Mike Rumbles

19 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on delaying the proposed increases on business rates.

Answer · Derek Mackay: There are no plans to delay the 2017 revaluation, in light of which we are reducing the business rates poundage by 3.7% for 2017-18.

19 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported downturn in the oil and gas sector, what its position is on introducing rates relief for businesses in (a) Aberdeen and (b) North East Scotland to mitigate the proposed increase in business rates.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Small Business Bonus Scheme and other business rates reliefs funded by the Scottish Government mean that around two in every five Aberdeen City and Shire businesses will pay nothing in 2017-18. The 2017-18 Draft Budget proposes no nationwide transitiona…

19 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the proposed increase in business rates compares with each of the other revaluations since 1999.

Answer · Derek Mackay: We are supporting business by not insisting on a revenue-neutral revaluation which would have meant a higher poundage for Scotland. The poundage will decrease by 3.7% in 2017-18.

19 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much the proposed increase in business rates will raise (a) nationally and (b) in North East Scotland.

Answer · Derek Mackay: There is no proposed increase in business rates revenue. We are supporting business by not insisting on a revenue-neutral revaluation which would have meant a higher poundage for Scotland. The poundage will decrease by 3.7% in 2017-18.

13 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact it considers that a Minister agreeing to write a weekly exclusive for one newspaper has on other media outlets and their readers.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-06185 on 30 January 2017. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusines…

13 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much the First Minister will be paid for her weekly column in the Daily Record, and whether she plans to donate this to charity.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-06185 on 30 January 2017. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusines…

13 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that a Minister agreeing to write a weekly exclusive for one newspaper allows for fair competition and access to government for other newspapers and their readers.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-06185 on 30 January 2017. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusines…

13 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what advice it took on the implications of the First Minister writing a weekly newspaper column on her commitment under section 9.29 of the Scottish Ministerial Code that "Ministers should also avoid promoting an individual company’s products or services by association”.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-06185 on 30 January 2017. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusines…

13 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the First Minister has breached section 9.29 of the Scottish Ministerial Code, that “Ministers should also avoid promoting an individual company’s products or services by association”, as a consequence of her writing a weekly newspaper column.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-06185 on 30 January 2017. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusines…

13 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much time the First Minister plans to spend writing her weekly column for the Daily Record.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Ministerial Code makes it explicitly clear that Ministers may engage in writing for newspaper publications, and outlines various conditions which should be observed in doing so. All of those conditions are being met in this case, and as such the First Mi…

10 Jan 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will next meet representatives from Aberdeenshire Council's Education and Children's Services.

21 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on vulnerable people, what analysis it has carried of the concerns expressed about so-called doorstep lending and payday loans; what powers it has to (a) regulate these practices and (b) censure firms that exhibit poor practice, and what action it takes …

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government recognises the impact and distress that doorstep lending and payday loans can have on vulnerable people. The regulation of all firms and individuals offering, promoting or selling financial services is fully reserved to the UK Governme…

21 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the future ScotRail high speed trains on routes to north east Scotland will be able to absorb additional passengers that might be displaced by the withdrawal of CrossCountry services, as set out on page 16 of CrossCountry's consultation on its future timetable.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: ScotRail is developing timetables for both the introduction of high speed trains and its Revolution in Rail enhancements which will deliver significant capacity improvements. We are confident that these new timetables and the planned delivery of additional tr…

21 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with other train operators regarding replacing the CrossCountry trains services that are proposed to be withdrawn in December 2017.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: We have contacted ScotRail about the implications of replacing the services that CrossCountry are proposing to cut in the North East of Scotland. ScotRail have confirmed that they would be unable to take on these services in December 2017 due to operational r…

21 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what response it has made to CrossCountry's consultation on proposed changes to its future timetable.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: We submitted a formal response to the CrossCountry consultation on 21 December 2016, copied to relevant Regional Transport Partnerships in Scotland, that set out our position on the proposed December 2017 timetable changes. We continue to support the retentio…

13 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to avoid criminalising air gun owners who have applied for a certificate after the deadline of 31 October 2016 but before the new law comes into force on 31 December 2016.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Both the Scottish Government and Police Scotland have undertaken extensive media and public information campaigns to advise air weapon owners and users to apply for an air weapon certificate by 31 October 2016. Those applying by that deadline should receive a…

13 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps were taken to ensure that all air gun owners applied for a certificate before the deadline of 31 October 2016.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has, alongside Police Scotland, undertaken a wide-ranging public information campaign to advise people about the new legislation. A dedicated website was launched on 23 March 2016. This is at www.airweapon.scot . The website summarises…

13 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what will happen to air gun owners who want to apply for a certificate now that the deadline of 31 October 2016 has passed.

