Questions · George Foulkes

13 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has set for economic growth over the course of the current spending review period and what progress has been made towards achieving those targets in each quarter since June 2007.

Answer · John Swinney: The top priority of the Scottish Government is increasing sustainable economic growth. In achieving this priority we must address the long-term structural gap between GDP growth performance in Scotland, and both the UK, and the small independent EU countries.…

13 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has set for the contribution of small businesses to economic growth over the course of the current spending review period.

Answer · Jim Mather: While no specific targets have been set for the contribution of small businesses to economic growth over the course of the current spending review, it is anticipated that their contribution to the government''s short-term and long-term growth targets will be …

13 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has set for the growth of employment in small businesses over the course of the current spending review period.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government''s targets are for the whole economy of which small businesses form a very material part and that target is to converge on the UK growth rate by 2011. We do not have a specific target for jobs but continue to monitor labour participati…

13 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has set for the growth of small businesses over the course of the current spending review period.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government''s targets are for the whole economy of which small businesses form a very material part and that target is to converge on the UK growth rate by 2011.

13 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what projections it has made of the impact of the Small Business Bonus Scheme on the cash-flow and trading position of small businesses.

Answer · Jim Mather: We will be in a position to evaluate the impact of the scheme once it has been fully implemented in 2009-10. The impact of the scheme will also be measured by its contribution to meeting the strategic targets set out in the Government''s Economic Strategy…

13 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the impact of the Small Business Bonus Scheme has been on the cash-flow and trading position of small businesses since its introduction.

Answer · Jim Mather: The average cash benefit to business properties under the scheme is around £1,000 in 2008-09. The scheme is just one of a number of measures in the Scottish Government''s economic recovery programme which can improve cash flow to small businesses.

13 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the start-up costs of the Small Business Bonus Scheme were; how they were calculated, and what the total cost of the scheme will be over the course of the current spending review period.

Answer · Jim Mather: The projected cost of the Small Business Bonus Scheme in 2008-09, following its introduction in April 2008, is currently estimated at around £70 million. A final figure will not be available until later this year. The estimate was based on the number of eligi…

13 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the rate of growth of the economy has been in each year since 1997.

Answer · John Swinney: This information can be derived from the Scottish Quarterly GDP publication which can be found on the Scottish Government website at <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/GDP">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/GDP</a>. The growth rates for each complete calen…

13 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the rate of growth in the number of small businesses has been in each year since 1997.

Answer · Jim Mather: Data on the number of enterprises operating in Scotland are published annually within the Scottish Government publication Scottish Corporate Sector Statistics. The figures are only available from 1998 and the latest data refers to all enterprises in Scotland …

13 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the growth of employment in small businesses has been in each year since 1997.

Answer · Jim Mather: Data for the employment of enterprises operating in Scotland are published annually within the Scottish Government publication Scottish Corporate Sector Statistics. The figures are only available from 1998 and the latest data refers to the employment …

13 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it measures the impact of the Small Business Bonus Scheme on the growth of employment, small businesses and the economy.

Answer · Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-19705 on 21 January 2009. 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/Apps…

13 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the Small Business Bonus Scheme has had on the growth of employment, small businesses and the economy since its introduction.

Answer · Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-19705 on 21 January 2009. 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/Apps…

13 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what projections it has made of the impact that the Small Business Bonus Scheme will have on small business growth.

Answer · Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-19705 on 21 January 2009. 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/Apps…

13 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what projections it has made of the impact that the Small Business Bonus Scheme will have on economic growth.

Answer · Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-19705 on 21 January 2009. 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/Apps…

13 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what projections it has made of the impact that the Small Business Bonus Scheme will have on jobs.

