SCOTTISH GRANITE CHOSEN FOR PARLIAMENT CONTRACT

A contract to obtain granite for part of the new Scottish Parliament building is being placed this week with Kemnay quarry in Aberdeenshire, the Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group, Lewis Macdonald MSP, announced today.

Speaking after it was confirmed at a Progress Group meeting at Holyrood that the contract was now ready to let, Mr Macdonald said:

"I am delighted that Kemnay has won this contract. Enric Miralles himself praised the 'sparkle' of Kemnay granite and it is therefore particularly appropriate that a Scottish quarry has been able to compete successfully on this occasion."

Granite will be used in the external cladding of the building which is designed to give a mosaic effect through combining applied panels of timber, stone, slate and steel. This contract is the first of two major cladding packages and Kemnay have been selected to provide the granite element of this first package on the basis that the required quantity and quality of granite can be supplied in line with the project's programme deadlines.

As with all packages, negotiations with Kemnay and other parties to the contract are continuing in order to ensure overall compliance with budget.

Potential bidders will be sought in the New Year for the second cladding package. Again, a successful tenderer will require to conform to the project's cost and programme targets.