Chamber and committees

The Executive’s report Comparative Study of Business Tax Revenue estimated that the revenue raised from business transport taxes in Scotland was equal to 1.1% of GDP in 2000 compared to 1.4% for the UK as a whole. These figures follow the definition of business transport taxes used by the Confederation of British Industry and includes vehicle excise duty and fuel excise duty paid by businesses.

Vehicle duty and excise fuel duty rates are set at the UK level and these rates do not vary across the regions of the UK. Therefore, differences in total business transport tax revenues, relative to GDP, will in part reflect differences in usage patterns in terms of vehicles and fuel consumption across UK regions not differences in rates.

Our public consultation Rights of Appeal in Planning ends on 30 July 2004.We intend to make all non-confidential responses available to the public.

A copy of all the responses to the consultation (except those where the individual or organisation has requested confidentiality) will be placed in the Scottish Executive library in Saughton House, Edinburgh, by 27 August 2004. They can be viewed by visiting the library. Copies can also be provided by post.

We also intend to post a digest of responses received to the consultation, along with an analysis of those responses, on the consultation pages of the Executive’s internet website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Consultations/ after the analysis has been completed.

I hope to make an announcement shortly.

The Home Office decision refers only to financial support for the National Neighbourhood Watch Association an independent organisation which operates in England and Wales and which has no equivalent in Scotland. The Home Office will continue to provide support and advice for local schemes under the neighbourhood watch movement. Local neighbourhood watch schemes in Scotland are set up and supported by the police and the Executive provides support by way of free publicity materials. The question of the use of the Neighbourhood Watch logos by local schemes is currently being pursued by the Home Office with a view to taking action to assert Crown copyright to protect the name and standing of the neighbourhood watch movement.

I refer the member to my answer to the answer given to question S2W-9087 on 28 June 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

I refer the member to my answer to the answer given to question S2W-9087 on 28 June 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

The Scottish Executive seeks to pay every invoice promptly. I amtherefore today setting a target that by December 2004, over 98% of undisputed invoiceswill be paid consistently within 30 days of receipt or within the terms of specificcontracts. This level of performance is comparable with that achieved by other largeorganisations.

I recently announced our intention to ensure that, by the end of 2005, every community in Scotland has access to broadband services. We are currently developing plans to deliver this.

“Short term” is defined as one to three years in paragraph 3.1 of the summary of the recommendations contained in the A9 Dunblane to Perth Junction Strategy Study, which was placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre on 26 May 2004 (Bib. number 32605). However, as with similar trunk road improvements, any proposals would be subject to the availability of funding and other competing priorities on the network.

The findings of the A9 Dunblane to Perth Junction Strategy Study will generally be implemented through a series of works packages procured by BEAR Scotland Ltd. However, as with similar trunk road improvements, all proposals will be subject to the availability of funding and other competing priorities on the network.