- Asked by: Ms Wendy Alexander, MSP for Paisley North, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 4 December 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an updated version of the timetable that it provided in November 2007 for the implementation of the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006, showing for each regulation and order the estimated dates for consultation and commencement, as envisaged (a) in November 2007 and (b) now.
Answer
A copy of the estimated dates for consultation and commencement as set out in the November 2007 implementation timetable are shown in the following table. A new updated implementation timetable will be available on the Scottish Government''s planning website shortly
www.scotland.gov.uk/planning.
Timetable For Implementation Of The Planning Etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 As at November 2007
| Regulations And Orders etc | Estimated Date for Consultation | Estimated Date for Commencement |
| Preparation of National Planning Framework 2 | Part 1 commenced “ April 2007 |
| Consultation paper on Orders to designate Strategic Development Planning Authorities (and statutory guidance on Strategic Development Authorities) | July 2007 | October 2008 |
| Consultation paper on draft regulation on development planning, including: -regulations on SDP content and scope to depart from LDP examinations* - regulations on DP content and preparation procedures - order on transitional arrangements for development planning | October 2007 | October 2008 |
| Regulations on development plan examination procedures | December 2007 | November 2008 |
| Extension of definition of ˜development'' to include marine fish farming | Part 3 (Section 3-4) Commenced “ 1 April 2007 |
| Order and user guide on householder permitted development rights | May 2008 | October 2008 |
| Order on micro-generation permitted development rights | February 2007 | June 2008 |
| Order on changes to remainder of permitted development rights | July 2008 | February 2009 |
| Consultation paper on draft regulations on changes to planning application procedures , including: public availability of information; pre-application consultation; validation procedures; planning permission in principle; neighbour notification; access & design statements etc. (Revision of the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) (Scotland) Order 1992 | December 2007 | November 2008 |
| Regulations on appeals procedures, including local review bodies, schemes of delegation and examination procedures. | December 2007 | November 2008 |
| Regulations on the hierarchy of developments * | November 2007 | November 2008 |
| Regulations on Good Neighbour Agreements | April 2008 | April 2009 |
| Consultation on draft regulations on enforcement powers, including; - regulations on the amount of fixed penalty fines* - regulations on site notices and notification of initiation and completion - regulations on temporary stop notices | October 2007 | July 2008 |
| Regulations on Tree Preservation Orders | June 2008 | February 2009 |
| New performance assessment framework for planning | March 2007 | Spring 2009 |
| Regulations on new fees for planning applications | March 2008 | November 2008 |
| Powers to make grants for advice and assistance | Part 8 (Section 32) commenced “ 1 April 2007 |
| Powers to create Business Improvement Districts | Part 9 (Section 33-49) commenced “ 1 April 2007 |
Note: * Regulations by affirmative procedure.
- Asked by: Ms Wendy Alexander, MSP for Paisley North, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 4 December 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its press release of 24 November 2008 accompanying publication of responses to the local income tax consultation, in which the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth stated that “prior to introducing a bill” he would “outline further proposals”, what the timetable is for doing so.
Answer
The Scottish Government is currently reflecting on the responses to the local income tax consultation, as well as the implications of the pre-Budget report, and we will publish our proposals for introducing a fairer local tax for Scotland early in 2009.
- Asked by: Ms Wendy Alexander, MSP for Paisley North, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 27 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what infrastructure projects it agreed to bring forward between the publication of the draft budget on 14 September 2008 and notification of the Scottish economic recovery plan on 12 October 2008 and where and to whom this was notified.
Answer
Between 14 September and 12 October 2008, the Scottish Government did not bring forward any infrastructure projects.
We have a very significant capital investment programme set out in our Infrastructure Investment Plan 2008 (Bib. number 45134) amounting to £35 billion over the next 10 years which is being reviewed to identify areas for acceleration. We have already announced the £100 million of the Affordable Housing Investment Programme which has been brought forward from 2010-11 to 2008-09 and 2009-10. This was included in the draft budget document.
New spending may be announced as part of the Scottish economic recovery plan, but the plan concentrates on how the timing and focus of agreed spending can be adjusted to support the economy. The budget consultation process for 2009-10 allows for views to be fed into the detailed proposals which will then be finalised for the Budget Bill.
