Questions and answers

Question reference: S3W-10827

Asked by: Richard Baker, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 07 March 2008
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 25 March 2008

The following table provides net revenue expenditure on local road maintenance in the Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray Council areas as requested to the year 2006-07 and trunk road spend to date by the north east unit of Transport Scotland, which includes the former Grampian Regional Council area.

Net Revenue Expenditure on Road Maintenance^1,2(£000)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08
Aberdeen City^a	6,819	8,089	7,927	8,630	7,278	N/A
Aberdeenshire^a	18,476	19,880	18,451	18,296	15,106	N/A
Moray^a	6,158	6,496	7,912	7,184	6,641	N/A
North East Unit, Transport Scotland^b	22,698	17,052	30,824	28,699	30,051	20,555

Source:

a. Scottish Local Government Financial Statistics publications.

b. Transport Scotland.

Notes:

1. Net expenditure financed from grants, non domestic rates, council taxes and balances.

2. Includes expenditure on winter maintenance and structural, environmental and safety maintenance and routine repairs.

Question reference: S3W-10824

Asked by: Richard Baker, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 07 March 2008
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 25 March 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding will be spent on alcohol support services in Aberdeen during the current spending review period.

Question reference: S3W-10851

Asked by: Richard Baker, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 March 2008
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 19 March 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what amount of budget cuts each local authority plans to make in 2008-09.

It is the responsibility of each local authority to decide on its own budgetary requirements and, as a result, the information requested is not held centrally.

This government is, however, investing record levels of funding in local government, as well as giving them more freedom and flexibility to spend their resources as they decide, to meet the national priorities and individual local needs and circumstances under our shared framework of national outcomes as set out in the jointly signed concordat. This means that local government should have sufficient resources not just to maintain, but also improve, the front-line services their constituents need and deserve.

Question reference: S3W-10821

Asked by: Richard Baker, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 07 March 2008
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 19 March 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of (a) 20 to 24 (b) 25 to 29 and (c) 30 to 34 year olds were living with their parents in each of the last three years, also broken down by gender.

The information requested is given in the following table.

Percentage of 20 to 34-Year-Olds Living with Parents: 2004-06

	2004			2005			2006
Age	Female	Male	All	Female	Male	All	Female	Male	All
20-24	43.8	59.4	51.3	41.8	58.7	49.9	41.9	56.6	49.0
Base (100%)	1,024	965	1,989	1,016	961	1,977	1,013	939	1,952
25-29	13.6	27.5	20.1	14.9	26.9	20.6	17.0	26.7	21.7
Base (100%)	987	871	1,858	934	860	1,794	969	912	1,881
30-34	5.9	11.6	8.6	6.0	11.0	8.3	7.7	12.8	10.0
Base (100%)	1,178	1,025	2,203	1,139	934	2,073	1,089	924	2,013

Source: Scottish Household Survey.

Question reference: S3W-10822

Asked by: Richard Baker, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 07 March 2008
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 19 March 2008

Each board receives a formula allocation of funding for capital and revenue expenditure from which they are required to prioritise their own expenditure including investment in new GP premises. The precise spending on health centres by NHS Grampian is not held centrally.

Under the Primary and Community Care Premises Modernisation Programme the following specific allocations have been made to NHS Grampian for health centre and other Primary and Community Care projects.

Tranche	Amount (£)
1999-2004	3,322,200
2004-06	2,462,000
2006-08	5,540,000
2008-09	2,691,000
Total	14,015,200

Question reference: S3W-10745

Asked by: Richard Baker, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 March 2008
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 18 March 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive how much outstanding debt each local authority had as a result of borrowing in (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004, (d) 2005, (e) 2006 and (f) 2007, shown also as a percentage of their total budget.

The following tables show the levels of outstanding debt for each local authority for the years 2002-03 to 2006-07 (the latest year for which figures are available) along with the associated debt servicing charges (repayments of principle, interest, loans fund expenses and leasing charges) and their total net revenue expenditure. It is not appropriate to compare outstanding debt with total expenditure as this is not to compare like with like. Therefore, the final column of each table shows annual debt service charges as a percentage of total net revenue expenditure (that is, how much of each authority''s total expenditure is used to fund debt).

