Questions · Gavin Brown

23 Dec 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact assessment it has carried out of its proposed rise to business rates for large retail premises posing a disincentive to expand for businesses below the £750,000 cut off.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38603 on 4 February 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/A…

23 Dec 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the proposed rise to business rates for large retail premises fits with its aim of ensuring that Scotland is the most attractive place for doing business in Europe.

Answer · John Swinney: The large retail supplement will increase business rates paid for just 0.1 per cent of properties in Scotland. For those businesses affected, the business rates paid currently account for around 2% of their turnover. With the large retail supplement, this wil…

23 Dec 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis it has carried out of the impact on Scotland’s competitive position, when compared with England and Wales, of its proposed rise to business rates for large retail premises.

Answer · John Swinney: The national poundage rate in Scotland matches that in England but is lower than the rate set for Wales. The position in Northern Ireland is not directly comparable. Reliefs available in Scotland are by far the most generous in the United Kingdom, wo…

23 Dec 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis it has carried out of the impact on inward investment of its proposed rise to business rates for large retail premises.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38603 on 4 February 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/A…

23 Dec 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis it has carried out of the impact on jobs of its proposed rise to business rates for large retail premises.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38603 on 4 February 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Busi…

23 Dec 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many large retail premises that will be subject to the proposed business rate supplement are appealing the recent revaluation of their rateable value.

Answer · John Swinney: It is estimated that around 225 retail properties, accounting for around 0.1 per cent of all non-domestic property in Scotland, will be liable for the proposed large retail supplement. Of the £30 million estimated income from this supplement, around 90 per ce…

23 Dec 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a list of the retail premises that will be subject to the proposed business rate supplement, broken down by location.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38597 on 4 February 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/A…

23 Dec 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the retail premises that will be subject to the proposed business rate supplement are (a) in a town centre, (b) on the edge of town and (c) out of town.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38597 on 4 February 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/A…

23 Nov 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36571 by Stewart Stevenson on 4 October 2010, whether it considers that a key advantage of having a register of energy performance certificates for non-domestic properties would be that ministers would be able to analyse and assess energy efficiency …

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This could be advantageous. This is one of a number of issues currently being considered by officials as outlined in my response to question S3W-36569 on 4 October 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''…

23 Nov 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36570 by Stewart Stevenson on 4 October 2010, whether it considers that not producing a central register for non-domestic energy performance certificates means that this information cannot be analysed for statistical purposes and, if so, whether it c…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The absence of a central register does not mean analysis of energy performance certificate information cannot be carried out. However, the provision of a robust central register could make such a task easier and cost effective to perform.

23 Nov 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36569 by Stewart Stevenson on 4 October 2010, how it proposes to comply with the requirement of Article 7 of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive in ensuring that energy performance certificates are made available.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Compliance with the EU Directive on The Energy Performance of Buildings has been achieved and notification submitted to the EU. Mandatory provision of energy performance certificates for buildings was introduced through both The Energy Performance of Building…

23 Nov 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36569 by Stewart Stevenson on 4 October 2010, for what reason it does not consider section 10 of the Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2008 to be legislation that specifically requires a register for non-domestic energy performan…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Under regulation 10, Scottish ministers are required to keep at least one register of energy performance certificates. This has been achieved through the registration of energy performance certificates on the Home Energy Efficiency Database. Legislation allow…

23 Nov 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36574 by Stewart Stevenson on 4 October 2010, what methods it uses to assess the overall (a) emissions output and (b) energy consumption of Scotland’s total non-domestic housing stock.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We have clarified that your question should have read non-domestic property stock rather than non-domestic housing stock as noted above. As such it asks for the same information as the question you refer to and asked previously (S3W-36574); and I ref…

6 Oct 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many test-purchase visits in the Lothians region under the enhanced Tobacco Sales Enforcement Programme in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10 resulted in tobacco products being sold to an underage person by a licensee for the (i) first and (ii) second time and what action was taken against t…

Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested is as follows: <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td valign=top > 2008-09 </td> <td valign=top > No. 1st Failures </td> <td valign…

5 Oct 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its assessment is of the prisoner progression and community reintegration facilities available at HMP (a) Edinburgh and (b) Addiewell.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: HMP Edinburgh and HMP Addiewell offer a full range of progression facilities for all prisoners sent into their custody identified thr…

