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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

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Question reference: S1W-13418

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 February 2001
Current Status: Answered by Sam Galbraith on 20 March 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation took place with the charity and voluntary sectors in connection with the decision to withdraw water rates relief.

Extensive consultations with these sectors have taken place over a number of years.During July and August 1998, the East of Scotland Water Authority undertook a consultation exercise covering proposals for a new approach to charging non-domestic customers. This involved the issue of a booklet to a wide range of customers and representative bodies, including the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO). They also arranged a series of public meetings throughout the ESWA area.The North of Scotland Water Authority undertook a similar exercise during the same period, taking the form of a series of public meetings and circulation of a booklet to representative bodies, again including the SCVO. In February 1999, they sent almost 1,000 letters to customers who would be impacted by the withdrawal of relief.Additionally, the then Customers Council conducted its own research at this time.In January 1999, the West of Scotland Water Authority wrote to almost 2,000 customers who would be affected by the withdrawal of reliefs from water charges.The water authorities met jointly with the SCVO on 20 January 1999, when they detailed the reasons, timescales involved and approximate financial impacts of this decision.A Minister from the former Scottish Office met the SCVO in April 1999 to discuss this issue, as did Sarah Boyack in July 1999. Separately, there has also been correspondence between Ministers, officials and the SCVO.Most recently, in June of last year, the water authorities jointly consulted on a review of the policy of granting reliefs from water and wastewater charges to certain organisations. This involved the sending of individual letters and questionnaires to over 11,000 organisations as well as the representative bodies.

Question reference: S1W-13218

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 February 2001
Current Status: Answered by Peter Peacock on 19 March 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive what the increase in council tax was for each council tax band in each local authority area in 1997 and each subsequent year and what the cumulative increase was for each band in each area in each of these years, using 1997 as the base year.

The council tax increases for each local authority, for each year from 1997 and the cumulative increases from 1997 are shown in table 1. Table 2 provides the base council tax levels for each band in each local authority area for 1997-98.Table 1Change in Council Tax

Percent
AUTHORITY	1997-98	1998-99	1999-2000		2000-01
	Increase from 1996-97	Increase from 1997-98	Increase from 1998-99	Cumulative increase from 1997-98	Increase from 1999-2000	Cumulative increase from 1997-98


Aberdeen City	10.0	11.5	3.7	15.6	6.1	22.7
Aberdeenshire	8.8	8.1	3.5	11.8	8.1	20.8
Angus	3.0	4.4	3.5	8.1	5.0	13.5
Argyll & Bute	18.7	10.0	0.0	10.0	6.5	17.1
Clackmannanshire	8.8	10.4	4.9	15.8	4.7	21.2
Dumfries & Galloway	21.0	2.4	4.8	7.3	6.7	14.4
Dundee City	14.9	7.6	4.4	12.4	2.1	14.8
East Ayrshire	9.1	5.1	3.6	8.9	3.5	12.8
East Dunbartonshire	15.4	2.5	5.1	7.7	0.0	7.7
East Lothian	8.1	5.0	3.8	9.0	8.7	18.5
East Renfrewshire	9.8	6.9	4.9	12.2	5.9	18.8
Edinburgh City	3.1	3.6	2.5	6.2	2.9	9.3
Eilean Siar	8.9	9.5	5.0	15.0	5.1	20.9
Falkirk	9.0	2.8	2.9	5.7	5.3	11.3
Fife	7.6	3.2	4.9	8.3	4.9	13.7
Glasgow City	22.0	9.4	0.0	9.4	1.9	11.4
Highland	9.2	8.0	2.9	11.1	5.0	16.7
Inverclyde	9.1	3.9	2.9	6.9	5.1	12.3
Midlothian	19.5	4.0	4.9	9.1	2.9	12.2
Moray	7.3	7.2	3.6	11.0	8.6	20.6
North Ayrshire	8.8	4.6	4.9	9.7	4.9	15.2
North Lanarkshire	3.8	3.2	3.9	7.2	3.8	11.3
Orkney	7.3	15.5	4.9	21.2	10.6	34.0
Perth & Kinross	4.7	0.0	3.6	3.6	4.9	8.6
Renfrewshire	6.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	8.0	8.0
Scottish Borders	9.7	4.4	4.9	9.5	8.2	18.5
Shetland	9.7	14.8	11.3	27.8	10.1	40.7
South Ayrshire	4.7	3.5	0.0	3.5	5.1	8.8
South Lanarkshire	9.5	8.3	2.4	11.0	2.4	13.6
Stirling	14.5	0.8	4.7	5.5	9.9	16.0
West Dunbartonshire	20.4	3.4	-3.0	0.3	1.8	2.1
West Lothian	16.8	4.7	3.5	8.3	3.5	12.1

