Questions · Tommy Sheridan

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the shortest turnaround has been in days for obtaining Regional Selective Assistance from application to (a) decision and (b) receipt of funding.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Prior to submitting an RSA applicationwe encourage companies to discuss the details of their projects with us to preventthem from undertaking any unnecessary work in the early stages of the process.The shortest turnaround, in thelast three years, for o…

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average turnaround in days is for obtaining Regional Selective Assistance from application to (a) decision and (b) receipt of funding.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The average turnaround fromapplication to decision for the last financial year are noted as follows. Additionally,average since November 2002 (date these targets were introduced) to October2006, are noted in brackets.<table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpad…

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the new tier of Regional Selective Assistance for small and medium-sized enterprises and the simplification of the national grant structure will impact on the effectiveness of checks on these companies prior to them obtaining a grant.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The new tier of RSA for SMEsand simplification of the grant structure is aimed at encouraging as manyeligible small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) as possible to access grant. AllRSA applications will be assessed against the scheme criteria. As at present…

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether new posts will be created as a result of the consolidation of its Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Department’s grant management and delivery functions within a single new operational division.

Answer · Allan Wilson: No.

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what detailed evaluation, consultation and review companies will be subject to when applying for Regional Selective Assistance.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Applications for RSA areassessed, against the scheme criteria, by Executive Officials in the Innovationand Investment Grants unit. The scheme criteria require that anassessment be made of viability, need for support and economic benefit. Inassessing applicati…

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when more detailed information will be available on the consolidation of its Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Department’s grant management and delivery functions within a single new operational division.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The consolidation of grantmanagement and delivery functions for research and development and RegionalSelective Grants (RSA) grants within the Enterprise Transport and LifelongLearning Department took place in January 2007. Details of the new Innovationand Inv…

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the UK Government concerning any companies, in receipt of Regional Selective Assistance, that take National Insurance (NI) contributions from workers but do not pass them on or pay the company’s NI contributions to HM Revenue and Customs.

Answer · Allan Wilson: We aware of allegations madeagainst one company in receipt of RSA and have passed details of this to HM Revenueand Customs, Debt Management Enforcement and Insolvency Service.

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the UK Government concerning the number of companies in receipt of Regional Selective Assistance that are operating without registering with HM Revenue and Customs.

Answer · Allan Wilson: None. We are not aware of anycompanies in receipt of RSA which have not registered, if required to do so. Notall businesses need to register with HM Revenue and Customs.

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the UK Government about the number of companies in receipt of Regional Selective Assistance that are operating without a PAYE system.

Answer · Allan Wilson: None. We are not aware ofany company in receipt of RSA that is not operating a PAYE system.

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many companies have gone bankrupt after receiving Regional Selective Assistance and, in each case, how many jobs were lost and what the value was of the original grant.

Answer · Allan Wilson: All Regional Selective Assistance(RSA) grant agreements include legally enforceable conditions under which we canseek full or partial recovery of grant monies paid, should breaches of the grantagreement arise. Details of companies, in the last five calendar y…

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in respect of the clawback of Regional Selective Assistance, there have been any occasions when funding has not been returned in full, showing in any such case the (a) total amount that should have been clawed back and (b) name of company.

Answer · Allan Wilson: In the last five calendar years,there were 780 offers of Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) accepted totallingover £290 million. In the same period the actual amount of RSA paid out was over£203 million and £22 million was recovered.There are cases wh…

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many companies applying for Regional Selective Assistance in Scotland have their headquarters outside Scotland.

Answer · Allan Wilson: In the last five calendar yearsto end December 2006, the Executive has received 1,238 applications for RSA, 414of which have their headquarters outside Scotland.

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether its Innovation and Investment Grants unit liaises with the Companies Investigation Branch of the Department of Trade and Industry about checks on companies applying for Regional Selective Assistance.

Answer · Allan Wilson: No. There are, however, a numberof sources which can be accessed to obtain additional information on companies.Such additional checks would depend upon the circumstances of the case.

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the number of companies that have been in receipt of Regional Selective Assistance which are under investigation by the Companies Investigation Branch of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The only company of which I amaware which has received Regional Selective Assistance grant and which has beenreferred to the Department of Trade and Industry’s Companies Investigations Branchis Simclar (Ayrshire) Limited, in administration. The administrators…

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many “phoenix companies” have been awarded Regional Selective Assistance in each year since 1999.

