- Asked by: Keith Brown, MSP for Clackmannanshire and Dunblane, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 05 June 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 14 June 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how many businesses in (a) Clackmannanshire and (b) Stirling were eligible for (i) 100%
rates relief and (ii) all other levels of rates relief, through the Small
Business Bonus Scheme, in (A) 2021, (B) 2022 and (C) 2023.
Answer
Tables 1 and 2 present the number of properties receiving SBBS as at 1 June 2021 and 1 July 2022, in Clackmannanshire and Stirling council areas. These figures are based on the billing data provided by councils to the Scottish Government as at those dates.
Equivalent figures for 2023 are not currently available. These are expected to be published in late 2023.
The Scottish Government does not hold information on the number of properties eligible for the Small Business Bonus Scheme, as we are unable to reliably identify business chains.
Table 1: Properties receiving SBBS relief in Clackmannanshire.
Year | 100% SBBS | Other SBBS awards |
2021 | 790 | 50 |
2022 | 800 | 50 |
Source: Non-Domestic Rates Relief Statistics 2022 tables 8b and 8c. In 2021 and 2022, ‘Other SBBS awards’ are usually, but not always, 25%.
Table 2: Properties receiving SBBS relief in Stirling.
Year | 100% SBBS | Other SBBS awards |
2021 | 2,940 | 170 |
2022 | 2,940 | 170 |
Source: Non-Domestic Rates Relief Statistics 2022 tables 8b and 8c. In 2021 and 2022, ‘Other SBBS awards’ are usually, but not always, 25%.
Properties which were in receipt of SBBS relief on 31 March 2023, and saw an increase in their net rates liability from the 1 April 2023, may be eligible for the Small Business Transitional Relief. This relief caps the maximum increase in the net rates liability relative to 31 March 2023 at £600 in 2023-24.
- Asked by: Keith Brown, MSP for Clackmannanshire and Dunblane, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 08 March 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Kate Forbes on 22 March 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications have been made to the Creative, Tourism and Hospitality Hardship Fund, also broken down by how many have (a) been approved, (b) been rejected and (c) yet to be processed.
Answer
The Creative, Tourism and Hospitality Enterprises Hardship Fund (CTHEHF), was administered by the enterprise agencies in Scotland. Each enterprise agency administered funds in its respective area and performance data was compiled by Scottish Enterprise on behalf of all three agencies. This data was published on 4 August on the Scottish Government website. Coronavirus (COVID-19): hardship and resilience funds statistics - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
A table summarising the number of applications made, how many were approved, how many were rejected, and if there are any applications yet to be processed is set out below.
Applications received | Applications approved | Applications rejected | Applications still to be processed |
3412* | 1908** | 1504 | 0 |
*excluding duplicates, entries created but never submitted, withdrawn applications, etc.
**excluding failing the bank check, did not provide sufficient information, or failing on basic eligibility
The Scottish Government continues to support businesses during these challenging times. Our approach is tailored to Scotland’s economic needs by providing support, including the CTHEHF, which was unavailable elsewhere in the UK.
- Asked by: Keith Brown, MSP for Clackmannanshire and Dunblane, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 08 March 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Kate Forbes on 22 March 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the reasons that applications to the Creative, Tourism and Hospitality Hardship Fund have been rejected.
Answer
Data for the Creative, Tourism and Hospitality Enterprises Hardship Fund (CTHEHF) was compiled by Scottish Enterprise on behalf of all three enterprise agencies. Scottish Enterprise has provided a breakdown of the percentage of applications rejected and the reason for rejection:
- 54% were rejected because the applicant business had a positive cashflow balance after 6 months. The appraisal on grant award value required the business to demonstrate, through their own supplied cashflow projection, what they thought their cashflow would be over a 6 month period. The grant was designed to support immediate hardship amongst eligible businesses, however where they demonstrated they had sufficient cash reserves no award could be made.
- 26% of applicants were rejected as they were not within one of the qualifying SIC codes.
- 13% of applicants were rejected because they did not have a business bank account. A business bank account was a minimum eligibility requirement for all applicants.
- 7% were rejected for ‘other reasons’ . This would include the business was found no longer to be trading, was insolvent, business was not based in Scotland.
- Asked by: Keith Brown, MSP for Clackmannanshire and Dunblane, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 08 March 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Kate Forbes on 22 March 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what the average award granted by the Creative, Tourism and Hospitality Hardship Fund has been.
Answer
Data relating to the Creative, Tourism and Hospitality Enterprises Hardship Fund (CTHEHF) was published on 4 August on the Scottish Government website. Coronavirus (COVID-19): hardship and resilience funds statistics - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
This data confirms that the average award granted is £12,400.
- Asked by: Keith Brown, MSP for Clackmannanshire and Dunblane, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 March 2021
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 17 March 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the justice secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding offering routine COVID-19 testing to police officers.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 17 March 2021
- Asked by: Keith Brown, MSP for Clackmannanshire and Dunblane, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 March 2021
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 10 March 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to boost the tourism sector in the Clackmannanshire and Dunblane constituency.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 10 March 2021
- Asked by: Keith Brown, MSP for Clackmannanshire and Dunblane, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 January 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 11 February 2021
To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what percentage of (i) households and (ii) business premises have had access to superfast broadband since 2016.
Answer
Ofcom has provided the following figures for numbers of properties in Scotland able to access superfast broadband - of 30 Megabits per second (30Mbps) and above - by year.
