To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the application of the principles in the Scottish public finance manual, what its position is on whether the reported estimated cost of £3.56 million—that is £3,560,000—for refurbishment to decarbonise the procurator fiscal’s office in Elgin represents value for money, in light of the property being valued at just £275,000 in March 2022. (S6O-03562)

The Scottish Government takes getting best value for money from public spend seriously, and we recognise the need to meet our climate commitments. That includes spending the limited public money available for that purpose most effectively to achieve our targets.

Fergus Ewing has raised valid concerns about the value-for-money aspects of that particular investment: I have to say that I share those concerns very much. The project was intended to increase understanding of the technology and processes around deep retrofitting of historic buildings. As such, it will not be replicated, but the lessons that have been learned should support cost-effective delivery of future projects. The member can rest assured that any future projects will be rigorously assessed to ensure that public money is used most effectively to deliver the Government’s objectives, taking into account strict value-for-money criteria.

I have long believed that the household implement of which the Scottish Government was in most dire need was a new broom. From what I have heard, I am pleased that we appear to have found, in the minister, that new broom and can secure value for money and avoid waste of money in investment in our public buildings in general.

With regard to new projects, can the minister use that new broom to prevent further waste of money on a gigantic white elephant of a project of eye-watering proportions to build a new office for Scottish Government staff in Glasgow when, frankly, huge numbers of empty public buildings are already available for its use?

Fergus Ewing has raised a very important point. He will be delighted to hear that the project that he has highlighted is under scrutiny at the moment. He will be well aware, as I am, that there is unused capacity in Scottish Government and agency premises in Glasgow. Any proposals for new capacity would need to be viewed in the light of whether that capacity is required and the requirement to meet the very strict value-for-money criteria that I have outlined.