Johann Lamont

26 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether inclusion in the Small Business Bonus Scheme will be dependent on evidence of staff training.

Answer · John Swinney: The Small BusinessBonus Scheme will provide relief from business rates for all small businesses withproperties whose combined rateable value is £15,000 or less (subject to eligibility).Inclusion in the scheme does not depend on evidence of any other factor.</…

26 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether inclusion in the Small Business Bonus Scheme will be dependent on the provision of evidence of research and development.

Answer · John Swinney: The Small BusinessBonus Scheme will provide relief from business rates for all small businesses withproperties whose combined rateable value is £15,000 or less (subject to eligibility).Inclusion in the scheme does not depend on evidence of any other factor.</…

26 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether inclusion in the Small Business Bonus Scheme will be dependent on the provision of evidence of increased investment.

Answer · John Swinney: The Small BusinessBonus Scheme will provide relief from business rates for all small businesses withproperties whose combined rateable value is £15,000 or less (subject to eligibility).Inclusion in the scheme does not depend on evidence of any other factor.</…

26 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers with a qualification in English as an additional language were teaching in schools in September 2007.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The number of Englishas an additional language teachers teaching in schools in 2007 is collected throughthe annual teacher census which will be published in March 2008.</p>

26 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6037 by Stewart Stevenson on 12 November 2007, how many additional affordable housing units were built as a result of PAN 74 in (a) 2005-06 and (b) 2006-07, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This information isnot currently held centrally. My answer of 12 November 2007 refers to the work we are doing to put monitoring arrangementsin place to assess the effectiveness of the advice in PAN 74.</p><p>All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are …

26 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether inclusion in the Small Business Bonus Scheme will be dependent on the provision of evidence relating to energy efficiency measures.

Answer · John Swinney: The SmallBusiness Bonus Scheme will provide relief from business rates for all smallbusinesses with properties whose combined rateable value is £15,000 or less(subject to eligibility). Inclusion in the scheme does not depend on evidenceof any other factor.</p>

19 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures will be put in place in the event of local authorities underachieving in respect of single outcome agreements.

Answer · John Swinney: The singleoutcome agreements will contain measures for addressing under performance. Thesemeasures will be determined by the group overseeing the process towards implementationof the single outcome agreements and set within the context of the government’snew …

19 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the performance of local authorities in respect of single outcome agreements will be made publicly available.

Answer · John Swinney: Each local authoritywill be required to publish an annual report around the turn of the financial year.The report will set out the progress and achievements the local authority has madetowards meeting the national outcomes and other commitments contained in i…

19 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the performance of local authorities in respect of single outcome agreements will be subject to parliamentary scrutiny.

Answer · John Swinney: I have indicated tothe Local Government and Communities Committee that I would be happy to discussparliamentary scrutiny of the operation of single outcome agreements and I willbe writing to the convener of the committee shortly to propose how this should hap…

19 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the group charged with overseeing the process of managing the single outcome agreements’ arrangements will meet the Local Government and Communities Committee of the Parliament.

Answer · John Swinney: This is a matter forthe group. However, I anticipate its members would be happy to consider an invitationto meet the Local Government and Communities Committee.</p>

19 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the Local Government and Communities Committee of the Parliament will be represented on the group charged with overseeing the process of managing the single outcome agreements’ arrangements.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-6660 on 12 December 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…

19 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what input it expects that the Parliament will have to the group charged with overseeing the process of managing the single outcome agreements’ arrangements.

Answer · John Swinney: I do not envisageany direct input from Parliament into this group. The purpose of the group isto oversee the process of managing the new arrangements between the ScottishGovernment and local government set out in the concordat. Membership of thisgroup is expe…

19 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the names and positions of the participants in the group charged with overseeing the process of managing the single outcome agreements’ arrangements.

Answer · John Swinney: We intend to publishthe names and positions of the participants once this group has been formally established.</p>

19 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the group charged with overseeing the process of implementation of single outcome agreements will meet the Local Government and Communities Committee of the Parliament.

Answer · John Swinney: This is a matter forthe group. However, I anticipate its members would be happy to consider an invitationto meet the Local Government and Communities Committee.</p>

19 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the Local Government and Communities Committee of the Parliament will be represented on the group charged with overseeing the process of implementation of single outcome agreements.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-6656 on 12 December 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…

19 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what input it expects that the Parliament will have to the group charged with overseeing the process of implementation of single outcome agreements.

Answer · John Swinney: I do not envisageany direct input from Parliament into this group. The purpose of the group is tooversee the process towards the implementation of single outcome agreements (SOAs)between the Scottish Government and local authorities, and its membership compri…

19 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the names and positions of the participants in the group charged with overseeing the process of implementation of single outcome agreements.

