Robin Harper

12 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what regulations relating to the sale of land owned by NHS Scotland would have to be amended to allow factors other than the size of the bid to be taken into account in any sale of such land.

Answer · Andy Kerr: To enable Scottish ministers to reflectfactors other than the best consideration when disposing of land used for the provisionof healthcare services by NHSScotland would require primary legislation and notthe amendment to existing regulations.</p><p>Section 7…

12 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether surplus NHS Scotland land must be sold to the highest bidder or whether benefits to the community, other than revenue, may be taken into account.

Answer · Andy Kerr: It is a mandatory requirement of theNHSScotland Property Transactions Handbook that NHSScotland bodies, when disposingof surplus property on behalf of Scottish ministers, do so at a price and on otherconditions which are the best which can be obtained at the …

7 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-31857 by Des McNulty on 22 February 2007 in respect of the number of private landlords registered under the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004, how many properties are covered by the applications awaiting determination and how many applica…

Answer · Des McNulty: The following table showsthe number of applications for registration approved and awaiting determinationby each local authority, as at 15 March 2007, and the number of propertiesassociated with these applications.</p><p>Local authorities arefollowing up landl…

5 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that forestry should be covered by the provisions of the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004 and what representations it will make to Her Majesty’s Government on the matter.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Forestry work is covered by the Gangmasters LicensingAuthority licensing scheme under the definition of agriculture. Agriculture isdefined in the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004 using the same definition usedin the Agricultural Wages Act 1948.</p><p>A copy o…

5 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is monitoring the progress of public transport quality partnerships and quality contracts and whether it is aware of any problems arising from difficulties in creating quality contracts between bus companies and local authorities.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The recent bus policy reviewconcluded that a step change is required in the quality of bus serviceprovision and infrastructure. The outcomes of the review are contained in Movinginto the future – An Action Plan for Buses which was launched in December 2006as …

16 Feb 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many empty dwellings there were in each local authority area in the most recent year for which information is available.

Answer · George Lyon: Comprehensive information aboutempty dwellings is not available. council tax billing systems provide informationon each dwelling in Scotland and identify dwellings entitled to exemption or discounts.Specific discounts and exemptions are available for dwelling…

16 Feb 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many households were estimated to be fuel poor in each local authority area in the most recent year for which information is available.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Thelatest figures available are for the year October 2003 to September 2004. The figurescome from the Scottish House Condition Survey. Survey figures will always have anassociated uncertainty. The following table shows the figures for each local authoritywith…

16 Feb 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many private landlords are registered under the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Des McNulty: The following table shows thenumber of private landlords and letting agents approved for registration by eachlocal authority, and the number of applications awaiting determination, as at 31 January 2007. Landlordsand agents are required to register in each au…

16 Feb 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how many second homes there were in each local authority area, (b) how many local authorities charged 90% council tax on second homes and (c) how much income could have been raised by each local authority in council tax on second homes if charged at the maximum permitted amount, in th…

Answer · Tom McCabe: The answers to questions (a)to (c) are shown in the following table:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td nowrap rowspan=2 valign=bottom> <p align=center>&nbsp;</p> </td> <td valign=bottom> <p align=center>Number of Seco…

16 Feb 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many affordable homes were built between March 2005 and March 2006, also broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-29212 on 6 November 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…

16 Feb 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many affordable housing unit planning consents were secured between March 2005 and March 2006, also broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Des McNulty: This information is not heldcentrally.</p>

16 Feb 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have active policies, based on PAN 74, that set specific requirements on developers to provide affordable homes; how many affordable housing unit planning consents have been secured, and how many affordable homes had been built under such requirements in each local…

Answer · Des McNulty: This information is not held centrally at present. PAN 74 on affordable housing was introduced in March 2005and it will take time for all local authorities to adopt affordable housing policiesin line with this advice as part of their overall planning policies…

13 Feb 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities may use compulsory purchase orders to buy land owned by Scottish Natural Heritage for the sites of new schools.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Local authorities may use compulsorypurchase orders under the Acquisition of Land Act 1947 to buy land owned by ScottishNatural Heritage.</p>

13 Feb 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what regulations relating to the sale of surplus land owned by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) would require to be amended to allow factors, other than the size of the bid, to be taken into account in any sale of SNH land.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Scottish Natural Heritage isbound by its <i>Management Statement and Financial</i> <i>Memorandum</i>, andis subject to the requirements of the <i>Scottish Public Finance Manual</i>,which requires that public bodies obtain the best price reasonably availablefo…

13 Feb 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether surplus land owned by Scottish Natural Heritage must be sold to the highest bidder or whether benefits to the community, other than revenue, may be taken into account.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Scottish Natural Heritage isbound by its Management Statement and Financial Memorandum which states thatland must be sold for the best price, taking into account any costs of sale,and in accordance with the guidance in the relevant section of the ScottishPubl…

3 Jan 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have not yet completed audits of community greenspace and when all such audits will be completed and published.