5 Oct 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the training available to Scottish Prison Service staff at HMP (a) Edinburgh and (b) Addiewell.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows: Staff at HMP Edinburgh comprise a diverse range of roles and professions, some requiring prior qualification and membership of …

5 Oct 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners in HMP Addiewell have been tested for drugs in each year since it opened, broken down by the number of positive tests and substances identified.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The prison opened on 12 December 2008. In 2008-09: nil. As the population was in build up phase during this period. <p …

5 Oct 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners in HMP Edinburgh have been tested for drugs in each year since 2008, broken down by the number of positive tests and substances identified.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: Since 1 January 2009 until 30 September 2010 a total of 2,592 mandatory drug tests have been carried out in HMP Edinburgh with 838 r…

5 Oct 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of prisoners at HMP Addiewell has been assessed as having a substance abuse problem in each year since it opened.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: Prisoners in HMP Addiewell serving over 31 days in custody, identified with a substance misuse problem, are offered a comprehensive s…

5 Oct 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of prisoners at HMP Addiewell has been assessed as having an alcohol problem in each year since it opened.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: Prisoners in HMP Addiewell serving over 31 days in custody, identified with a substance misuse problem, are offered a comprehensive s…

5 Oct 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of prisoners at HMP Edinburgh was assessed as having a substance abuse problem in 2009-10.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: Every prisoner admitted to HMP Edinburgh goes through an initial health screening by a nurse. Prisoners are all asked about historic…

5 Oct 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of prisoners at HMP Edinburgh was assessed as having an alcohol problem in 2009-10.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: Every prisoner admitted to HMP Edinburgh goes through an initial health screening by a nurse. Prisoners are all asked about historica…

5 Oct 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many direct measures were issued for (a) assault and (b) assault to injury in September 2010, broken down by sheriff court.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: The following table shows the number of charges of (a) assault and (b) assault to injury where the initial decision taken by the Procurator Fiscal was to deal with the offending behaviour by means of a direct measure in September 2010. The 222 ch…

5 Oct 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many direct measures were issued for (a) assault and (b) assault to injury in August 2010, broken down by sheriff court.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: The following table shows the number of charges of (a) assault and (b) assault to injury where the initial decision taken by the Procurator Fiscal was to deal with the offending behaviour by means of a direct measure in August 2010. The 252 charg…

5 Oct 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many direct measures were issued for (a) assault and (b) assault to injury in July 2010, broken down by sheriff court.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: The following table shows the number of charges of (a) assault and (b) assault to injury where the initial decision taken by the Procurator Fiscal was to deal with the offending behaviour by means of a direct measure in July 2010. The 253 charges…

5 Oct 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many direct measures were issued for (a) assault and (b) assault to injury in June 2010, broken down by sheriff court.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: The following table shows the number of charges of (a) assault and (b) assault to injury where the initial decision taken by the Procurator Fiscal was to deal with the offending behaviour by means of a direct measure in June 2010. The 193 charges rel…

5 Oct 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many direct measures were issued for (a) assault and (b) assault to injury in May 2010, broken down by sheriff court.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: The following table shows the number of charges of (a) assault and (b) assault to injury where the initial decision taken by the Procurator Fiscal was to deal with the offending behaviour by means of a direct measure in May 2010. The 198 charges rela…

4 Oct 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in the Lothians region under the age of 16 have been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease in each of the last three years, broken down by (a) age and (b) type of infection.

Answer · Shona Robison: The number of laboratory reports of sexually transmitted infections among persons aged under 16 in NHS Lothian in each of the last three years is set out below. It has not been possible to present the data as requested because of the potential for disclosure …

4 Oct 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many court fines have not been paid and what the total value has been of such fines in each year since 2008, broken down by sheriffdom.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The questions has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.

4 Oct 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the monetary value was of the assets recovered from drug dealers in the Lothians and Borders police force area in 2009-10.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: In the financial year ending 31 March 2010 the National Casework Division (NCD) of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service was successful in obtaining 10 confiscation orders in drugs cases where the criminality was centred in the Lothian and Borders Po…