- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 28 April 2014
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 13 May 2014
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of common agricultural policy funding distributed by each Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate area office in the Highlands and Islands in each of the last five years.
Answer
The quinquennial breakdown of common agricultural policy funding by each Rural Payment and Inspections Directorate area office is in the following tables that should be read in conjunction with the following explanatory comments.
‘Highlands and Islands’ has been taken to mean all the parishes within the geographical boundary of the Highlands and Island constituency of The Scottish Parliament.
“…the last five years…” has been taken to mean the most recent five years for which data is available, which for expenditure funded by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund ends in 2013 and for the European Fund for Agricultural Rural Development ends in 2014.
The level of common agricultural funding varies according to the source of funding. Direct payments are fully funded (100%) from the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund, whereas rural development funding from European Fund for Agricultural Rural Development involves a co-financing arrangement between the European Commission and The Scottish Government.
| | Expenditure | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
| Ayr | Guarantee/EAGF Expenditure | £2,063,169.21 | £1,802,368.31 | £1,855,164.60 |
| | Guidance/rural Development Expenditure | £222,607.24 | £388,042.11 | £430,569.73 |
| | Domestic | £502,255.74 | £388,044.12 | £430,570.74 |
| | TOTALS | £2,788,032.19 | £2,578,454.54 | £2,716,305.07 |
| Benbecula | Guarantee/EAGF Expenditure | £1,639,896.29 | £1,515,214.08 | £1,527,477.94 |
| | Guidance/rural Development Expenditure | £455,221.31 | £1,022,232.68 | £1,059,266.36 |
| | Domestic | £1,158,722.95 | £1,022,237.49 | £1,059,270.26 |
| | TOTALS | £3,253,840.55 | £3,559,684.25 | £3,646,014.56 |
| Elgin | Guarantee/EAGF Expenditure | £18,063,327.39 | £17,204,533.09 | £17,311,371.24 |
| | Guidance/rural Development Expenditure | £1,103,243.45 | £2,645,876.56 | £3,538,701.20 |
| | Domestic | £2,490,612.38 | £2,645,879.56 | £3,525,669.20 |
| | TOTALS | £21,657,183.22 | £22,496,289.21 | £24,375,741.64 |
| Golspie | Guarantee/AGF Expenditure | £3,967,209.79 | £3,702,052.99 | £3,779,045.82 |
| | Guidance/rural Development Expenditure | £767,597.75 | £1,932,651.34 | £2,687,240.30 |
| | Domestic | £1,536,572.25 | £1,932,655.44 | £2,687,262.75 |
| | TOTALS | £6,271,379.79 | £7,567,359.77 | £9,153,548.87 |
| Inverness | Guarantee/EAGF Expenditure | £25,060,626.24 | £23,276,655.42 | £23,495,703.51 |
| | Guidance/rural Development Expenditure | £2,291,896.85 | £6,152,501.25 | £8,609,461.02 |
| | Domestic | £5,356,337.58 | £6,152,505.15 | £8,599,502.39 |
| | TOTALS | £32,708,860.67 | £35,581,661.82 | £40,704,666.92 |
| | Expenditure | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 |
| Ayr | Guarantee/EAGF Expenditure | £1,721,387.22 | £1,732,368.63 | £0.00 |