^{Source: As reported by Authorities in Council Tax assumption return (CTAS) for relevant year.}Table 2Council Tax in each Local Authority area by band: 1997-98

£
	Band
AUTHORITY	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
ratio to band D	6/9	7/9	8/9	1	11/9	13/9	15/9	18/9
Aberdeen City	475	554	633	712	870	1,029	1,187	1,424
Aberdeenshire	429	500	572	643	786	929	1,072	1,286
Angus	453	528	604	679	830	981	1,132	1,358
Argyll & Bute	534	623	712	801	979	1,157	1,335	1,602
Clackmannanshire	502	586	669	753	920	1,088	1,255	1,506
Dumfries & Galloway	476	555	635	714	873	1,031	1,190	1,428
Dundee City	613	716	818	920	1,124	1,329	1,533	1,840
East Ayrshire	519	606	692	779	952	1,125	1,298	1,558
East Dunbartonshire	514	600	685	771	942	1,114	1,285	1,542
East Lothian	483	563	644	724	885	1,046	1,207	1,448
East Renfrewshire	455	530	606	682	834	985	1,137	1,364
Edinburgh City	558	651	744	837	1,023	1,209	1,395	1,674
Eilean Siar	399	466	532	599	732	865	998	1,198
Falkirk	453	529	604	680	831	982	1,133	1,360
Fife	498	581	664	747	913	1,079	1,245	1,494
Glasgow City	655	764	873	982	1,200	1,418	1,637	1,964
Highland	479	559	639	719	879	1,038	1,198	1,438
Inverclyde	554	646	739	831	1,016	1,200	1,385	1,662
Midlothian	572	667	763	858	1,049	1,239	1,430	1,716
Moray	435	507	580	652	797	942	1,087	1,304
North Ayrshire	479	558	638	718	878	1,037	1,197	1,436
North Lanarkshire	525	612	700	787	962	1,137	1,312	1,574
Orkney	343	401	458	515	629	744	858	1,030
Perth & Kinross	488	569	651	732	895	1,057	1,220	1,464
Renfrewshire	522	609	696	783	957	1,131	1,305	1,566
Scottish Borders	408	476	544	612	748	884	1,020	1,224
Shetland	324	378	432	486	594	702	810	972
South Ayrshire	510	595	680	765	935	1,105	1,275	1,530
South Lanarkshire	529	617	705	793	969	1,145	1,322	1,586
Stirling	517	604	690	776	948	1,121	1,293	1,552
West Dunbartonshire	652	761	869	978	1,195	1,413	1,630	1,956
West Lothian	528	616	704	792	968	1,144	1,320	1,584

^{Source: As reported by Scottish Local Authorities to the Scottish Office in their CTAS 1997-98.}

Question reference: S1W-13172

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 February 2001
Current Status: Answered by Allan Wilson on 19 March 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive what the economic value of the film and television industry has been in each of the last five years.

Question reference: S1W-13576

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 February 2001
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Morrison on 12 March 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive what the value of tourism is to the Scottish economy, broken down by (a) local authority area and (b) tourist board area.

The information is not available in respect of local authority areas. For tourist board areas, the information in respect of 1999, the last year available, is as follows:

Area Tourist Board	Value (£ million)
Aberdeen & Grampian	204
Angus and Dundee	57
Argyll, the Isles, Loch Lomond, Stirling & Trossachs	290
Ayrshire & Arran	138
Dumfries & Galloway	106
Edinburgh & Lothians	533
Greater Glasgow & Clyde Valley	429
Highlands of Scotland	396
Kingdom of Fife	113
Perthshire	122
Scottish Borders	48
Orkney, Shetland & Western Isles	39
Not Specified	9

Sources: International Passenger Survey, UK Tourism Survey.

Question reference: S1W-13572

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 February 2001
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Morrison on 12 March 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list Scotland's tourist information centres, indicating the area tourist board each is affiliated to.

The information is as follows:

