Chamber and committees

This PQ was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0122-01.htm

It is very regrettable when any household has to live in overcrowded conditions. 4.2% of social tenants live in overcrowded conditions and the legislation provides that they must be given reasonable preference for re-housing. Through their housing need and demand assessments local authorities should identify where there is a shortage of family accommodation, which should then be addressed in their Local Housing Strategies and Strategic Housing Investment Plans. In addition, we are providing £1.5 billion during the current spending review period to increase the supply of affordable housing.

This PQ was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0108-01.htm

There is no flexibility. Council tax bands are as set out in the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

This is a matter within the operational responsibility of the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The fund has advised that the new arrangements will lead to a number of potential benefits for applicants applying to HLF for small community heritage grants. Under the new arrangements, HLF will be able to offer advice and help to applicants before they apply, there will be shorter and simpler forms and online applications to complete, and increased opportunities for mentors to help the delivery of projects. There will also be a rolling timetable with no deadlines and quicker decisions on applications.

This is a matter within the operational responsibility of the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The fund has advised that it remains committed to providing efficient and simple ways of funding small community projects throughout the UK. From April 2009 HLF will use its revised Young Roots and Your Heritage grant schemes to fund small community heritage grants up to the value of £19 million each year, rather than use the joint lottery distributors'' Awards for All scheme.

We will continue to support the National Trust for Scotland through Historic Scotland''s Historic Environment Grants Programme by providing funding to undertake quinquennial surveys of the trust''s main properties and to run a maintenance programme. In 2008-09, this funding will amount to £385,000. The trust are also entitled to apply for funding through the Historic Environment Grants Programme Building Repair Grants Scheme.

The Scottish Government is committed to the music industry which makes an important contribution to Scottish life and our economy and provides a wide range of support to the music industry throughout Scotland.

Its publicly funded agencies such as the Scottish Arts Council, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland and the Scottish Funding Council provide funding and assistance to the industry. This includes supporting:

The Scottish Music Industry Association;

Showcasing and trade events such as Showcase Scotland, held during Celtic Connections, the World Music Expo, Tune Up and events in North America;

Working in partnership with the industry, for example in HI Arts and GoEVENTS, and supporting networking for example, Kerchoonz;

Creative, professional and business development with funding and advice, and

Skills and training, including for young people entering the industry, for example with the youth music initiative.

Homecoming will also present a lot of opportunities for our music industry, including a major celebration of Scottish music, from traditional to cutting edge, on St Andrew''s Day 2009.

The Scottish Government supports the music industry through its publicly funded agencies, including Scottish Arts Council, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland and the Scottish Funding Council.

Plans for the Indian subcontinent, as part of the International Development Policy, have been discussed with the Consul Generals of Pakistan and India and the International Development Advisory Group. Further discussions will take place with relevant stakeholders and community groups, beginning with the Network of International Development Organisations in Scotland (NIDOS).