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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

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Question reference: S1W-11068

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2000
Current Status: Answered by Wendy Alexander on 22 November 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether introduction of the small business rates relief scheme proposed by the Federation of Small Businesses would assist in achieving the Executive's target of creating 100,000 new small businesses by 2009.

The impact on new business starts and existing businesses would depend on the details of any small business rates relief scheme which may be introduced. By reducing costs a relief scheme may help encourage more individuals to start-up in business and improve the financial position of those existing firms which benefit. However, any proposal to reduce the liabilities of certain non-domestic ratepayers could reduce the overall non-domestic rate income collected.

Question reference: S1W-11072

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2000
Current Status: Answered by Peter Peacock on 22 November 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses in Scotland are not liable for non-domestic rates.

Question reference: S1W-11073

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2000
Current Status: Answered by Peter Peacock on 22 November 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of all the administration costs which would arise from the introduction of a small business rates relief scheme.

Question reference: S1W-11074

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2000
Current Status: Answered by Peter Peacock on 22 November 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether implementing a small business rates relief scheme would give rise to additional costs for local authorities and what the nature and level of any such additional costs would be.

Question reference: S1W-11076

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2000
Current Status: Answered by Peter Peacock on 22 November 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has informed non-domestic ratepayers or businesses, in information leaflets or by any other method, of the variation in the rate poundage between Scotland and England and between Scotland and Wales.

Question reference: S1W-11061

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2000
Current Status: Answered by Peter Peacock on 22 November 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has met the Inland Revenue to discuss the Federation of Small Businesses' proposal for a small business rates relief scheme and, if not, whether it will now initiate such a meeting.

Question reference: S1W-11075

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2000
Current Status: Answered by Jim Wallace on 22 November 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to (a) review, (b) consult on and (c) legislate on the issue of control of levels of rentals of hereditaments.

Question reference: S1W-11065

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2000
Current Status: Answered by Peter Peacock on 22 November 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to make a Ministerial Statement on a small business rates relief scheme.

Question reference: S1W-11056

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2000
Current Status: Answered by Peter Peacock on 22 November 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates since 8 December 1999 it has met with (a) the Federation of Small Businesses and (b) the Forum for Private Business to discuss a small business rates relief scheme.

The Executive meets on a regular basis with representatives from a wide range of business organisations as part of a partnership working group established to consider aspects of the revaluation of non-domestic rates and the rating system generally. The working group has met twice since December 1999. Specific meetings with representatives of the Federation of Small Businesses were held on 11 July and 3 October 2000 and with the Forum for Private Business on 7 July and 29 September 2000.

Question reference: S1W-11055

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2000
Current Status: Answered by Peter Peacock on 22 November 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what further research will be conducted or information sought on the issue of a small business rates relief scheme.