Keith Brown

29 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to make changes to local authority boundaries.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-6972 on 29 November 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…

29 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many small businesses in the Stirling local authority area will benefit from the proposed cut in business rates.

Answer · John Swinney: Information onsmall businesses in the form requested is not held centrally. However,information on the number and rateable value of non-domestic properties whichmay be eligible for relief under the Small Business Bonus scheme is availablefor the local authori…

29 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many small businesses in the Clackmannanshire local authority area will benefit from the proposed cut in business rates.

Answer · John Swinney: Information on smallbusinesses in the form requested is not held centrally. However, information onthe number and rateable value of non-domestic properties which may be eligible forrelief under the Small Business Bonus scheme is available for the local author…

29 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executivewhether, in light of the current reviews of quangos, it has any plans to work with Historic Scotland to take further active steps to reinforce its role to safeguard the nation’s historic environment.

Answer · John Swinney: We want to achievea simpler, more effective public sector for Scotland by removing duplication, simplifyingstructures and stopping activities that do not contribute to the government’s objectives.Work is underway to consider specific proposals to simplify and…

29 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on Historic Scotland’s response to the application for planning permission for the Beauly to Denny power line, given that it did not register an objection despite the line having implications for the visual landscape of the Wallace Monument and Stirling Castle.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: Scottishministers have appointed reporters from the Scottish Government Directorate of Planningand Environmental Appeals to conduct a public local inquiry into the proposed Beaulyto Denny transmission line. Their role is to hear and consider all the evidencep…

30 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support allotments through its national planning strategy.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: National planningpolicy on open space is set out in <i>National Planning Policy Guideline 11: Sport,Physical Recreation and Open Space</i>. This is currently under review and willshortly be replaced by <i>Scottish Planning Policy 11: Open Space and Physical A…

24 Oct 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether representations have been received from Clackmannanshire Council concerning any unforeseen costs associated with PFI schemes and, if so, what the outcomes of any discussions have been.

Answer · John Swinney: I am not aware ofany recent representations made by Clackmannanshire Council concerning unforeseencosts associated with their schools PPP project.</p>

29 Aug 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether an agreement between eight leading banks and the Office of Fair Trading to put on hold the legal claims of customers regarding unfair penalty charges is being improperly applied to claims made under Scots law and preventing them from proceeding.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Thereis no evidence to suggest that the agreement is being improperly applied to preventsuch claims before the Scottish courts from proceeding. Any decision as to whetherto put any particular Scottish proceedings on hold by sisting them is entirely amatter fo…