Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S3W-07144

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 November 2007
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 10 December 2007

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will prioritise any additional spending not detailed in the 2007 spending review if additional resources become available.

Question reference: S3W-07141

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 November 2007
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 10 December 2007

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact on economic growth of its plans to reduce business rates for small businesses and whether it will publish any such assessment.

As outlined inour Government Economic Strategy, lower business taxation is part of a broaderpackage of measures that have a track record internationally of creating asupportive business environment and of increasing sustainable economic growth. Wewill be in a position to assess the contribution the Small Business BonusScheme will make to increasing sustainable economic growth once that Scheme isfully implemented.

I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-6508 on 27 November 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Question reference: S3W-06137

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 November 2007
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 6 December 2007

To ask the Scottish Executive whether VisitScotland will have an enhanced role overseas in the promotion of tourism and what implications this will have for the relationship between VisitScotland and VisitBritain and the agreement on their respective roles in the promotion of Scotland overseas.

VisitScotland’s mainrole is to lead in promoting Scotland as a tourism destination to potential visitorsfrom both overseas and within the UK. VisitScotland alsoworks closely with VisitBritain to promote Scotland, particularly in emerging overseas markets. To maximise the effectivenessof this joint work, VisitScotland is discussing, with strategic partners, how therole of VisitBritain might be changed to better fulfil its remit.

Question reference: S3W-06543

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 16 November 2007
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 3 December 2007

To ask the Scottish Executive what the changes are from the 2007-08 baseline for each proposed budget line at levels (a) one, (b) two and (c) three of the First Minister portfolio resulting from Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007, expressed in real (i) cash and (ii) percentage terms for each year of the spending review.

Question reference: S3W-06774

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 November 2007
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 29 November 2007

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for (a) maintaining existing and (b) building new sports facilities in Shetland to accommodate teams that use the area as a training base in the lead-up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

It is a statutoryresponsibility of local authorities to provide adequate sporting facilities in theirarea, maintaining existing facilities and building new facilities as dictated bythe needs of the community.

The Scottish Governmentwould like as many teams as possible to base a training camp in Scotland prior to the 2014 Commonwealth Games. We will build onwork already being done to ensure as many Scottish facilities as possible are usedas training camps in the lead up to the London 2012 Games.

Question reference: S3W-06773

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 November 2007
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 29 November 2007

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage competing nations to use Shetland as a training base in the lead-up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Further informationon how we intend to ensure that all parts of Scotland benefit from the Commonwealth Games will be published for consultation withinthe first 100 days of winning the bid.

Question reference: S3W-06775

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 November 2007
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 29 November 2007

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional investment it will provide for the development of sport in Shetland in the years leading up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

The Glasgow 2014 CommonwealthGames offer an unrivalled opportunity to inspire a new generation to take up sportand to be physically active. Within 100 days of the announcement of the decisionto host the games in Glasgow, we will publish for consultation an initialplan of how to capture these benefits.

It is for ShetlandCouncil to decide levels of investment in sport in Shetland. In accordance with the Concordat agreed betweenthe Scottish Government and COSLA on 14 November 2007, we have no plans to ring-fenceany funding to local government for this purpose.

Officials are in discussionswith sportscotland about funding priorities for sport for the period to 2011. Ithas been an extremely tight spending round but we have secured additional fundingfor sport. Orkney can be considered for additional funding in accordance with existingschemes and procedures and will of course continue to benefit from our funding ofactive schools.

Question reference: S3W-06772

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 November 2007
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 29 November 2007

To ask the Scottish Executive what legacy the 2014 Commonwealth Games will leave for Shetland.

The Scottish Governmenthas a very clear commitment to ensuring that the whole of Scotland benefits from the Commonwealth Games in 2014.

We will work withrelevant agencies and local authorities to ensure that, Scottish businesses arewell-placed to bid for contracts arising from the games, that visitors to thegames are encouraged to travel to other parts of the country, and that youngsterseverywhere are inspired to take up sport.

Further informationon how we intend to deliver a lasting legacy from the 2014 Commonwealth Games willbe published for consultation within the first 100 days of winning the bid.

Question reference: S3W-06140

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 November 2007
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 29 November 2007

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Development International will remain a joint venture between the enterprise agencies and the Executive.

Question reference: S3W-06141

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 November 2007
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 29 November 2007

To ask the Scottish Executive when the position of Chief Executive of Scottish Development International will be filled and what form the recruitment process will take.