| | Guidance/rural Development Expenditure | £478,761.82 | £502,073.84 | £391,420.00 |
| | Domestic | £199,659.20 | £613,347.78 | £269,471.71 |
| | TOTALS | £2,399,808.24 | £2,847,790.25 | £660,891.71 |
| Benbecula | Guarantee/EAGF Expenditure | £1,420,383.51 | £1,469,167.64 | £0.00 |
| | Guidance/rural Development Expenditure | £1,388,205.34 | £1,156,853.41 | £1,310,413.17 |
| | Domestic | £590,014.03 | £1,170,505.27 | £758,250.87 |
| | TOTALS | £3,398,602.88 | £3,796,526.32 | £2,068,664.04 |
| Elgin | Guarantee/EAGF Expenditure | £15,690,614.10 | £15,913,391.21 | £0.00 |
| | Guidance/rural Development Expenditure | £4,145,248.69 | £2,794,445.02 | £2,566,943.22 |
| | Domestic | £1,807,926.71 | £3,137,246.76 | £1,592,933.23 |
| | TOTALS | £21,643,789.50 | £21,845,082.99 | £4,159,876.45 |
| Golspie | Guarantee/EAGF Expenditure | £3,524,511.25 | £3,644,130.10 | £0.00 |
| | Guidance/rural Development Expenditure | £3,684,964.20 | £2,904,844.68 | £1,640,380.22 |
| | Domestic | £1,567,106.33 | £2,700,581.79 | £982,269.39 |
| | TOTALS | £8,776,581.78 | £9,249,556.57 | £2,622,649.61 |
| Inverness | Guarantee/EAGF Expenditure | £21,815,178.06 | £22,366,296.63 | £0.00 |
| | Guidance/rural Development Expenditure | £12,469,740.86 | £7,252,320.14 | £6,611,627.31 |
| | Domestic | £5,308,494.41 | £7,594,175.49 | £3,973,554.82 |
| | TOTALS | £39,593,413.33 | £37,212,792.26 | £10,585,182.13 |
| | Expenditure | Total of all |
| Ayr | Guarantee/EAGF Expenditure | £9,174,457.97 |
| | Guidance/rural Development Expenditure | £2,413,474.74 |
| | Domestic | £2,403,349.29 |
| | TOTALS | £13,991,282.00 |
| Benbecula | Guarantee/EAGF Expenditure | £7,572,139.46 |
| | Guidance/rural Development Expenditure | £6,392,192.27 |
| | Domestic | £5,759,000.87 |
| | TOTALS | £19,723,332.60 |
| Elgin | Guarantee/EAGF Expenditure | £84,183,237.03 |
| | Guidance / rural Development Expenditure | £16,794,458.14 |
| | Domestic | £15,200,267.84 |
| | TOTALS | £116,177,963.01 |
| Golspie | Guarantee/EAGF Expenditure | £18,616,949.95 |
| | Guidance/rural Development Expenditure | £13,617,678.49 |
| | Domestic | £11,406,447.95 |
| | TOTALS | £43,641,076.39 |
| Inverness | Guarantee/EAGF Expenditure | £116,014,459.86 |
| | Guidance/rural Development Expenditure | £43,387,547.43 |
| | Domestic | £36,984,569.84 |
| | TOTALS | £196,386,577.13 |
| | Expenditure | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
| Inverurie | Guarantee/EAGF Expenditure | £3,642,709.77 | £3,437,297.56 | £3,511,201.89 |
| | Guidance/rural Development Expenditure | £151,314.54 | £343,152.14 | £340,281.49 |
| | Domestic | £329,936.65 | £343,154.14 | £340,284.49 |
| | TOTALS | £4,123,960.96 | £4,123,603.84 | £4,191,767.87 |
| Kirkwall | Guarantee/EAGF Expenditure | £16,142,634.06 | £15,254,063.91 | £15,365,297.74 |
| | Guidance/rural Development Expenditure | £1,593,248.56 | £3,951,547.13 | £4,718,583.52 |
| | Domestic | £3,665,779.43 | £3,951,550.94 | £4,718,575.98 |
| | TOTALS | £21,401,662.05 | £23,157,161.98 | £24,802,457.24 |
| Lerwick | Guarantee/EAGF Expenditure | £5,143,260.63 | £4,796,618.47 | £4,802,425.04 |
| | Guidance/rural Development Expenditure | £1,924,205.77 | £2,501,196.66 | £2,372,684.94 |