Answer · Michael Matheson: People who want to use, possess, purchase or acquire air weapons in Scotland from 31 December 2016 will be required to hold a valid air weapon certificate, unless they are exempt under the provisions of Part 1 of the Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2…

6 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been paid out in loans through its National Basic Payment Support Scheme, and how much funding set aside for the scheme remains unused.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: On 13 September 2016, the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Connectivity announced that up to £300 million would be made available for the 2016 National Basic Payment Support Scheme. As of 12 December 2016, loans valued at circa £256million have been pa…

6 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many businesses eligible for payments through the National Basic Payment Support Scheme did not (a) apply and (b) receive loans.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: As of 12 December, 4,814 eligible businesses who have been made an offer under the 2016 National BPS Support Scheme are yet to apply. Any eligible business that applies by 14 December 2016 will receive payment by the end of 2016 and we would encourage those y…

6 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications it received for its National Basic Payment Support Scheme, and how many of these were successful.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: As of 12 December 2016, 13,008 applications have been received for the 2016 National Basic Payment Support Scheme, of which only 11 were unsuccessful. Eligible businesses that apply by 14 December 2016 will receive a payment by the end of 2016.

1 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of the (a) level of existing rents and (b) length of tenure in the private rented sector and whether the data can be broken down by (i) urban area, (ii) rural area and (iii) places with a population of less than 1,000.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Information on average private sector rent levels by Broad Rental Market Area and size of property is published annually by the Scottish Government. The most recent publication ‘Private Sector Rent Statistics Scotland, 2010 to 2016’, released in November 2016…

30 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which of the 249 actions set out in the ScotRail Alliance Performance Improvement Plan would have been carried out through regular maintenance, regardless of the publication of the plan.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Improvement Plan sets out initiatives and actions which focus on improving train performance in an integrated way across track, train and operations. Each of the initiatives contained in the Performance Improvement Plan, whether of a type ordinarily used…

30 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on introducing a pay weighting allowance for (a) its and (b) its agencies' staff who work in areas with a high cost of living.

Answer · Derek Mackay: There are no plans to introduce such payments. Flexibilities already exist in our public sector pay policy to address labour market issues, such as recruitment and retention challenges within particular locations.

30 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has with the Farr Institute of Health Informatics Research and whether this includes collaborative work regarding the use of "big data” and “machine learning”.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government engages with the UK Farr Institute of Health Informatics Research through the Innovative Healthcare Delivery Programme and the Scottish Informatics and Linkage Collaboration and to utilise the Institute’s infrastructure in Scotland in …

29 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-04775 by Keith Brown on 25 November 2016, in light of SSE now having identified a preferred option, whether it will provide an update on its position on combining the dualling of the A96 between Aberdeen and Inverness and the Blackhillock to Kintore…

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-04775 on 25 November 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusine…

21 Nov 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when construction will start on the A90 grade-separated junction at Laurencekirk.

17 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on combining the dualling of the A96 between Aberdeen and Inverness and the Blackhillock to Kintore grid reinforcement infrastructure projects.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has given a commitment to dual the A96 between Inverness and Aberdeen by 2030. Transport Scotland has completed preliminary engineering and environmental assessment work on the dualling programme. As for all Transport Scotland’s major…

17 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when applications will close for the 2016-17 round of common agricultural policy (CAP) payments.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Applications for the 2016 Single Applications forms closed on 15 June 2016. The regulatory payment window is from 1 December 2016 – 30 June 2017 for 2016 CAP Payments.

17 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has examined the options regarding the new system of fishing licensing and quotas in Scotland that would be required if the UK leaves the EU.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The licensing of fishing vessels in Scotland is undertaken under the provisions of the Sea Fish Conservation Act 1967. Systems for the allocation and management of fish quotas in Scotland and the UK are administrative and not statutory. Neither system relies …