- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 November 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 1 December 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received, directly or indirectly, a request from the Government of the United States of America to increase security at any location in Scotland in relation to any visit and, if so, when such a request was received, who it was received from and what the nature of the request was.
Answer
I am aware of no suchrequest.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 November 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 26 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what the roles will be of (a) the Forth Estuary Transport Authority and (b) Transport Scotland in the construction of the A8000.
Answer
The upgrade of the A8000–M9Spur is to be funded by the Forth Estuary Transport Authority and promoted bythe City of Edinburgh Council as a local road project. The roles andresponsibilities of the national transport agency are currently the subject ofconsultation.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 November 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 26 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to address taxi regulations following the report by the Office of Fair Trading The regulation of licensed taxi and PHV services in the UK.
Answer
Scottish ministers haveagreed to provide a response to the Office of Fair Trading’s report within 120days of publication, in line with other government departments. We arecurrently considering the recommendations contained in the report and haveinvited comments from interested parties prior to responding to the Office ofFair Trading. Thereafter, consideration will be given to what, if any, changesare required to the existing legislative framework.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 November 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 26 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-2006 by Nicol Stephen on 25 September 2003, what further information it now has on timescales for the planning inquiry into, and the commencement of, the construction of A8000.
Answer
A public local inquiry intothe proposals for the A8000–M9 Spur upgrade will take place on 28 and 29 January 2004.Decisions on the commencement of construction of the road are theresponsibility of the City of Edinburgh Council as promoter of the project.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 November 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 25 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what rates will be levied on satellite and wireless telecommunications infrastructure in each of the next three years.
Answer
Satellite and wirelesstelecommunications infrastructure is valued on the basis of the rateable assetsin occupation as with any other property. In this case the assets are normallybase stations and associated plant and machinery. Each subject will be valuedlocally and entered in the local valuation roll. The information requested lieswith each local authority and is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 November 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 25 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanism is used for levying rates on telecommunications infrastructure.
Answer
The rateable value isdetermined by the local assessor who estimates, using available evidence, thehypothetical rent which would be paid by a tenant for the rateable subjects.The poundage rate, which is set annually by Scottish ministers, is thenmultiplied by the rateable value to produce the rates liability. The relevantlocal authority will then send the bill to the occupier, deducting anyappropriate rates relief. This is true for telecommunications subjects just asit is for all other types of property.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 November 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 25 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what rates have been levied on telecommunications infrastructure in each of the last six years, broken down by local authority area.
Answer
This is a matter for localauthorities. The information requested is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 November 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 25 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to use any surplus income from non-domestic rates to grant financial relief to the broadband sector.
Answer
We do not have any plans touse any surplus income to grant financial relief to the broadband sector.Direct subsidy to the telecommunications industry is very much restricted by ECstate aids regulations to ensure that no individual operator is awardedcompetitive advantage. We are already taking forward a number of initiatives topromote broadband. Our most recent is worth up to £24 million and has demandstimulation measures for the broadband sector. These include the broadbandbusiness incentive which provides grants to Scottish businesses who wish totake up a broadband connection.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 November 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 25 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on rates on telecommunications infrastructure in the rest of the UK and how such rates compare with those levied in Scotland.
Answer
This is a matter for theValuation Office Agency for England and Wales. The information requested is not held by the Scottish Executive.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 November 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 24 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what additional funding has been allocated to VisitScotland to boost the marketing of Scotland as a destination following the MTV Europe Music Awards.
Answer
VisitScotland has used thisunique opportunity to showcase the many attractions that Scotlandholds from within its existing budget. On the back of the tremendous success of the awards, VisitScotland will continue to market Scotland asa must visit destination.