| | Domestic | £3,757,287.33 | £2,501,198.30 | £2,372,689.40 |
| | TOTALS | £10,824,753.73 | £9,799,013.43 | £9,547,799.38 |
| Oban | Guarantee/EAGF Expenditure | £17,045,086.86 | £16,344,609.92 | £16,457,080.94 |
| | Guidance/rural Development Expenditure | £2,686,610.55 | £6,732,564.52 | £7,012,941.31 |
| | Domestic | £6,263,784.49 | £6,732,572.94 | £7,012,954.03 |
| | TOTALS | £25,995,481.90 | £29,809,747.38 | £30,482,976.28 |
| Perth | Guarantee/EAGF Expenditure | £1,898,562.66 | £1,834,902.06 | £1,798,742.02 |
| | Guidance/rural Development Expenditure | £168,140.59 | £546,716.42 | £361,611.17 |
| | Domestic | £425,083.77 | £546,717.42 | £361,613.18 |
| | TOTALS | £2,491,787.02 | £2,928,335.90 | £2,521,966.37 |
| | Expenditure | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 |
| Inverurie | Guarantee/EAGF Expenditure | £3,227,165.25 | £3,297,125.77 | £0.00 |
| | Guidance/rural Development Expenditure | £564,695.78 | £244,374.41 | £181,083.31 |
| | Domestic | £241,306.72 | £297,458.77 | £123,559.74 |
| | TOTALS | £4,033,167.75 | £3,838,958.95 | £304,643.05 |
| Kirkwall | Guarantee/EAGF Expenditure | £14,059,006.21 | £14,391,594.74 | £0.00 |
| | Guidance/rural Development Expenditure | £5,948,767.85 | £3,534,932.73 | £3,488,118.96 |
| | Domestic | £2,501,449.57 | £4,255,306.91 | £2,275,402.27 |
| | TOTALS | £22,509,223.63 | £22,181,834.38 | £5,763,521.23 |
| Lerwick | Guarantee/EAGF Expenditure | £4,488,220.47 | £4,547,783.88 | £0.00 |
| | Guidance/rural Development Expenditure | £3,199,602.60 | £1,714,388.45 | £2,153,268.09 |
| | Domestic | £1,336,537.49 | £2,258,039.84 | £1,423,687.77 |
| | TOTALS | £9,024,360.56 | £8,520,212.17 | £3,576,955.86 |
| Oban | Guarantee/EAGF Expenditure | £15,084,843.56 | £14,997,919.69 | £0.00 |
| | Guidance/rural Development Expenditure | £10,329,717.08 | £6,387,500.93 | £6,940,356.32 |
| | Domestic | £4,335,273.64 | £7,908,953.72 | £4,394,900.69 |
| | TOTALS | £29,749,834.28 | £29,294,374.34 | £11,335,257.01 |
| Perth | Guarantee/EAGF Expenditure | £1,906,370.40 | £1,939,099.37 | £0.00 |
| | Guidance/rural Development Expenditure | £798,213.47 | £442,945.18 | £326,293.20 |
| | Domestic | £334,040.71 | £519,646.71 | £226,631.51 |
| | TOTALS | £3,038,624.58 | £2,901,691.26 | £552,924.71 |
| | Expenditure | Total of all |
| Inverurie | Guarantee/EAGF Expenditure | £17,115,500.24 |
| | Guidance/rural Development Expenditure | £1,824,901.67 |
| | Domestic | £1,675,700.51 |
| | TOTALS | £20,616,102.42 |
| Kirkwall | Guarantee/EAGF Expenditure | £75,212,596.66 |
| | Guidance/rural Development Expenditure | £23,235,198.75 |
| | Domestic | £21,368,065.10 |
| | TOTALS | £119,815,860.51 |
| Lerwick | Guarantee/EAGF Expenditure | £23,778,308.49 |
| | Guidance/rural Development Expenditure | £13,865,346.51 |
| | Domestic | £13,649,440.13 |
| | TOTALS | £51,293,095.13 |
| Oban | Guarantee/EAGF Expenditure | £79,929,540.97 |
| | Guidance/rural Development Expenditure | £40,089,690.71 |
| | Domestic | £36,648,439.51 |
| | TOTALS | £156,667,671.19 |
| Perth | Guarantee/EAGF Expenditure | £9,377,676.51 |
| | Guidance/rural Development Expenditure | £2,643,920.03 |
| | Domestic | £2,413,733.30 |