Answer · Des McNulty: Up-to-date information is notcurrently held by the Executive. The consultation draft SPP 11 on Physical Activityand Open Space contains proposals to require local authorities to carry out an auditif they haven’t done so already. They will also be required to …

11 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any proposal in the Scottish Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 to remove the duty to avoid damaging any feature of historic or archaeological interest and to follow Scottish Ministers’ guidance and, if so, what the reasons are for this proposal.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The European Union’s Rural DevelopmentRegulation stipulates that the requirements of cross-compliance and Good Agriculturaland Environmental Condition apply to rural development payments for land-based measuresapproved under the new Scottish Rural Development…

11 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are currently being taken to encourage children to cycle to school and to lessen school run congestion.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Local authorities will receive£8.8 million this year and over £9 million next year for Cycling, Walking and SaferStreets projects, and £11.3 milllion and £11.6 million this and next year to implement20mph schemes around schools making the local environment sa…

29 Aug 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the United Kingdom’s recent signing of the European Landscape Convention, what specific measures are being taken by the Executive to ensure that the commitments made under Articles 5 and 6 of the convention are acted upon and are reflected in future legislation and policies i…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive is satisfiedthat existing legislation and administrative systems for land use planning and environmentalmanagement provide appropriate means for meeting the obligations and objectivesset out in the European Landscape Convention.</p><p>I…

29 Aug 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in light of the scope of the European Landscape Convention and the Executive’s own acknowledgement of the contribution made by designed landscapes of regional or local significance to the wider landscape and to the well-being of local communities, it will extend the scope of Scot…

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The consultation period for responsesto <i>Scottish Historic Environment Policy 3 about Gardens and Designed Landscapes</i>ended on 23 June 2006. The consultation document proposed that it will be forplanning authorities to consider gardens and designed lands…

29 Aug 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why it has not yet introduced measures to bring sites included in the extension to An Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes under the protection of the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) (Scotland) Order 1992 and when it will do so, given the commitment in pa…

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: I can confirm that the intentionis to make the amendment at the first suitable legislative opportunity. It is likelythat this change will be made along with other appropriate Town and Country Planning(General Development Procedure) (Scotland) Order 1992 (GDPO…

29 Aug 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why it proposes in paragraphs 2.20 and 2.21 of Scottish Historic Environment Policy 3: Gardens and Designed Landscapes to remove the major responsibility for designed landscapes from Scottish Natural Heritage, given that the October 2005 concordat between Historic Scotland and Scottish Na…

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The proposal comes from a recommendationin a <i>Strategic Review of Scottish Natural Heritage </i>(SNH) published in July2005. The review commented that there are strong links between natural and culturalheritage but that designed landscapes constitute a rela…

29 Aug 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the proposal to transfer sole responsibility for the compilation of An Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes to Historic Scotland, what measures will be taken to ensure the continued availability of grants for landowners towards the compilation of management plans for …

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The detailed arrangements forthe transfer of responsibilities in this area from Scottish Natural Heritage toHistoric Scotland, including future grants arrangements, are still under consideration.The transfer is not due to take place until 2008-09.</p>

14 Aug 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering introducing a scheme, similar to that operating in England under the auspices of the Office for Standards in Education and Nestor Primecare Services, to license childcare for the purposes of tax relief and the granting of childcare vouchers.

Answer · Robert Brown: The Scottish Executive has noplans to introduce a scheme similar to that operating in England to licensechild care for the purposes of tax relief and the granting of child care vouchers.This is because, in Scotland, all formal child care for children aged up …

6 Jul 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-26661 by Peter Peacock on 19 June 2006, why the proposed duty to provide food and drink which meets defined nutrient standards will extend only to all pupils in local authority schools and not to all pupils in private schools.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The proposed legislation buildson the Scottish Executive’s existing Hungry for Success programme which does notextend to the independent sector. Schools in the independent sector are free toadopt the proposed nutrient standards if they so wish.</p>

21 Jun 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that its guidance on the use of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy system for direct payment accounting for disabled people is being recognised and implemented by local councils.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Our guidancehighlights the CIPFA system of direct payment accounting, to secure consistent practiceacross Scotland. We will update that guidance laterthis year.</p>

8 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why it has not used its powers to extend the eligibility for free school meals in order to raise the number of children eligible for free school meals above the 23% officially classed as living in poverty.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The provision of free schoolmeals is only one of many measures we have to abolish child poverty in Scotland. The Scottish Executive is targeting those most in need in a variety of ways, including implementingmeasures to increase uptake of free school meals by…

8 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether all food and drink provided in schools will be subject to the proposed duty on nutrient standards for school lunches, including that provided in private vending machines.

Answer · Peter Peacock: It is intended that, under theproposed Schools (Nutrition and Health Promotion) (Scotland) Bill, all food anddrink provided to pupils in local authority schools, including that provided throughvending machines, will require to meet defined nutrient standards.…

8 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, given the proposed duty on local authorities to provide only school food which meets defined nutrient standards, it has any plans to intervene in private schools and nurseries which supply “junk” food to pupils.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Under the proposed Schools (Nutritionand Health Promotion) (Scotland) Bill it is intended that children placed in independentschools by local authorities will receive food and drink which meets defined nutrientstandards. Local authority nurseries will also fa…

8 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to ensure the sustainability of out-of-school care provision.

Answer · Robert Brown: This year (2006-07), ChildcareStrategy Grant Aided Expenditure of £44.256 million has been allocated to localauthorities. It is for each local authority, in conjunction with the local ChildcarePartnership, to decide how best to allocate this funding at the lo…