- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus MacKay on 17 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the statement made in Mr Jack McConnell's letter to me of 23 February 2000 that the "total tax income in Scotland raised from non-domestic rates will remain unchanged in real terms following the revaluation" is still accurate or whether, in the light of information about the anticipated income from non-domestic rates which has subsequently become available, this is no longer the case.
Answer
It is accurate. The replies given to questions S1W-5176 and S1W-7769 by Jack McConnell about distributable amounts refer.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 17 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how many appeals have been initiated against the 2000 rate revaluation assessments.
Answer
81,379 appeals in respect of 75,666 property subjects have been lodged with the Assessors following the 2000 Revaluation of non-domestic rates.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 17 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10202 by Sarah Boyack on 20 October 2000, whether the information relating to the number of applications for the use of emamectin ben'oate is held by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and, if so, whether it or SEPA will provide details of the number of applications which have been (a) received and (b) granted this year.
Answer
The information sought on the number of applications for the use of emamectin benzoate received and granted may be obtained from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 17 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what was (a) the total number of hereditaments on the valuation roll, (b) the number of appeals timeously intimated and (c) the information for (b) as a proportion of (a) in respect of the 2000 rates revaluation.
Answer
The total number of subjects on the valuation roll as at 1 April 2000 was 217,000. 81,379 appeals have been lodged with the Assessors in respect of 75,666 property subjects, which represents 35% of subjects on the valuation roll as at 1 April 2000.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 September 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 15 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive when each member of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) was appointed and which members have attended each board meeting since the establishment of the SQA.
Answer
The number of meetings attended by members of the SQA Board of Management is given below:
Name | Appointed | Appointment Ended/Ends | 1997 (5 Meetings) | 1998 (4 Meetings) | 1999 (4 Meetings) | 2000 (4 Meetings) |
| D Miller (Chairman) | 18.9.96 | 31.3.02 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Mrs P Cairns | 20.1.97 | 31.1.01 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| M Leech | 20.1.97 | 31.1.01 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Mrs P Lowrie | 20.1.97 | 31.1.01 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| I McMillan | 20.1.97 | 31.1.01 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| B Minto | 20.1.97 | 31.1.01 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Dr C Munn | 20.1.97 | 31.1.01 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Dr M Green1 | 20.1.97 | 28.2.03 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| I Hay1 | 20.1.97 | 28.2.03 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| I Muir1 | 20.1.97 | 28.2.03 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Ms M Allan | 16.3.99 | 28.2.03 | - | - | 3 | 3 |
| Mrs A Hill | 16.3.99 | 28.2.03 | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Dr J McClure | 16.3.99 | 28.2.03 | - | - | 3 | 4 |
| Prof I Marrian | 16.3.99 | 28.2.03 | - | - | 3 | 3 |
| Mrs S Rae | 16.3.99 | 28.2.03 | - | - | 2 | 3 |
| J Ramsay | 16.3.99 | 28.2.03 | - | - | 3 | 2 |
| Mrs L McKay2 | 17.2.97 | 31.1.01 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Mrs M Nicol2 | 5.3.97 | 31.1.01 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Dr P Thomson3 | 17.2.97 | 31.1.03 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Mrs L McTavish | 16.3.99 | 31.1.03 | - | - | 4 | 3 |
Notes:
1. Originally appointed by Mr Forsyth in 1997 and re-appointed by Mr Dewar on 16 March 1999.
2. Originally appointed by SQA in 1997 and re-appointed on 25 March 1999.
3. Originally appointed by SQA in 1997 and re-appointed on 25 March 1999.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 September 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 15 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will seek to develop an informal communication channel or formal concordat or other form of direct relationship with the UK telecoms regulator (OFTEL) in order to ensure that its policy reflects conditions in Scotland, including its substantial information communications technology industry and sparse population distant from economic centres in the north.
Answer
Telecommunications regulation is reserved. The Scottish Executive holds discussions with UK Departments and other organisations, including OFTEL, as necessary.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 September 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 15 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, in the light of the report in the Scottish Daily Express of 19 September 2000 that Scottish pupils who wish to study at Oxford or Cambridge or to study medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine courses in 2001 require to have their applications completed by 15 October 2000, whether such a deadline will be complied with, whether it will use its powers under section 9 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1996 to ensure that, for such students, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) will have discharged its functions by 15 October 2000, or whether it has received sufficient assurances from the SQA that such a deadline will be met.
Answer
The Scottish Qualifications Authority put arrangements in place to process appeals for those candidates affected in time for the 15 October deadline. I am told by the SQA that the timetable was achieved in all cases.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 20 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 9 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the report from the Reporter on the Lingerbay Inquiry was received by the Scottish Office on 29 April 1999; on what date it assumed responsibility for determining the planning application originally submitted on 25 March 1991, and what action was taken at that time.
Answer
The planning application was submitted to the Western Isles Island Council on 25 March 1991. On 27 September 1991 the then Secretary of State issued a Direction requiring the council to notify him should the council be minded to grant planning permission. On 24 June 1993, the council informed the Secretary of State that they were minded to grant planning permission. A Direction was issued on 6 January 1994 calling-in the application for the Secretary of State's determination.
A public local inquiry was held between 1 October 1994 and 6 June 1995. The Reporter submitted her report to the Secretary of State on 29 April 1999. The Scottish Executive assumed responsibility determining the application on 1 July 1999 and has since been considering the Reporter's report.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 20 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 9 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce by legislation or other means a requirement which sets a time period within which it must reach a decision following receipt of a report by its Inquiry Reporters.
Answer
The Executive aims to issue decisions within three months of a report of a public local inquiry being received. There are no plans to make this a legal requirement.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 20 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 9 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a time period of 1 July 1999 to the present for making a decision in respect of the Lingerbay Inquiry report is normal in such applications and what response it has given or intends to give to the local communities affected in relation to the delay in making a decision.
Answer
The Executive aims to issue decisions within three months of a report of a public local inquiry being received. The Lingerbay case, however, is exceptional in that it raises a number of very technical and complex issues which require extremely careful consideration. Whilst any delay in dealing with this case is regretted, I am sure that local communities and others would wish to ensure that all relevant matters have been thoroughly examined before a decision is reached.