Answer · Allan Wilson: We do not maintain records ofthis type.

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what checks are carried out to establish whether applications for Regional Selective Assistance are from “phoenix companies”.

Answer · Allan Wilson: There is no strict legal definitionof the term “phoenix companies”. Each application for RSA is assessed on its ownmerits, against all of the scheme criteria. In assessing applications we considera range of information including the background experience of k…

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what checks are carried out on directors of companies applying for Regional Selective Assistance.

Answer · Allan Wilson: When applying for RSA grantswe require directors of companies to declare whether they have been, (a)disqualified from being a company director; (b) bankrupt; (c) subject to anyform of insolvency procedures such as receivership, liquidation and administrationa…

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what checks are carried out on companies applying for Regional Selective Assistance and whether these are conducted by independent auditors assigned by its Innovation and Investment Grants unit.

Answer · Allan Wilson: All applications for RSA areassessed against the scheme criteria by Scottish Executive officials. Thisincludes an assessment of viability, need for support and economic benefit. Additionalinformation can also be requested on the company and/or the directors d…

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what checks are carried out to ensure that jobs are safeguarded and created when a company has been awarded Regional Selective Assistance.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Payment of RSA is usuallypaid in instalments and only after capital expenditure and job targets are met.Before final grant payment, claims confirming achievement of targets certifiedby an accountant independent from the company are required.

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who assesses the allocation of Regional Selective Assistance grants.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Applications for Regional SelectiveAssistance are assessed, against the published scheme criteria, by Scottish Executiveofficials in the Innovation and Investment Grants Unit. The Scottish IndustrialDevelopment Advisory Board provides independent advice on gr…

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will change its policy with regard to bursaries for social work courses in line with decisions made in England and Wales.

Answer · Robert Brown: Student support is a wholly devolved matter and the student supportsystem in Scotland reflects decisions taken by the Scottish Executive in considerationof our particular circumstances. The systems that have been developed by each countrytake into account the…

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many complaints have been recorded by Scottish Enterprise about misconduct of Business Gateway business advisers in each year since 1999.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The administration of the ScottishEnterprise Business Gateway is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. Ihave therefore asked Scottish Enterprise’s chief executive to reply to you direct.

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many companies that had business advisers allocated to them through Scottish Enterprise Business Gateway subsequently employed those advisers as directors or owners in each year since 1999.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The administration of the ScottishEnterprise Business Gateway is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. Ihave therefore asked Scottish Enterprise’s chief executive to reply to you direct.

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many Business Gateway business advisers were investigated by Scottish Enterprise for misconduct or conflict of interest in each year since 1999.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The administration of the ScottishEnterprise Business Gateway is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. Ihave therefore asked Scottish Enterprise’s chief executive to reply to you direct.

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many business advisers were appointed by Scottish Enterprise for Business Gateway in each year since 1999.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The administration of the ScottishEnterprise Business Gateway is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. Ihave therefore asked Scottish Enterprise’s chief executive to reply to you direct.

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what efforts are made to ensure that business advisers appointed by Scottish Enterprise for Business Gateway do not have a conflict of interest when helping or advising small companies.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The administration of the ScottishEnterprise Business Gateway is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. Ihave therefore asked Scottish Enterprise’s chief executive to reply to you direct.

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what background checks are carried out on Scottish Enterprise Business Gateway’s business advisers.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The administration of the ScottishEnterprise Business Gateway is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. Ihave therefore asked Scottish Enterprise’s chief executive to reply to you direct.

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had, and intends to have, with the STUC or its affiliates regarding the impact on the Scottish workforce of the transport plan for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The impact on the Scottishworkforce of the transport plan for the London 2012 Olympic Games has notfeatured in any discussions the Scottish Executive has had with the STUC. the Scottish Executive works with construction industry stakeholders (including thetra…

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it is making to meet any additional workforce requirements for construction and transport infrastructure projects in Scotland associated with the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Information on the currenttransport projects portfolio, which is the main area of civil engineeringrelated activity within the Scottish Executive is published on the TransportScotland website at www.transportscotland.gov.uk. This helps the construction indust…

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what input it had to the Olympic Delivery Authority’s consultation on the transport plan for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in respect of the impact of the plan on the Scottish workforce.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Transport Scotland hasresponded to the Olympic Delivery Authority’s consultation on the draft travelplan for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.