Question ... 'I have fears that te council tax will go up despite promises that it will be frozen.What do you think about it?'

Alan said ... 'With the recently agreed historic concordat between the SNP and COSLA, a new era has been welcomed by the 32 Scottish Councils. Part of the deal will allow Councils greater flexibility to spend their money and to retain efficiency savings for use in provision of services. This will give the Councils greater incentives to provide better and more efficient local services. In the SNP Government's Budget, significant extra resources are also being made available to Scotland's Councils and there is a vibrant mood nationally towards the new partnership and a long-term financial stability for local authorities throughout Scotland. Already many Councils have committed themselves to freezing their Council Tax - and others are likely to follow. It will prove difficult for individual Councils to refuse to freeze Council Tax. They would then have to explain to their electorate why they refused to accept these extra resources and greater financial flexibility and wanted to put up the Council tax, when all other authorities succeeeded in freezing it. So I do not have any fears that some Councils will put up Council Tax. I think it will prove a great success and will benefit everyone in Scotland. ' [Report Post]

Question ... 'I notice that the free school meal debate is mentioned. With that in mind would you support UK farmers growing crops and livestock breeding so that it creates employment and food products for schools, hospitals etc. The amount of subsidies that the EU pay farmers for set aside fields are adding to the taxation across the country. Surely a better use would to provide food products so that the younger generations are assured one healthy meal a day'

Alan said ... 'This is not really a question for a Council candidate in an urban area but of course I back a rural policy nationally which encourages and promotes local farmers and their produce. Our policy on free school meals is being introduced at the Scottish Parliament' [Report Post]

Question ... 'If you happened to live in a tenament block where all your neighbours were anti social, ie taking drugs, vandalising and making your life a total misery also in the knowledge these people are receiving every state benefit you could think of, how would you deal with this situation ?'

Alan said ... 'There are many ways in which anti-social behaviour can be dealt with, not least through the use of ASBOs. An SNP Council would be proactive in tackling anti-social behaviour and criminal activity. We are committed to increasing the numbers of police acively involved in front-line acitivities.' [Report Post]

Question ... 'What do you mean by "I will promote the interests of residents of Lochee on this issue." on your second issue? are you suggesting you would oppose private ownership or are you suggesting a poll?'

Alan said ... 'I will promote the interests of the people of Lochee on the issue of development, making sure that the services and facilities developed best fit the needs of all local residents, paying particular attention to access issues. At present, the owners of the Highgate centre wish to revamp and revitalise the centre while the Lochee Regeneration Plan presently being considered by the Council has other options for retailing in the Ward.' [Report Post]

Question ... 'Is offering free school meals truly an economically viable campaign promise? How will those of you who have pledged it, going about achieving it?'

Alan said ... 'The SNP Scottish Government is presently piloting free nutritious school meals for pupils in primary 1-3 in areas of deprivation and hopes ot expand this entitlement for free school meals for a further 40,000 children living in poverty. Ultimately, when funds permit, we hope to roll this policy out across the whole of Scotland as we believe that universal entitlement to free school meals is (with measures to increase physical activity among children and the general population) the best and most direct way to tackle the appalling health statistics that Scotland faces. It is our intention to pursue these policies and we shall do so as soon as we have the resources made available to do so. ' [Report Post]