Parliamentary questions
Jeremy Purvis
909 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
10 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has calculated or estimated by how much Scotland’s receipts from (a) corporation tax including from the North Sea oil and gas industry, (b) corporation tax excluding from the North Sea oil and gas industry, (c) capital gains tax, (d) national insurance contributions and (e) VAT…
Answer · John Swinney: Estimates of the tax revenue raised in Scotland are available in Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) 2008-09. The report is available from <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/06/22160331/0">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publicati…
10 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has calculated the change in Scotland’s total tax receipts since the start of the last spending review and, if so, to what date and whether this information is publicly available.
Answer · John Swinney: The most recent edition of Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) provides estimates of Scottish tax receipts from 2004-05 to 2008-09. Between 2007-08 and 2008-09, GERS estimates that, including an illustrative geographical share of North Sea reve…
10 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the information is publicly available that was used to calculate the First Minister’s figure of almost £900 million stated on 8 September 2010 (Official Report c. 28246) in relation to his assessment of the fall in Scottish income tax receipts that would have resulted if the Calma…
Answer · John Swinney: The data sources and methodology used to estimate the impact of the Calman Commission''s income tax proposals on the Scottish Government''s Budget during the current Spending Review period are set out in the paper <i >Scottish Government Budget: Calman Commis…
10 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what timescale is referred to by the First Minister’s figure of almost £900 million stated on 8 September 2010 (Official Report c. 28246) in relation to his assessment of the fall in Scottish income tax receipts that would have resulted if the Calman Commission on Scottish Devolution’s in…
Answer · John Swinney: Had the Calman Commission''s income tax proposals been introduced in 2007-08, they are estimated to have resulted in the Scottish Government''s Budget in 2009-10 being £900 million lower than under the current funding framework. This would follow an estimated…
10 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the First Minister arrived at the figure of almost £900 million stated on 8 September 2010 (Official Report c. 28246) in relation to his assessment of the fall in Scottish income tax receipts that would have resulted if the Calman Commission on Scottish Devolution’s income tax proposa…
Answer · John Swinney: The data sources and methodology used to estimate the impact of the Calman Commission''s income tax proposals on the Scottish Government''s Budget during the current Spending Review period are set out in the paper <i >Scottish Government Budget: Calman Commis…
28 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35366 by John Swinney on 28 July 2010, how it defines a sustainable level of UK public sector net borrowing.
Answer · John Swinney: The long-term level of sustainable public sector net borrowing depends on a number of factors including the country''s long-term economic performance, the existing stock of public sector debt, and the cost of financing additional borrowing. It is important to…
28 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35366 by John Swinney on 28 July 2010, what timeframe it considers to be the earliest opportunity for UK public sector net borrowing to be returned to a sustainable level.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35366 on 27 July 2010. The Scottish Government believes UK public sector net borrowing should be returned to a sustainable level at the earliest opportunity. The timeframe over which this should be achieved wil…
28 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35366 by John Swinney on 28 July 2010, what it considers to be a sustainable level of UK public sector net borrowing, expressed as a percentage of GDP.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35491 on 2 September 2010. The sustainable level of UK public sector net borrowing, expressed as a percentage of GDP, will vary throughout the economic cycle. However, over the long term, the sustainable level …
19 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers the net borrowing of the United Kingdom should be in 2015, expressed as a percentage of GDP
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government believes that UK public sector net borrowing should be returned to a sustainable level at the earliest opportunity. The management of the public finances by the previous UK Government means that a substantial period of fiscal adjustmen…
15 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive it is improving the promotion of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects in schools
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35348 on 12 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <u><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Ap…
15 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many publicly-funded energy efficiency and environment performance advisory bodies exist, and whom each supports
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government funds both the Energy Saving Trust (EST) and the Carbon Trust, to provide energy efficiency support across all sectors. EST provide advice to householders and small businesses through the Energy Saving Scotland advice network, while th…
15 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review and streamline publicly-funded energy efficiency and environment performance advisory bodies.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has no current plans to review publicly funded energy efficiency and environmental performance advisory bodies. We are however planning as part of our approach to the Low Carbon Economy to develop a co-ordinated approach to the deliver…
15 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent supporting renewable energy research and development in each of the last three years
Answer · Jim Mather: During the last three complete financial years, the Scottish Government has directly supported renewable energy research and development activity and the total amount spent is as follows: </p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td widt…
15 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to incentivise young people to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government supports a range of measures to encourage young people to study STEM subjects. Science and Engineering 21: An Action Plan for Education in the 21st Century launched in March this year sets out a framework and actions aimed at raising t…
15 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to reinstate external audits of local authority planning departments
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We have no plans at present to reinstate external audits of planning authorities.</p>
15 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the University of Strathclyde's Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2009 report into business start-up rates
Answer · John Swinney: The latest GEM report provides a useful contribution to our understanding of entrepreneurship, and the drivers and motivations behind entrepreneurial behaviour. The study aims to capture the level of entrepreneurial activity by surveying individuals about the…
15 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive What it considers the reason to be that Scotland has a business start-up rate lower than in the United Kingdom as a whole and other comparable countries
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government measures the business start-up rate as the number of businesses registering for VAT and/or PAYE per 10,000 resident adults.</p> <p >In 2008, Scotland''s business start-up rate was 38 per 10,000 resident adults compared to a rate of 5…
15 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive What it considers the reason to be that unemployment in Scotland is now at a higher rate than in the rest of the United Kingdom.
