Kenneth Gibson

6 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the number of council tax bands and council tax thresholds.

Answer · Peter Peacock: These matters fall within the remit of the current inquiry by the Local Government Committee into local government finance. We will give careful consideration to any recommendation the committee makes about them.

6 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects Scottish economic growth rates to reach UK levels.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive does not forecast GDP growth rates. However, Scottish GDP growth strengthened in the most recent quarter and latest independent forecasts indicate growth in line with or above trend this year, with BSL and Cambridge Econometrics project…

6 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of children lived in homes with incomes in the lowest quintile in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The following table details the percentage of children living in households with net equivalised income in the lowest quintile for the years 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99 both before and after housing costs.<P>Percentage of Children in the lowest Income Quinti…

6 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to assist homeless people aged 16-24 to find employment, training or further education.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government, which takes the lead on funding and delivery of the New Deal. In Scotland, it does this in partnership with the Scottish Executive and contributing organisations.<P>The New Deal for Young People provides hel…

6 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many single people aged under 18 were homeless in each year from 1991-92 to 1999-2000.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The available information relates to applications to Scottish local authorities under the homeless persons legislation. The following table gives the number of such applications where an under-18 applicant was assessed by the local authority as being homeless…

16 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will respond to the report by the Federation of Small Businesses, Barriers to Growth and Survival, and, if so, when.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Officials in the Executive's Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department hosted a seminar on 7 December at which the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) gave a presentation on the report. This allowed the FSB representatives to discuss the findings with offi…

16 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when an integrated digital network will be established in Scotland.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The core telecommunications networks in Scotland provided by operators such as BT, Thus and Energis, all are engineered as Integrated Digital Networks. The fibre backbone extends from Wick in the Highlands, through central Scotland and into Galashiels in the …

16 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the impact will be on regeneration, land reclamation and investment of constructing a modified M74 Northern Extension without junctions.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The scheme that will be taken forward in partnership with Glasgow, South Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire, will have four key junctions. It will create significant investment and regeneration opportunities for the whole of west central Scotland and in addition, m…

16 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the earliest date is when the construction of the M74 Northern Extension can commence.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I expect construction works for the new motorway to start in 2005 subject to completion of all of the statutory and procurement procedures.

16 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the economic and social consequences will be of delaying the construction of the M74 Northern Extension until the completion of a public inquiry and what the cost of the inquiry will be.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: If a public inquiry is necessary then that is part of the statutory process and is not a delay. It is not possible to estimate the cost of an inquiry until the scope of any objections to the scheme are known.

16 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the availability of venture capital finance to small businesses.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive keeps the financial needs of small business under continued review. I am very pleased that the change of status afforded to Scottish Equity Partners - formerly Scottish Development Finance, Scottish Enterprise's investment arm - has all…

16 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce a right of appeal for objectors to a particular planning development which has been approved.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: We have no plans at present to introduce such a right of appeal into the planning system.

16 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to assist local authorities in improving their planning systems.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: In 1997 a Planning Audit Unit was set up within Planning Services Division of the Scottish Executive. Its initial purpose was to work with authorities to assist in securing improvements in the delivery of their development control service. As well as continui…

16 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any conflict of interest exists where a local authority uses its own operatives to carry out repairs on owner-occupied property which it factors, rather than seek quotes on behalf of owners, given the factor's responsibility to act in the owner's best interest.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: I refer the Member to the answer given to question S1W-12520.

16 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to undertake a review of how complaints from owner-occupiers of properties where the local authority is the factor are handled by the authority concerned.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: We currently have no plans to undertake such a review.

16 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any conflict of interest exists where a local authority is factor of property in an area where there is a mixture of tenanted and owner-occupied property.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: Where a tenant has exercised his or her right to buy their council property, they should be allowed the full enjoyment and use of the house as owner. However, if ownership of the building is shared between the local authority and RTB owners, specific conditio…

16 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities currently require tenants who are exercising their right to buy to take out a particular building insurance policy as a condition of buying their home and which of these authorities receive commissions from the insurance premiums generated.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: Conditions attached to right to buy sales relating to insurance policies are a matter for local authorities and prospective purchasers to agree. Information on these matters is not held centrally.

10 Jan 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to meet representatives of Glasgow City Council and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to help resolve their current dispute.

Answer · Peter Peacock: None.

9 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when per capita expenditure on the NHS in Scotland will reach the same level as in Northern Ireland.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Per capita expenditure on NHSScotland already exceeds the equivalent per capita expenditure on the NHS in Northern Ireland. In 1999-2000 Scotland spent £966 per person on health services compared to £874 per person in Northern Ireland.

9 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to alter the angling season for migratory fish in the Loch Lomond Angling Improvement Association waters from February to October to March to November in order to reduce the cull of white and immature fish in that river system.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Executive has no such plans.

9 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11857 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 22 December 2000, which local authorities have brought forward in 2000-01 flood prevention schemes eligible for 50% grant under the Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act 1961; which of these schemes have met the specified cost-…

Answer · Sam Galbraith: Under the Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act 1961, flood prevention schemes which are confirmed by Scottish Ministers are eligible for grant. So far in 2000-01, schemes brought forward by Renfrewshire Council, East Dunbartonshire Council and Perth and Kinross Co…

9 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of total UK spending on the NHS spending on the NHSiS represented or is expected to represent in each year from 1994-95 to 2003-04 inclusive.

Answer · Susan Deacon: On a cash basis, health expenditure as a percentage of the total health expenditure is as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=604><TR><TD WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD><TD WIDTH="27%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2>…

9 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9513 by Sarah Boyack on 21 September 2000, what progress it is making in exploring the options for banning lead solder in domestic plumbing systems.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: The Executive's press release SE3051/2000 issued on 27 November set out the actions being taken in response to the results of a survey confirming that lead solder had been used in the domestic plumbing systems in new houses in Scotland. These actions should t…

8 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of UK GDP the Scottish assigned budget represented or is expected to represent in each of the years from 1994-95 to 2003-04 inclusive.

Answer · Angus MacKay: The sum of Scottish Departmental Expenditure Limits and Non-Domestic Rate Income, as a proportion of UK GDP, is set out in the table. Over the period, DEL + NDRI has grown by 15.5% in real terms.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=548><TR><TD WIDT…

4 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to merge any non-departmental public bodies in 2001 and, if so, which ones.

4 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to abolish any non-departmental public bodies in 2001 and, if so, which ones.

4 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to establish any new non-departmental public bodies in 2001 and, if so, to specify these.

Answer · Angus MacKay: As part of our drive to modernise government structures, the Executive is carrying out a radical review of all Scottish Public Bodies. We will consider what role public bodies should play in the devolved Scotland and how they should operate and be accountable…

4 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the rate of inflation will be in 2003-04.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive does not forecast inflation. For reference, the latest HM Treasury forecast for inflation, covering the period to 2003, was published in <I>Building Long-Term Prosperity for All: Pre-Budget Report</I> (November 2000).

4 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the event of any large-scale stock transfers, local authority housing rent arrears which exist at the time of the transfer will remain the responsibility of local authorities or transfer to the relevant housing association.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The arrangements for dealing with rent arrears will be a matter for negotiation between the relevant council and acquiring landlord, and will be set out in the contract of sale.

4 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities exercised their discretionary powers to establish a cash incentive scheme funded through their own resources to enable tenants to purchase a home on the open market in each of the last four financial years and in the current financial year to date.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: Over the last five financial years, the following local authorities notified the Scottish Executive, or previously the Scottish Office, that they were operating cash incentive schemes. <TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=595><TR><TD WIDTH="24%" VA…