Dean Lockhart

19 Feb 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what advice it received in relation to any risk of ice falling on the Queensferry Crossing during the design and building of the bridge.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The advice received by Transport Scotland’s expert engineering Consultants during the preliminary design stage was that the risk of ice accumulation was low. At the time there was no practical solution to prevent the formation of ice on the Queensferry Crossi…

19 Feb 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consultation was carried out during the design and building of the Queensferry Crossing with other bridge designers and operators in relation to the risk of ice falling.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Transport Scotland consulted with bridge engineering experts with worldwide experience of bridge design and operation. Our Consultant for the Project, Jacobs/ARUP Joint Venture has worked extensively with bridge operators worldwide on operational matters inc…

19 Feb 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated cost is of installing ice monitors and sensors on the Queensferry Crossing, and how long it will take to install these.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The estimated cost of installing weather and ice sensors on the Queensferry Crossing is approximately £430,000. The order for supply and installation of the sensors has been placed. As it can take up to six months for the sensors to be supplied, it is expecte…

7 Feb 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total value of rates relief (a) has been in each of the last 10 years and (b) would be in 2020-21 under the proposals in its Budget.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: The cost of Non-Domestic Rates Relief from 2010-11 to 2018-19 is published in Scottish Local Government Financial Statistics 2018-19, Table 2.17, available on the Scottish Government website at the following link: https://www.gov.scot/collections/local-gover…

7 Feb 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it received in receipts from the Apprenticeship Levy in each of the last three years, and how much it expects to receive in 2020-21. 

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: As announced by Her Majesty's Treasury on 14 November 2016 the Scottish Government's national settlement from the UK Government's Apprenticeship Levy was £221 million in 2017-18, £230 million in 2018-19 and £239 million in 2019-20. We have no clarity on futu…

7 Feb 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage local authorities to use their powers under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 to vary their business rates, and what information it has regarding which councils are (a) using and (b) seeking to use these powers in 2019-20.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: In 2019-20 the Local Government finance settlement of £11.2 billion provided local authorities with a real terms increase in funding of ?£310 million (2.9%). The Scottish Government continues to encourage all local authorities to use their new powers under t…

7 Feb 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much revenue raised by the business rates incentivisation scheme has been retained by each local authority (a) in each of the last five years and (b) since April 2019.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: The additional non-domestic rates raised and retained by individual local authorities in 2014-15 – 2017-18, as a result of the business rates incentivisation scheme are set out in Local Government Finance Circulars 3/2016, 4/2017, 6/2018 and 7/2019, available…

7 Feb 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with its £50 million town centres fund for 2019-20, and whether it will publish an evaluation of its impact.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The £50 million capital Town Centre Fund for 2019-20 is enabling local authorities to stimulate a range of investments supporting the themes of our Town Centre Action Plan which encourages town centres to diversify and flourish. Local authorities submitted p…

7 Feb 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendation by the Barclay review, what plays it has to introduce a level playing field with England regarding the Higher Property Rate.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: The Scottish Budget for 2020-21 demonstrates our commitment to reviewing the Large Business Supplement when this is affordable by almost halving the number of properties liable for the supplement (now the Higher Property Rate). Together with a below-inflation…

7 Feb 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much additional revenue from business rates it expects would be generated in 2020-21 from the increase in the poundage rate proposed in its Budget, broken down by industry sector.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: The estimated additional net Non-Domestic Rates (NDR) Income for 2020-21 generated by the annual increase to the poundage rate, which represents a below inflation increase of 1.6%, broken down by property type, is shown in the following table. Please note th…

7 Feb 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) business and (b) higher rate poundage (i) has been in each year since 1999-00 and (ii) would be in 2020-21 under the proposals in its Budget.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: The following table shows the poundage, Large Business Supplement, and Large Business Supplement threshold (rateable value) for each year from 1999-2000 to 2019-20, and the proposed property rates in the 2020-21 Scottish Budget:   Year Poundage (pence) La…

7 Feb 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many properties in each local authority area would be subject to the (a) Basic, (b) Intermediate and (c) Higher Property Rate poundage proposed in its Budget, broken down by industry sector, and how much it expects would be raised.

Answer · Ben Macpherson:  A copy of the tables setting out the number of properties subject to the Basic, Intermediate and Higher Property Rate broken down by local authority and property class has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 61393).

