Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 3409 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S3W-23850

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 11 May 2009
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 20 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have been held and with whom regarding a potential increase in the rateable value of wind farms.

Question reference: S3W-23852

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 11 May 2009
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 20 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact of an increase in the rateable value of wind farms on the number of wind farms established.

Question reference: S3W-23849

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 11 May 2009
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 20 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it is giving to an increase in the rateable value of wind farms and what the timetable is for taking a decision.

Rateable values of all non-domestic property in Scotland, including wind farms, are determined by the Scottish Assessors who, in carrying out that function, act independently of the Scottish Government. Statute requires that all rateable values must be reviewed every five years. The Assessors are currently revaluing all non-domestic property in preparation for the next revaluation which comes into effect on 1 April 2010 and will take into account a number of different factors in determining the valuation of non-domestic properties. Scottish ministers have no locus to intervene in this process.

Question reference: S3W-23851

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 11 May 2009
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 20 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what average cost increase there would be over the life of a wind farm if the rateable value were increased from £5,000 to (a) £10,000, (b) £15,000 and (c) £20,000 per megawatt.

Question reference: S3W-23853

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 11 May 2009
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 20 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has carried out of the impact on proposals currently under consideration of an increase in the rateable value of wind farms to (a) £10,000, (b) £15,000 and (c) £20,000 per megawatt.

Question reference: S3W-23021

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Current Status: Answered by Adam Ingram on 13 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Executivewhen it will publish the responses to Strengthening for the Future: A Consultation on the Reform of the Children’s Hearings System.

Question reference: S3W-23026

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 April 2009
Current Status: Answered by Adam Ingram on 13 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Executivewhat support it has received in (a) Orkney, (b) Shetland and (c) the Western Isles for the creation of a national body to administer the children’s hearings system.

Responses to Strengthening for the Future, the consultation on the reform of the children''s hearings system, were received from Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles and have been published along with the other responses on the Scottish Government website:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/04/29131808/0.

We have carefully listened to all the responses and taken the time to adapt our policy to more closely address the concerns and issues raised. As a result we are bringing forward proposals for two, not one, national bodies:

A new body, the Scottish Children''s Hearings Tribunal, will be responsible for all functions associated with the Children''s Panel, including recruitment, selection and training of panel members.

The Scottish Children''s Reporter Administration will continue to deliver the Children''s Reporters service.

Question reference: S3W-23023

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 April 2009
Current Status: Answered by Adam Ingram on 13 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Executivewhen it will publish a draft Bill to reform the children’s hearing system.

Question reference: S3W-23024

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 April 2009
Current Status: Answered by Adam Ingram on 13 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Executivewhat representations it has received in favour of maintaining the distinctive identity of the children’s hearings system in the Orkney, Shetland and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar local authority areas.

Responses to Strengthening for the Future: A consultation on the reform of the Children''s Hearings System were received from the following individuals and organisations in the Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles local authority areas:

Alasdair Allan MSP;

North Area Children''s Panel;

Orkney Children''s Panel Advisory Committee;

Orkney Children''s Panel;

Orkney Islands Council;

Shetland Children''s Panel;

Shetland Children''s Panel Advisory Committee;

Shetland Island Council;

Shetland Safeguarders'' Group;

Western Isles Children''s Panel;

Western Isles Children''s Panel Advisory Committee, and

Western Isles Panel of Safeguarders.

A majority of the responses raised the importance of the local dimension in the children''s hearings system.

The responses are available on the Scottish Government website:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/04/29131808/0.

Question reference: S3W-23025

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 April 2009
Current Status: Answered by Adam Ingram on 13 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Executivewhether it will commit to maintaining the distinctive identity of the children’s hearings system in the Orkney, Shetland and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar local authority areas.