- Asked by: Ms Wendy Alexander, MSP for Paisley North, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 27 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what it means by the statement “we are redoubling our efforts to accelerate investment” in its news release of 12 November 2008 on employment statistics.
Answer
The Scottish Government has already a accelerated significant amount of public sector investment expenditure by bringing forward £100 million of spending in the Affordable Housing Investment Programme. It has done this in collaboration with local government. Further work with public sector partners on investment expenditure is underway.
- Asked by: Ms Wendy Alexander, MSP for Paisley North, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 27 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how its current Scottish economic recovery plan differs from that agreed by the Cabinet on 14 October 2008.
Answer
The Scottish economic recovery plan is not a fixed set of measures, but a framework for action that is under constant review. Initial actions in support of the economy were announced by the First Minister on 19 August 2008, but new activity has been developed, and will continue to be developed, on an on-going basis. The Scottish Government''s response to the economic situation is being reviewed weekly by the Cabinet.
- Asked by: Ms Wendy Alexander, MSP for Paisley North, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 27 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its Scottish economic recovery plan and associated budget.
Answer
On 19 August 2008, a series of initiatives was announced by the First Minister to support the Scottish economy through the global economic downturn. Since then, the Scottish Government has continued to set out the actions as part of its economic recovery programme. I presented the Scottish Government''s approach and specific actions as part of the debate on the Scottish economy in the Parliament on 12 November 2008.
The draft Scottish Budget was published on 16 September 2008. It lays out how all government spending will help to deliver our purpose of delivering greater prosperity and opportunity for the people of Scotland. The draft budget is subject to Parliamentary scrutiny and we will consider any amendments the Finance Committee may bring forward before Stage 1 of the Budget Bill in January 2009.
- Asked by: Ms Wendy Alexander, MSP for Paisley North, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 27 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what government money it has provided to help create and safeguard jobs, as referred to in its news release on 12 November 2008 on employment statistics.
Answer
The Scottish Government is investing in a range of activities that help create and safeguard jobs. The specific reference in the news release of 12 November 2008 was to Regional Selective Assistance funding. In the three months to the end of September 2008, 25 businesses in Scotland accepted Regional Selective Assistance grant offers totalling over £8 million. These offers relate to projects with planned investment of over £36.9 million, aimed at the planned creation and safeguarding of over 1,000 jobs.
However, the vast majority of our investment in the development and acquisition of skills directly relates to building and sustaining a flexible skilled workforce. Over and above the wide range of activity within our universities, further education colleges and programmes such as modern apprenticeships, we also provide specific support for employers who are about to make staff redundant, pooling our collective resources from across the government to ensure those most in need receive it.
- Asked by: Ms Wendy Alexander, MSP for Paisley North, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 27 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget implications are of the Scottish economic recovery plan and whether it will highlight any changes since the publication of its draft budget for 2009-10.
Answer
The key capital spending change which has been announced to date is the £100 million of the Affordable Housing Investment Programme which has been brought forward from 2010-11 to 2008-09 and 2009-10. The Scottish Government is currently reviewing the need for further acceleration or re-profiling of the budget in 2008-09. If any changes to the budget are proposed for 2008-09 they will be re-profiled at the Spring Budget Revision when there will be an opportunity for them to be scrutinised by the Parliament.
New spending may be announced as part of the Scottish economic recovery plan, but the plan concentrates on how the timing and focus of agreed spending can be adjusted to support the economy. The budget consultation process for 2009-10 allows for views to be fed into the detailed proposals which will then be finalised for the Budget Bill.
Fuller proposals will be set out in the light of the Pre-Budget Report.
- Asked by: Ms Wendy Alexander, MSP for Paisley North, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 27 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what the planning reforms are that it reports having delivered in its news release of 12 November 2008 on employment statistics.
Answer
The Scottish Government has agreed a wide-ranging package of improvements to support planning reform, which were announced on 28 October 2008. Copies of Delivering Planning Reform have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 46980). The reforms will ensure planning is more effectively geared towards supporting increased sustainable economic growth. Planning modernisation is a live and on-going project that will be fully implemented next year.
- Asked by: Ms Wendy Alexander, MSP for Paisley North, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 20 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what the agreed tenure is of Sir Angus Grossart as chair of the Scottish Futures Trust.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-16539 on 7 October 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
