- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 January 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 20 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review its decision to abandon the common poundage across the UK in respect of non-domestic rates as from 1 April 2000.
Answer
I announced on 8 December 1999 a provisional Scottish Unified Business Rate of 45.8p for 2000-01. I published the calculations underlying that rate on 17 January. I will announce a final decision in February.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 December 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 18 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will conduct a study into the economic and social impact which Her Majesty's Government's proposals regarding the payment of benefits will have on rural sub post offices and consequently on rural areas generally.
Answer
The UK Government has indicated its commitment to maintaining a network of post offices which can meet its customer requirements throughout the country. The Scottish Executive will continue to ensure that the UK Government is aware of the particular needs of communities in Scotland.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 December 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 18 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive when the First Minister last visited and will next visit the Highlands and Islands; whether he will meet Highland Council; whether he has received written representations from the Council as to the measures and steps which the council wishes to take to tackle the loss of jobs in the Highlands, and what response he will make.
Answer
The First Minister last visited the Highlands and Islands on 17 September, when he attended an engagement on Iona. His next scheduled official visit to the Highlands and Islands will take place in March when he is due to visit Orkney.The Highland Council has made representations to Scottish Executive Ministers on a number of issues related to employment matters in the Highlands and Islands in the wake of the Barmac redundancies. Our response has indicated the desire of the Executive and its agencies to work closely with the Council, including through the Oil Industry Response Team, in framing measures which respond effectively to the job losses. Ministers last met the Convener of the Council on Thursday 9 December during their joint visit to the Barmac facility at Ardersier, and will consider sympathetically any further request by the Council for a meeting.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 December 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 18 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive when the First Minister last visited Barmac fabrication yards at Nigg and Ardersier.
Answer
The fabrication yards at Nigg and Ardersier were visited by Alasdair Morrison and myself, along with Brian Wilson of The Scotland Office, on Thursday 9 December, in recognition of the concern of the whole Executive about the difficulties currently facing the fabrication sector, and which are being faced by Barmac in particular. The First Minister takes a close interest in issues affecting the sector and, while he has yet to visit the Barmac yards, I have briefed him fully on developments there.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 September 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 17 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider extending the protection of security of tenure to the Carbeth Hutters and whether it will include in its proposed Land Reform Bill provisions which would prevent further eviction of the Hutters at Carbeth.
Answer
The Land Reform Action Plan published in August 1999 explained that decisions on the need for legislation to give greater protection for those who own property built on leased land would be taken in the light of further research. That research has been completed and is currently being evaluated.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 November 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 17 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the burden of business rates falls disproportionately on smaller businesses in Scotland and, if so, what measures it is considering to tackle this issue.
Answer
The issue of rate relief for small businesses was covered in my Statement to Parliament on 8 December.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 November 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 17 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will obtain from the assessors and local authorities information that may be necessary in order to produce a scheme to provide relief from the burden of business rates for small businesses for the period 2000-05.
Answer
Yes. The issue of rate relief for small businesses was covered in my statement to Parliament on 8 December.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 November 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 17 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will issue a consultation paper on the provision of a scheme for rates relief for small businesses in relation to the rates revaluation to take effect on 1 April 2000, and whether it will include in such a paper the text of the schemes submitted by the Federation of Small Businesses and Forum of Private Business.
Answer
I made a Statement about this in Parliament on 8 December. I announced a rates discount scheme for small businesses in 2000-01 and that consultation on a transitional relief scheme will follow in January. I intend to examine the case for a rate relief scheme for small businesses over the next 12 months, continuing the useful dialogue already established with representative business organisations, such as the Federation of Small Businesses and the Forum of Private Business. Henry McLeish and other appropriate Ministers will look at support for small businesses and we expect the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning and Local Government Committees to contribute to this review.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 November 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 17 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what is the current recorded death rate of haemophiliacs from hepatitis C and up to what date was that number last reviewed.
Answer
I refer to the answer given to question S1W-2377.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 November 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 17 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what the rate of hepatitis was in whole blood recipients at the time haemophilia treatment with blood products factors VIII and IX was introduced.
Answer
This information is not held centrally. I have noted the question however and the points also raised in S1W-2379 and S1W-2380, and these will be taken into account in the Department's enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the safety of blood products from Hepatitis C. I will keep you informed of the outcome of my enquiries as soon as they are completed.
