Chamber and committees

Scottish ministers decide on the priorities given to the range of potential investments in the light of the government’s purpose and the four prioritisation criteria that are derived from that purpose. Prioritisation occurs at two levels: each cabinet secretary considers the top priorities in their portfolio in delivering the purpose and their core objectives, and collectively the cabinet considers the balance between portfolios within the Scottish Government’s overall programme of investment.

The assessment of proposed projects and programmes against the prioritisation criteria is an initial high-level assessment of the outcome. This provides a reasonable overview of the likely outcomes from the full suite of investments, but providing the assessment for each of the individual projects and programmes could be misleading, as these are at different stages of development and will be refined and updated, as more detailed business cases are developed.

As set out on page 5 of the Infrastructure Investment Plan, a strategic environmental assessment has not been undertaken, as budgetary plans and programmes are outwith the scope of the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005. However, the individual projects and programmes within the Plan will be assessed appropriately as they are developed.

Commercial sponsorship for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games is a matter for the Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee. It is not the intention to publish material drawn upon as part of the selection process but the organising committee will undertake due diligence checks to ensure that potential sponsors comply with the standards expected of commercial partners.

The undertaking of an appropriate assessment under the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended), is a matter for the relevant competent authorities when executing their statutory functions. In the case of the Commonwealth Games site at Barry Buddon in Angus, the relevant competent authority has been involved in preliminary discussions with the games organisers about their likely requirements.

The Scottish Government does not hold centrally information on unauthorised activities or breaches of consent. These are matters for the relevant authority.

The only Commonwealth Games site which impacts upon these types of designation is the military training ground at Barry Buddon which will host the shooting events in 2014. I can confirm that the plans as currently drafted involve the construction of temporary facilities within the existing MOD live-firing range. The Games organisers are working closely with Scottish Natural Heritage to ensure that proposals are developed which are compliant with the procedural requirements of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended).

My understanding is that the circumstances which might require contact with the European Commission in this context do not pertain at this stage in the development of the proposal for shooting on the site at Barry Buddon for the Commonwealth Games.

Proposals for the Commonwealth Games shooting events on the site at Barry Buddon are at an early stage of development. My understanding is that the circumstances which might require the consideration of compensation measures in this context do not pertain at this stage in the development of the proposal for shooting on the site at Barry Buddon for the Commonwealth Games.

No. Consideration is being given to a range of available measures to ensure compliance with the Regulations for the purposes of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.