Questions and answers

Question reference: S3W-25746

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 13 July 2009
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 5 August 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations ministers have received from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) about the impact that reductions in the HIE budget would have on the ability to support economic development in the Highlands and Islands.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise''s budget was reduced to reflect the refocusing of the organisation as part of this government''s reform of the enterprise networks.

While Highlands and Islands Enterprise has had regular dialogue with Scottish Government officials and ministers in the context of Highlands and Islands Enterprise''s operating plan, there have been no specific representations by Highlands and Islands Enterprise to ministers about the impact of reductions in the Highlands and Islands Enterprise budget.

Question reference: S3W-25736

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 13 July 2009
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 5 August 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding was allocated in the Highlands and Islands in each of the last five years to (a) supporting small businesses, (b) the third sector, (c) tourism, (d) innovation and (e) renewable energy and how these figures compare proportionally with the spend across the rest of Scotland.

The funding for business support, including support for small businesses, across Scotland is an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise. Budget allocations to the two agencies are not disaggregated on a small business basis and the requested data is not centrally held or collated.

Local authorities, VisitScotland and Highlands and Islands Enterprise also assist small businesses and I would suggest the member contact the relevant organisations to obtain this data.

Similarly, funding allocations in relation to the third sector, tourism, innovation and renewable energy in the specified area and time frame is not held or collected centrally.

However, an indicative analysis of renewable energy budget spend in 2008-09 shows estimated proportional spending in the Highlands and Islands as follows:

Total spending in the Highlands and Islands - £7,756,140.00.

Total spending in Scotland - £10,656,675.00.

Percentage spend in the Highlands and Islands - 72.78 per cent.

Question reference: S3W-25739

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 13 July 2009
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 5 August 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive how many considers it believes fall into the category of significant and high growth businesses, as referred to in Highlands and Islands Enterprise’s operating plan.

Question reference: S3W-25740

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 13 July 2009
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 5 August 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of businesses in (a) the Highlands and Islands and (b) Scotland falls into the category of significant and high growth businesses, as referred to in Highlands and Islands Enterprise’s operating plan.

As at March 2008, there were 282,300 enterprises in Scotland of which 154,635 were registered for VAT or PAYE. Given the size and dynamic nature of the business base and the data requirements for monitoring these businesses, neither the Scottish Government nor Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) estimate the total number of significant and growth companies within the HIE area or in Scotland as a whole, or the proportion that such figures might represent of the total business base.

However, I am able to confirm from information provided by these bodies that, at the present time, HIE account manages around 330 businesses and social enterprises and that, in the rest of Scotland, Scottish Enterprise (SE) account manages around 2,130 businesses. These figures are, however, dynamic and only reflect those businesses and social enterprises which, at this particular time, HIE and SE have identified as significant, growth or high growth entities; where HIE or SE intervention is needed and can make a difference and where productive relationships have been established. In HIE''s case, it aims to build a total of around 500 account managed businesses and social enterprises towards which it can target intervention and maximise its impact.

Question reference: S3W-25734

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 13 July 2009
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 5 August 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the budget allocated to Highlands and Islands Enterprise in each year from 2002-03 was spent in full and, if not, by how much it was underspent in each year.

The budget allocated to Highlands and Islands Enterprise has been utilised as follows for each year from 2002-03 to 2008-09:

2002-03: under spent by £0.9 million,

2003-04: under spent by £2.27 million,

2004-05: under spent by £5.6 million,

2005-06: under spent by £0.05 million,

2006-07: under spent by £0.4 million,

2007-08: under spent by £0.01 million.

Audited accounts for 2008-09 are not yet available.

Question reference: S3W-25745

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 13 July 2009
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 5 August 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact on the Highlands and Islands economy of the reduction in the budget for Highlands and Islands Enterprise over the course of the current spending review.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise''s budget was reduced to reflect the refocusing of the organisation as part of this government''s reform of the enterprise networks.

Rather than having a negative impact on the economy, the reforms will enable it to maximise its contribution to economic recovery and growth by focusing more clearly on those activities likely to have the greatest economic impact on economic recovery and increased sustainable economic growth.

Question reference: S3W-25741

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 13 July 2009
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 5 August 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses or organisations have applied to Highlands and Islands Enterprise for assistance since its refocus of priorities and how many of these were successful.

Question reference: S3W-25738

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 13 July 2009
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 5 August 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what formal criteria are set for significant and high growth businesses, as referred to in Highlands and Islands Enterprise’s operating plan.

Question reference: S3W-25748

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 13 July 2009
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 5 August 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive how the reduction in Highlands and Islands Enterprise’s budget over the spending review will impact on the creation of replacement high quality jobs as Dounreay continues to decommission.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise''s budget was reduced to reflect the refocusing of the organisation as part of this government''s reform of the enterprise networks.

Rather than having a negative impact on the economy, the reforms will enable it to maximise its contribution to economic recovery and growth by focusing more clearly on those activities likely to have the greatest economic impact on economic recovery and increased sustainable economic growth.

The Caithness and North Sutherland action plan, in which Highlands and Islands Enterprise is an active partner, is one such transformational project which focuses on the future of the area, post decommissioning.

Question reference: S3W-25742

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 13 July 2009
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 5 August 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses that previously received support from Highlands and Islands Enterprise have had their applications for future support rejected.

Chamber and committees