Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-07501

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 7 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications to the courts in relation to Section 14 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 have been (a) lodged and (b) approved.

A notice under section 14 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 may be served by an access authority on a landowner. The landowner may appeal the notice to a sheriff.

The Scottish Government is aware of seven cases in which there have been applications for judicial determination in relation to section 14 notices. These are in the following table:

Name	Location	Date	Sheriff Judgement	Appeal Judgement
Caledonian Heritable Ltd.	Haddington	April 2006	N/A. Resolved out of court	N/A
Tuley	Dingwall	July 2007	In favour of the access authority	In favour of the landowner (Court of Session)
Snowie / Ross	Stirling	April 2008	In favour of the access authority	N/A
Aviemore Highland Resort	Inverness	January 2009	In favour of the access authority	In favour of the landowner (Sheriff Principal)
Forbes	Kirkcaldy	May 2009	In favour of the access authority (with conditions)	N/A
Creelman	Dunoon	September 2009	In favour of the landowner	N/A
Anstalt	Stirling	December 2015	In favour of the landowner	Pending (Sheriff Appeal Court)

Question reference: S5W-07368

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Annabelle Ewing on 7 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government when the recommendations in the Scottish Law Commission's Report on Succession will be taken forward and, further to its response of 13 July 2009 to the report, whether it will provide an update on its position on the recommendations regarding intestate succession.

The Scottish Government brought forward a number of the recommendations in the Scottish Law Commission’s Report on Succession for change to technical areas of the law in the Succession (Scotland) Act 2016 - http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2016/7/contents/enacted.

The Scottish Government also consulted on recommendations in that Report for reform of substantive succession law, including intestate succession, between June and September 2015.

The Scottish Government is considering the analysis of responses to that consultation together with the findings of a survey of public attitudes towards succession law of just over 1000 people representative of the Scottish population and a targeted Survey Monkey on disinheritance which received over 800 responses.

The analysis of, and the responses to, the consultation together with the Scottish Government’s response will be published when that consideration is concluded and will inform the way forward, including on intestate succession.

Question reference: S5W-07381

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 2 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support it provides to third sector organisations that provide services for veterans.

The Scottish Government provides funding to a range of third sector organisations that deliver services for veterans. These include the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations to support the Community Jobs Scotland programme, Combat Stress for the provision of specialist mental health support, Scottish Veterans Garden City Association to build homes for disabled veterans and £464,000 since 2008 to the sectors umbrella organisation, Veterans Scotland, to support its activities.

Further, the Scottish Government has invested £833,316.88 to date via the Scottish Veterans Fund to support 125 projects delivered by third sector organisations across the country that provide services for veterans. Full details on the organisations and grants awarded was lodged with SPICe on 2 November 2016 in answer to
SW-04070 (Bib number 58314).

The Scottish Veterans Fund will be expanded to £600,000 over the next three year thanks to a contribution of £80,000 per year from Standard Life. Additionally, for the first time the Fund will include the opportunity for multi-year projects which will enhance employment opportunities amongst the veterans’ community. I will announce successful applicants and awards in March.

Question reference: S5W-07369

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 28 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the campaign to reduce VAT for tourism, and what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding this.

The Scottish Government values the significant contribution made by the visitor economy and considers that a reduced rate of VAT could bring important benefits for the tourism sector, including enhancing its competitiveness. In March 2016, following a joint Ministerial meeting, the former Minister for Tourism, along with those of the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations, wrote jointly to HM Treasury to request a review of VAT rates for the tourism industry to gather evidence on the impact of any change. This approach was declined.

Question reference: S5W-06492

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 3 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what powers local authorities have to compulsory purchase privately-owned, vacant high street shop units, and what guidance or assistance is available for this purpose.

Local authority powers to compulsorily acquire land are to be found in various general Acts of Parliament. The purpose for which the authority seeks to acquire land will determine whether it has relevant powers and which power is most appropriate.

The 2016 Programme for Government committed Scottish Ministers to introduce interim measures to modernise compulsory purchase orders in advance of legislation over this parliament and work is already underway to review the current framework for dealing with these. We are also exploring how best the intended Compulsory Sales Orders legislation can complement Compulsory Purchase Orders to ensure more effective use of vacant land and derelict land.

Scottish Government policy and guidance on the use of existing compulsory purchase powers can be found in Circular 6/2011: Compulsory Purchase Orders which is available at www.gov.scot/Publications/2011/10/21133522/3. Scottish Ministers can also offer a technical examination of a draft Compulsory Purchase Order. The aim of these examinations is to reduce subsequent delays and the period of uncertainty for people affected.

Question reference: S5O-00654

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 February 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how rural deprivation is taken into account in its funding allocations.

Question reference: S5W-06493

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 1 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what the implications of devolution are for the Crown Estate's coastal communities fund.

The Fiscal Framework Agreement sets out the principle that responsibility for the UK Government's Coastal Communities Fund will be devolved to the Scottish Government. Scottish Ministers have agreed to a further round of funding applications under Round four for 2017-18.

Scottish Ministers are consulting on the long term arrangements for the management of Crown Estate assets in Scotland and will finalise the position on the future of the Coastal Communities Fund in Scotland in due course.

Question reference: S5O-00605

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 26 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether the new Scottish Land Commission plans to review the effectiveness of access legislation.

I was delighted that the Parliament unanimously approved the appointment of the Land Commissioners in December and I am aware that they are beginning to develop an initial work programme in preparation for the Scottish Land Commission becoming operational in April.

At this juncture, I do not know whether that early work programme will include a review of the effectiveness of access legislation. I am aware that access issues do arise from time to time but I would observe that in 2014 the independent Land Reform Review Group said in its report that Part 1 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 Act, which deals with access rights, ‘is generally working well on the ground.’

Question reference: S5O-00617

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 January 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what funding and support it provides to projects that aim to tackle inequalities.

Question reference: S5W-05671

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 12 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what financial assistance is available to support National Galleries Scotland touring programmes to promote access to national arts collections in communities throughout Scotland in and beyond 2017.

The National Galleries receives £12.9m per annum from the Scottish Government in support of its operating costs. While none of this is ring-fenced for touring programmes, I expect the Galleries, and all of the national bodies in receipt of public funding, to provide access to art and culture right across Scotland. The Galleries have an excellent track record of this, particularly through GENERATION which exhibited in over 60 venues across Scotland and Artists Rooms which has exhibited over 24 venues. Local venues taking part in touring programmes need to have adequate environmental and security conditions to house works of art.

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