To ask the Scottish Executive (a) what the full costs were of establishing Communities Scotland, including the costs of any external consultants for design purposes and (b) what the full costs will be of winding up Scottish Homes.

The full costs of establishing Communities Scotland, including the costs of employing external consultants, was £70,000. No date has yet been set for the winding up of Scottish Homes and therefore it is not at this stage possible to predict what costs, if any, will be incurred.