Answer · John Swinney: This group has recentlybeen established and its membership is as follows:</p><p>Rab Fleming, DeputyDirector, Public Service Delivery Division, Scottish Government;Caroline Gardner, Deputy Auditor General and Controller of Audit, Audit Scotland;Colin MacLean, …

19 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what role it expects the Parliament to have in overseeing the activity of the proposed new regulatory body for housing.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: <i>Firm Foundations:the future of housing in </i><i>Scotland</i><i> </i>includes the Scottish Government’s proposalsto introduce legislation that would establish a new, independent regulatory bodyfor social housing. The government will decide whether to proce…

19 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what role it expects the Parliament to have in monitoring outcome agreements between the Executive and local authorities.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-6578 on 12 December 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…

19 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what role it expects the Parliament to have in the process of arriving at single outcome agreements between the Executive and local authorities.

Answer · John Swinney: Single outcomeagreements (SOA) will be between the Scottish Government and the local authorities.Parliament will not be involved in the negotiating process but I have indicatedto the Local Government and Communities Committee that ministers will report tothe …

19 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, on the basis of the funding allocated for affordable housing in Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007 and current methods of funding registered social landlords, how many social rented houses will be built in (a) 2008-09 (b) 2009-10 (c) 2010-11.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: In <i>FirmFoundations: the future of housing in Scotland </i>the Scottish Government outlinedits proposals for getting better value for its expenditure on social housing byreforming the current methods of funding registered social landlords.</p><p>On the basi…

19 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost will be of implementing the Small Business Bonus Scheme in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10  and (c) 2010-11.

Answer · John Swinney: The estimatedadditional cost of implementing the Small Business Bonus Scheme which has beenassumed in the Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007 is as follows:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <tr> <td width=396 valign=top> <p>(a) £ Million</…

15 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6091 by Stewart Maxwell on 14 November 2007, whether copies of the correspondence with all those from whom he has sought views on the future of sportscotland will be published.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-6094 on 14 November 2007, when I advised that it would not be appropriate to releasecopies of correspondence received from stakeholders whilst the review of sportscotlandis still actively under consideration.</p…

14 Nov 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Development prioritised spending between government departments for his statement on the spending review.

Answer · John Swinney: In our Scottish Budget,we set out our spending plans prioritised to meet the overarching purpose of government– to increase the level of sustainable economic growth and deliver on our five strategicobjectives. This is a new joined up approach to public spendi…

13 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether further consideration of the proposed £2,000 first time buyers’ grant will include an option to not to proceed with the SNP manifesto commitment on this issue.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The consultation exerciseon the government’s discussion document <i>Firm Foundations: The Future of Housingin Scotland</i> asks “should the government provide direct cash grants to first-timebuyers”. We are seeking responses on grants to first-time buyers bec…

13 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all the organisations and individuals that will be consulted as part of the further consideration of the proposed £2,000 first time buyers’ grant.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Providing direct grantsto first-time buyers is one of the proposals set out in our discussion document<i>Firm Foundations: The Future of Housing in Scotland</i> which was published on31 October 2007. We are seeking views on direct grants aspart of the Firm Fo…

13 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for further consideration of the proposed £2,000 first time buyers’ grant as promised by the Deputy First Minister in her statement on housing on 31 October 2007 (Official Report c. 2835).

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Providing direct grantsto first-time buyers is one of the proposals set out in our discussion document<i>Firm Foundations: The Future of Housing in Scotland</i> which was published on31 October. We are considering this as a potential future element of the Low…

13 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Housing Supply Task Force will consider the effectiveness of Planning Advice Note 74 (PAN 74).

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The primarypurpose of the Housing Supply Task Force is to tackle blockages that arepreventing the construction of housing of all types across Scotland. The Task Force is taking evidence from a range ofstakeholders on the issues to be addressed to support deli…

13 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive , further to the answer to question S3W-6037 by Stewart Stevenson on 12 November 2007, why Planning Advice Note 74 (PAN 74) is not mentioned in Firm Foundations: the Future of Housing in Scotland.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Firm Foundationssets out the Scottish Government’s proposals to make the housing system in Scotland offer an improved supply and choice across alltenures. A central aspiration in the discussion document is to see a stepchange in the numbers of homes of all ty…

13 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the First Minister's commitment at First Minister’s Question Time on 20 September 2007, in relation to the review of the central heating programme, that “the Government’s purpose is an enhanced and improved scheme” (Official Report, c. 1971), what financial resources will be m…

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: As announced inthe Spending Review last week the planned allocation of resource to fuelpoverty programmes in each of the years 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 is £45.9million. The Autumn Budget Revision also made available an additional £14 millionfor the centra…