Derek Brownlee

25 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many students lived in accommodation not falling within paragraph 10 of Schedule 1 to the Council Tax (Exempt Dwellings) (Scotland) Order 1997 as amended, in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Answer · John Swinney: This information is not held centrally.</p>

25 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people lived in accommodation falling within paragraph 10 of Schedule 1 to the Council Tax (Exempt Dwellings) (Scotland) Order 1997 as amended, in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Answer · John Swinney: This information is not held centrally.</p>

25 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many buildings fell within each of the categories in Schedule 1 to the Council Tax (Exempt Dwellings) (Scotland) Order 1997 as amended, in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Answer · John Swinney: In 2007, the reported number of dwellings that fell within the categories in Schedule 1 of the Council Tax (Exempt Dwellings) (Scotland) Order 1997 as amended was 106,394. A breakdown of this figure into the categories listed in the specified schedule is not …

20 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the figures for council tax benefit, as shown in its paper on revenue projections from a local income tax, assume a council tax freeze.

Answer · John Swinney: Responsibility for council tax benefit lies with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The explanatory paper Abolition of council tax and introduction of local income tax: revenue projections (Bib. number 45130) used the DWP''s official revenue projecti…

12 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many attacks on NHS staff were recorded in the South of Scotland region in the last two years for which the information is available, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government does not hold information centrally on attacks on NHS staff.</p> <p >We do know that violence against staff is a major concern. The 2006 NHS Staff Survey reports that 28% of respondents have personally experienced a violent or aggress…

12 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many attacks on police officers were recorded in the South of Scotland region in the last two years for which the information is available, broken down by force.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The police recorded crime statistics collected centrally are based on an aggregate return at local authority level, and do not distinguish the circumstances of the crime, such as the occupation of the victim. This information should be available from the indi…

12 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many attacks on fire service personnel were recorded in the South of Scotland region in the last two years for which the information is available, broken down by brigade.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The information requested on assaults on Fire Service personnel is given in Her Majesty''s Chief Inspector of Fire Services for Scotland annual reports published by the Scottish Executive in January 2004; December 2004; October 2005 and December 2006, Novembe…

12 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it proposes to take to raise awareness of the digital switchover in the south of Scotland.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: Digital UK has been set the task of raising awareness of the digital switchover in the UK. It is an independent, non-profit organisation owned by the UK''s public service broadcasters and multiplex operators. The Scottish Government meets regularly with Digit…

12 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much additional funding it will receive as a result of the announcements in the UK Budget, broken down by year.

Answer · John Swinney: As a result of the announcements in the UK budget, the Scottish Government will receive the amounts shown in the following table:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td valign=top > <p align=center >&nbsp;</p> </td> <td valig…

12 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many unincorporated businesses make income tax payments in Scotland, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Jim Mather: The information requested is not held centrally.</p> <p >However, the Survey of Personal Incomes (SPI) is an annual sample survey based on information held by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) on persons who could be liable to UK tax. Results are published on th…

12 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many unincorporated businesses there are in Scotland, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Jim Mather: The information requested is not held centrally by government.</p>

12 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much the proposed local income tax would raise directly from taxpayers if in force in the (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10 tax years.

Answer · John Swinney: If the local income tax was in force it is estimated to raise £1,312 million in 2007-08, £1,365 million in 2008-09 and £1,432 million in 2009-10.</p>

12 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much the proposed local income tax would raise annually.

Answer · John Swinney: </b>The government published a paper on 18 March 2008 detailing revenue projections for a local income tax. This is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre. The Bib. number for the publication is 45130.</p> perso

6 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5074 by Stewart Stevenson on 25 October 2007, whether the additional winter sailings to Islay received any additional subsidy.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The additional winter sailings to Islay do not receive any additional subsidy from the Scottish Government.</p>

6 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement to the Parliament by the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change on 5 March 2008, when the non-profit distributing vehicle proposed for procurement of the Waverley railway project will be formed.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The non-profit distributing vehicle proposed for procurement of the Waverley railway project will be formed at financial close.</p>

6 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement to the Parliament by the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change on 5 March 2008, what element of the cost increase in the Waverley railway estimates relates to factors other than “commitments that were made during the passage of the bill”, “oth…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Announcing details of these cost increases would be inappropriate as their disclosure would prejudice future commercial negotiations.</p>

6 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement to the Parliament by the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change on 5 March 2008, what element of the cost increase in the Waverley railway estimates relates to “the rise in land values in the Borders”.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-10736 on the 20 March 2008. 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/w…

