- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 October 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 14 November 2002
To ask the Presiding Officer, further to his answer to question S1W-26366 on 10 June 2002, which individual expressed concerns about Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd during the routine project meeting between the Holyrood design team and project personnel in May 2001.
Answer
In my answer on 7 December 2001 in response to question S1W-20308, it was noted that concerns were expressed by EMBT/RMJM Ltd in May 2001 and that is to be taken as being their corporate view. Accordingly the "who" within that group is not relevant. Representatives from consultants to the parliament are expected to state a view on behalf of the body concerned and therefore naming of individuals is inappropriate and may also inhibit the free and frank provision of advice and exchange of views.
- 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 14 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29484 by Lewis Macdonald on 14 October 2002, what information it holds on the number of persons eligible for payments under the Scottish Transport Group pension schemes and what its estimate is of the total number of such persons based on the records it has.
Answer
The initial records showed 13,369 potential beneficiaries satisfying the conditions for an ex-gratia payment. We have been notified of a number of deaths of which the majority have led to payments to dependants. We are seeking to identify any additional beneficiaries before completing payments to those already identified.
- 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 David Steel on 14 November 2002
To ask the Presiding Officer, with regard to the statement by Paul Grice that there was a reduction to the cost of works packages where no performance bond was received in cases where such a bond was to have been provided (Official Report, Finance Committee, 8 October 2002, c 2231), whether he will list those contracts where a reduction in the price was achieved, giving the amount of the reduction in each case.
Answer
For reasons of commercial confidentiality, I am unable to provide such a list of contracts. I can confirm, however, that payment for a bond is only authorised when the client is in receipt of an agreed and signed bond from the trade contractor's surety; if this is not received either through choice or delay no payment is made. In the event that the client chooses not to proceed with the requirement for the bond, a net saving on the contract sum is achieved.
- 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 David Steel on 14 November 2002
To ask the Presiding Officer whether the estimated losses arising from the insolvency of Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd have now been assessed at #3.5 million, as stated by Sarah Davidson (Official Report, Finance Committee, 8 October 2002, c 2230), or #3.85 million, as stated by the Presiding Officer in his answer to question S1W-27248 on 2 August 2002, and whether, in the light of Sarah Davidson's evidence referring to some of the elements comprised within the estimated losses arising from the insolvency, he will now provide a detailed breakdown of the computation of such losses.
Answer
There is no change to the previously reported cost to the project of £3.85 million, arising from the insolvency of Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd. The breakdown is as follows:
| Additional Costs Associated with Flour City Insolvency | £000 |
| Net payments to Flour City | £854 |
| Stone Cladding | -£326 |
| East stainless steel vent Pods | £1,729 |
| Window Units | £120 |
| Timber and precast mullions and louvres and stone panels | -£61 |
| East elevation support steelwork | £497 |
| Bay Windows | £937 |
| MSP Roofing | £100 |
| £3,850 |
- 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 David Steel on 14 November 2002
To ask the Presiding Officer what the meaning was of Paul Grice's statement that "there is an issue around performance bonds, which the corporate body is sei'ed of and is pursuing at the moment" (Official Report, Finance Committee, 8 October 2002, c 2231).
Answer
A review of the continuing need for Performance Bonds recommended by the Construction Manager was carried out by the Holyrood Project Team and the results were reported to the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body in September. Every effort is now being made to secure these bonds where the continuing need has been established
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 October 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 14 November 2002
To ask the Presiding Officer how much expenditure, excluding entertainment and hospitality costs, the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body has authorised in each year since July 1999 for the Office of the Presiding Officer, showing costs associated with the Presiding Officer, Deputy Presiding Officers and staff of the office and travel costs separately.
Answer
The Office of the Presiding Officer has incurred the following expenditure (excluding hospitality costs) in each year since 1999:
| 1999-2000 | 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03(6 months) |
| Staff Costs | 34,000 | 78,000 | 95,000 | 53,000 |
| Travel Costs | 7,000 | 3,000 | 7,000 | 1,000 |
| Other Costs | 18,000 | 18,000 | 27,000 | 14,000 |
| Total Costs | 59,000 | 99,000 | 129,000 | 68,000 |
These figures incorporate the salaries and on-costs of the four staff providing support to the Presiding Officer and Deputy Presiding Officers. The lower staffing costs in 1999-2000, and to a lesser extent in 2000-01, reflect the initial set-up of the organisation when posts had not been filled.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 October 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 13 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-5716 by Lewis Macdonald on 10 October 2002, whether it will make any further representations to Her Majesty's Government for the granting of a concession by the Inland Revenue to allow ex-gratia payments in respect of the Scottish Transport Group pension schemes to be made as tax-free lump sum payments, given that the Inland Revenue has allowed tax-free lump sum payments to members of the National Bus Company pension scheme.
Answer
I refer the member to my letter of 1 November 2002 to the Convener of the Scottish Parliament's Public Petitions Committee (PE500). I understand that a copy of my letter has been passed to the member by the convener for his information.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 October 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 13 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-5716 by Lewis Macdonald on 10 October 2002, whether there were any significant differences between the Scottish Transport Group (STG) and National Bus Company (NBC) pension schemes and, in particular, whether (a) the STG scheme members (i) worked for more years and (ii) made more contributions than NBC scheme members and (b) the surplus of the STG schemes was larger pro rata than that of the NBC schemes and, if this is not the case, what conclusions it has reached in respect of each of these matters.
Answer
I refer the member to my letter of 12 June 2002 to the Convener of the Scottish Parliament's Public Petitions Committee (PE500). I understand that a copy of my letter was passed to the member by the convener for his information.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 October 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 13 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reconsider the decision to restrict ex-gratia payments to widows or widowers of members of the Scottish Transport Group pension schemes that died before 18 December 2002 to 50% of the amount that their spouse or partner would have received in order to extend to such widows and widowers the entitlement to 100% of such amounts, currently available to the widows and widowers of members of the schemes that died on or after 18 December 2002, and, if it will not reconsider the decision, what the rationale is for making payment of the whole amount to some widows and widowers and 50% of the payment to others.
Answer
I refer the member to my letter of 9 August 2002 to the Convener of the Scottish Parliament's Public Petitions Committee (PE500). I understand that a copy of my letter has been passed to the member by the convener for his information.
- 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 13 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what follow-up action is taken to encourage and assist the return of application forms in respect of ex-gratia payments from the Scottish Transport Group pension schemes.
Answer
We will be making a further effort to trace all the individuals who have not replied using the Department of Works and Pensions tracing service.
