§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions have taken place between his Department and the chairman of the Cairngorms Partnership relating to the number of individuals on the organisation's board and the levels of remuneration which are currently being made to the members of the board. [9572]
§ Mr. Kynoch[holding answer 17 January 1996]: The chairman of the Cairngorms Partnership and my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Scotland discussed the original composition of the board which was set up to reflect the widest possible range of interests in the area. My right hon. Friend determined that the rate of remuneration for the chairman should be assessed by comparison with members of Scottish Natural Heritage. Remuneration of members of the partnership board is similarly by comparison with members of the boards of non-departmental public bodies.
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what safeguards his Department has put in place to prevent abuse of the remunerative arrangements pertaining to the board of the Cairngorms Partnership. [9573]
§ Mr. Kynoch[holding answer 17 January 1996]: A framework document has been prepared by officials from the Scottish Office, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Cairngorms Partnership. This sets out the framework for the administrative and financial arrangements of the partnership and includes provision for monitoring of all expenditure incurred by the partnership. This includes ensuring value for money and ensuring that adequate systems are in place to secure propriety and regularity of payments and prudent and economic administration.
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will instruct officials of his Department to investigate urgently the current remuneration levels of the board of the Cairngorms Partnership. [9574]
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§ Mr. Kynoch[holding answer 17 January 1996]: No. The level of remuneration paid to the board is in line with that paid to members of boards of non-departmental public bodies.
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects the board of the Cairngorms Partnership to be in a position to provide a response to the report of the working party on the future of the Cairngorms; and if he will indicate the timetable stipulated by the Scottish Office at the time the partnership was established governing the publication of the group's response to the report of the working party. [9575]
§ Mr. Kynoch[holding answer 17 January 1996]: The Cairngorms Partnership, which became operational in May 1995, was asked to produce a draft management strategy for the Cairngorms area within a year of its establishment. It is expected that a draft strategy document will be published before the end of May 1996.
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about the conduct of the board of the Cairngorms Partnership with particular reference to the levels of remuneration being paid to board members and the levels of expenditure being incurred in operating the organisation. [9576]
§ Mr. Kynoch[holding answer 17 January 1996]: No such representations have been received.
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the current membership of the board of the Cairngorms partnership indicating in the case of those individuals currently on local authorities whether they are also now members of the new shadow unitary authorities; and if the membership of the board of the Cairngorms partnership will be reviewed as a result of local government reform. [9577]
§ Mr. Kynoch[holding answer 17 January 1996]: The information requested is as follows:
- Mr. David Laird (chairman)
- Dr. Robert Aitken
- Mr. Stuart Black
- Mr. Richard Cooke
- Mr. Roy Dennis
- Mr. Robert Dunsmore
- Ms Helen Geddes
- Mr. John Grant
- Mr. Stuart Housden
- Mr. Simon Miller
- Dr. Roger Owen
- Mrs. Sheena Slimon
- Mr. Hamish Swan
- Dr. Adam Watson
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Local authorities representatives Current local authority Elected to new council Councillor Mary Levie Grampian Regional Council — Councillor Norman Donald Gordon DistrictCouncil —
Local authorities representatives Current local authority Elected to new council Councillor Tom Donoghue Kincardine and Deeside District Council Aberdeenshire Councillor Ian Lawson Moray District Council — Councillor Basil Dunlop Highland Regional Council Highland Councillor Charles Haggerty Badenoch and Strathspey District Council — Councillor Alex Shand Tayside Regional Council Angus Councillor Andrew Thomson Angus District Council — Councillor Alex Murray Perth and Kinross District Council Perth and Kinross The nine local authority representatives serve on the board until 31 March 1996. The partnership will shortly be approaching the new shadow unitary authorities seeking their nominations for representation on the board.