Questions and answers

Question reference: S3W-29262

Asked by: Alison McInnes, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 23 November 2009
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 2 December 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that some rural local authorities have pockets of high unemployment that are not reflected in the overall unemployment rate for that area.

The official measure of unemployment based on the ILO (International Labour Organisation) definition is not reliable below local authority level. However, an alternative measure of unemployment is the claimant count. This gives the number of people claiming unemployment-related benefits and as it is based on administrative records it is available for small areas. The latest claimant count data is for October 2009.

Tables 1 to 7 provide the latest claimant count levels and rates (as a proportion of the resident working-age population) by intermediate geography for each of the rural local authorities. This allows the identification of pockets of high unemployment at small area level that may not be evident when comparing unemployment levels at local authority level. The claimant count rate for Scotland and the local authority average is provided in each table to allow for comparisons.

Table 1: Claimant Count Levels and Rates for Intermediate Geographies Within Aberdeenshire, October 2009

	Latest Claimant Count	Change Over Year		Working Age Claimant Count Rate
	October 2009	Level	%	Working Age Claimant Count Rate
Scotland	129,510	46,090	55%	4.0%
Aberdeenshire	2,098	904	76%	1.4%
Intermediate Geography
S02000088 Peterhead Harbour	191	55	40%	5.3%
S02000104 Fraserburgh Harbour and Broadsea	102	47	85%	4.9%
S02000099 Banff	64	23	56%	2.9%
S02000100 Macduff	64	18	39%	2.8%
S02000102 Fraserburgh Lochpots	45	26	137%	2.8%
S02000083 Huntly	64	16	33%	2.6%
S02000086 Peterhead Bay	38	10	36%	2.6%
S02000103 Fraserburgh Central-Academy	30	10	50%	2.1%
S02000097 Portsoy, Fordyce and Cornhill	37	17	85%	2.0%
S02000095 Aberchirder and Whitehills	47	14	42%	2.0%
S02000090 Mintlaw	29	10	53%	2.0%
S02000082 Cruden	56	22	65%	1.9%
S02000071 Inverurie South	51	29	132%	1.8%
S02000050 Mearns North and Inverbervie	55	34	162%	1.8%
S02000091 Turriff	42	22	110%	1.7%
S02000067 Kemnay	38	12	46%	1.7%
S02000048 Mearns South and Benholm	40	16	67%	1.7%
S02000092 Longside and Rattray	63	33	110%	1.6%
S02000098 Rosehearty and Strathbeg	59	9	18%	1.6%
S02000096 Gardenstown and King Edward	30	13	76%	1.6%
S02000081 Fyvie-Rothie	33	21	175%	1.5%
S02000051 Stonehaven South	42	15	56%	1.5%
S02000085 Peterhead Links	45	18	67%	1.5%
S02000094 New Pitsligo	28	7	33%	1.5%
S02000049 Mearns and Laurencekirk	30	18	150%	1.4%
S02000087 Auchterless and Monquhitter	27	11	69%	1.4%
S02000080 Clashindarroch	36	25	227%	1.3%
S02000065 Cromar and Kildrummy	32	20	167%	1.3%
S02000056 East Cairngorms	23	12	109%	1.3%
S02000072 Inverurie North	44	31	238%	1.3%
S02000076 Ellon East	27	11	69%	1.2%
S02000075 Ythsie	42	20	91%	1.2%
S02000059 Banchory-Devenick and Findon	28	8	40%	1.2%
S02000093 Deer and Mormond	30	11	58%	1.1%
S02000101 Fraserburgh Smiddyhill	22	6	38%	1.0%
S02000077 Ellon West	27	9	50%	1.0%
S02000084 Auchnagatt	18	7	64%	1.0%
S02000070 Newmachar and Fintray	25	14	127%	0.9%
S02000052 Stonehaven North	33	17	106%	0.9%
S02000060 Crathes and Torphins	23	18	360%	0.9%
S02000068 Howe of Alford	27	17	170%	0.8%
S02000061 Dunecht, Durris and Drumoak	25	14	127%	0.8%
S02000055 Newtonhill	16	7	78%	0.8%
S02000073 Durno-Chapel of Garioch	21	14	200%	0.8%
S02000066 Kintore and Blackburn	39	27	225%	0.8%
S02000053 Fetteresso, Netherley and Catter	16	3	23%	0.7%
S02000054 Aboyne and South Deeside	19	14	280%	0.7%
S02000079 Insch, Oyne and Ythanwells	16	15	967%	0.7%
S02000089 Peterhead Ugieside	14	-3	-18%	0.6%
S02000063 Westhill Central	18	6	50%	0.6%
S02000062 Garlogie and Elrick	15	11	275%	0.6%
S02000074 Barrahill	17	4	31%	0.6%
S02000069 Balmedie and Potterton	19	8	73%	0.6%
S02000078 Ythanside	24	12	100%	0.6%
S02000058 Portlethen	18	7	64%	0.6%
S02000057 Banchory	22	10	83%	0.6%
S02000064 Westhill North and South	11	3	38%	0.4%

Source: Office for National Statistics.