| | TOTALS | £14,435,329.84 |
| | Expenditure | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
| Portee | Guarantee/EAGF Expenditure | £2,959,504.45 | £2,760,318.72 | £2,758,885.00 |
| | Guidance/rural Development Expenditure | £593,390.35 | £1,343,939.85 | £1,359,068.70 |
| | Domestic | £1,567,595.08 | £1,343,944.88 | £1,359,073.16 |
| | TOTALS | £5,120,489.88 | £5,448,203.45 | £5,477,026.86 |
| Stornoway | Guarantee/EAGF Expenditure | £1,759,593.80 | £1,606,384.77 | £1,627,779.39 |
| | Guidance/rural Development Expenditure | £364,846.80 | £986,278.28 | £1,208,231.45 |
| | Domestic | £963,501.42 | £986,282.29 | £690,676.89 |
| | TOTALS | £3,087,942.02 | £3,578,945.34 | £3,526,687.73 |
| Thurso | Guarantee/EAGF Expenditure | £12,445,765.27 | £11,670,954.42 | £11,669,593.69 |
| | Guidance/rural Development Expenditure | £1,558,259.17 | £3,620,598.60 | £3,916,993.12 |
| | Domestic | £3,362,717.52 | £3,620,594.40 | £3,916,999.68 |
| | TOTALS | £17,366,741.96 | £18,912,147.42 | £19,503,586.49 |
| | Overall Total of All Offices | £157,092,115.94 | £165,417,004.49 | £180,650,545.28 |
| | Expenditure | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 |
| Portee | Guarantee/EAGF Expenditure | £2,587,898.24 | £2,638,030.56 | £0.00 |
| | Guidance/rural Development Expenditure | £1,967,741.90 | £1,483,609.39 | £1,280,791.84 |
| | Domestic | £842,701.05 | £1,775,393.84 | £888,673.96 |
| | TOTALS | £5,398,341.19 | £5,897,033.79 | £2,169,465.80 |
| Stornoway | Guarantee/EAGF Expenditure | £1,536,530.88 | £1,535,812.56 | £0.00 |
| | Guidance/rural Development Expenditure | £1,359,293.34 | £1,118,084.46 | £1,056,147.13 |
| | Domestic | £576,701.16 | £1,181,879.17 | £651,599.86 |
| | TOTALS | £3,472,525.38 | £3,835,776.19 | £1,707,746.99 |
| Thurso | Guarantee/EAGF Expenditure | £10,779,984.49 | £10,795,202.71 | £0.00 |
| | Guidance/rural Development Expenditure | £5,163,148.68 | £3,475,487.03 | £3,323,728.26 |
| | Domestic | £2,152,277.48 | £4,257,043.10 | £2,141,529.04 |
| | TOTALS | £18,095,410.65 | £18,527,732.84 | £5,465,257.30 |
| | Overall Total of All Offices | £171,133,683.75 | £169,949,362.31 | £50,973,035.89 |
| | Expenditure | Total for all |
| Portee | Guarantee/EAGF Expenditure | £13,704,636.97 |
| | Guidance/rural Development Expenditure | £8,028,542.03 |
| | Domestic | £7,777,381.97 |
| | TOTALS | £29,510,560.97 |
| Stornoway | Guarantee/EAGF Expenditure | £8,066,101.40 |
| | Guidance/rural Development Expenditure | £6,092,881.46 |
| | Domestic | £5,050,640.79 |
| | TOTALS | £19,209,623.65 |
| Thurso | Guarantee/EAGF Expenditure | £57,361,500.58 |
| | Guidance/rural Development Expenditure | £21,058,214.86 |
| | Domestic | £19,451,161.22 |
| | TOTALS | £97,870,876.66 |
| | Overall Total of All Offices | £895,215,747.66 |
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 28 April 2014
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 12 May 2014
To ask the Scottish Government how much its proposed Edinburgh-Glasgow high-speed rail line would cost to build, and whether it will provide details of the expected (a) capital and operating costs, (b) line capacity, (c) stations services would call at and (d) maximum speed of services.
