- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Morrison on 1 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive with regard to the Education and Training (Scotland) Regulations 2000, why classes teaching Gaelic are not included in the categories of education and training which qualify for 80% support, given that an aim of such Gaelic lessons is to enhance communication, an identified criterion.
Answer
Under the definition of learning that is eligible for Individual Learning Account incentives, people will be able to receive grants of up to £150 for courses to learn Gaelic if they are in the first 100,000 applicants in Scotland. In most cases these grants should cover the full course costs. Later applicants will only be able to claim discounts of 20% as the higher 80% discounts are aimed specifically at people who have literacy difficulties, numeracy problems or who wish to develop basic computing skills.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 30 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how many farmers and crofters have become bankrupt over the last 12 months and whether it will provide an estimate of the numbers who will become bankrupt over each of the next two 12 month periods.
Answer
I refer to the answer I gave to question S1W-11027 on 22 November 2000. Each year the number of sequestrations among Scottish farmers is very small. Most farmers leaving the industry, as a result of financial pressure, do so in an orderly way by selling up and realising their assets. I expect this still to be the case over the next two years.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 30 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what conclusions were reached by the Small Business Consultative Group in relation to the small business rates relief scheme advocated by the Forum for Private Business.
Answer
The Small Business Consultative Group discussed the issue on 4 September. No formal conclusions were reached but the views expressed at the meeting will be taken fully into account in reaching decisions on this matter.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 30 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how it arrived at the figure of #24 million to be made available over the next three years for funding of a relief scheme for water and sewerage charges for those on low incomes.
Answer
The proposed scheme will cap water and sewerage charges for those on Council Tax benefit. The cap for each year will be set once water and sewerage charges for the year have been announced. The estimated cost of £24 million over three years reflects assumptions about level of the cap and the number of households likely to be eligible for the scheme. It also includes an element to cover the cost to the local authorities of administering the scheme.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 30 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated annual cost is of the proposed national telephone debt line referred to in paragraph 4.11 of Affordability of Water and Sewerage Charges.
Answer
The national telephone debtline is being developed by a partnership that includes the money advice sector, the Scottish Executive, Departments of the UK Government and the private sector. Plans for three pilots are being drawn up; one will be in Scotland, with the Executive's contribution to the £2 million costs expected to be £50,000.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 30 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated (a) initial costs and (b) annual costs will be to local authorities of administering any relief scheme for water and sewerage charges to those on low incomes and from what source local authorities will meet such costs.
Answer
The initial and subsequent costs to the local authorities of administering the scheme to cap water and sewerage charges for those on Council Tax Benefit will be established in discussions between the Executive and the local authorities. The Executive has undertaken to reimburse the authorities for these costs.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 30 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Water Industry Commissioner recommended to it that there should be a relief scheme for water and sewerage charges for those on low incomes.
Answer
Prior to the current public consultation on the affordability of water and sewerage charges, the Executive invited views on the subject from various experts, including the Water Industry Commissioner. Ministers drew on these views in framing their proposals for a scheme to cap water and sewerage charges for those on Council Tax Benefit.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 29 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered whether a small business rates relief scheme could be administered by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise or the costs met from their budgets; if so, when this possibility was first considered; whether this possibility has been discussed by (a) its Cabinet and (b) the Small Businesses Consultative Group and what conclusions were reached as a result of any such discussions.
Answer
The best means of administering a small business rates relief scheme is being considered carefully as part of our assessment. I am keen to ensure that administration costs can be minimised as far as possible.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 29 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to (a) review and (b) reform the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, in particular, section 28.
Answer
I am currently considering what improvements could be made to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and will make an announcement in due course.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 13 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 27 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce measures under the Family Law (Scotland) Act 1985 as amended with regard to the provision for pension scheme benefits in divorce case settlements and, if so, on what date such measures will be introduced.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-6241 on 19 April 2000.
