- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 May 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 18 May 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to Towards Better Oral Health in Children - An Independent Analysis of Responses to the Consultation on Children's Oral Health, who the "independent researchers" were who compiled the document.
Answer
The independent research was carried out by George Street Research Ltd of Edinburgh.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 April 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 17 May 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is concerned that its tender list for the management and maintenance of the trunk road network in north-west and south-west Scotland comprises only two contractors and whether this is in accordance with applicable guidelines governing the tender process and, if not, what steps it will take to address any difficulties which may arise.
Answer
No. Although current procurement guidance recommends a minimum of three bidders, two is acceptable when this is considered to provide genuine competition. The nature of the firms which have been selected to tender for these contracts should ensure a genuine competition.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 April 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 17 May 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the announcement that only two firms have been selected to bid for the management and maintenance of the trunk road network in north-west and south-west Scotland, whether it is concerned that the cost to the taxpayer may be unreasonably high.
Answer
No. Although there are only two bidders for each contract, including the existing service providers, the firms involved all have the resources and experience to offer competitive bids that will provide value for money.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 06 May 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 17 May 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Natural Heritage would be liable to compensate any landowners who incurred loss as a result of damage caused by the reintroduction of the beaver.
Answer
The current licence application from Scottish Natural Heritage raises the issue of compensation for damage to landowners who may be adversely affected by the proposed re-introduction of beavers. However, it is only one of a very wide range of issues in a case that has not yet been fully assessed by the Executive.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 April 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 12 May 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that recommended procurement practice has been followed in the tender process for the management and maintenance of the trunk road network in north-west and south-west Scotland where only two firms, rather than three, have been selected to bid and whether it will publish the advice that it has received on this matter.
Answer
Yes. The tender process is being carried out in accordance with EU procurement rules for public works contracts and the procedural guidance set out in the Scottish Executive’s Construction Works Procurement Guidance: Client Pack. This information is available publicly through the Scottish Executive website.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 April 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 12 May 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-15892 by Nicol Stephen on 26 April 2005, (a) which consultants received payment from the sum of £327,735.29, how much was paid to each consultant and what consultancy services were provided, (b) how much of the sum of £152,673.11 was for legal fees and which firms received this payment and (c) which advocate or advocates received payment and how much was paid to each individual.
Answer
The information requested is as follows:
(a) The following consultants received payment from the sum of £327,735.29.
| Consultant | Fee Paid | Services Provided |
| Glasgow City Council | £9,261.06 | PLI Programme Officer |
| Glasgow City Council | £126,740.80 | Design services |
| Glasgow City Council | £16,108.60 | Appointed Agent |
| Environmental Resources Management | £87,835.01 | Environmental |
| Babtie Group | £21,128.54 | Contaminated land |
| Bullen Consultants | £5,681.65 | Geotechnical |
| SIAS | £60,979.63 | Traffic |
| Total | £327,735.29 | |
Notes:
1. The Executive contributes 87.35% to the total cost of the scheme.
2. The remainder of the £152,673.11 is made up of £389.93 for the hire of meeting rooms for consultation with Counsel, £626.11 for copying of papers and productions and £1,310.25 for legal fees incorrectly allocated to PLI costs. The correct cost for Legal Fees and Administration for the PLI is £151,362.86.
(b) £150,346.83 of the £152,673.11 was for legal fees to advocates.
(c) £54,305.50 was paid for the services of David Sheldon, Advocate and £96,041.33 was paid for the services of Raymond Doherty QC.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 April 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 12 May 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive who bears the risk of delays in relation to the awarding of contracts for the construction of the M74 extension; whether it will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre any contract documents providing for such risk, and whether there will be any provision in respect of who bears the financial responsibility for delays caused by (a) protest activity and (b) court proceedings by a third party, such as a judicial review of the decision to proceed, interdict action or other proceedings.
Answer
Our standard Design and Build contract conditions, which are proposed for the construction of the M74 completion scheme, place most of the risk for delays due to unforeseen circumstances on the contractor, since he is best placed to manage the consequence of reprogramming the works.
The Contract documents for the M74 completion scheme are not yet finalised and we will take a view on all relevant risks throughout their development. A copy of the draft M74 contract conditions will be placed in the Scottish Parliament’s Reference Centre once these have been issued to tenderers.
We will proceed to tender once the statutory procedures are secure and will consider with tenderers the appropriate sharing of risk in relation to all potential issues.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 April 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 5 May 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-15166 by Nicol Stephen on 24 March 2005, what specific role the new regional partnership in the west of Scotland will have in the development, management and monitoring of rail services in its area.
Answer
There are a number of tasks that we propose that the new regional transport partnership in the west of Scotland could perform:
Development – developing project proposals, including producing feasibility studies, developing the business case, through to securing parliamentary powers for infrastructure projects and acting to ensure delivery. It would also involve the development of proposals to improve the passenger journey in rail services and franchise-specific proposals.
Management and monitoring – on behalf of Scottish ministers supporting the national transport agency for Scotland in the day to day franchise management and monitoring activities including performance monitoring, ensuring that the franchisee meets the contractually committed targets and obligations, and analysing trends. These issues will be discussed in greater detail with SPT and the relevant councils over the coming months.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 April 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 5 May 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate was of the cost of the public local inquiry on the M74 Special Road (Fullarton Road to West of Kingston Bridge) Orders prior to the inquiry commencing.
Answer
The estimated cost at the start of the PLI was £602,000.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 April 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 5 May 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable is for the tender process for the provision of the appropriate bus infrastructure to support the use of Smartcards for concessionary travel.
Answer
The timetable is as follows
An OJEU (European Journal procurement notice) for interested parties (EOI) was published on 21 March. Replies close on 28 April. The notice reference number is 2005/S 56-054142.
The planned programme for the remainder of the process is:
w/c 2 May - evaluation of EOIs
w/c 9 May – tender document sign off by Executive
18 May - Document issue to tenderers
13 July - closing date for tenders
w/c 18 July - Tender evaluation
early August - recommendations for inclusion in the framework agreement.
From late August – implementation of installation plans.