Unfortunately, the figures provided do not break down between residential and business properties, and, on a directly comparable basis, only go as far back as 2017:
Year | Properties with superfast coverage (30Mbps+) |
2020 | 2,581,836 |
2019 | 2,573,289 |
2018 | 2,563,554 |
2017 | 2,276,309 |
However, Ofcom’s Connected Nations annual reports for 2019 and 2020 provide information on coverage percentages across residential and commercial properties in Scotland, as set out in the following table:
Year | Superfast coverage in residential properties (%) | Superfast coverage in commercial properties (%) |
2020 | 94 | 83 |
2019 | 92 | 83 |
Prior to 2019, these reports outline coverage percentages by non-SME properties and SME properties:
Year | Superfast coverage in non-SME properties (%) | Superfast coverage in SME properties (%) |
2018 | 92 | 86 |
2017 | 87 | 78 |
2016 | 83 | 72 |
More information can be found on Ofcom’s website at:
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/research-and-data/multi-sector-research/infrastructure-research/connected-nations-2020 .
The Scottish Government, alongside our partners in the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme has played a key role in extending the reach of fibre broadband. Independent broadband analysis site, thinkbroadband (the same site the UK Government quotes in its own figures), states that 94.6% of premises across Scotland are now able to access superfast broadband speeds of 30Mbps and above – up from just 59.3% in 2014, when DSSB deployment began.
I am pleased to report that 10,655 premises in the constituency of Clackmannanshire and Dunblane now have access to fibre broadband, thanks to the DSSB roll-out, with over 10,398 of those being provided with access to superfast speeds at the UK definition of 24Mbps and above.
- Asked by: Keith Brown, MSP for Clackmannanshire and Dunblane, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 January 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Kate Forbes on 11 February 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how many businesses (a) are eligible for the Small Business Bonus Scheme and (b) have been exempt from paying non-domestic rates in the financial year 2020-21 in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, in the Clackmannanshire local authority area.
Answer
Official statistics show that, at the snapshot date of 1 July 2020, there were:
850 recipients of the Small Business Bonus Scheme in Clackmannanshire Council, saving ratepayers around £2 million in 2020-21; and
170 recipients of the 100% Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) relief, in Clackmannanshire Council, saving ratepayers £3.79 million in 2020-21.
- Asked by: Keith Brown, MSP for Clackmannanshire and Dunblane, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 January 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 11 February 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how many families in the Clackmannanshire local authority area received a Baby Box since they were introduced.
Answer
Registration opened on 15 June 2017, and delivery of Baby Boxes nationwide began on 15 August 2017 for all babies born and resident in Scotland.
We are unable to give the number of Baby Boxes delivered in the Clackmannanshire local authority area as we only record numbers of Baby Boxes distributed by Health Board area. We can provide the number of boxes delivered in Forth Valley Health Board.
The total number issued in Forth Valley up to 22 January 2021 is 8571 Baby Boxes.
The total breakdown is provided below:
2017(15 August – 31 December) | 1132 Baby Boxes |
2018 | 2525 Baby Boxes |
2019 | 2449 Baby Boxes |
2020 | 2311 Baby Boxes |
2021(up to 22 January) | 154 Baby Boxes |
- Asked by: Keith Brown, MSP for Clackmannanshire and Dunblane, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 January 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 9 February 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding Clackmannanshire Council has received each year in respect of the (a) Attainment Challenge and (b) Pupil Equity Fund, and how many (i) schools and (ii) pupils have been beneficiaries of this funding.
Answer
The Scottish Government has provided funding in the Clackmannanshire Council area through three of the workstreams in the Scottish Attainment Challenge. They are the Challenge Authorities programme, the Care Experienced Children and Young People Fund and Pupil Equity Funding.
Overall, a total of £14,987,629 has been allocated to Clackmannanshire Council and schools in Clackmannanshire, with 22 schools supported by this funding through Pupil Equity Funding. The Scottish Government does not hold details on the number of pupils who have benefitted from this funding. The table below illustrates year by year allocations and spending.
| | Challenge Authorities | PEF | CECYP Fund [1] | TOTAL ALLOCATION | TOTAL SPEND | SCHOOLS SUPPORTED |
15-16 Allocation | £718,000 | - | - | £718,000 | | - |
15-16 Spend | £482,208 | - | - | | £482,208 | |
16-17 Allocation | £1,253,999 | - | - | £1,253,999 | | - |
16-17 Spend | £1,242,457 | - | - | | £1,242,457 | |
17-18 Allocation | £1,548,000 | £1,560,000 | - | £3,108,000 | | 22 |
17-18 Spend | £1,548,000 | £797,855 | - | | £2,345,855 | |
18-19 Allocation | £1,576,091 | £1,575,120 | £114,400 | £3,265,211 | | 22 |
18-19 Spend | £1,576,090 | £1,656,979 [2] | £114,400 | | £3,347,469 | |
19-20 Allocation | £1,576,091 | £1,629,240 | £177,600 | £3,382,931 | | 22 |
19-20 Spend | £1,565,125 | TBC | £177,600 | | £1,742,725 [3] | |
20-21 Allocation | £1,571,821 | £1,527,827 | £159,840 | £3,259,488 | | 22 |
20-21 Spend | TBC | TBC | TBC | | TBC | |
| | | | TOTAL | £14,987,629 | £9,160,714 | 22 |
[1] The CECYP fund is allocated over the academic year as opposed to financial year
[2] 18-19 PEF spend includes carry over from 17-18
[3] 19-20 PEF spend is still to be confirmed