Table 2: Claimant Count Levels and Rates for Intermediate Geographies Within Argyll and Bute, October 2009

	Latest Claimant Count	Change Over Year		Working Age Claimant Count Rate
	October 2009	Level	%	Working Age Claimant Count Rate
Scotland	129,510	46,090	55%	4.0%
Argyll and Bute	1,586	384	32%	3.0%
Intermediate Geography
S02000135 Dunoon	172	35	26%	6.4%
S02000133 Rothesay Town	130	39	43%	5.6%
S02000130 Campbeltown	129	16	14%	5.4%
S02000138 Helensburgh East	113	30	36%	4.9%
S02000139 Helensburgh Centre	88	40	83%	4.8%
S02000136 Hunter''s Quay	125	16	15%	4.4%
S02000132 Bute	59	25	74%	4.1%
S02000142 Greater Lochgilphead	64	22	52%	3.0%
S02000148 Oban South	94	22	31%	2.8%
S02000149 Oban North	42	-11	-21%	2.4%
S02000141 Helensburgh West and Rhu	58	14	32%	2.3%
S02000144 Lomond Shore	43	19	79%	2.3%
S02000131 Kintyre Trail	72	10	16%	2.2%
S02000143 Garelochhead	97	39	67%	2.1%
S02000146 Cowal North	44	10	29%	2.0%
S02000134 Whiskey Isles	55	18	49%	2.0%
S02000145 Mid Argyll	39	8	26%	1.9%
S02000137 Cowal South	26	5	24%	1.8%
S02000140 Helensburgh North	44	17	63%	1.7%
S02000150 Benderloch Trail	43	12	39%	1.6%
S02000147 Loch Awe	30	5	20%	1.6%
S02000151 Mull, Iona, Coll and Tiree	24	-4	-14%	1.0%

Source: Office for National Statistics.

Table 3: Claimant Count Levels and Rates for Intermediate Geographies Within Eilean Siar, October 2009

	Latest Claimant Count	Change Over Year		Working Age Claimant Count Rate
	October 2009	Level	%	Working Age Claimant Count Rate
Scotland	129,510	46,090	55%	4.0%
Eilean Siar	548	218	66%	3.6%
Intermediate Geography
S02000434 South Lewis	69	38	123%	5.2%
S02000440 Braes Villages	134	29	28%	4.6%
S02000437 Stornoway West	87	33	61%	4.5%
S02000433 Harris	42	6	17%	4.0%
S02000439 Northwest Lewis	84	38	83%	3.8%
S02000436 Stornoway East	59	31	111%	3.5%
S02000435 Point	56	25	81%	3.4%
S02000432 Benbecula and North Ui	56	21	60%	3.3%
S02000431 Barra and South Uist	48	11	30%	2.8%
S02000438 Broadbay	47	15	47%	2.4%

Source: Office for National Statistics.

Table 4: Claimant Count Levels and Rates for Intermediate Geographies Within Highland, October 2009

