- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 August 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 7 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) lowest, (b) average and (c) highest percentage rent increase or decrease imposed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise on the rents for commercial premises owned by it in Shetland and leased to business was in (i) 2007-08 and (ii) 2008-09 and is proposed for 2009-10.
Answer
Setting the level of rent for commercial properties owned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is an operational matter for HIE.
I have written to HIE''s Chief Executive asking him to respond to you directly on this issue.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 August 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 7 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, when it determined its funding for (a) Highlands and Islands Enterprise and (b) Scottish Enterprise, it made assumptions on the likely increase or decrease in the income of these agencies from leasing commercial premises to businesses and, if so, what the assumptions were regarding the level of rent increase or decrease and the proportion of leases that would be terminated as a result of any rent increases.
Answer
The level of funding from the Scottish Government to both Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise for the duration of the spending review period 2008-11 was not influenced by any assumption of increased or decreased revenue to those bodies through the leasing of commercial premises.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 August 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 7 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines or instructions it gives to (a) Highlands and Islands Enterprise and (b) Scottish Enterprise regarding their policies on undertaking rent reviews of commercial premises leased by them to businesses.
Answer
Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise are like other public bodies required to carry out all their financial undertakings, including the undertaking of rent reviews of commercial premises leased to businesses, within the guidelines set out in the Scottish Public Finance Manual.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 August 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 7 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it monitors rent rises imposed by (a) Highlands and Islands Enterprise and (b) Scottish Enterprise on businesses leasing commercial premises from them.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not monitor rent rises imposed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise or Scottish Enterprise on businesses leasing commercial premises from them. The budgets of both bodies are monitored by the Scottish Government but not to the detailed level suggested by the question.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Salmond on 3 September 2009
To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.
Answer
This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0903-01.htm
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 August 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 2 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether (a) Highlands and Islands Enterprise and (b) Scottish Enterprise must seek its approval for their policies on undertaking rent reviews of commercial premises leased by them to businesses.
Answer
Reviewing rents on commercial properties leased from Highlands and Islands Enterprise or Scottish Enterprise is an operational matter for those bodies and does not require Scottish Government approval, providing that the policies in place within each organisation are consistent with the overarching guidance set out in the Scottish Public Finance Manual.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 July 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 18 August 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the total financial value of the (a) support previously provided to businesses under the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) business improvement tools programme during its last two years of operation and (b) equivalent support available to business in the HIE area in the current year under each of the support schemes that provide the support previously provided by the programme.
Answer
Highlands and Islands Enterprise has never run a business improvement tools programme as such, but has provided and continues to provide a range of support and advice services, where appropriate, to account managed businesses.
Details of the services provided are an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I will ask its chief executive to write to you in this regard.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 July 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 18 August 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline the (a) support previously provided to businesses under the Highlands and Islands Enterprise business improvement tools programme and (b) current schemes that provide that support.
Answer
Highlands and Islands Enterprise has never run a business improvement tools programme as such, but has provided and continues to provide a range of support and advice services, where appropriate, to account managed businesses.
Details of the services provided are an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I will ask its chief executive to write to you in this regard.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 July 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 17 August 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the (a) bodies providing local management for the Business Gateway programme and (b) funding allocated to each body for the current year and future years.
Answer
The management of local Business Gateway delivery is provided by the following local authorities:
Aberdeenshire Council,
Argyll and Bute Council,
City of Edinburgh Council,
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar,
Dumfries and Galloway Council,
Dundee City Council,
Falkirk Council,
Fife Council,
Glasgow City Council,
Moray Council,
North Ayrshire Council,
North Lanarkshire Council,
Orkney Islands Council,
Renfrewshire Council,
Scottish Borders Council,
Shetland Islands Council,
The Highland Council,
West Dunbartonshire Council.
As agreed with COSLA, a total of some £14 million per annum will be transferred to the local government finance settlement and paid as part of the unhypothecated general grant allocations to these local authorities. It is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate the total financial resources available to it on the basis of local needs and priorities, having first fulfilled its statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local outcomes including the Scottish Government''s key strategic objectives.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 July 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 17 August 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the financial and other support available to businesses under the Business Gateway programme that could assist them in undertaking the work necessary to achieve certification to ISO standards.
Answer
The Business Gateway provides wide ranging advice on the support available to businesses throughout Scotland, including advice on ISO standards. Details of that advice can be found at
www.bgateway.com.
