Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-01804 on 11 August 2011. 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/MAQASearch/QAndMSearch.aspx.

The First Minister has had full and frank discussions with the Chancellor on the recent changes to the North Sea fiscal regime and the impacts on oil and gas production, investment, jobs and the Scottish economy. The Scottish Government has also engaged in close dialogue with industry through Oil and Gas UK, the Oil and Gas Industry Advisory Group and the Department of Energy and Climate Change PILOT Taskforce. Specific concerns were raised with the Treasury, highlighting the implications of the recent fiscal changes which are expected to lead to (1) fewer new fields being developed (2) fewer jobs being created (3) impacts on the industry supply chain and (4) deferment or loss of investment. These concerns are based on analysis from Professor Alex Kemp of the University of Aberdeen and were outlined in an options paper presented to the Chancellor proposing an alternative approach to make the fiscal regime more progressive and to focus the increases on those companies taking excess profits.

The First Minister has strongly urged the Chancellor to consider these options and act without delay to safeguard future investment and jobs in the North Sea.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-01175 on 21 July 2011. 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/MAQASearch/QAndMSearch.aspx.

Governance was not discussed at any time during Borders Railway procurement discussions with Carillion or its consortium partners.

Information split by amenity and sheltered housing is not held centrally. The following table however shows the estimated completions for 2011-12 in each local authority area for both general needs (GN) and particular needs (PN) by (a) housing association, (b) housing co-operative and (c) by local authority:

Estimated Completions 2011-12

In the answer to question S4W-00368 the total estimated figure for Glasgow was shown as 987. This figure however excluded estimated completions for GHA at 277 which increases the Glasgow total to 1,264. The anticipated East Dunbartonshire total previously estimated at 91 has been revised to 60.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-01176 on 20 July 2011. 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/MAQASearch/QAndMSearch.aspx.

The outcome of the bidding process for the Borders Railway project will be announced at the conclusion of the procurement process.

The Borders Railway is a passenger only railway, requiring train operating companies to run two services per hour, 19 hours per day, seven days a week, with trains calling at all seven new stations (Shawfair, Eskbank, Newtongrange, Gorebridge, Stow, Galashiels and Tweedbank).

The non-profit distributing model was discussed with Carillion and its consortium partners as part of the Borders Railway competitive dialogue procurement discussions.

Transport Scotland has previous experience of successfully conducting major single tender competitions and will look at the options available to ensure value for money on the Borders Railway project.