Answer
Costs for the proposed Edinburgh-Glasgow high-speed rail line are in development, as are the details of capacity and service specifications. It is clear, however, that the case for and the detail of a high speed line between Edinburgh and Glasgow is dependent upon how HS2 is extended to Scotland beyond the current end-points of Leeds and Manchester. I announced in November 2013 the joint study with the Department for Transport on bringing HS2 to Scotland. My officials are fully engaged in that work, which will report in autumn 2014.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 28 April 2014
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 8 May 2014
To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland became independent, how much it would cost Police Scotland to take on the functions currently carried out by the (a) British Transport Police, (b) Ministry of Defence Police and (c) Civil Nuclear Constabulary.
Answer
Ministers are ensuring that preparations are ongoing to ensure a smooth transition in the event of Scottish independence. Where appropriate this includes consideration of the transfer of functions to Scottish authorities.
The transition to independence provides a significant opportunity to improve and invest in public service delivery in Scotland.
Scottish taxpayers already contribute to UK expenditure on reserved functions. The elected government of an independent Scotland will have control over all public expenditure in Scotland and will be able to take spending decisions which reflect the priorities, needs and wishes of the Scottish people.
Further information is available on page 502 of Scotland’s Future.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 May 2014
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 14 May 2014
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that there are enough supply teachers available for rural schools.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 14 May 2014
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 28 April 2014
-
Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 7 May 2014
To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland became independent, what measures it would introduce to tackle tax avoidance, and how much additional revenue these would raise.
Answer
The Scottish Government plans to introduce a simple and transparent tax system after independence designed to minimise the opportunities for tax avoidance that have been exposed in the UK system, which mean that too many individual and corporate taxpayers do not pay their fair share of taxes. As set out on page 121 of Scotland’s Future – Your Guide to an Independent Scotland, over the course of the first independent parliament, the Scottish Government and Revenue Scotland will work together to simplify the tax system to reduce compliance costs, streamline reliefs and help to reduce tax avoidance, with a target revenue gain of £250 million a year by the end of the first term.
The Scottish Government is determined to act decisively on avoidance of devolved taxes. The Revenue Scotland and Tax Powers Bill which is currently before Parliament contains powers which will enable Revenue Scotland to take robust action to counteract tax avoidance, including the introduction of a general anti-avoidance rule for the devolved taxes. The Scottish Government will seek to replicate this approach in developing a Scottish tax system following independence.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Monday, 28 April 2014
-
Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 7 May 2014
To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland became independent, what tax reliefs it would need to abolish to raise the "target revenue gain of £250 million a year by the end of the first term" set out on page xiii of Scotland's Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S4O-02678 on 5 December 2013. The answer to the oral parliamentary question is available on the Parliaments website, the official report can be viewed at:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28862.aspx?r=8681.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Monday, 28 April 2014
-
Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 7 May 2014
To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland became independent, other than the shares for rights scheme and married couple’s tax allowance, what tax reliefs it would streamline.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S4O-02678 on 5 December 2013. The answer to the oral parliamentary question is available on the Parliaments website, the official report can be viewed at:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28862.aspx?r=8681.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Monday, 28 April 2014
-
Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 7 May 2014
To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland became independent, at what rate it would set married couple's tax allowance; how many couples would benefit, and what the average annual benefit would be.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20019 on 13 March 2014. 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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 28 April 2014
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 7 May 2014
To ask the Scottish Government how much Scotland spends annually on international development, expressed as a proportion of the UK's spend.
Answer
The UK Government has published figures for both Scottish Government and UK Government official development assistance over the last two years. These show the Scottish Government’s spend as a proportion of the UK Government’s and are available at the attached link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/300084/Prov-ODA-GNI-2013a.pdf.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 28 April 2014
-
Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 7 May 2014
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of how it calculated the "target revenue gain of £250 million a year by the end of the first term" set out on page xiii of Scotland's Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S4O-02678 on 5 December 2013. The answer to the oral parliamentary question is available on the Parliaments website, the official report can be viewed at:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28862.aspx?r=8681.
