Parliamentary questions
Peter Peacock
1,395 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
8 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why Orkney Islands Council receives a lower rate of revenue support than Western Isles and Shetland councils; whether the gap has been narrowing over recent years, and what further steps the Executive plans to take to eliminate the gap in funding and in what timescales.
Answer · John Swinney: The core local government finance settlement is distributed using a needs-based formula that takes account of the circumstances of each local authority. The main reasons for the differences in the shares of funding between Orkney Islands Council and Eilean Si…
5 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it attaches to the funding to support parenting orders which has been provided to sustain family support work in a variety of contexts and which is designed to enable families to operate effectively in family units.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The Scottish Executiverecognise the importance of quality parenting a child receives in determining hisor her future. All parents need help at some point and the Scottish Executive believesstrongly in the importance of providing that support.</p><p>COSLA are …
5 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to announce continuation of the Violence Against Women Fund; whether it is proposing any steps to assist local authorities to match any funds that it makes available, and whether any delay in announcing funding has had an impact on any projects run by voluntary organisatio…
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: All projects have funding untilMarch 2008. All projects funded under the Violence Against Women fund were requiredto consider the issue of on-going funding in their applications, in the event thatcentral funding was not continued after March 2008.</p><p>Until…
5 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a local authority councillor, who declares a principled opposition to particular types of development which may become the subject of planning applications, can thereafter take part in any consideration of any planning application concerning that type of development.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Councillors hold publicoffice under the law and must observe the rules of conduct stemming from the law,the Councillors’ Code of Conduct and any guidance from the Standards Commissionand the rules, standing orders and regulations of the relevant council.</p><…
31 May 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that a local referendum to determine planning matters can meet the strict requirements on those deciding planning applications to consider only those matters required in law in respect of planning applications.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Local referendacan provide a material consideration for planning decisions but not require a particular determination.</p>
31 May 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Ministers and local authority councillors and officials can take into account any other factors, other than those defined in planning law, when considering the merits, or otherwise, of planning applications.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Planning law requires all materialconsiderations to be taken into account. Other factors would not be material tothe determination of the application. Scottish Planning Policy 1 indicates the scopeof material considerations.</p>
31 May 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the impact of any proposal to allow local referenda to determine certain types of planning applications would have any implications for human rights in relation to the rights of individuals who could not participate in referenda for the applications to which they…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The implications ofany such proposal would depend on the details of that proposal.</p>
31 May 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the status is of any petition which is submitted to planning officials, local authority councillors or the Scottish Ministers in favour of or opposed to any planning application when a planning application is being considered.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: As indicated inmy response to S3W-419, the views of the local community and public opinion maycarry some weight in the decision making process as material considerations. Itis for the planning authority to determine, in the particular circumstances of the cas…
31 May 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to amend planning law to allow local referenda to determine planning applications and, if so, in what circumstances and for which type of application; what distinguishes one type of planning application from any other for the purpose of a local referendum being invoked;…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Executive has noplans to amend planning law as set out in the question. However, under the programmeof planning modernisation following the passage of the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act2006, it is clear that public participation in the planning pro…
31 May 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Ministers or local authority councillors could be directed to a determination of a planning application by the outcome of a local referendum.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The views of the localcommunity and public opinion may, however, carry some weight in the decision makingprocess as material considerations but cannot legally direct the determination.</p>
31 May 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Ministers, or local authority councillors acting as a planning authority, can delegate their powers and duties to make planning decisions to the people of a local community through a referendum.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The decision has,by law, to be made by the local authority but there may be a benefit in having knowledgeof community views obtained via a referendum in certain cases.</p>
31 May 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Ministers, or local authority councillors acting as a planning authority, can delegate their powers and duties to make planning decisions to other parties or individuals who are not Scottish ministers or local authority councillors.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Yes. Section 56(1) of the Local Government (Scotland)Act 1973 provides:</p><p>“Subject to any expressprovision contained in this Act or any Act passed after this Act, a local authoritymay arrange for the discharge of any of their functions by a committee of t…
31 May 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether current planning law permits planning applications to be determined by the outcome of a referendum of a local population.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Planning applicationsunder the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 aredetermined by planning authorities or, where cases are called in, by Scottishministers. Under section 25 of that act, such applications must be determined inaccordance with the ap…
31 May 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to announce a long-term commitment to a livestock improvement scheme for crofters.
