- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 23 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive who is responsible for the appointment of Reporters in planning inquiries; whether it will detail any plans to review the method of appointment, and whether such appointments should in future be made independent of it.
Answer
As with other Scottish Executive civil servants, full-time Reporters are selected on merit through fair and open recruitment competition and appointed by the Scottish Executive Directorate of Personnel and Pay following the successful completion of a probationary period.
When the workload so demands, the Chief Reporter makes appointments to inquiries from the Part-time Reporters Panel, who are not employees but act in a consultant capacity, on a case-by-case basis.
There are no plans at present to alter these arrangements.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 23 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how many planning applications have been called in by Scottish Ministers and a Reporter appointed and how many were called in where Historic Scotland opposed the proposed development, in each of the last 10 years.
Answer
The information required is only available from 1993, and is as follows:
Year | Total applications called-in | Total called-in because of Historic Scotland objection |
1993 | 24 | 1 |
1994 | 14 | 0 |
1995 | 24 | 0 |
1996 | 28 | 0 |
1997 | 37 | 1 |
1998 | 24 | 4 |
1999 | 45 | 0 |
2000 (to date) | 30 | 0 |
Totals | 226 | 6 |
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 23 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive in how many planning applications for listed building consent, which have not yet been determined and concluded, has a decision been made by Scottish Ministers to call in the application and to appoint a Reporter where the opposition to the application has been maintained by Historic Scotland, in each of the last 10 years.
Answer
I have asked Graeme Munro, Director and Chief Executive of Historic Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:-
The number of applications for listed building and conservation area consent called-in by Scottish Ministers (or previously the Secretary of State) under the appropriate legislation has been as follows:
Year | Applications Called-in |
1989 | 6 |
1990 | 9 |
1991 | 7 |
1992 | 2 |
1993 | 4 |
1994 | 5 |
1995 | 3 |
1996 | 8 |
1997 | 2 |
1998 | 5 |
1999 | 8 |
With the exception of one application calling in during 1999, all applications called in between 1989 and 1999 have been determined and concluded.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 23 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be a Biodiversity Action Plan corncrake seminar in 2000 and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer
It is for the Steering Group of the UK Corncrake Biodiversity Action Plan to decide whether a corncrake seminar is required as part of its work programme. I understand that they do not intend to hold a Biodiversity Action Plan seminar in 2000.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 22 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates its Cabinet has discussed a small business rates relief scheme.
Answer
The Cabinet regularly discusses issues relating to the financing of local government of which matters relating to business rates forms part.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 22 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has met the Inland Revenue to discuss the Federation of Small Businesses' proposal for a small business rates relief scheme and, if not, whether it will now initiate such a meeting.
Answer
We are considering the position on rate relief for small businesses and will announce before Christmas what conclusions have been drawn and how we intend to proceed. We have not met with the Inland Revenue to discuss rate relief for small businesses.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 22 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Federation of Small Businesses' proposal for a small business rates relief scheme has been discussed at any meetings of the Joint Ministerial Committee and, if so, on what dates.
Answer
The Joint Ministerial Committee has not discussed this matter.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 22 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates since 8 December 1999 it has met (a) Ministers and (b) officials of the National Assembly for Wales to discuss a small business rates relief scheme.
Answer
The Scottish Executive maintains close contact with the National Assembly for Wales on local taxation issues including those relating to small business rates relief.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 22 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates since 8 December 1999 it has met (a) Ministers and (b) officials of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions to discuss a small business rates relief scheme.
Answer
The Scottish Executive maintains close contact with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions on local taxation issues including those relating to small business rates relief.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 22 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates since 8 December 1999 it has had discussions with the Confederation of British Industry regarding a small business rates relief scheme.
Answer
The Confederation of British Industry, CBI Scotland, is represented on a partnership working group which includes representatives from various business organisations and was established to consider aspects of the revaluation of non-domestic rates and the rating system generally. The working group has met twice since December 1999.
