Written Question · S4W-21741 · Session 4
Further to the answer to question S4O-03321 by Shona Robison on 5 June 2014 (Official Report, c. 31883), whether it will inform members of …
The question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-03321 by Shona Robison on 5 June 2014 (Official Report, c. 31883), whether it will inform members of any future access to the special reserve fund and the reasons why ministers considered that the "exceptional circumstances" criteria referred to at paragraph 39 of the paper, Commonwealth Games 2014 Progress report 2: Planning for the delivery of the XXth Games had been met.
The answer
The Scottish Government is providing up to £381.6 million of funding for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games which are firmly on course to deliver within budget.
In the preliminary stages of planning these Games, it was identified that a prudent budget position would be to reserve a portion of the budget, the Special Reserve, to be used in response to unforeseen circumstances and to support the successful delivery of the Games.
This Special Reserve is and always has been part of the overall Games Budget.
As a Government we recognise that public funds must be well managed and that is why the Games Budget is subject to robust financial controls. In order to promote financial transparency Audit Scotland were invited to review these financial controls and the Commonwealth Games Federation’s Co-ordination Committee recently praised the “strong financial management” of the Games partners in relation to the Games Budget. Since the Special Reserve is entirely funded by the Scottish Government, access is subject to Ministerial approval.
Any future use of the Special Reserve will require the further approval of Ministers.
The full audited accounts of Glasgow 2014 will be available post Games. In addition, Audit Scotland will be conducting a review of the Commonwealth Games which will be published in January 2015.
In the preliminary stages of planning these Games, it was identified that a prudent budget position would be to reserve a portion of the budget, the Special Reserve, to be used in response to unforeseen circumstances and to support the successful delivery of the Games.
This Special Reserve is and always has been part of the overall Games Budget.
As a Government we recognise that public funds must be well managed and that is why the Games Budget is subject to robust financial controls. In order to promote financial transparency Audit Scotland were invited to review these financial controls and the Commonwealth Games Federation’s Co-ordination Committee recently praised the “strong financial management” of the Games partners in relation to the Games Budget. Since the Special Reserve is entirely funded by the Scottish Government, access is subject to Ministerial approval.
Any future use of the Special Reserve will require the further approval of Ministers.
The full audited accounts of Glasgow 2014 will be available post Games. In addition, Audit Scotland will be conducting a review of the Commonwealth Games which will be published in January 2015.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S4W-21741 by reference.