(a) Financial Year 2002-03 (All Values in £000)

Local Authority	Outstanding Debt at 31 Mar 2003	In-Year Debt Servicing Charges	In-Year Net Revenue Expenditure^*	Debt Servicing Charges to Net Revenue Expenditure (%)
Aberdeen City	372,297	27,389	321,998	8.5
Aberdeenshire	368,544	25,688	357,727	7.2
Angus	113,157	8,410	180,887	4.7
Argyll and Bute	229,164	24,780	167,752	14.8
Clackmannanshire	78,437	5,393	73,649	7.3
Dumfries and Galloway	277,782	17,943	247,439	7.3
Dundee City	292,273	18,834	266,742	7.1
East Ayrshire	189,546	11,037	200,474	5.5
East Dunbartonshire	124,071	12,002	157,983	7.6
East Lothian	132,289	11,771	137,005	8.6
East Renfrewshire	96,267	9,149	140,270	6.5
Edinburgh, City of	846,079	77,478	710,670	10.9
Eilean Siar	183,146	19,492	87,801	22.2
Falkirk	197,897	12,790	220,303	5.8
Fife	515,868	31,544	551,922	5.7
Glasgow City	1,281,468	124,250	1,256,961	9.9
Highland	553,121	35,512	388,840	9.1
Inverclyde	221,090	11,560	153,244	7.5
Midlothian	91,712	8,564	128,599	6.7
Moray	156,037	9,821	134,975	7.3
North Ayrshire	211,726	16,889	215,984	7.8
North Lanarkshire	410,487	36,193	503,280	7.2
Orkney Islands	28,764	1,605	51,006	3.2
Perth and Kinross	151,849	13,053	213,851	6.1
Renfrewshire	282,689	23,363	275,161	8.5
Scottish Borders	151,456	13,953	177,097	7.9
Shetland Islands	54,334	129	86,902	0.2
South Ayrshire	170,284	11,212	186,640	6.0
South Lanarkshire	437,384	36,134	469,207	7.7
Stirling	157,408	12,825	143,059	9.0
West Dunbartonshire	187,878	12,250	172,893	7.1
West Lothian	188,399	17,230	246,539	7.0
Total	8,752,903	698,243	8,626,860	8.1

Note: *Net Revenue Expenditure is net expenditure financed from grants, non-domestic rates, council taxes and balances.

(b) Financial Year 2003-04 (All Values in £000)

Local Authority	Outstanding Debt at 31 Mar 2004	In-Year Debt Servicing Charges	In-Year Net Revenue Expenditure^*	Debt Servicing Charges to Net Revenue Expenditure (%)
Aberdeen City	371,605	26,869	362,220	7.4
Aberdeenshire	366,130	28,001	384,571	7.3
Angus	120,146	9,408	192,818	4.9
Argyll and Bute	226,027	25,782	181,072	14.2
Clackmannanshire	78,793	5,781	80,942	7.1
Dumfries and Galloway	190,448	18,196	269,478	6.8
Dundee City	296,531	21,203	285,760	7.4
East Ayrshire	191,567	11,998	218,486	5.5
East Dunbartonshire	120,492	12,283	173,965	7.1
East Lothian	118,141	11,808	151,239	7.8
East Renfrewshire	100,924	10,263	154,963	6.6
Edinburgh, City of	842,067	76,814	750,762	10.2
Eilean Siar	188,892	19,674	95,071	20.7
Falkirk	190,462	13,158	243,052	5.4
Fife	507,349	33,209	595,817	5.6
Glasgow City	1,270,793	132,192	1,346,641	9.8
Highland	548,785	36,818	439,221	8.4
Inverclyde	225,574	14,068	171,394	8.2
Midlothian	87,567	9,604	142,535	6.7
Moray	157,652	10,563	144,392	7.3
North Ayrshire	206,657	19,151	233,025	8.2
North Lanarkshire	391,233	32,535	536,592	6.1
Orkney Islands	32,899	1,709	54,951	3.1
Perth and Kinross	153,697	13,466	232,392	5.8
Renfrewshire	275,286	25,945	300,250	8.6
Scottish Borders	154,971	15,907	192,044	8.3
Shetland Islands	53,069	129	80,706	0.2
South Ayrshire	171,168	11,639	200,722	5.8
South Lanarkshire	420,793	37,643	517,490	7.3
Stirling	154,394	13,602	156,767	8.7
West Dunbartonshire	184,764	12,570	194,713	6.5
West Lothian	175,789	16,689	261,384	6.4
Total	8,574,665	728,677	9,345,434	7.8

Note: *Net Revenue Expenditure is net expenditure financed from grants, non-domestic rates, council taxes and balances.

