Chamber and committees

I have asked Scottish Futures Trust to respond. The response is as follows:

The following projects were named in the Prequalification Questionnaire for the South West hub.

I have asked Scottish Futures Trust to respond and their response is as follows:

The hub procurement process sets minimum standards of performance which are measured through Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

The KPIs cover, amongst other things, the hubCos' performance in relation to recruitment and training opportunities; creation of opportunities for SMEs and third sector organisations; community engagement; meeting sustainability and energy efficiency standards; and reducing waste.

The KPI guidance can be accessed at: http://www.scottishfuturestrust.org.uk.

NHS Lanarkshire has confirmed that they regard Monklands Hospital as a key facility in delivering healthcare services to local people and, as such, continue to make substantial investment in Monklands Hospital; with the board investing approximately £5 million per annum over the last four years.

The board has confirmed that Monklands Hospital requires substantial redevelopment due to its age and the need to maintain the full range of emergency service provision in an environment that is consistent with modern service delivery requirements. This work will need to take place while the hospital remains fully operational and, as such, will be extremely complex and will require a significant amount of planning. The board has advised that it will be undertaking some of the initial planning work this year with a view to developing an initial agreement.

The Scottish Government maintains regular contact with all NHSScotland boards on a range of issues. At the mid-year review of NHS Lanarkshire’s performance on 11 November 2011, pressures in medical staffing were discussed and, looking forward to the summer of 2012, the board believed that the position would improve.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-05155 on 3 February 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

NHS Lanarkshire have confirmed that under the plans associated with their previous A Picture of Health strategy, the board’s intention had been that there would be a new build/extension, including expansion of accident and emergency facilities, at both Hairmyres Hospital and Wishaw General Hospital in order to accommodate the activity levels anticipated with two emergency hospitals and one planned care hospital as a result of the board’s original proposal to close the accident and emergency department at Monklands Hospital.

Following this Government’s decision to overturn the previous Administration’s endorsement of the proposal to close the accident and emergency department at Monklands Hospital, thereby maintaining this important emergency facility for the benefit of local people, further detailed planning on extending the accident and emergency facilities at Hairmyres and Wishaw Hospitals was not required.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-05155 on 3 February 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

A micro business is defined as an enterprise which employs fewer than 10 persons. Small enterprises are those that employ 10 to 49 persons.

Public Contracts Scotland has only recorded data on contracts awarded to companies by their size since late 2010. A breakdown of the number of contract awards to small and micro businesses for the years available is given in the following table.

It is not possible to record the value of contracts awarded to suppliers through Public Contracts Scotland. This is due to a number of reasons, for example: the contract value is often an estimate (since the actual use of the contract cannot be determined exactly in advance); and in framework contracts, or contracts won by a consortium of businesses, the actual spend with the individual suppliers will not correlate to the estimated overall value of the contract recorded in the system.

The Scottish Executive will introduce a sustainable procurement Bill during the lifetime of the current Parliament. We anticipate that a formal consultation on the policy content will be held at the earliest possible opportunity.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-05152, on 3 February 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.