	Latest Claimant Count	Change Over Year		Working Age Claimant Count Rate
	October 2009	Level	%	Working Age Claimant Count Rate
Scotland	129,510	46,090	55%	4.0%
Highland	3,632	1,232	51%	2.7%
Intermediate Geography
S02000744 Inverness Merkinch	159	55	53%	8.4%
S02000765 Wick South	142	64	82%	6.6%
S02000755 Alness	169	72	74%	5.1%
S02000739 Inverness Muirtown	119	26	28%	4.8%
S02000732 Inverness Drummond	88	33	60%	4.6%
S02000742 Inverness Central, Raigmore and Longman	124	40	48%	4.4%
S02000769 Thurso East	67	30	81%	4.3%
S02000766 Wick North	79	27	52%	4.3%
S02000735 Inverness Ballifeary and Dalneigh	107	43	67%	4.2%
S02000756 Invergordon	104	26	33%	4.2%
S02000758 Seaboard	108	51	89%	4.2%
S02000763 Caithness South	66	25	61%	3.9%
S02000759 Tain	80	43	116%	3.9%
S02000762 Sutherland East	87	25	40%	3.8%
S02000750 Nairn East	75	13	21%	3.4%
S02000752 Dingwall	104	44	73%	3.4%
S02000770 Thurso West	88	10	13%	3.2%
S02000725 Lochlash	49	-1	-2%	3.1%
S02000717 Fort William South	100	49	96%	3.0%
S02000733 Inverness Hilton	49	19	63%	2.9%
S02000731 Inverness Kinmylies and South West	59	32	119%	2.8%
S02000761 Sutherland South	90	35	64%	2.7%
S02000736 Inverness Crown and Haugh	66	31	89%	2.6%
S02000745 Skye North East	53	11	26%	2.6%
S02000757 Ross and Cromarty East	49	23	88%	2.5%
S02000747 Conon and Muir of Ord	93	40	75%	2.4%
S02000749 Nairn West	62	19	44%	2.4%
S02000768 Caithness North East	52	8	18%	2.4%
S02000753 Black Isle North	50	29	138%	2.3%
S02000723 Badenoch and Strathspey Central	64	11	21%	2.3%
S02000764 Sutherland North and West	42	3	8%	2.1%
S02000767 Caithness North West	60	17	40%	2.1%
S02000727 Inverness East Rural	63	19	43%	2.1%
S02000720 Lochaber East and North	58	21	57%	2.0%
S02000751 Ross and Cromarty South West	34	3	10%	2.0%
S02000724 Skye South	38	6	19%	1.9%
S02000740 Inverness Smithton	41	11	37%	1.8%
S02000743 Inverness Culloden and Balloch	50	17	52%	1.8%
S02000734 Inverness Drakies	29	18	164%	1.8%
S02000718 Lochaber West	47	22	88%	1.7%
S02000722 Loch Ness	47	10	27%	1.7%
S02000728 Inverness West Rural	60	25	71%	1.7%
S02000754 Ross and Cromarty Central	36	4	13%	1.7%
S02000746 Skye North West	33	-18	-35%	1.7%
S02000719 Fort William North	41	9	28%	1.7%
S02000721 Badenoch and Strathspey South	34	13	62%	1.6%
S02000748 Black Isle South	56	25	81%	1.6%
S02000738 Nairn Rural	34	17	100%	1.5%
S02000726 Badenoch and Strathspey North	38	6	19%	1.5%
S02000729 Inverness Inshes and Slackbuie	57	22	63%	1.5%
S02000760 Ross and Cromarty North West	27	2	8%	1.4%
S02000741 Inverness Scorguie	28	11	65%	1.4%
S02000737 Inverness Westhill	43	22	105%	1.4%
S02000730 Inverness Lochardil and Holm Mains	34	14	70%	1.3%

Source: Office for National Statistics.

Table 5: Claimant Count Levels and Rates for Intermediate Geographies Within Orkney Islands, October 2009

	Latest Claimant Count	Change Over Year		Working Age Claimant Count Rate
	October 2009	Level	%	Working Age Claimant Count Rate
Scotland	129,510	46,090	55%	4.0%
Orkney Islands	122	15	14%	1.0%
Intermediate Geography
S02000944 West Kirkwall	35	10	40%	1.7%
S02000945 East Kirkwall	19	4	27%	1.2%
S02000946 Stromness, Sandwick and Stenness	18	7	64%	1.0%
S02000947 Isles	23	-10	-30%	1.0%
S02000948 West Mainland	18	5	38%	0.8%
S02000943 East Mainland	9	-1	-10%	0.5%

Source: Office for National Statistics.

Table 6: Claimant Count Levels and Rates for Intermediate Geographies Within Scottish Borders, October 2009

	Latest Claimant Count	Change Over Year		Working Age Claimant Count Rate
	October 2009	Level	%	Working Age Claimant Count Rate
Scotland	129,510	46,090	55%	4.0%
Scottish Borders	1,763	685	64%	2.7%
Intermediate Geography
S02001036 Langlee	111	31	39%	6.6%
S02001023 Hawick Central	102	46	82%	4.6%
S02001024 Hawick North	86	36	72%	4.6%
S02001049 Eyemouth	83	42	102%	4.5%
S02001026 Burnfoot and area	92	24	35%	4.3%
S02001038 Galashiels North	99	43	77%	4.3%
S02001022 Hawick West End	71	34	92%	4.0%
S02001037 Galashiels West	72	27	60%	3.9%
S02001034 Kelso North	68	29	74%	3.5%
S02001030 Selkirk	102	26	34%	3.1%
S02001043 Coldstream and area	45	29	181%	2.9%
S02001035 Galashiels South	54	18	50%	2.9%
S02001027 Jedburgh	64	19	42%	2.8%
S02001032 Kelso South	44	15	52%	2.8%
S02001042 Peebles North	66	37	128%	2.5%
S02001029 Cheviot East	53	33	165%	2.3%
S02001048 Berwickshire East	68	27	66%	2.1%
S02001031 St Boswells and Newtown area	54	18	50%	2.0%
S02001028 Ettrick, Yarrow and Yair	44	27	159%	2.0%
S02001041 Peebles South	39	23	144%	1.9%
S02001033 Melrose and Tweedbank area	54	13	32%	1.9%
S02001046 Duns	28	4	17%	1.9%
S02001039 Innerleithen and Walkerburn area	52	8	18%	1.8%
S02001025 Cheviot West	28	10	56%	1.6%
S02001044 Earlston, Lauder and Stow area	61	27	79%	1.4%
S02001040 West Linton and Broughton area	45	22	96%	1.4%
S02001045 Berwickshire West	29	10	53%	1.4%
S02001047 Berwickshire Central	25	6	32%	1.2%
S02001021 Newcastleton and Teviot area	24	1	4%	1.0%

