- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 July 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 21 July 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what is the total amount in cash terms of capital receipts from housing assets set aside to repay debt by Scottish local authorities for each financial year since 1997/98.
Answer
Housing capital receipts set aside by Scottish local authorities to redeem debt in 1997-98 totalled £172 million. Although final figures are not yet available, local authorities have estimated capital receipts set aside in 1998-99 to be £149 million.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 July 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 21 July 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to relax the obligation on Scottish local authorities to use 75% of housing capital receipts to repay debt.
Answer
The requirement to use housing receipts to repay debt was introduced in order to reduce the debt burden carried by local authorities. The set aside arrangements were considered last year as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review. No change was made. There are no plans for a further review.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 18 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 19 July 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive in the light of the recent report prepared for Glasgow City Council's Best Value review, what plans it has to review the funding of Scotland's museums and art galleries to ensure that council tax payers are not subsidising national resources.
Answer
Under the provisions of the National Heritage (Scotland) Act 1985, the National Museums and Galleries of Scotland are funded by central government grant. Local authorities operate and fund their own museums and galleries as part of their statutory duty to ensure that there is adequate provision of facilities for their residents for recreational, sporting, cultural and social activities. We have no plans to change these funding arrangements.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 July 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 19 July 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the review of local authority financial distribution arrangements to report.
Answer
Local authority financial distribution arrangements are under review by the Distribution Committee of the Working Party on Local Government Finance in Scotland. Representatives from 16 councils and COSLA are members of the Committee. Changes affecting the distribution of the 2000-01 local government finance settlement will be reported to Scottish Ministers and COSLA Office Bearers in November, along with a progress report on reviews for later implementation.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 24 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 12 July 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to allow legally enforceable 20 mph speed limits near play areas, community facilities and housing schemes to be determined by local authorities.
Answer
I refer Mr Gibson to my reply of 17 June to Mrs Margaret Smith.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 24 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 8 July 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends giving local authorities the power to appoint wardens to enforce speeding limits and collect fines.
Answer
We believe that enforcement of speed limits, including the collection of fines, should remain the responsibility of the police. We do not believe that it would be appropriate to separate speeding offences from the criminal law more widely.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 17 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 30 June 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it intends to take to ensure that Glasgow and Strathclyde retain the funding it has enjoyed through Objective 2 status.
Answer
Responsibility for agreeing a list of areas which the UK will propose for Objective 2 designation lies with the UK Government. The Secretary of State for Scotland is liaising closely with the First Minister about Scottish areas to be included in the list which it is hoped will be submitted to the European Commission for its consideration in July.The amount of funding for Objective 2 areas in the UK has not yet been notified by the European Commission to any Member State.
