
Projected expenditure on Social Advertising and Public Information campaigns in the first quarter of 2011 is currently estimated at £3,360,000 including VAT. However, this is subject to business planning variations and fluctuations to the media market. For each of the past three years, quarter one expenditure was £5,956,720 in 2008, £6,610,869 in 2009 and £5,035,714 in 2010.
In the current economic climate, advertising expenditure is constantly being reviewed to achieve maximum cost efficiencies in line with ministerial objectives.
- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 24 June 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 22 July 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive who provided the catering at the dinner for His Royal Highness, the Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay, hosted by the First Minister during the Gathering 2009; whether the bill has been paid, and, if so, by whom.
Answer
The detailed information requested is currently being collated and I will write to the member as soon as this is available. A copy of the response will be placed in the Scottish Parliament''s Information Centre (Bib. number 51531).
- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 June 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 22 July 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what official journeys have been undertaken using public transport in 2010 by (a) the First Minster and (b) each cabinet secretary.
Answer
The detailed information requested is currently being collated and I will write to the member as soon as this is available. A copy of the response will be placed in the Scottish Parliament''s Information Centre (Bib. number 51387).
- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 June 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 21 July 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms exist for providing accountability for the expenditure of public money in (a) colleges and (b) universities.
Answer
Core funding for colleges and universities is provided through the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). The Financial Memorandum between the SFC and the institutions it funds, requires the SFC to ensure that colleges and universities are making proper arrangements for governance, financial management and accounting. As Accountable Officer, the SFC Chief Executive is ultimately accountable to Parliament for ensuring that institutions are utilising the funds they have been given in a manner consistent with the purpose for which they were allocated.
In addition, the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 2005 provides that the Auditor General for Scotland may inspect the accounts and accounting records of all institutions funded by the SFC.
- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 June 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 21 July 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what the procedures are for appointments to the Scottish Funding Council and what aspects of these relate to accountability for the expenditure of public money.
Answer
Appointments to the board of the Scottish Funding Council follow procedures that comply with The Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland Code for Ministerial Appointments.
- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 June 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 21 July 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the income of each (a) college and (b) university came, directly or indirectly, from the Scottish Government in 2009-10.
Answer
This is an operational matter for the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) and I will ask the Chief Executive to write to you. Please note that as SFC provide funding to colleges and universities on an academic year basis the information for 2009-10 will not be available until the end of December 2010.
- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 June 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Johnstone on 19 July 2010
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what the cost of all additional security measures at the Scottish Parliament is in the last three years.
Answer
The Parliament has spent £2,314,000 in the last three years on additional security measures which can be broken down as follows:
| Project | Cost |
| Streetscape Measures | £1,056,000 |
| Turnstiles | £412,000 |
| Project Management and Advice | £276,000 |
| Vehicle Entry System | £233,000 |
| Chicane | £232,000 |
| Security Gates and Fences | £53,000 |
| Other General Security Measures | £52,000 |
| Total | £2,314,000 |
