- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 November 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 10 December 2002
To ask the Presiding Officer on what date, or dates, any member of the Holyrood Project Team met directors of Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd (a) John Tang, (b) Johnson Fong or (c) Edward Boyle; what matters were discussed at any such meetings, and whether any meeting took place between any one or more of these directors with any representatives of the construction managers prior to the recommendations in January 2001 by the latter to award the contract to Flour City.
Answer
My answer to question S1W-26364 on 13 June 2002 provided details of a meeting on 4 September 2001, which was attended by representatives of Flour City International Inc, Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd, Bovis Lend Lease (Scotland) Ltd and the Holyrood Project Team. The Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group has informed me that this was the only such meeting held and that issues concerning the MSP Building Cladding Package were discussed. He has also informed me that he is not aware of any meeting between Bovis Lend Lease (Scotland) Ltd and the representatives of Flour City International Inc or Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd, who attended the meeting on 4 September 2001, in connection with the new Scottish Parliament building project, prior to January 2001.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 November 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 10 December 2002
To ask the Presiding Officer whether Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd submitted any tenders for Holyrood Project packages other than that for which it was awarded a contract and, if so, for which packages and on what date any such tenders were received.
Answer
Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd submitted unsuccessful tender bids for four packages, other than their successful bid for the MSP Building Cladding package. The Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group has informed me that identities of unsuccessful tender bidders would normally be classed as commercially confidential, we do not see any problem in providing this information in respect of Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd, who are in receivership, but in this instance has provided the following information on the unsuccessful bids.
| Trade Package | Date Tender Received |
| 1. Assembly Building Specialist Glazing | 04 May 2001 |
| 2. Assembly Building Windows | 01 June 2001 |
| 3. Assembly Building Stone Cladding | 12 June 2001 |
| 4. MSP Building Roofing | 15 August 2001 |
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 November 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 10 December 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a need for a form of pavement or footpath along the A82 from the locks at South Laggan to connect with the existing footpath from the Seven Heads store to the housing scheme at the swing bridge; whether provision of such a footpath is important in order to protect the safety of those using the Great Glen Way; whether there is any risk to those people who use the Great Glen Way each month from any road traffic accidents, and what steps it will take to ensure that all relevant agencies work together to provide such a footpath.
Answer
Improvement works, such as the provision of footpaths, are identified and carried out on a needs basis taking into account safety and operational issues and setting these within the budgetary restraints and competing priorities across the entire trunk road network. A feasibility study into the provision of a footpath between South Laggan and the Well of the Seven Heads store is currently being undertaken by BEAR Scotland Ltd. In parallel, liaison with relevant agencies will also take place and the possibility of alternative funding arrangements will also be considered.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 November 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 10 December 2002
To ask the Presiding Officer when the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body was made aware of the contents of the quarterly accounts of Flour City International Inc for the period to 31 July 2001.
Answer
The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body did not see the contents of the quarterly accounts of Flour City International for the financial period to 31 July 2001.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 November 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 10 December 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31273 by Ross Finnie on 18 November 2002, whether it will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre the responses received to the consultation document, Registration of Sellers and Buyers of First Sale Fish.
Answer
Consultation meetings with industry interests throughout the UK are still taking place. Against that background we have advised industry that we shall accept written comments until the end of the year. Copies of responses received will be made available (except where respondents have requested that they be withheld) through the Scottish Executive library and the Parliament's Reference Centre in the New Year.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 November 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 28 November 2002
To ask the Presiding Officer what the cost has been to date of the Holyrood Progress Group newsletters.
Answer
The cost to date of the Holyrood Progress Group's 11 newsletters is £8469.14 excluding VAT.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 25 November 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 28 November 2002
To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Executive will submit a backdated application to the European Commission for Objective 1 status for the Highlands and Islands in the light of any errors made by the Office for National Statistics in compiling GDP figures.
Answer
We will fight to secure the best deal for the Highlands and Islands. The deal struck by Tony Blair in Berlin in 1999 means that the Highlands and Islands has not lost out as it secured a comparable amount of funding. If the statistics show that full status would have been more appropriate, we will raise that context well in advance of the next negotiations.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 11 October 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 27 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates it has met with European (a) Commissioners and (b) Commission officials since May 1999, and what topics were discussed at each meeting.
Answer
Executive ministers and officials have held a wide range of meetings, formal and informal, with European Union Commissioners and Commission officials in each of the last three years. It is not our practice to disclose details of such meetings, which are numerous, not all recorded in detail, and are often in the context of sensitive and confidential negotiations.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 17 October 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 21 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) widows, (b) widowers and (c) children of members of the Scottish Transport Group pension schemes have made applications for ex-gratia payments from the schemes.
Answer
Data is not held in the form requested. However, of the 10,515 payments made to date, 738 were made in situations where the original member shown in the 1993 data has died. Of these, 680 recipients are female and 58 male.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 November 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 18 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated budget for (a) Scottish Natural Heritage, (b) the national parks programme and (c) the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park will be in (i) 2003-04, (ii) 2004-05 and (iii) 2005-06.
Answer
The funding allocation for Scottish Natural Heritage over the three years 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06 is £58.5 million, £60.9 million and £61.5 million respectively.Over the same period the allocation for national parks is £6.7 million, £7.1 million and £7.8 million. As yet no apportionment of the national parks allocation has been made.
