- Asked by: Sandra White, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 November 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Johann Lamont on 23 November 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected costs are of the new state-of-the-art digital radio system for emergency services announced in April 2006.
Answer
The total contracted cost forFirelink, the new radio system for the British Fire and Rescue Service announcedby the Minister for Justice on 6 April 2006, is around £400 million at today’s prices.It is prudently estimated that the projected cost to Scotland overthe initial ten-year life of the contract will be in the region of £100 million,(inclusive of VAT, which is likely to be recoverable on most elements of the project).
- Asked by: Sandra White, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 November 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Johann Lamont on 21 November 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what preparatory costs are associated with the introduction of the new state-of-the-art digital radio system for the emergency services announced in April 2006.
Answer
On current plans, it is expectedthat Firelink – the new radio system for the GB Fire and Rescue Service announcedby the Minister for Justice on 6 April 2006 – will be fully implanted in Scotland by mid-February2009. It is currently estimated that the costs to Scotland forparticipation in Firelink up to the end of financial year 2008-09 will be around£41.4 million. In addition, individual fire and rescue services will require tomake staff available to assist with implementation of, and for training on, thenew system.
- Asked by: Sandra White, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 October 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 17 November 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable will be for implementing the scheme of assistance for tenants of Glasgow Housing Association.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-29398 on 17 November 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliaments website, the search facilityfor which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.Although the Scheme of Assistanceis intended to support property owners, tenants may in some circumstances be eligiblefor assistance, under section 92 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006, for example,where a tenant is held to be responsible for certain works, or where building adaptationsare needed in connection with an occupant’s disability and they are not providedby the landlord. It is unusual for such circumstances to apply to tenants of sociallandlords.
- Asked by: Sandra White, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 October 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 17 November 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a detailed explanation of the help available under the scheme of assistance for housing purposes in respect of advice and assistance, practical help, loans and equity access products and grants.
Answer
I have asked Angiolina Foster,Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:
“Help for property owners availableunder the Scheme of Assistance, relating to part 2 of the Housing (Scotland) Act2006 will be decided by local authorities within a framework of regulations andguidance produced in consultation with them. Development of that framework is atan early stage and it is not yet possible to provide a detailed explanation of thespecific forms of assistance which might become available under the Scheme.
The circular on the Housing (Scotland) Act2006 issued to local authorities (19 July 2006)estimated that Scheme of Assistance powers would be in force around early to mid-2007.These dates are subject to change as work progresses and decisions are taken onthe scope of the scheme.
Communities Scotland is committedto the principles of open government and publishes information about progress toimplement the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 on the Communities Scotland website at
www.communitiesscotland.gov.uk.
- Asked by: Sandra White, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 October 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 17 November 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the scheme of assistance for tenants of Glasgow Housing Association will be retrospective.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-29398 on 17 November 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliaments website, the search facilityfor which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.The Scheme of Assistance provisionswithin the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 will not apply retrospectively as this wouldneed specific powers which are not contained within that act.
- Asked by: Sandra White, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 November 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 17 November 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what ethical guidelines it uses when considering the issuing of contracts to outside companies.
Answer
Suppliers to the Executiveare expected to maintain high standards of business and professional conducte.g. in relation to legislative requirements on the environment, equalopportunities, race relations, health and safety, employment and taxation.Where a bidder fails to comply with relevant legal obligations consideration isgiven as to whether it should be excluded from competition.
The Public Contracts (Scotland)Regulations 2006 came into force earlier this year. In accordance with theseRegulations, the Executive does not invite companies to bid for contracts ifthe company, or any of its Directors have been convicted of a range of offencesincluding conspiracy in a criminal organisation, corruption, bribery,incitement to commit a crime, theft or fraud, money laundering and taxationfraud.
When considering who toinvite to bid for its contracts the Executive also considers, amongst otherthings, whether the company or any of its directors has committed an act ofgrave misconduct in the course of the operation of the business or has beenconvicted of a criminal offence relating to the conduct of the business, or anyfailure to meet obligations in respect of social security payments or taxes.
- Asked by: Sandra White, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 November 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 17 November 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any contracts with the Eden Springs water company and, if so, whether it is aware of reports that Eden Springs is in violation of international law by exploiting the water resources of the Golan Heights and, if so, whether it will reconsider its contracts on that basis and, if not, whether it will reconsider its contract should it become aware of any such allegations.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has acontract for the provision of bottled water with Eden Springs (UK) Ltd. EdenSprings (UK) Ltd is a UK registered company and has not, to the best of ourknowledge, committed any offences under national or international laws. Watersupplied to the Executive under its contract with Eden Springs (UK) Ltd issourced in Scotland.
- Asked by: Sandra White, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 October 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 17 November 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive when the scheme of assistance for tenants of Glasgow Housing Association will be implemented.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-29398 on 17 November 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliaments website, the search facilityfor which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Sandra White, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 20 October 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 16 November 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what studies have been undertaken to weigh up the benefits a super casino would bring to Glasgow against the potential risks of increasing problem gambling.
Answer
To help understand thepossible negative impacts of new casino developments, the Executive commissionedresearch earlier this year on the social impacts of gambling. We consideredthis alongside an assessment of the potential economic impact of a regionalcasino in Scotland. Both reports were published on the Executive’swebsite on 12 September 2006 and can be viewed at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Research/Research/17692/SocialResearchPubs/EntLifelongLearning.
- Asked by: Sandra White, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 20 October 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 16 November 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable is for its deliberations regarding Glasgow’s super casino bid and any decision on whether to back the bid.
Answer
Ministers believe that localcouncils are best placed to weigh up the pros and cons of new casinodevelopments in their areas.
Itwould also be inappropriate for ministers to comment on the merits of specificbids because ministers may become involved in later planning applications.
The Executive has sentcopies of the research on the social impacts of gambling along with anassessment of the potential economic impact of a regional casino in Scotland tothe UK’s Casino Advisory Panel for them to consider while they evaluateproposals from councils for new casinos. The panel will make a recommendationto Tessa Jowell MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, in January2007. Scottish ministers will be formally consulted by UK ministersin early 2007 before the final decisions are taken.