(c) Financial Year 2004-05 (All Values in £000)

Local Authority	Outstanding Debt at 31 Mar 2005	In-Year Debt Servicing Charges	In-Year Net Revenue Expenditure^*	Debt Servicing Charges to Net Revenue Expenditure (%)
Aberdeen City	392,167	24,246	388,531	6.2
Aberdeenshire	365,908	28,061	408,727	6.9
Angus	124,655	8,999	204,379	4.4
Argyll and Bute	223,328	26,826	197,401	13.6
Clackmannanshire	82,107	6,232	88,643	7.0
Dumfries and Galloway	188,531	18,762	287,928	6.5
Dundee City	304,391	19,283	297,550	6.5
East Ayrshire	188,895	12,421	220,694	5.6
East Dunbartonshire	118,363	13,090	186,049	7.0
East Lothian	112,837	10,704	172,217	6.2
East Renfrewshire	104,375	11,303	165,397	6.8
Edinburgh, City of	816,074	74,884	801,827	9.3
Eilean Siar	185,106	20,353	99,548	20.5
Falkirk	196,289	13,605	258,960	5.3
Fife	503,215	34,887	625,222	5.6
Glasgow City	1,281,054	124,419	1,406,302	8.9
Highland	551,465	37,099	445,027	8.3
Inverclyde	224,211	14,034	174,868	8.0
Midlothian	84,443	10,703	155,031	6.9
Moray	161,187	11,697	159,953	7.3
North Ayrshire	193,288	19,305	245,404	7.9
North Lanarkshire	392,312	31,695	557,281	5.7
Orkney Islands	33,838	2,207	64,289	3.4
Perth and Kinross	159,296	13,109	244,022	5.4
Renfrewshire	274,658	27,300	309,942	8.8
Scottish Borders	161,022	15,581	204,286	7.6
Shetland Islands	51,728	50	85,600	0.1
South Ayrshire	172,965	12,170	208,693	5.8
South Lanarkshire	399,438	39,032	533,816	7.3
Stirling	153,652	13,865	169,503	8.2
West Dunbartonshire	189,309	12,735	194,726	6.5
West Lothian	189,824	16,083	284,950	5.6
Total	8,579,931	724,740	9,846,766	7.4

Note: *Net Revenue Expenditure is net expenditure financed from grants, non-domestic rates, council taxes and balances.

(d) Financial Year 2005-06 (all values in £000)

Local Authority	Outstanding Debt at 31 Mar 2006	In-Year Debt Servicing Charges	In-Year Net Revenue Expenditure^*	Debt Servicing Charges to Net Revenue Expenditure (%)
Aberdeen City	406,382	25,931	424,104	6.1
Aberdeenshire	365,691	28,105	447,234	6.3
Angus	131,498	9,248	210,771	4.4
Argyll and Bute	228,959	28,151	220,834	12.8
Clackmannanshire	87,607	6,661	96,293	6.9
Dumfries and Galloway	190,931	18,436	312,789	5.9
Dundee City	315,853	20,897	315,687	6.6
East Ayrshire	182,413	13,662	237,354	5.8
East Dunbartonshire	116,026	13,528	205,050	6.6
East Lothian	128,504	11,081	179,622	6.2
East Renfrewshire	108,901	11,761	179,479	6.6
Edinburgh, City of	842,049	72,727	859,406	8.5
Eilean Siar	189,381	20,489	107,020	19.1
Falkirk	196,898	15,221	278,878	5.5
Fife	502,279	38,368	694,817	5.5
Glasgow City	1,261,126	124,362	1,408,752	8.8
Highland	556,482	38,079	479,056	8.0
Inverclyde	220,924	14,893	199,085	7.5
Midlothian	85,724	10,993	166,033	6.6
Moray	155,865	11,380	176,062	6.5
North Ayrshire	201,081	17,944	292,333	6.1
North Lanarkshire	415,444	34,127	630,833	5.4
Orkney Islands	36,535	3,109	62,918	4.9
Perth and Kinross	158,217	13,850	263,234	5.3
Renfrewshire	277,628	28,107	349,563	8.0
Scottish Borders	162,102	16,411	223,580	7.3
Shetland Islands	49,522	1,274	77,505	1.6
South Ayrshire	175,281	12,565	222,812	5.6
South Lanarkshire	443,821	40,839	592,314	6.9
Stirling	155,269	14,544	180,755	8.1
West Dunbartonshire	195,040	13,059	203,470	6.4
West Lothian	224,360	16,687	303,886	5.5
Total	8,767,793	746,489	10,601,528	7.0

