- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 December 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 14 December 2012
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of the increase in business rates income outlined in the 2013-14 draft budget will come from local authorities that exceed their business rates incentivisation scheme targets and whether the retention by local authorities of their share is reflected in table 12.01 of the draft budget document.
Answer
The non domestic rates income (NDRI) shown in the 2013-14 draft budget is our best estimate of what will be collected in 2013-14 taking into account the normal inflationary increase associated with matching the English poundage, business growth, the differing impact of appeals in each year, prior year adjustments and income from the public health supplement and the reform of empty property rates relief.
Any income as a result of local authorities exceeding their business rates incentivisation scheme targets will be over and above the NDRI in the draft budget and will not be known until the final non domestic rate income returns for that year are received.
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 December 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 14 December 2012
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by John Swinney on 8 December 2011 (Official Report, c. 4537), what progress has been made on implementing the business rates incentivisation scheme; what the latest estimate is of the impact of the scheme, and which local authorities it expects will exceed their targets for the scheme in 2012-13.
Answer
The business rates incentivisation scheme was introduced on 1 April 2012. The impact of the scheme and the local authorities that exceed their targets will not be known until the final 2012-13 non domestic rate income returns are received.
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 December 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 14 December 2012
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by John Swinney on 27 November 2012 (Official Report, c. 13912), what categories of resources will be added to local authority revenues in addition to the provisional funding allocations.
Answer
Any changes to the provisional funding allocations for local government for 2013-14 announced to Parliament on 27 November 2012, such as the transfer of resources from the Department of Work and Pensions for the devolved social fund programme which is subject to final agreement with COSLA, will be confirmed to Parliament as part of the normal budget process.
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 03 December 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Neil on 12 December 2012
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish a draft Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill for consultation before the end of 2012 and, if not, when it will publish it.
Answer
<>The consultation on the draft Bill was published on 12 December 2012 and can be found at
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/12/9433.
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 10 December 2012
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 13 December 2012
To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 13 December 2012
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 23 November 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 3 December 2012
To ask the Scottish Government what funding it (a) gives and (b) plans to give to support welfare benefit advice services.
Answer
We want a welfare system that reflects Scotland’s values and ensures fair and decent support for all. But the UK Government’s reforms are being introduced against a backdrop of cuts to benefits and these changes will potentially take significant amounts of money out of the pockets of individuals and away from communities in Scotland
Mitigating the full impact of the reforms will not be possible; there are consequences outwith our powers. We will however continue to do all we can across the whole Scottish Government to support those in the most need. We currently provide funding to a number of organisations that provide advice services on welfare and benefits. Final decisions on the 2013-14 budgets will be taken once the parliamentary scrutiny process has concluded.
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 26 November 2012
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 29 November 2012
To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 29 November 2012
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 19 November 2012
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 22 November 2012
To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 22 November 2012
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 07 September 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 9 November 2012
To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many civil servants and (b) what financial resources are being allocated to support the Deputy First Minister in her role on constitution policy and preparations for the referendum.
Answer
There are currently 15.25 full-time equivalent staff employed in the Elections and Constitution Division. The Scottish Government has published annual figures for the number of full-time equivalent staff (FTE) by grade working on constitutional policy. These can be found at
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/constitution/About/constitution-SG-staffing.
All officials are engaged in this Government’s purpose to focus on creating a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish through increasing sustainable economic growth.
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 07 September 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 9 November 2012
To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many civil servants and (b) what financial resources were allocated to constitution policy in (i) March 2011 and (ii) September 2011.
Answer
The Scottish Government has published annual figures for the number of full-time equivalent staff (FTE), by grade, working on constitutional policy. These can be found at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/constitution/About/constitution-SG-staffing.