Bill Bowman

4 Apr 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-15289 by Derek Mackay on 21 March 2018, in light of the Barclay Review stating that it expects revaluations in Scotland and England to be aligned until at least 2025, for what reasons it plans not to pursue such a policy, and what plans it has to in…

Answer · Derek Mackay: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-15802 on 17 April 2018. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/…

4 Apr 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-15289 by Derek Mackay on 21 March 2018, in light of the cabinet secretary confirming that ministers have accepted the Barclay Review’s recommendation regarding increasing the frequency of revaluations to once every three years, whether it will imple…

Answer · Derek Mackay: Paragraph 4.15 of the Barclay review report is clear that, in order for the wide ranging reforms to improve administration of the rating and valuation appeals system to be delivered, 2022 is the earliest possible date that the next revaluation can take place …

2 Apr 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on increasing the proportion of revenue raised through the Business Rates Incentivisation Scheme that is retained by local authorities.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Business Rates Incentivisation Scheme(BRIS) reward for local authorities has been set at 50 per cent and recognises that the Scottish Government continues to carry the full risk of a reduction in Non-Domestic Rates income by ensuring each council receives…

27 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, how many people receive dental check-ups at frequency periods of eight months or less, broken down by NHS board; how this compares with each of the last five years, and what assessment it has made of how the updated Oral Health Improvement Plan might impact on this.

Answer · Shona Robison: The following table shows the number of patients by NHS Board for the last five years who received two NHS dental check-ups within eight months. Number of patients examined twice within 8 months; by NHS Board of practice and year of examination(s)      Year…

27 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many treatments will be offered by dentists under the updated Oral Health Improvement Plan; how this compares with the previous plan, and what assessment it has made of how this might impact on levels of (a) tooth decay and (b) gum disease in each NHS board area.

Answer · Shona Robison: Under the Oral Health Improvement Plan patients will be offered the treatment they need to secure and maintain oral health. The Plan describes a process of reducing the number of different treatment types from more than 400 to around 100 items. This does not…

27 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, how many people receive regular dental check-ups, broken down by NHS board; how this compares with each of the last five years, and what assessment it has made of how the updated Oral Health Improvement Plan might impact on this.

Answer · Shona Robison: The following table shows the number of patients by NHS Board for the last five years who received at least one NHS dental check-up each year. Number of patients; by NHS Board of practice, year of examination(s) and number of check ups within the year (1 or …

23 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how being assigned VAT revenues raised in Scotland from 2019-20 will influence its economic policy making; what steps it is taking to ensure that it will maximise these revenues, and how much it expects to collect, broken down by sector.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Growing Scotland’s economy continues to be a key priority, with investment to boost and support Scottish businesses set out in the budget. The VAT Assignment Working Group expects to agree a Scottish VAT outturn assignment methodology this year. Forecasts of…

22 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the First Minister will meet China Ocean Engineering Shanghai Co (COES) on her visit to China, and whether she will promote Dundee as an attractive city and deep water port for foreign investment.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government will submit a report to Parliament following the visit which will contain details of engagements undertaken by the First Minister.

22 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many claims for repayment of the Additional Dwelling Supplement have been fully processed within (a) 10 and (b) 11 to 21 days, and how many have taken longer.

Answer · Derek Mackay: This is an operational matter for Revenue Scotland and I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to respond directly to the member.

22 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many claims have been received for repayment of the Additional Dwelling Supplement in each month since it was introduced, and what (a) the average time taken is to make repayment in each month, (b) proportion of repayments take longer than the average and (c) the maximum time taken e…

Answer · Derek Mackay: This is an operational matter for Revenue Scotland and I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to respond directly to the member .

21 Mar 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it can use the tax system to more effectively encourage local authorities to attract economic investment and grow their tax bases.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Given the direct link between economic performance and the funding available for public services, all parts of the public sector must use all the powers available to them, not simply the tax system, to promote inclusive economic growth. We have used the tax …

14 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to bring forward an increase in the frequency of non-domestic rates revaluations by 2021.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The external Barclay review recommended that the next rates revaluation should take place in 2022 and thereafter revaluations should take place every three years. The Scottish Government has accepted those recommendations and the next rates revaluation in Sc…

28 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S5W-14315 and S5W-14337 by Derek Mackay on 20 and 27 February 2018 respectively, in light of the first response stating that its income tax policy "will have no impact on the economy" and the latter stating that the policy would "not...have a signific…

Answer · Derek Mackay: As paragraph 2.152 of the Scottish Fiscal Commission’s report has stated, the Scottish Government’s policies “are not of a large enough magnitude to have a significant aggregate impact on the Scottish economy”. Next year, 70% of Scottish taxpayers will pay le…

28 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14651 by Derek Mackay on 27 February 2018, what analysis was conducted to determine the current level of its council tax cap as being optimum to balance protecting household incomes with raising additional revenue.

Answer · Derek Mackay: In line with our manifesto commitment we have set a 3% cap on locally determined increases in the council tax. This provides councils with the flexibility to raise up to an additional £77 million of revenue this year, while ensuring band D properties have a m…

24 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on NHS Tayside’s financial strategy, and when it expects the board to return to a sustainable financial position.

Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Tayside is continuing the implementation of its five year Transformation Plan, as set out in the second progress report from the Assurance and Advisory Group chaired by Professor Sir Lewis Ritchie, which was published on 23 February 2018. That report high…

24 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what conditions it would set on the provision of any extra funds for NHS Tayside to cover financial shortfalls in the board's budget.

Answer · Shona Robison: In agreeing the provision of any additional support for an NHS Board, the Scottish Government’s focus is on maintaining patient safety, service quality, and financial sustainability.

24 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what additional funds it anticipates it may need to make available to NHS Tayside in 2018-19 to cover any financial shortfalls in the board’s budget.

Answer · Shona Robison: As reported to Parliament on 7 March, and in response to information which has recently come to light regarding the recording of eHealth funds within its accounts, NHS Tayside is currently carrying out a formal internal review of its financial plans and proje…

23 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-13821 by Derek Mackay on 25 January 2018, whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding what proportion of the money raised by the proposed new income tax bands it plans to allocate to (a) the introduction of new public servic…

Answer · Derek Mackay: Scottish income tax policy does not include any element of hypothecation. The income tax rates and bands will raise an additional £219 million overall in 2018-19 to support public services, tackle poverty and support Scotland’s economy. The Scottish Governmen…

23 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-13902 by Paul Wheelhouse on 24 January 2018, what aspects of tax and regulatory policy will be covered in the road map in its retail strategy.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-14875 on 13 March 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness…

23 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-13902 by Paul Wheelhouse on 24 January 2018, when it expects to publish its retail strategy.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: We are working closely with the Scottish Retail Consortium to determine the exact details of the range of issues that will be covered in the joint retail strategy, with an ambition to publish the strategy in the summer of 2018.

15 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14009 by Derek Mackay on 6 February 2018, whether it will provide an update on the meeting with HMRC, and whether any specific arrangements were agreed to ensure that taxpayers and pension providers in Scotland are not disadvantaged in respect of pe…

Answer · Derek Mackay: HMRC published the arrangements that have been agreed in relation to pensions relief for Scottish taxpayers on 21 February 2018. These ensure that Scottish taxpayers will not be unfairly disadvantaged and provide certainty for pension providers. The details a…

14 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it took of the impact on household incomes when setting the cap on council tax increases at 3%.

Answer · Derek Mackay: As I set out in in my reply to S5W-14067 on 6 February 2018, the Scottish Government has capped locally determined increases to council tax in order to protect household incomes whilst providing local authorities the discretion to raise additional funding to …

12 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To what the Scottish Government how much of each city council's funding in 2018-19 will be raised from non-domestic rates, and what effect the Budget will have on this.

Answer · Derek Mackay:  The Scottish Fiscal Commission have forecast 2018-19  ? Non-Domestic Rate Income to be collected at a national level will amount to ? £2,812 million. Details of the actual income collected for 2018-19 at a local authority level, including the city councils,…

9 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-13938 by Derek Mackay on 30 January 2018, how long after the passing of the Scottish Rates Resolution the cost analysis for implementing and operating the new income tax system will be published.

Answer · Derek Mackay: HMRC is responsible for producing this analysis and providing a cost estimate. The Scottish Government will share the details with Parliament when it is in a position to do so.

9 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to attract technology and service companies to Dundee that will provide employment and training in automation.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Scottish Enterprise is working with foreign investors in the technology industry to bring their projects to Scotland. Over 2016-17 this support has resulted in the creation and protection of over 200 technology jobs in Dundee. Last year, we launched the £10 …

9 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what effect the Budget will have on the amount of funding Dundee City Council will raise from non-domestic rates.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Budget Bill passed by the Scottish Parliament on 21 February 2018 used the devolved powers of the Parliament to promote a strong, dynamic and inclusive economy including the most attractive system of non-domestic rates in the UK. The amount of non-domest…

9 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures to support businesses featured in ministers' recent Budget discussions with the Scottish Green Party.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Constitution met all opposition parties in the Scottish Parliament to seek consensus for the proposals set out in the Budget Bill. Those discussions covered a wide range of tax and spending proposals across a range of po…

9 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14012 by Shona Robison on 6 February 2018, whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding the cost of the NHS Anywhere service.

Answer · Shona Robison: As per the answer to question S5W-14012, the total cost of the Attend Anywhere service is £362,000.

9 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14012 by Shona Robison on 6 February 2018, how many (a) (i) consultations and (ii) meetings the service has had each month, and how this compares with its capacity and (b) virtual meeting rooms the service has had each month, and how many were inact…

Answer · Shona Robison: Data on Attend Anywhere is collected on a quarterly basis. The following table shows the growth generated over the first year of its availability across a number of different local services, covering both health and social care organisations:    JAN-MAR AP…

9 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14010 by Shona Robison on 30 January 2018, how much it has cost to (a) develop and (b) maintain the NHS (i) Self-help Guide mobile app and (ii) Know Who to Turn To service.

Answer · Shona Robison: The total development costs for the NHS Self-help Guide was £36,408 - there is no annual running costs associated with this app. The total development costs for the national KWTTT product was £10,000 - the ongoing costs for this are just under £4,000 per ann…