Answer · Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-19705 on 21 January 2009. 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/Apps…

13 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what economic modelling work has been done on the projected impact of the Small Business Bonus Scheme on economic growth, growth of small businesses and employment.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Small Business Bonus Scheme delivers a lower taxed more competitive business environment for small businesses. Analysis of empirical evidence to date indicates that measures such as the scheme support the growth of small businesses and facilitate their co…

13 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been any discussion with the Public Works Loans Board regarding funding for the Forth Replacement Crossing and, if so, what the response has been.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: No. The option of funding through local authorities had been considered by the Scottish Government and rejected in part because it would considerably restrict councils'' ability to borrow for their own purposes.

13 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware what interest rates are available to Scottish local authorities, or connected bodies, from the Public Works Loans Board on loans for capital or other projects and how this compares with rates from other funding sources.

Answer · John Swinney: The interest rates available to local authorities and other prescribed bodies from the Public Works Loans Body (PWLB) are published daily on their website, which can be found at: <a href="http://www.dmo.gov.uk/index.aspx?page=PWLB/PWLB_Interest_Rates…

13 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has with regard to any funding applications made by Scottish local authorities, or connected bodies, to the Public Works Loan Board since May 2007 and the outcome of any such applications.

Answer · John Swinney: The information requested is not held centrally.

12 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of savings in the Scottish budget as a result of reductions in the official Bank Rate in 2008-09.

Answer · John Swinney: There are no savings because the Scottish Government does not have powers to borrow, and there is therefore no budget line devoted to debt repayment.

12 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on preliminary work on the Forth Replacement Crossing.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Since December 2007, when I announced to Parliament the decision to proceed with a replacement bridge, approximately £16 million has been spent on preliminary works.

12 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will seek a parliamentary debate on the First Annual Report of the Council of Economic Advisers: December 2008.

Answer · John Swinney: A debate on the Scottish Government''s Response to the First Annual Report of the Council of Economic Advisers will be held on Thursday 22 January.

12 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to recommendation nine in the First Annual Report of the Council of Economic Advisers: December 2008 regarding the resolution of tensions between UK and Scottish policy responsibilities.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government accepts the recommendation. The Scottish Government is working with the <acronym>UK</acronym> Government Department for Work and Pensions (<acronym>DWP</acronym>) to improve the integration of Jobcentre Plus services a…

12 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to recommendation six in the First Annual Report of the Council of Economic Advisers: December 2008 on energy options.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government accepts this recommendation. The Scottish Government is commissioning this study. We will also provide a paper setting out the government''s current energy policy for the council to consider. The results of the study a…

12 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to recommendation two in the First Annual Report of the Council of Economic Advisers: December 2008 in relation to skills.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government accepts this recommendation. The Scottish Government welcomes the Council''s endorsement of the approach taken in the Government Economic Strategy of giving particular attention to key sectors with high growth…

12 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the Scottish Futures Trust to publish details of the planned community hubs.

Answer · John Swinney: As already announced, the early focus of hub development and resources is on two pathfinder areas in the south-east and the north of Scotland. Each pathfinder is receiving expert advisory and structural support from the SFT and the Scottish Government is prov…

12 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the Scottish Futures Trust to publish its infrastructure investment plan.

Answer · John Swinney: The SFT Chair, Sir Angus Grossart and staff working within SFT are actively engaged in meeting public bodies and the private sector to explain further their aims, including how SFT can assist in delivering increased value from the £35 billion of infrastructur…

12 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to report to the Parliament on the progress of the Scottish Futures Trust.

Answer · John Swinney: I have stated that I would keep Parliament informed about the progress of the Scottish Futures Trust. I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-19803 on 23 January 2009, when I announced the appointment of the two remaining non-executive directors to t…

12 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) approved staff complement and (b) current staffing level is of the Scottish Futures Trust.

Answer · John Swinney: Decisions on staffing are a matter for the SFT Board.

12 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) registered address, (b) office address and (c) mailing address is of the Scottish Futures Trust.

Answer · John Swinney: The details for (a) are held on the Companies House website which can be found at the following link <a href="http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/">www.companieshouse.gov.uk</a>. The details for both (b) and (c) are, 1 St Colme Street, Edinburgh, EH3 6A…