- Asked by: John Wilson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 1 December 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive how many houses have been built as a result of additional income raised from council tax on second homes since local authorities were granted discretion to reduce council tax discount on second homes and long-term empty properties on 1 April 2005, broken down by local authority.
Answer
The information requested is not held centrally.
- Asked by: John Wilson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 1 December 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities apply discretion to granting council tax discounts of between 10% and 50% on second homes and long-term empty properties.
Answer
The following table shows the discount applied by each local authority for second homes and for long-term empty homes in the current year.
Council Tax - Second Homes and Long-Term Empty Properties, level of Discount for 2009-10
| Second Homes Discount | Long-Term Empty Property Discount |
Aberdeen City | 10% | 10% |
Aberdeenshire | 10% | 10% |
Angus | 10% | 50% |
Argyll and Bute | 10% | 10% |
Clackmannanshire | 50% | 50% |
Dumfries and Galloway | 10% | 10% |
Dundee City | 50% | 50% |
East Ayrshire | 50% | 50% |
East Dunbartonshire | 50% | 50% |
East Lothian | 10% | 10% |
East Renfrewshire | 10% | 10% |
Edinburgh, City of | 10% | 10% |
Eilean Siar | 10% | 10% |
Falkirk | 10% | 10% |
Fife | 10% | 10% |
Glasgow City | 10% | 50% |
Highland | 10% | 10% |
Inverclyde | 10% | 50% |
Midlothian | 10% | 10% |
Moray | 10% | 10% |
North Ayrshire | 10% | 10% |
North Lanarkshire | 10% | 10% |
Orkney Islands | 10% | 10% |
Perth and Kinross | 10% | 10% |
Renfrewshire | 50% | 50% |
Scottish Borders | 10% | 10% |
Shetland Islands | 10% | 10% |
South Ayrshire | 25% | 25% |
South Lanarkshire | 10% | 10% |
Stirling | 10% | 10% |
West Dunbartonshire | 50% | 50% |
West Lothian | 10% | 10% |
Source: Council Tax Assumptions (CTAS) returns 2009.
- Asked by: John Wilson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 1 December 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive how local authorities differentiate between second homes and long-term empty properties for the purpose of collecting council tax.
Answer
This information is not held centrally. It is for local authorities to determine how they differentiate between second homes and long-term empty properties for the purpose of collecting council tax.
- Asked by: John Wilson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 1 December 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the additional income raised from council tax on second homes since local authorities were granted discretion to reduce council tax discount on second homes and long-term empty properties on 1 April 2005 was used for the provision of affordable housing.
Answer
The information requested is not held centrally.
- Asked by: John Wilson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 1 December 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive how much its estimated total contribution will be to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Answer
On 16 November 2009, the Glasgow 2014 organising committee announced that the games budget would increase to £453.6 million. As a consequence, the total contribution from the Scottish Government over the period from 2007-08 to 2015-16 will be £295.8 million, at 2007 prices.
In addition to contributing directly to the games budget, the Scottish Government is also assisting with a number of major transport infrastructure projects that will support the games. In total, these projects, which include the M74 extension, M80 extension, east end regeneration route and improvements to the bus links on the route to the airport, involve an estimated £1.6 billion of investment. The Scottish Government will also support the provision of housing within the Games Village, which will become an important element of the regeneration of the east end after the games.
- Asked by: John Wilson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 1 December 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has contributed to the cost of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Answer
The Scottish Government has contributed £8,202,332 towards the cost of staging the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. The overall contribution, at 2007 prices, will be £275.8 million plus a £20 million reserve to be held in case of exceptional circumstances.
- Asked by: John Wilson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 19 November 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with COSLA and local authorities on the tax increment financing scheme.
Answer
The Scottish Government has ongoing discussions with local authorities and COSLA on the use of Tax Increment Financing to fund public infrastructure investment.
The Scottish Futures Trust has set out in its 2009-10 Business Plan its aim, working with local authorities, to develop the TIF structure so that it can be applied across Scotland.
- Asked by: John Wilson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 17 November 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will establish a safer Scotland unit to simplify and co-ordinate community safety as recommended in the report, Scotland Together: A study examining fire deaths and injuries in Scotland.
Answer
It is the view of the Scottish Government that the report does not seek to establish a new quango, with all its associated costs.
Instead, we are committed to reviewing the range of existing activities within the Scottish Government and its partners to improve the safety of those most at risk. We will also look to move forward work already started on a more effective multi-agency approach to fire safety.
By bringing together expertise from central and local government, emergency services and other partners, we can ensure that the resources available for fire safety are focused on preventative action.
- Asked by: John Wilson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 16 November 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive where the established Scottish Enterprise regional advisory boards are located.
Answer
The location and other matters related to the administration of Scottish Enterprise''s (SE''s) regional advisory boards are an operational matter for that body. I have, therefore, written to SE''s Chief Executive, Lena Wilson, asking her to respond to you directly on this question.
- Asked by: John Wilson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 16 November 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what the membership is of the established Scottish Enterprise regional advisory boards.
Answer
The membership of Scottish Enterprise''s (SE''s) regional advisory boards is an operational matter for that body. I have, therefore, written to SE''s Chief Executive, Lena Wilson, asking her to respond to you directly on this issue.