Note: *Net Revenue Expenditure is net expenditure financed from grants, non-domestic rates, council taxes and balances.

(e) Financial Year 2006-07 (All Values in £000)

Local Authority	Outstanding Debt at 31 Mar 2007	In-Year Debt Servicing Charges	In-Year Net Revenue Expenditure^*	Debt Servicing Charges to Net Revenue Expenditure (%)
Aberdeen City	421,585	29,403	432,219	6.8
Aberdeenshire	375,710	28,102	452,263	6.2
Angus	159,835	10,128	210,971	4.8
Argyll and Bute	199,630	29,784	219,481	13.6
Clackmannanshire	97,453	7,524	101,771	7.4
Dumfries and Galloway	194,656	19,015	325,388	5.8
Dundee City	331,916	21,905	313,673	7.0
East Ayrshire	187,541	13,733	247,701	5.5
East Dunbartonshire	115,167	15,020	207,937	7.2
East Lothian	154,766	13,282	186,548	7.1
East Renfrewshire	108,427	11,879	184,532	6.4
Edinburgh, City of	900,577	71,384	867,682	8.2
Eilean Siar	149,726	21,034	110,001	19.1
Falkirk	204,652	16,624	291,952	5.7
Fife	535,912	39,535	688,900	5.7
Glasgow City	1,305,244	90,429	1,415,074	6.4
Highland	562,104	39,205	489,380	8.0
Inverclyde	220,366	15,490	178,982	8.7
Midlothian	91,687	11,107	175,095	6.3
Moray	157,495	11,557	175,432	6.6
North Ayrshire	207,230	18,661	276,578	6.8
North Lanarkshire	412,431	36,942	602,645	6.1
Orkney Islands	37,007	3,194	66,042	4.8
Perth and Kinross	162,237	15,011	266,010	5.6
Renfrewshire	285,389	29,013	350,133	8.3
Scottish Borders	165,811	17,212	231,959	7.4
Shetland Islands	49,142	6	102,989	0.0
South Ayrshire	176,118	12,458	225,256	5.5
South Lanarkshire	500,121	45,629	601,136	7.6
Stirling	162,204	14,927	184,249	8.1
West Dunbartonshire	198,584	13,374	207,441	6.5
West Lothian	246,571	17,086	319,489	5.4
Total	9,077,294	739,653	10,708,910	6.9

Note: *Net Revenue Expenditure is net expenditure financed from grants, non-domestic rates, council taxes and balances.

Question reference: S3W-10744

Asked by: Richard Baker, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 March 2008
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 18 March 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive how much outstanding debt each local authority has as a result of borrowing, shown also as a percentage of their total budget.

Question reference: S3W-10826

Asked by: Richard Baker, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 07 March 2008
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 17 March 2008

Question reference: S3W-10747

Asked by: Richard Baker, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 March 2008
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 17 March 2008

Question reference: S3W-10749

Asked by: Richard Baker, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 March 2008
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 17 March 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority spent on police, fire and valuation boards in (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004, (d) 2005, (e) 2006 and (f) 2007, shown also as a percentage of each local authority’s total budget.

Chamber and committees