Ms Wendy Alexander

25 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16778 by John Swinney on 3 October 2008 in which it was stated that “we took account of the estimated costs to business highlighted in the report A Fairer Way by Sir Peter Burt”, whether it regards these estimates as accurate.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government will continue to use the estimated costs to business from the Burt Report as a guide as we progress our local income tax proposals, recognising that the report is now two years old. We will also consider the effects of on-going develop…

14 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what significant budgetary changes there were in its draft budget for 2009-10 compared to previous plans.

Answer · John Swinney: Any significant changes in the Scottish Government''s spending plans between those laid out in the Draft Budget 2009-10 and those previously published are detailed in the Draft Budget 2009-10.</p>

14 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget implications are of the Scottish economic recovery plan and whether it will highlight any changes since the publication of its draft budget for 2009-10.

Answer · John Swinney: The key capital spending change which has been announced to date is the £100 million of the Affordable Housing Investment Programme which has been brought forward from 2010-11 to 2008-09 and 2009-10. The Scottish Government is currently reviewing the need for…

14 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it means by the statement “we are redoubling our efforts to accelerate investment” in its news release of 12 November 2008 on employment statistics.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has already a accelerated significant amount of public sector investment expenditure by bringing forward £100 million of spending in the Affordable Housing Investment Programme. It has done this in collaboration with local government. …

14 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what infrastructure projects it agreed to bring forward between the publication of the draft budget on 14 September 2008 and notification of the Scottish economic recovery plan on 12 October 2008 and where and to whom this was notified.

Answer · John Swinney: Between 14 September and 12 October 2008, the Scottish Government did not bring forward any infrastructure projects.</p> <p >We have a very significant capital investment programme set out in our <i >Infrastructure Investment Plan 2008</i> (Bib. number 45134…

14 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what government money it has provided to help create and safeguard jobs, as referred to in its news release on 12 November 2008 on employment statistics.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is investing in a range of activities that help create and safeguard jobs. The specific reference in the news release of 12 November 2008 was to Regional Selective Assistance funding. In the three months to the end of September 2008,…

14 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the planning reforms are that it reports having delivered in its news release of 12 November 2008 on employment statistics.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has agreed a wide-ranging package of improvements to support planning reform, which were announced on 28 October 2008. Copies of <i >Delivering Planning Reform </i>have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. n…

14 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how its current Scottish economic recovery plan differs from that agreed by the Cabinet on 14 October 2008.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish economic recovery plan is not a fixed set of measures, but a framework for action that is under constant review. Initial actions in support of the economy were announced by the First Minister on 19 August 2008, but new activity has been develope…

14 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its Scottish economic recovery plan and associated budget.

Answer · John Swinney: On 19 August 2008, a series of initiatives was announced by the First Minister to support the Scottish economy through the global economic downturn. Since then, the Scottish Government has continued to set out the actions as part of its economic recovery prog…

14 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an updated version of the timetable that it provided in November 2007 for the implementation of the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006, showing for each regulation and order the estimated dates for consultation and commencement, as envisaged (a) in November 2007 and…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: A copy of the estimated dates for consultation and commencement as set out in the November 2007 implementation timetable are shown in the following table. A new updated implementation timetable will be available on the Scottish Government''s planning website …

6 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the agreed tenure is of Sir Angus Grossart as chair of the Scottish Futures Trust.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-16539 on 7 October 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2…

6 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will itemise by value the PPP projects that are in the market place or under procurement in this financial year and provide comparable data for the last eight years, showing the value of publicly procured projects in each year.

Answer · John Swinney: Information on PPP and NPD projects which are in procurement during 2008-09, together with data on NPD/PPP/PFI deals done over the last eight years, is available from the Scottish Government website by following link and clicking on Project List “ Done Deals …

6 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the University of Strathclyde’s evaluation report on the pilot programme for nursery places for vulnerable two-year-olds has been delivered to the Scottish Government and when it will be published.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government has received a draft of the evaluation report which is going through standard quality assurance processes for social research, in partnership with the councils involved in the pilots. It will be published in due course.</p>

3 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether HM Revenue and Customs has agreed to collect the proposed local income tax.

