§ Lord Hogg of Cumbernauldasked Her Majesty's Government:
What arrangements they have put in place to select architects to design the proposed parliamentary building at Holyrood in Edinburgh. [HL58]
§ Lord SewelMy right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Scotland announced on 26 January the arrangements for the selection of a design team for the Scottish Parliament building. Advertisements will be placed in theOfficial Journal of the European Communities and professional journals inviting architect-led design teams to register their interest. From those applicants, the most suitable 12 or so will be interviewed and from these a shortlist of three or four invited to produce indicative design approaches for the building. Those design approaches will be put on public display, following which the successful design team will be selected.
§ Lord Hogg of Cumbernauldasked Her Majesty's Government:
What arrangements they have put in place to monitor, control and audit the costs associated with the construction of a parliamentary building at Holyrood in Edinburgh. [HL57]
§ Lord SewelThe Scottish Office is putting in place the necessary management and reporting structures and appointments to ensure the effective delivery of the project on time and to budget and to meet the Parliament's requirements. These arrangements will be in line with the Government's recently published guidance on its role as a client for construction projects including achieving value for money. Expenditure by The Scottish Office on the construction of the parliament building will be Voted by Parliament and subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor-General in the same way as other expenditure by the department.
51WAAny expenditure incurred after the transfer of functions to the Scottish Parliament will be subject to audit in the same way as other expenditure for which the parliament will be responsible, arrangements for which are to be agreed as currently provided for in the Scotland Bill.