Area Tourist Board	TICs Operated
Aberdeen & Grampian	Aberdeen, Alford, Ballater, Banchory, Banff, Braemar, Crathie, Dufftown, Elgin, Forres, Fraserburgh, Huntly, Inverurie, Stonehaven, Tomintoul.
Angus & Dundee	Arbroath, Brechin, Carnoustie, Dundee, Forfar, Kirriemuir, Montrose.
Argyll, the Isles, Loch Lomond. Stirling & Trossachs	Aberfoyle, Alva, Ardgartan, Balloch, Bo'ness, Callander, Campbeltown, Craignure, Drymen, Dumbarton, Dunblane, Dunoon, Falkirk, Helensburgh, Inveraray, Islay, Killin, Lochgilphead, Oban, Rothesay, Stirling(Dumbarton Road), Stirling(M9/M80 Junction 9), Stirling (Royal Burgh of Stirling), Tarbert (Loch Fyne), Tarbet (Loch Lomond), Tobermory, Tyndrum.
Ayrshire & Arran	Ayr, Brodick, Girvan, Irvine, Largs, Millport.
Dumfries & Galloway	Castle Douglas, Dumfries, Gatehouse of Fleet, Gretna Green, Kirkcudbright, Moffat, Newton Stewart, Stranraer
Edinburgh & Lothians	Dunbar, Edinburgh, Edinburgh Airport, Linlithgow, Livingston (due to open at Easter), Newtongrange, North Berwick, Old Craighall (nr. Musselburgh), Penicuik.
Greater Glasgow & Clyde Valley	Abington, Biggar, Glasgow, Glasgow Airport, Hamilton, Lanark, Paisley.
Highlands of Scotland	Aviemore, Ballachulish, Bettyhill, Broadford, Daviot Wood, Dornoch, Durness, Dunvegan, Fort Augustus, Fort William, Gairloch, Glenshiel, Grantown-on-Spey, Helmsdale, Inverness, John o' Groats, Kilchoan, Kingussie, Kyle of Lochalsh, Lairg, Lochcarron, Lochinver, Mallaig, Nairn, North Kessock, Portree, Ralia, Spean Bridge, Strathpeffer, Strontian, Thurso, Uig, Ullapool, Wick.
Kingdom of Fife	Anstruther, Crail, Dunfermline, Forth Bridges, Kirkcaldy, St. Andrews.
Orkney	Kirkwall, Stromness.
Perthshire	Aberfeldy, Auchterarder, Blairgowrie, Crieff, Dunkeld, Kinross, Perth, Perth (Inveralmond), Pitlochry.
Scottish Borders	Coldstream, Eyemouth, Galashiels, Hawick, Jedburgh, Kelso, Melrose, Peebles, Selkirk.
Shetland	Lerwick
Western Isles	Castlebay, Lochboisdale, Lochmaddy, Tarbert, Stornoway.

Question reference: S1W-13575

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 February 2001
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Morrison on 12 March 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding each local authority gives to its local tourist board, in total and expressed as a per capita figure.

The latest available information about core funding is as follows:

Area Tourist Board	Local Authority	2000-01 (£)	Per Capita (£)
Aberdeen & Grampian	Aberdeen City	150,000	0.71
	Aberdeenshire	300,000	1.32
	Moray	165,000	1.94
Angus & Dundee	Angus	158,000	1.44
Angus & Dundee	Dundee City	246,000	1.70
Argyll, the Isles, Loch Lomond, Stirling & Trossachs	Argyll & Bute	170,000	1.89
	Clackmannanshire	28,800	0.59
	Falkirk	57,000	0.39
	Stirling	235,400	2.78
	West Dunbartonshire	57,700	0.61
Ayrshire & Arran	East Ayrshire	80,000	0.66
	North Ayrshire	158,300	1.14
	South Ayrshire	141,135	1.24
Dumfries & Galloway	Dumfries & Galloway	350,000	2.38
Edinburgh & Lothians	Edinburgh	989,600	2.19
	East Lothian	200,000	2.21
	West Lothian	59,755	0.39
	Midlothian	35,000	0.43
Greater Glasgow & Clyde Valley	Glasgow	1,908,000	3.12
	East Dunbartonshire	0	-
	East Renfrewshire	0	-
	Inverclyde	0	-
	North Lanarkshire	0	-
	Renfrewshire	73,300	0.41
	South Lanarkshire	97,000	0.32
Highlands of Scotland	Highland	487,523	2.34
Kingdom of Fife	Fife	450,000	1.29
Orkney	Orkney	198,696	10.14
Perthshire	Perthshire	469,000	3.50
Scottish Borders	Scottish Borders	269,000	2.53
Shetland	Shetland	130,000	5.72
Western Isles	Western Isles	84,050	3.05

Note: Per capita figures based on GRO mid-year population estimates of Scotland and its council areas, 1999.

Question reference: S1W-13573

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 February 2001
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Morrison on 12 March 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has taken any action in response to the proposal to close Aberdeen's tourist information centre.

Question reference: S1W-13618

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 February 2001
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 12 March 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to increase the number of meat processing facilities so that livestock and carcasses do not have to be transported outwith Scotland for processing.

Question reference: S1W-13617

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 February 2001
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 12 March 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to establish abattoirs in rural locations.

Question reference: S1W-13574

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 February 2001
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Morrison on 9 March 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been approached by Aberdeen City Council for additional finance in order to allow it to make an increased contribution to the funding of Aberdeen's tourist information centre.