Answer · John Swinney: The consultation paper, <i >A Fairer Local Tax for Scotland</i>, highlighted our view that collection by HM Revenue and Customs is the most efficient way of delivering a local income tax. Discussions with the UK Government are ongoing to this effect.</p>

3 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish an analysis of the (a) cost to small businesses without payroll departments of administering a local income tax and (b) number of small businesses it estimates to be without payroll departments, including unincorporated small businesses.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has no plans to publish such an analysis. We are determined to minimise the impact of the introduction of local income tax on small businesses through use of existing HM Revenue and Customs systems.</p>

3 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish estimated set up and running costs to business of its proposed local income tax.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has no plans to publish such estimates. In developing our proposals for local income tax we took account of the estimated costs to business highlighted in the report <i >A Fairer Way</i> by Sir Peter Burt (2006).</p>

3 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13979 by Kenny MacAskill on 16 June 2008, how many retailers had their licences to sell alcohol (a) suspended or (b) revoked in 2007, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The number of off sales liquor licences suspended in 2007 is given in the following table:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=128 nowrap valign=top > <p align=left >Local Authority</p> </td> <td nowrap…

8 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-85 by Jim Mather on 31 May 2007, with which small European nations it aims to bring Scotland’s growth rate into line.

Answer · Jim Mather: Countries such asDenmark, Sweden, Finland, Ireland and Norway fare better than Scotland in terms equality, health and wealth indicators. We want to learn lessonsfrom nations like these in order to refine strategies required to deliver greaterand more sustaina…

8 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-79 by John Swinney on 5 June 2007, what the clear, strategic outcomes at national level will be and what the Executive’s national policy outcomes are.

Answer · John Swinney: The government has a single setof strategic, national policy outcomes for Scotland. I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-78 on5 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility…

8 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why, when the UK overall efficiency savings targets have risen between September 2004 and September 2007, there has not been a commensurate rise in Scotland.

Answer · John Swinney: Responsibility forsavings targets in 31 of the 36 months referred to in the question lay with thelast government. The new government will treat efficiency in the public sector inScotland in a way that best suits the needs of the people of Scotland.</p>

8 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why its targets for efficiency savings are 1.5% per annum when the targets for the rest of the United Kingdom are 3%.

Answer · John Swinney: We will treat efficiencyin the public sector in Scotland in a way that best suits the needs of thepeople of Scotland. The spending review is on-going and as a part of thiswe will establish the detail of our efficiency programme for 2008-11. We will expectpubl…

31 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest estimate is of the cost of introducing its new business rate measures in (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09.

Answer · John Swinney: We will bring forward detailedplans for business rates and their associated costs as part of the budget processin late autumn this year.</p>

29 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what estimated annual cost savings are associated with the reduction in the number of ministers for Session 3 of the Parliament.

Answer · John Swinney: We estimate the annual savingsto be in the region of £924,000. This is made up from:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <tr> <td width=160 valign=top> <p>Ministers</p> </td> <td width=77 valign=top> <p align=right>£230,000</p> </td> </tr> …

29 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what estimated (a) costs and (b) savings are associated with the recent reorganisation of its departments.

Answer · John Swinney: A transitional team has beenformed to implement corporate changes to the new structure at an estimated costof £50,000. Approximately £694,000 per year will be saved.</p>

22 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its top objectives are for Scottish Water.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Ministers specified a set ofrequirements for Scottish Water in February 2005 following a robust stakeholderled and evidence based process. These requirements cover the period 2006-14 andinclude a wide range of service and environmental improvements. Our objec…

22 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its top objectives are for public transport, roads, rail services and air and ferry services.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government plansto utilise fully the current road and rail networks, deliver a replacement Forthcrossing as soon as practicable and take forward key improvements to nationallysignificant trunk routes. We will improve services for Scotland’s railc…

22 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its top objectives are for transport policy and delivery.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Executive’s prioritiesfor transport are:</p><p>full utilisation of the currentrail and road networks;</p><p>delivering the right infrastructurefor business success, and</p><p>a focus on the needs of Scottishcommuters, working to make journeys gre…

22 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its top objectives are for building standards.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I have asked Dr. Paul Stollard,Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. Hisresponse is as follows:</p><p>The SBSA’s draft corporate plansets strategic objectives for the agency for the period 2007-10. These are:</p><p>Devel…

22 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its top objectives are for climate change.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The First Minister set outthe Executive’s climate change objectives in his statement to Parliament on 23May. A copy of the statement is available on the Scottish Parliament website at<a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports">www.sco…

22 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its top objectives are for the land use planning system.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The primary objectives forthe Scottish planning system are, as set out in SPP1 (Scottish Planning Policy1: The Planning System), to:</p><p>setthe land use framework for promoting sustainable economic development;</p><p>encourageand support regeneration; and</…