29 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on hiring external meeting rooms in hotels, conference centres and other facilities in each of the last five years.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Information held in the Scottish Government finance reporting IT system shows spend on hiring external meeting rooms in hotels, conference centres and other facilities detailed below. The figures exclude any such costs that cannot be separated out from the o…

29 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government where Scotland's Centre for Regional Inclusive Growth is based; what its annual budget is, and how many full-time equivalent staff it employs.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Scotland’s Centre for Regional Inclusive Growth (SCRIG) is an online resource hub supported by Scottish Government officials and partners. Activity undertaken by officials on behalf of the centre is part of their wider responsibilities. As such, all costs ass…

29 Jan 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the cumulative percentage divergence has been between total GDP growth in the Scottish and UK economies since May 2007.

23 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to use the platform of the Tokyo Olympics 2020 to promote Scotland tourism, businesses and exports in Japan this summer.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government will continue to work with partners to ensure that we maximise opportunities around the Tokyo Olympics. I undertook a successful visit to Japan between 7 – 13 October 2019, to strengthen the growing cultural, governmental and business…

22 Jan 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in taking forward the proposals in its paper, A Fairer Scotland for Older People.

22 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it defines "inclusive growth", and what information it has regarding whether this is the same definition used by all (a) local authorities and (b) agencies involved with enterprise.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government set out its definition of Inclusive Growth, and how it relates to the activities of its Enterprise Agencies, in the answer to question S5W-15066 on 14 March 2018. This states that Inclusive Growth is growth that combines increased pros…

22 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date it established its ministerial taskforce to address population concerns; who the members of the taskforce are; how often it will meet each year, and how it will work with (a) local government and (b) other stakeholders.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Ministerial Population Task Force was established in June 2019 and meets quarterly throughout the year. The following ministers are members of the Task Force - other ministers may also attend the Task Force depending on the issues on the agenda:Cabinet Se…

22 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how long the interim chief executive of South of Scotland Enterprise will be in place, and by what date a permanent chief executive will be in position.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The interim Chief Executive will remain in post until the permanent chief executive is appointed. The recruitment process for a permanent Chief Executive is currently being finalised and we expect to begin recruitment once the new agency is up and running.  

22 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many business improvement districts there are, and how many more it plans to establish.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: There are presently 39 Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) operational in Scotland enabling local business partnerships to vote to invest collectively to deliver improvements and create platforms for local economic growth. A further 14 BIDs are currently in…

20 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-26825 by Kate Forbes on 16 January 2020, how much has been raised through the large business supplement from (a) the private sector, (b) the public sector and (c) other applicable bodies in each local authority area in each of the last five years, a…

Answer · Kate Forbes: The first two tables present estimates of the income (net of reliefs) raised by the large business supplement (LBS) for 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20, respectively for properties in the private and public sectors. (Note that all non-…

17 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has allocated to the University Innovation Fund in each of the last five years.

16 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its investment of £37.4 million in Burntisland Fabrications Ltd (BiFab) has been used by the company.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government's investment of £37.4 million in Burntisland Fabrications (BiFab) was provided to facilitate the successful conclusion of the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm contract.  

16 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what form its investment of £37.4 million in Burntisland Fabrications Ltd (BiFab) takes, and whether it expects to receive a commercial return.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government’s investment of £37.4 million in Burntisland Fabrications (BiFab) was converted to a 32.4% equity stake in the company. According to the most recent valuation obtained, our equity holding has a carrying value of £2 million, as outline…

15 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with local authorities in advance of publishing its outline business case for its proposed publicly-owned energy company.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: In August 2018 I wrote to COSLA inviting local authorities to work alongside the Scottish Government to develop, in partnership, the energy company ambition. We have worked closely with COSLA and SOLACE throughout the outline business case development. I off…

15 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will await the findings of the KPMG insolvency report into the collapse of Our Power before setting up its proposed publicly-owned energy company.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: While all legislative and regulatory powers over energy markets are reserved to UK Ministers, under the provisions of the Scotland Act 1998, we are following developments in the UK-wide energy market closely. We are continuing to develop proposals that will …

15 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much public money had been invested into Our Power in each year before its collapse, and how much it expects to receive back.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government provided loans to Our Power of £3.25m in 2015, £2.8m in 2017 and £3m in 2018. Prior to its closure, the Scottish Government received £464,000 from Our Power. The total value of the outstanding loans to Our Power at the time of its clos…

15 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much additional income tax revenue has been raised in each applicable year as a result of increasing the (a) basic rate from 20% to the intermediate rate of 21%, (b) higher rate from 40% to 41% and (c) top rate from 45% to 46%.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The income tax changes introduced in 2018-19 included the introduction of the Intermediate Rate – the Basic Rate remains unchanged at 20%. In May 2019, the independent Scottish Fiscal Commission (SFC) forecast that the introduction of the five band system wo…

14 Jan 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to figures recording that 4.1% of participants in the Fair Start Scotland scheme were still in work after 26 weeks.