Sarah Boyack

23 May 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the second round of data from the 2011 Scottish Census results, in relation to religion, will be released.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Release two outputs from Scotland's Census, which will include statistics relating to religion are due to be published from late summer 2013. Detail about this release and further information is available from the National Records of Scotland publication: Sco…

22 May 2013 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with NHS Lothian.

3 May 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-11911 by John Swinney on 17 January 2013, who it plans to consult; what the timescale is, and what models it has considered as possible replacements for the council tax.

Answer · John Swinney: The current Council Tax system is unfair, which is why the Scottish Government has frozen the tax at 2007-08 levels. That policy has proved overwhelmingly popular with people across Scotland. We are committed to continuing the freeze for the duration of this…

30 Apr 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date it will introduce the proposed Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government intends to consult on a draft Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill in late summer. The Scottish Government intends to introduce the Bill to the Scottish Parliament in this parliamentary session and will set out the detail of its futu…

26 Apr 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider developing a social risk impact assessment model to complement the process of equality impact assessments.

Answer · Derek Mackay: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-14526 on 10 May 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybus…

26 Apr 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation report, Managing the Social Risks of Public Spending Cuts in Scotland.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Joseph Rowntree Foundation report addresses issues that are key to improving local outcomes, and is a welcome contribution to the debate. These issues are being addressed throughout the Scottish Government’s policy-making, budgeting, data provision and co…

17 Apr 2013 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with NHS Lothian regarding the board's investigation of readmission rates.

19 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage local authorities and other public bodies to work together to deliver major capital projects.

Answer · John Swinney: We have facilitated Community Planning Partnerships as key fora for public bodies to work together. We have also developed the hub programme, where Community Planning partners team up with a private sector development partner to form a joint venture delivery …

19 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides to local authorities to inform the development of business cases during major capital projects.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-13796 on 3 April 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybu…

19 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has provided to local authorities to support the financing of their borrowing in each year since 2007-08 and how it has been delivered.

Answer · John Swinney: The vast majority of the funding provided to local government by the Scottish Government, including the funding for servicing outstanding historic revenue debt in the form of loan charge support, is provided by means of a block grant. It is the responsibility…

19 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides to local authorities to inform (a) good governance, (b) reporting and (c) monitoring structures for the management of capital investment projects.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-13796 on 3 April 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybu…

19 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings in the Accounts Commission report, Major capital investment in councils, whether it will update its guidance to local authorities on producing estimates of timing and cost at the initial approval stage of major capital projects.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-13796 on 3 April 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybu…

19 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides to local authorities to assist them in producing estimates of timing and cost at the initial approval stage of major capital projects.

Answer · John Swinney: A local authority has a statutory duty to observe the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), “Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities”. The Prudential Code recognises that in making decisions the authority must have ex…

19 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support capacity building in (a) financial, (b) project management and (c) business planning skills in local authorities.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-13794 on 3 April 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybu…

19 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it will provide to local authorities to implement the findings of the Accounts Commission report, Major capital investment in councils.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government will continue to work closely with local government to get maximum benefit to the economy from our combined investment. The Scottish Futures Trust has a particular role in supporting local authorities to deliver capital investment, suc…

19 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the recommendations in the Accounts Commission report, Major capital investment in councils.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government welcomes this report by the Accounts Commission which sets out some valuable messages. It is, of course, up to councils to ensure they spend capital budgets effectively and in line with local needs.

19 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has undertaken of the sustainability of local authority debt.

Answer · John Swinney: In line with their statutory duty and the Prudential Code, decisions on the capital investment, and the financial plans to ensure adequate budget provision is made to meet the costs of that investment, are a matter for each local authority.

19 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support local authorities in servicing their debts.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government provides, as part of the Local Government Settlement, revenue funding for local authority debt charges. This is based on a notional amount of capital expenditure each year, and supports local authority borrowing prior to 31 March 2011.…

5 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that there is an adequate opportunity for (a) private individuals and (b) housing associations to review planning decisions under the terms of the Aarhus Convention.

Answer · Derek Mackay: It is open to parties to seek review by the courts of planning decisions made by planning authorities or the Scottish Ministers.

5 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on a recent report by Brodies LLP suggesting that challenges to planning decisions in Scotland are less successful than similar challenges in England.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Scottish Ministers welcome the findings in the report by Brodies LLP that challenges to planning decisions in Scotland are less likely to be successful than similar challenges in England and Wales. This demonstrates that decisions taken by local planning auth…

19 Feb 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what role Scottish Natural Heritage's strategic locational guidance for onshore windfarms will play in the determination of project proposals for the development of onshore wind energy.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Scottish Natural Heritage are consulted on windfarm applications submitted to Scottish Ministers under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 and there is a range of criteria which triggers consultation with SNH on applications submitted to planning authoriti…

19 Feb 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that Scottish Natural Heritage's strategic locational guidance for onshore windfarms informs local development plans.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Scottish Government, through Scottish Planning Policy (SPP), establishes the framework for Scottish Natural Heritage’s (SNH’s) strategic locational guidance (SLG) and provides statutory opportunities for SNH as a key agency to use their SLG to make representa…

19 Feb 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what role Scottish Natural Heritage's strategic locational guidance for onshore windfarms will play in the (a) National Planning Framework 3 and (b) revised Scottish planning policy.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Scottish Government has been actively engaging Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) on the development of National Planning Framework 3 (NPF3) and the preparation of revised Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) and looks forward to receiving SNH’s views on the NPF3 Main…

30 Jan 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects NHS Lothian to achieve NHS Scotland Resource Allocation parity.

28 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what issues will be considered in the review of strategic development plans.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The review of strategic development plans will consider whether the current procedural arrangements and approaches to the preparation of these plans are fit for purpose. The review will commence in Summer 2013.

28 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what issues Scottish Natural Heritage will monitor in relation to hill tracks.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Monitoring of all tracks to ensure compliance with planning control is, as is the case for all development, primarily the responsibility of the relevant planning authority. Scottish Natural Heritage’s good practice guidance in respect of upland tracks is cur…

28 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on carbon emissions of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 requirement for new developments to comply with (a) increased CO2 emission reductions and (b) the provision of on-site renewables, broken down by (i) local authority and (ii) type of d…

Answer · Derek Mackay: We have reported to the Scottish Parliament annually since 2011 on the operation of Section 72 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, as required by and within the terms of Section 73 of the Act. This year’s report will be laid before the Scottish Parliam…

28 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what monitoring is being carried out of the implementation of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 with regard to planning decisions.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government has reported to the Scottish Parliament annually since 2011 on the operation of Section 72 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, as required by and within the terms of Section 73 of the Act. This year’s report will be laid before …

28 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown by (a) local authority and (b) purpose of the allocation of £673,000 to planning departments for 2013-14 and whether the impact will be monitored.

Answer · Derek Mackay: A breakdown of the bids by local authority is available from the planning - renewable energy page of the Scottish Government’s website: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/planning/National-Planning-Policy/themes/renewables/windresources. Ind…

28 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will evaluate whether planning authorities have met its expectations in dealing with planning applications.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The issue of performance is a key strand of planning reform and the Scottish Government is fully committed to ensuring that planning realises its potential in aiding economic recovery. The Scottish Government in partnership with COSLA are establishing a high …