Source: Office for National Statistics.

Table 7: Claimant Count Levels and Rates for Intermediate Geographies Within Shetlands Islands, October 2009

	Latest Claimant Count	Change Over Year		Working Age Claimant Count Rate
	October 2009	Level	%	Working Age Claimant Count Rate
Scotland	129,510	46,090	55%	4.0%
Shetland Islands	190	48	34%	1.4%
Intermediate Geography
S02001052 Lerwick North	49	14	40%	2.2%
S02001051 Lerwick South	44	16	57%	1.8%
S02001055 North Mainland	28	7	33%	1.7%
S02001056 North and East Isles	24	14	140%	1.4%
S02001050 Shetland South	21	6	40%	1.1%
S02001054 East and West Mainland	12	-2	-14%	0.8%
S02001053 Central Shetland	12	-7	-37%	0.6%

Source: Office for National Statistics.

Question reference: S3W-29150

Asked by: Alison McInnes, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 November 2009
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 1 December 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultations it plans to hold before issuing guidance to public bodies on the climate change duties that will be imposed by section 44 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.

The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, requires Scottish ministers to consult before providing guidance to public bodies on the climate change duties that will be imposed by section 44 of the act. They are required to consult with associations of local authorities and such other persons as the Scottish ministers consider appropriate.

The public sector climate change duties imposed by section 44 of the act come into force on 1 January 2011. The Scottish Government intends that the guidance it is obliged to produce will be provided at the same time as the duty is commenced. The Scottish Government will maintain ongoing discussions with COSLA and other relevant parties, throughout the development of this statutory guidance. Furthermore, the Scottish Government plans to conduct a full public consultation during 2010 for a period of 12 weeks. All comments will be considered in finalising the guidance.

Question reference: S3W-29155

Asked by: Alison McInnes, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 November 2009
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 1 December 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has plans to exercise the powers specified in section 83 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 to set targets for reducing packaging.

Question reference: S3W-29154

Asked by: Alison McInnes, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 November 2009
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 1 December 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has plans to exercise the powers specified in section 78 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 to introduce regulations on planning for waste prevention and management.

The Scottish Government has taken powers, through the Climate Change Act, to make regulations to introduce new obligations for providing waste prevention and management plans, however there are no plans at the present time to do so.

Scottish ministers have insisted, throughout the passage of the act, that they do not wish to regulate in the current circumstances and will do so only if voluntary efforts fail.

Question reference: S3W-29263

Asked by: Alison McInnes, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 23 November 2009
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 1 December 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will instruct the Scottish Funding Council to consider claimant numbers for unemployment-related benefit at ward level in deciding which colleges should receive funding from the additional £8.4 million for extra college places yet to be allocated.

Question reference: S3W-29260

Asked by: Alison McInnes, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 23 November 2009
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 1 December 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive whether claimant numbers for unemployment-related benefit were analysed at ward level in deciding which colleges would receive funding from the additional £7.7 million for college places announced by the Scottish Funding Council on 9 July 2009.

Question reference: S3W-29264

Asked by: Alison McInnes, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 23 November 2009
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 1 December 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive whether claimant numbers for unemployment-related benefit were analysed at ward level in deciding which colleges would receive funding from the extra £12 million allocated for college buildings announced by the Scottish Funding Council on 4 September 2009.

Question reference: S3W-29156

Asked by: Alison McInnes, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 November 2009
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 1 December 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has plans to exercise the powers specified in section 84 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 to establish a deposit and return scheme.

Question reference: S3W-29152

Asked by: Alison McInnes, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 November 2009
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 27 November 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its plan to promote energy efficiency, as specified in section 60 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.

Question reference: S3W-28244

Asked by: Alison McInnes, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 October 2009
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 10 November 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive how many operational integrated ticketing systems for public transport there are.

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