Answer · Michael Russell: Options for the future oflivestock support are under consideration in the light of new state aidguidelines. The Executive will aim to make an announcement this summer, so asto allow crofters to make their plans for 2008 in good time.</p>
31 May 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is possible to operate a livestock improvement scheme for crofters that does not breach state aid rules.
Answer · Michael Russell: From 1 January 2008 itwill no longer be possible to operate a livestock improvement scheme forcrofters which complies with the State Aid guidelines. However, it may bepossible to take advantage of the <i>de minimis</i> provisions for aids toagriculture to ena…
29 May 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers to be an appropriate level of subsidy for post offices and for how long such subsidy should be paid.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answerto question S3W-00328 on 8 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp…
29 May 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria it considers should be applied in a strategic network of post offices and what funding it could provide to assist funding such a network.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answerto question S3W-328 on 8 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.sear…
29 May 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide resources for full business rate relief for post offices that are linked to shops, filling stations or other local facilities.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-328 on 8 June 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/wa.sea…
29 May 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that local authorities offer maximum rate relief to post offices in each local authority area.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-328 on 8 June 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/wa.sea…
29 May 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support business in post offices by ensuring that local authorities offer facilities for paying council tax, rent and traffic fines, applying for housing, council tax benefit and disabled parking badges and examining planning applications and other online applications at l…
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-328 on 8 June 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/wa.sea…
29 May 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria it will use to determine applications for funding to sustain local postal services, in addition to the resources being made available by Her Majesty’s Government.
Answer · John Swinney: Officials are currently examiningthe Department of Trade and Industry’s plans for the Post Office network to seewhere the Scottish Executive can add value. We will seek to do all we can withinour devolved powers to secure the best possible outcome for Scotlan…
29 May 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment will take into account the views from a wide range of rural interests including crofters, environmental groups, the voluntary sector, small businesses and social enterprises when developing policy for rural Scotland.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Yes. The views of all who contributeto rural society are important in building a vibrant and sustainable rural economy.</p>
29 May 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what effect a voluntary modulation rate of less than 15% under the new Scottish Rural Development Plan will have on proposed agri-environment measures and social measures such as Leader.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answerto question S3W-291 on 12 June 2007. All answersto written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website,the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.sear…
29 May 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment considers that a rate of voluntary modulation rising from 5% to 15% is required to fund the current Scottish Rural Development Plan, including agri-environment and community-based measures.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I announced during the Parliamentary Debate on the Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-13 (SRDP)on 31 May that the rates of voluntary modulation to be applied in Scotland forthe duration of that programme will be 5% in 2007, 8% in 2008, 8.5% in 2009 and…
29 May 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the effect on crofters will be of the proposed voluntary modulation rate under the Scottish Rural Development Plan.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The effect on croftersof the proposed rates of voluntary modulation will be the same as for other landmanagers who are in receipt of the Single Farm Payment. Like other land managerscrofters will have access to all relevant measures under the new programme bu…
29 May 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given by the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment to representations received from environmental and rural development groups in reaching decisions regarding the rate of voluntary modulation for the new Scottish Rural Development Plan.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: We place a high value on theinput we receive from all our stakeholders regardless of their particular interests.That is why I and the Minister for the Environment have made clear our desire tomeet with stakeholders as quickly as possible and to do so on a reg…
24 May 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, following the meeting of rural stakeholders held by the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment on 21 May 2007, the Cabinet Secretary invited the National Farmers Union of Scotland (NFUS) to a further private discussion to hear its representations on the question …
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I can confirm that my ministerialcolleague Michael Russell and I met with the NFUS following our meeting withthe Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) stakeholder group on 21 May. Youmay be aware that Michael Russell met with Environment Link last week.…
16 Mar 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, following a recent application, it will approve a bus route development grant for Lochaber from funds remaining in the Executive’s budget for this purpose.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The Bus Route Developmentproposal covering the enhancement of services in the Lochaber area is currentlybeing considered.</p>
7 Mar 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will take action to prevent any registered social landlord from specifying specific manufacturers’ products in tender documents when alternative products of similar specification are available.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I have asked Angiolina Foster,Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>It is the responsibility of eachcontracting authority to ensure that, where relevant, it complies with the proceduresset out in the Public Con…
7 Mar 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers it acceptable or proper for registered social landlords to specify specific manufacturers’ products in tender documents when alternative products of similar specification are available.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I have asked Angiolina Foster,Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>Any registered social landlord,in its role as a contracting authority, awarding a contract in compliance with thePublic Contracts (Scotland) R…