Chamber and committees

This is an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I will ask its chief executive to write to you in this regard.

The detailed information requested is currently being collated and I will write to the member as soon as the information is available. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 46240).

This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I will ask its chief executive to write to you in this regard.

This is an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I will ask its chief executive to write to you in this regard.

This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I will ask its chief executive to write to you in this regard.

The Custodial Sentences and Weapons (Scotland) Act 2007 enables the Scottish ministers to prohibit the manufacture, sale, hire, etc of swords, and to make exceptions for legitimate religious, cultural and sporting purposes. No such prohibitions are yet in place. The policy memorandum for the bill made it clear that Scottish Highland dancing is recognised as a part of our rich cultural heritage and will be one of the exceptions to the general prohibitions. Highland dancers will therefore be able to continue buying swords for use at their classes and competitions.

The Custodial Sentences and Weapons (Scotland) Act 2007 does not change the law on the carrying of swords in public. It is an offence under section 49 of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 to have any article which has a blade or is sharply pointed in a public place without good reason or lawful authority. Any individual instance will be a matter for the police, and ultimately the courts, but transporting a highland dancing sword to and from classes or competitions would generally appear to be a “good reason”.

Different circumstances will apply depending on how individuals pay their council tax and on procedures in place in each council area. The arrangements in each area are a matter for individual councils, in line with the statutory provisions governing the administration and enforcement of council tax.

There is no legal obligation for local authorities to collect council tax on the first day of each month. In practice, local authorities offer residents various payment methods including council payment cards, direct debit and cash payment. Direct debit payments are often restricted to certain dates each month. Dumfries and Galloway Council, for example, require such payment on 1st, 15th or 21st of each month.

The relevant statutory provisions are set out in the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) (Scotland) Regulations 1992.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-13341 on 3 June 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.