6 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement to the Parliament by the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change on 5 March 2008, what element of the cost increase in the Waverley railway estimates relates to “other necessary technical requirements”, broken down by individual requirement.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Announcing details of these cost increases would be inappropriate as their disclosure would prejudice future commercial negotiations.</p>

6 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement to the Parliament by the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change on 5 March 2008, what element of the cost increase in the Waverley railway project estimates relates to “commitments that were made during the passage of the bill”, broken down by …

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The element of the cost increase in the Waverley railway project estimate which relates to commitments that were made during the passage of the Bill are for the provision of a station at Stow and requirements of the Register of Undertakings.</p>

6 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement to the Parliament by the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change on 5 March 2008, whether the non-profit distributing vehicle proposed for procurement of the Waverley railway project can be established without (a) primary or (b) secondary legisl…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Waverley rail project already has statutory authority from the Scottish Parliament, and Transport Scotland is shortly to take over the role as statutory undertaker. This will allow Transport Scotland to proceed with the necessary procurement. Further prim…

6 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement to the Parliament by the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change on 5 March 2008, when the Scottish Government will publish full details of the non-profit distributing vehicle proposed for the procurement of the Waverley railway project.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government is expected to publish full details of the non-profit distributing contract documents proposed for the procurement of the Waverley railway project after announcement of the preferred bidder/financial close.</p>

6 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement to the Parliament by the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change on 5 March 2008, how much funding the proposed non-profit distributing vehicle will have to raise from the market, based on the current cost estimates, at 2012 prices.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: As announced in my statement to the Parliament on 5 March 2008, the funding to be raised from the market based on the current cost estimates at 2012 prices is between £235 million and £290 million.</p>

6 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement to the Parliament by the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change on 5 March 2008, in what ways the non-profit distributing model selected for the procurement of the Waverley railway project differs from the Scottish Futures Trust proposals.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government is committed to introducing an alternative funding mechanism to the traditional costly standard form of PFI, in the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT). The SFT is still under development “ the consultation period has just ended and account w…

6 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement to the Parliament by the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change on 5 March 2008, what the expected contribution to the Waverley railway project is at 2012 prices from (a) Scottish Borders Council, (b) Midlothian Council, (c) City of Edinburgh C…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: </b>As stated in the Parliament last week, the councils'' contribution will be £30 million. Exact details of each council''s contributions is a matter for the Waverley Railway Partnership to deliver.</p>

6 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement to the Parliament by the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change on 5 March 2008, what the range is at 2012 prices of the Scottish Government’s financial contribution to the Waverley railway project.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The range of the Scottish Government''s financial contributions to the Waverley railway project at 2012 prices will be as announced in my statement to the Parliament on 5 March 2008, less the contributions for the councils.</p>

6 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement to the Parliament by the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change on 5 March 2008, whether the Scottish Government’s financial contribution to the Waverley railway project will continue to be capped at £115 million at 2002 prices and, if not, whe…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government''s financial contributions to the Waverley railway project will no longer continue to be capped at £115 million at 2002 prices but is now expected to be within the range given in my statement to the Parliament on 5 March 2008 less the …

13 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance is issued to its departments, agencies and other public bodies on non-contractual payments being made at the end of a period of employment.

Answer · John Swinney: Relevant guidance is included in the section of the Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM) on severance, early retirement and redundancy. The SPFM is published on the Scottish Government''s website.</p>

13 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its annual (a) cash, (b) time and (c) total efficiency savings targets have been for each year since 1999; on what date the Parliament agreed the budget for each year at Stage 3, and on what date the detailed technical notes relating to the savings to be achieved in each year were pu…

Answer · John Swinney: The targets for the first Efficient Government Programme were set out in <i >Building a Better </i><i >Scotland</i><i >: Efficient Government “ Securing Efficiency, Effectiveness and Productivity</i> which was published in November 2004 and related to effic…

29 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of (a) children and (b) adults in each NHS board area who are registered with an NHS dentist have attended for assessment or treatment within the last 15 months, based on the most recent figures available.

Answer · Shona Robison: Centrally held information does not currently allow for the specific identification of everyone registered with a dentist under NHS arrangements who have attended for assessment or treatment within the last 15 months, based on the most recent figures availabl…

29 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of (a) children and (b) adults in each NHS board area would have been classed as registered with an NHS dentist, based on the most recent figures available, if the registration period had not been extended in 2006.

Answer · Shona Robison: Centrally held information does not currently allow for the specific identification of everyone who would have been classed as registered with a dentist under NHS arrangements, based on the most recent figures available, if the registration period had not bee…