- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 June 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 27 June 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it will provide to low-income families to help meet the costs associated with school in this parliamentary session.
Answer
This is a matter for education authorities. However, we will look to work with local authorities to identify steps we can take in the future to improve support for low income families to help meet the costs associated with school, for example, school uniforms and school trips.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 June 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 27 June 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive how much additional money it (a) is providing to the Export Support Package in 2011 and (b) plans to provide in 2012.
Answer
The Scottish Government has provided an additional £2.5 million for a new Export Support Package for 2011-12. The new Export Support Package funding is complementary to the support already provided through Scottish Development International.
Funding to the Export Support Package for 2012 will be subject to future spending allocation decisions.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 June 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 27 June 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it will give from its overseas aid budget to supporting the Maldives in this parliamentary session.
Answer
There are currently no plans to provide funding to the Maldives from the Scottish Government’s International Development Fund.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 June 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 27 June 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the DirectScot portal will be fully launched in 2011.
Answer
Our aim is to launch an experimental prototype of the DirectScot portal in 2011 in order to gain valuable feedback from users. We are committed to improving access to public services and information.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 June 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 24 June 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to create a climate adaptation fund.
Answer
We are currently examining the options for the development of climate change adaptation fund including support for international projects.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 June 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 24 June 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce the three projects that will pilot social impact bonds and how much money it will allocate to these bonds.
Answer
Social impact bonds offer a form of public-social partnership allowing for significant up-front investment in projects that will deliver real benefit. A social impact bond has already been developed and piloted in Peterborough. We are consulting with Scotland’s communities and our social partners to identify, develop, deliver and resource three pilot projects in Scotland.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 June 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 24 June 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive how much it will cost to deliver 100 community sports hubs across Scotland by 2014.
Answer
Community sports hubs will reflect the shape and needs of sport in the areas in which they will be situated. Following the publication of A games legacy for Scotland, a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 49208), in September 2009, we have committed £7.5 million of additional funding to help support local authorities develop their plans to ensure that 100 community sports hubs are delivered by 2014. Since September 2009 we have invested almost £19 million in facilities across Scotland some of which will feature in plans for the roll out of community sports hubs.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 June 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 24 June 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to introduce a one-stop finance information service.
Answer
The Scottish Government is currently considering how best to take this commitment forward with the aim of ensuring that Scottish businesses have straightforward online access to the financial information and support they need to grow and create jobs.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 June 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 24 June 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to allocate new funding to (a) social and charity banking and (b) micro-finance schemes.
Answer
The Scottish Government is currently considering how best to support and encourage an expansion of social banking in Scotland and decisions on future funding will be made later in the year.
Meanwhile, a review of the microcredit market in Scotland is underway. The Scottish Government is also making efforts to widen availability of affordable lending through existing schemes that make loans available to new and viable businesses over two years old.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 June 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 23 June 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has received in Barnett consequentials as a consequence of the UK Government’s planned enterprise zones.
Answer
The 2011 UK Budget announcement on enterprise zones results in Barnett consequentials in Scotland of £0 million in 2011-12, £1.3 million in 2012-13, £3.4 million in 2013-14, £5.6 million in 2014-15 and £6.6 million in 2015-16. They arise as a result of expected business rate relief in England but remain illustrative. The final figures will reflect the actual level of relief provided.
The figure for 2015-16 sits outside of the current UK Spending Review period and will be considered during the next Spending Review period. In line with all Barnett consequentials, it is for Scottish ministers to allocate this funding.