Answer · John Swinney: The most recent Scottish labour market statistics show that for the period March-May 2010 the ILO unemployment rate in Scotland was 8.1%, compared to a rate of 7.8% for the UK, as a whole. However, what is clear from the trends in unemployment rates during th…
15 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is giving to develop town and city-wide wi-fi networks
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government will consider helping any local authority wishing to establish town and city-wide wi-fi networks by facilitating discussions with relevant organisations and the telecoms industry. At a community level, as announced by the Cabinet Secre…
15 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its projects and initiatives have experienced budget overruns in the last three years, broken down by the (a) name and purpose of each project and (b) planned and outturn budget costs
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government exercises careful management of all projects. Regular information on performance of projects is already published.</b></p>
15 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many community trusts are in operation, broken down by local authority
Answer · John Swinney: The information requested is not held centrally.</p> <p >The Development Trust Association Scotland (DTAS) is the national body for development trusts in Scotland. DTAS is a membership organisation and further details on current membership and their work ca…
15 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it holds information on how much corporation tax is generated in Scotland, broken down by local authority or region
Answer · Jim Mather: Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland estimates that onshore and offshore corporation tax collectively generated £12.2 billion in Scotland during 2008-09, based on an illustrative geographical share of North Sea revenue. Estimates by local authority are…
15 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on NHS distinction awards and pension contributions under this scheme since May 2007
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: (a) The information requested was given previously in the answer to question S3W-30548 on 18 January 2010. For ease of reference the information is as follows: </b></p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=111 valign=…
15 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what formal analysis or evaluation it has carried out of the impact of its economic recovery plan on the rate of unemployment
Answer · John Swinney: The Economic Recovery Plan (ERP) sets out a number of priorities to accelerate recovery and to stimulate lasting improvements in Scotland''s long-term economic performance. The plan is focussed on three broad themes: Investing in innovation and industries of …
15 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve businesses’ awareness and understanding of the grant schemes available.
Answer · Jim Mather: The most widely used service for business seeking an effective advice support service is the Business Gateway. Local authorities are now responsible for its local delivery. The Business Gateway service involves extensive marketing programmes to ensure that th…
15 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to harmonise the various methods of valuing biomass energy plants.
Answer · John Swinney: Valuations of all non-domestic properties in Scotland, including those for biomass energy plants, are carried out by the Scottish Assessors independently of the Scottish Government. The valuation methodology for biomass energy plants is therefore a matter sol…
15 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review rates relief schemes.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government keeps all its rates relief schemes under regular review. It is estimated that over the next five years £2.4 billion of rates relief will be available.</b></p>
15 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the raw data on the 2010 non-domestic rates revaluation, including information on the proportion of businesses that have seen their rates increase or decrease and by how much.
Answer · John Swinney: All raw data showing valuations of individual properties following the 2010 business rates revaluation has been available since 10 February 2010 on the Scottish Assessors Association website and can be found at www.saa.gov.uk.</b></p> <p >In addition the Sco…
15 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3M-33983 by Keith Brown on 2 June 2010, whether the role of the Scottish Futures Trust in the Scottish Government’s school building programme has involved more than informing local authorities of their funding allocations and, if so, what work it has ca…
Answer · Keith Brown: All of the Scottish Futures Trust''s (SFT) activities, including SFT''s involvement in the Scotland''s Schools for the Future programme, are outlined in its business plans which are accessible on the SFT website (<a href="http://www.scottishfuturestrust.org.u…
15 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the first school of the first tranche of the Scotland’s Schools for the Future programme to open.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Futures Trust will deliver the first primary school funded by Scotland''s Schools for the Future by the end of 2011, which will be four and a half years since this administration came to power. This compares with the five and a half years the fir…