Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-3675. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

The Scottish Executive does not hold records of ministerial visits within the United Kingdom.A record of ministerial visits outwith the United Kingdom is published annually;details for the financial year 2002-03 were set out in the answer given toquestion S2W-2904 on 25 September 2003.

All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility forwhich can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

It is amatter of great concern that economic growth in Scotland has consistently lagged the overall UK average over a number of years. This is why the Executive is committed to growing the economy by creating the conditions thatwill enable our sustainable growth to be maximised. Our medium- and long-termstrategy for economic development, A Framework for Economic Development inScotland, sets out the overarching framework and it is in this context thatthe Executive has allocated £538 million this year to the enterprise networksto progress the Smart Successful Scotland Enterprise Strategy. That is also whytransport spending is projected to rise to £1.6 billion in 2005-06 and why weare rolling out a whole host of initiatives, such as our enterprise in educationprogramme, that will contribute to improving our productivity, and thereby ourgrowth, both now and in the medium and longer term.

Information from the auditof autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) services from local authorities and NHS boardsis currently being analysed for presentation to the ASD Reference Group at itsnext meeting on 3 November. The information will be published on the Scottish Executive website thereafter.

Aggregatestax is a reserved matter and falls under the responsibility of HM Treasury. Iam content that planning and environmental controls are adequate for quarrying.These include a range of enforcement powers available to planning authoritiesif extractions are taking place without the benefit of planning permission. Ifmaterials are being sold commercially without payment of the aggregates tax,then this is a matter for HM Customs and Excise.

Applications to planning authorities are generally accompanied by a fee. The intention is that this feeshould recover the full costs incurred in handling the application fromregistration to determination. Planning fees are reviewed annually with theintention that full recovery of overall outlay is achieved for Scotland asa whole. No information is gathered on whether authorities make profits orlosses for specific cases, or types of cases. The Executive has made noassessment of the costs involved in considering proposals under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 either to the Executive itself or to planningauthorities.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-3098 on 29 October 2003. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-3098 on 29 october 2003.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.

Guidance is given in National Planning PolicyGuideline 6: Renewable Energy Technologies (NPPG 6). This was revised inNovember 2000. National Planning Policy Guideline 6: Renewable EnergyTechnologies balances ourobligation to tackle climate change with the need to safeguard Scottishcommunities and the environment. In particular, it confirms that “developmentsshould not be permitted where they would have a significant long termdetrimental impact on the amenity of people living nearby, and where the impactcannot be mitigated satisfactorily”. As with all planning applications, legitimate publicconcern is a material planning consideration. It is for the decision maker todecide what weight should be given to each material consideration.Like all national planning policies, NPPG 6 is kept under review.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-3098 on 29 October 2003. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.