- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 November 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 10 December 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it expects any end-year flexibility money to be available for redistribution as a result of its decision to over-allocate £100 million in 2008-09, £100 million in 2009-10 and £24 million in 2010-11.
Answer
In view of the very tight spending review settlement from the UK Government the degree of flexibility available to us will be much less than in the past. The known balance of end-year flexibility money is already fully committed to support our spending plans as set out in the Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 November 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 10 December 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive how much it expects to be held on account with HM Treasury by the end of (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, (c) 2009-10 and (d) 2010-11.
Answer
As set out in theSpending Review document we have secured an unprecedented agreement with the UK government to make full use of Scotland’s EYF balances held by HM Treasury over the spendingreview period. Details of the balance held on account are published annually byHM Treasury. The 2007-08 year end balance is expected to be published in July2008.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 November 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 6 December 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether VisitScotland will have an enhanced role overseas in the promotion of tourism and what implications this will have for the relationship between VisitScotland and VisitBritain and the agreement on their respective roles in the promotion of Scotland overseas.
Answer
VisitScotland’s mainrole is to lead in promoting Scotland as a tourism destination to potential visitorsfrom both overseas and within the UK. VisitScotland alsoworks closely with VisitBritain to promote Scotland, particularly in emerging overseas markets. To maximise the effectivenessof this joint work, VisitScotland is discussing, with strategic partners, how therole of VisitBritain might be changed to better fulfil its remit.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 16 November 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 3 December 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what the changes are from the 2007-08 baseline for each proposed budget line at levels (a) one, (b) two and (c) three of the First Minister portfolio resulting from Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007, expressed in real (i) cash and (ii) percentage terms for each year of the spending review.
Answer
The informationrequested for levels one and two is given in Draft Budget 2008-09: Real TermsAnalysis, a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish ParliamentInformation Centre (Bib. number 44133.)
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 November 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 29 November 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on school closures.
Answer
We are committed totightening the regulations around all school closures and to introducing a legislativepresumption against the closure of rural schools. Statute prescribes that decisionson individual school closure cases are for local authorities to take. Last month I wrote to education conveners settingout how I expect authorities to handle and conduct closure proposals.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 November 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 29 November 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for (a) maintaining existing and (b) building new sports facilities in Shetland to accommodate teams that use the area as a training base in the lead-up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Answer
It is a statutoryresponsibility of local authorities to provide adequate sporting facilities in theirarea, maintaining existing facilities and building new facilities as dictated bythe needs of the community.
The Scottish Governmentwould like as many teams as possible to base a training camp in Scotland prior to the 2014 Commonwealth Games. We will build onwork already being done to ensure as many Scottish facilities as possible are usedas training camps in the lead up to the London 2012 Games.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 November 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 29 November 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage competing nations to use Shetland as a training base in the lead-up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Answer
The Scottish Governmentwould like as many teams as possible to base a training camp in Scotland prior to the 2014 Commonwealth Games. We will build onwork already being done to ensure as many Scottish facilities as possible are usedas training camps in the lead up to the London 2012 Games.
Further informationon how we intend to ensure that all parts of Scotland benefit from the Commonwealth Games will be published for consultation withinthe first 100 days of winning the bid.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 November 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 29 November 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what additional investment it will provide for the development of sport in Shetland in the years leading up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Answer
The Glasgow 2014 CommonwealthGames offer an unrivalled opportunity to inspire a new generation to take up sportand to be physically active. Within 100 days of the announcement of the decisionto host the games in Glasgow, we will publish for consultation an initialplan of how to capture these benefits.
It is for ShetlandCouncil to decide levels of investment in sport in Shetland. In accordance with the Concordat agreed betweenthe Scottish Government and COSLA on 14 November 2007, we have no plans to ring-fenceany funding to local government for this purpose.
Officials are in discussionswith sportscotland about funding priorities for sport for the period to 2011. Ithas been an extremely tight spending round but we have secured additional fundingfor sport. Orkney can be considered for additional funding in accordance with existingschemes and procedures and will of course continue to benefit from our funding ofactive schools.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 November 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 29 November 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what legacy the 2014 Commonwealth Games will leave for Shetland.
Answer
The Scottish Governmenthas a very clear commitment to ensuring that the whole of Scotland benefits from the Commonwealth Games in 2014.
We will work withrelevant agencies and local authorities to ensure that, Scottish businesses arewell-placed to bid for contracts arising from the games, that visitors to thegames are encouraged to travel to other parts of the country, and that youngsterseverywhere are inspired to take up sport.
Further informationon how we intend to deliver a lasting legacy from the 2014 Commonwealth Games willbe published for consultation within the first 100 days of winning the bid.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 November 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 29 November 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Development International will remain a joint venture between the enterprise agencies and the Executive.
Answer
ScottishDevelopment International will remain a joint venture between the ScottishGovernment and the enterprise agencies.
