Parliamentary questions
Tavish Scott
2,683 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
14 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors compliance with the European Commission’s requirements for (a) the application of the sheep electronic identification regime and (b) 100% accuracy in recording sheep numbers.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has an obligation under community and national legislation to undertake inspections of holdings which maintain livestock. The inspections are carried out by Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate staff who ensure compliance with th…
13 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on the employment of locally based surveyors and contractors in (a) mainland Scotland and (b) island areas under its schemes to promote household energy efficiency.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: EU procurement legislation requires the public sector to maintain fair and open competition and transparency. The Scottish Government, in adhering to these requirements, is keen to ensure best value for customers, tax payers and suppliers, but will consider t…
13 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers to be the benefit of having several schemes promoting household energy efficiency rather than a single scheme.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: To address the range of needs in Scotland we retain a mix of national programmes (such as the Energy Assistance Package) local programmes (such as local authority-led Universal Home Insulation Scheme projects) which enable focussed action and economies of sca…
13 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what schemes it funds that promote household energy efficiency and what similar schemes it plans to support, broken down by (a) start date, (b) end date and (c) the funding it is providing in 2011-12.
Answer · Fergus Ewing : Programme Start Date End Date Funding 2011-12 Home Insulation Scheme 2009-10 2010-11 Universal Home Insulation Scheme 2010-11 Ongoing Boiler Scrappage Scheme 2010-11 Ongoing Energy Assistance Package 2009-10 Ongoing In 2011-12 these programmes…
13 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, for each scheme that it funds that promotes household energy efficiency, what percentage of the budget is spent on administration.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The majority of funds in Scottish Government programmes are spent on direct services to benefit households. Funds spent on centrally based staff and IT are assessed as admin costs. Programme % Administration Spend Home Insulation Scheme 4 Boiler Scrappag…
13 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider introducing a presumption in favour of the employment of locally based surveyors and contractors to deliver its schemes to promote household energy efficiency in island areas.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: EU procurement legislation requires the public sector to maintain fair and open competition and transparency. It therefore does not allow any presumption in favour of the employment of locally based surveyors and contractors.
13 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, for each scheme that it funds that promotes household energy efficiency, how many installations are underway or have been given consent in (a) Scotland and (b) Shetland.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Programme Installations Underway Scotland Installations Underway Shetland Home Insulation Scheme 10,573 (a) 1,662 (a) Universal Home Insulation Scheme N/A – Scheme did not operate Energy Assistance Package 5,323 (b) 189 (b) Energy Efficiency Des…
13 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, for each scheme that it funds that promotes household energy efficiency, how many installations have been completed in (a) Scotland and (b) Shetland in each of the last three years.
Answer · Fergus Ewing : Programme Year Installations Scotland Installations Shetland Home Insulation Scheme (HIS) 2009-10 9,225 N/A – Scheme did not operate 2010-11 13,518 549 Universal Home Insulation Scheme 2010-11 24,306* N/A – Scheme did not operate Boiler Scrappa…
8 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider the possibility of rates holidays for seasonal tourism businesses.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-558 on 14 June 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/…
8 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there is a need for greater (a) government or (b) parliamentary scrutiny of how the Scottish Assessors meet their statutory duty.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is in regular contact with a range of business stakeholders and their representative bodies to listen to their views on the operation of business rates policy, including the role of the Scottish Assessors. It is a matter for the Parlia…
8 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the Scottish Assessors’ process for handling non-domestic rates revaluation appeals is sufficiently accessible and efficient.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-564 on 14 June 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/…
8 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will allow a proportion of additional revenues generated from economic growth to be retained by local authorities for reinvestment in their areas and, if so, when details of these plans will be available.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government is currently taking forward three separate initiatives which could allow local authorities to retain a proportion of additional business rate income resulting from economic growth. The first of these initiatives is Tax Increment Finan…
8 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the accountability of the Scottish Assessors for their decisions.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-568 on 14 June 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/…
8 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to ensure than certain sectors and categories of businesses are not affected disproportionately by non-domestic rates revaluations.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-571 on 14 June 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/…
8 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that small, independent businesses operating from higher rated premises or based in small units in prime locations are disadvantaged by the small business bonus scheme and, if so, how it will address this.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-558 on 14 June 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/…
8 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will seek to increase parliamentary scrutiny of the Scottish Assessors, their methodology in calculating rateable values and their handling of appeals.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-568 on 14 June 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/…
8 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will review the impact of taxation on empty properties.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-558 on 14 June 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/…
8 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the need for greater transparency in the non-domestic rates revaluation process.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has already invited business organisations to contribute their views on the 2010 revaluation to inform its consideration in preparation for the next scheduled revaluation in 2015. Each revaluation is considered on its own merits, inclu…
8 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there are areas in need of improvement in the Scottish Assessors' handling of the non-domestic rates appeal process.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-564 on 14 June 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/…
8 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce reforms to make transitional relief statutory for the 2015 non-domestic rates revaluation.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-571 on 14 June 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/…
8 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the Scottish Assessors agreeing a Scotland-wide approach to improve accessibility of the non-domestic rates appeals process for small businesses.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-564 on 14 June 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/…
7 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is planning to review the system of non-domestic rates partially or in its entirety and when details of the review will be available.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-558 on 14 June 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/…
7 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is planning to extend or review the small business bonus scheme and, if so, when details will be available.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-558 on 14 June 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/…
7 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Scottish Assessors regarding their handling of the appeals process for non-domestic rates.
Answer · John Swinney: The valuation appeals process is led by the Valuation Appeals Committees and in certain cases the Lands Tribunal and Court of Session. The administration and operation of the Valuation Appeal Committees is the responsibility of the committee.
7 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will bring back its plans for a large retail supplement and, if so, when.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government keeps the business rates system, including all reliefs and supplements, under regular review to ensure we offer the most generous relief package available to businesses in the UK, worth an estimated £2.6 billion over the five year peri…
7 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the methodology of calculating non-domestic rates should be reviewed.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-558 on 14 June 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/…
7 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is planning to review property-based business taxation and, if so, when.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-558 on 14 June 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/…
7 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to the comment by the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism on 1 June 2011 (Official Report, c. 219) that “business rates are…undoubtedly a large burden for many businesses, and I would be astonished if we did not consider that matter in detail in this session”, when…
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-558 on 14 June 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/…
7 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of the changes to animal health and welfare legislation that it is considering deal with the prevention of the spread of animal diseases to Scotland’s islands or other animal disease prevention measures specifically for the islands.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Executive is currently considering proposals for new animal health legislation which if introduced would cover the whole of Scotland and as a result deal with the prevention of the spread of animal diseases to Scotland’s islands. There are no pro…
2 Jun 2011 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth last met the Chief Executive of Skills Development Scotland and what matters were discussed.