Elaine Murray

31 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether people who are temporarily disabled can apply for a Blue Badge on a temporary basis.

Answer · Keith Brown: Yes. An individual who is temporarily disabled can apply for a Blue Badge on a temporary basis. A temporary badge will be issued where an individual is assessed by the local authority as being unable to walk or virtually unable to walk by reason of a temporar…

28 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many one-bedroom properties have been built in the social rented sector in each of the last five years, also expressed as a percentage of social housing built.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: The information requested is not held centrally. Details of the total numbers of properties built by registered social landlords and local authorities are available on the Scottish Government website: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Hous…

28 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of social housing stock is made up of one-bedroom properties.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Scottish House Condition Survey estimates that, in 2011, around 26% of social housing stock was made up of 1 bedroom dwellings.

28 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to ensure that the size of new housing built for affordable rent reflects demand and takes into account the requirements of the social housing underoccupancy penalty.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: It is the responsibility of local authorities to determine these matters based on their housing need and demand assessments, local housing strategies and other planning policies.

28 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many homelessness applications from single people in each of the last five years resulted in an offer of a (a) one-bedroom property or room in a shared property, (b) two-bedroom property or (c) three or more bedroom property in the social rented sector.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: The following table shows the total number of homeless applications from single people which were (a) assessed as unintentionally homeless and in priority need, and (b) for whom a social rented sector tenancy was offered. Financial year accommodation was o…

28 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of new households created in each of the last five years was single-person households in the (a) social and (b) private rented sector.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: The information requested is not held centrally as it is not possible to identify newly forming households from our data sources.

22 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the outcome of discussions it has had with bus operators in relation to reimbursement levels for concessionary travel.

Answer · Keith Brown: On 31 January 2013 the Scottish Government announced that we had reached agreement with the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) on the reimbursement and funding arrangements for the National Concessionary Travel scheme over the next two years. The agr…

21 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government where guidance on applying for funding from the CashBack for Communities programme can be obtained.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Since the inception of the highly successful CashBack for Communities Programme in 2007, over £50 million recovered from the proceeds of crime has been invested throughout Scotland, directly benefitting over 600,000 young people and generating over 11,000 you…

21 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how applications can be made for funding from the CashBack for Communities programme.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Since the inception of the highly successful CashBack for Communities Programme in 2007, over £50 million recovered from the proceeds of crime has been invested throughout Scotland, directly benefitting over 600,000 young people and generating over 11,000 you…

21 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when applications can next be made for funding from the CashBack for Communities programme.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Since the inception of the highly successful CashBack for Communities Programme in 2007, over £50 million recovered from the proceeds of crime has been invested throughout Scotland, directly benefitting over 600,000 young people and generating over 11,000 you…

21 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the CashBack for Communities programme funding is fully committed.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Since the inception of the highly successful CashBack for Communities Programme in 2007, over £50 million recovered from the proceeds of crime has been invested throughout Scotland, directly benefitting over 600,000 young people and generating over 11,000 you…

21 Jan 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to prevent the spread of squirrel pox in Dumfriesshire and the south of Scotland.

10 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who is responsible for updating the Regional Networks website.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: The website is shared by the nine Regional Networks. Each network’s committee of volunteers is responsible for updating its part of the website.

10 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what mechanisms registered tenant organisations can communicate with it on policy development.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: Individual registered tenant organisations (RTOs) can communicate with the Scottish Government on policy development by responding to public consultations and by corresponding with ministers and officials. They can communicate collectively with the government…

10 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to issue updated guidance to local authorities and housing associations on housing revenue accounts as a result of the introduction of the recent welfare reforms.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government is working with Local Government and other stakeholders to support the Scottish housing community as it deals with the UK Government's welfare reforms. Scottish Government investment is supporting awareness raising, training and guidan…

10 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made a decision regarding the funding of the Choose Life suicide prevention programme.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has set up a working group to consider future policy and action on prevention of suicide and self harm, in the context that the Choose Life strategy and action plan is approaching the end of its 10 year lifetime. The aim is to produce …

7 Jan 2013 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how policing in Dumfries and Galloway will be accountable to local people once the single police force becomes operational.

19 Dec 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-08399 by Keith Brown on 27 July 2012, when construction of the A75 Hardgrove to Kinmount improvement scheme will start.

Answer · Keith Brown: Construction works are anticipated to start on the A75 Hardgrove to Kinmount improvement scheme by April 2013.

17 Dec 2012 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on Shelter Scotland's claim that one in four people believe they are "one pay cheque away" from losing their home.

10 Dec 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications were made to Disclosure Scotland regarding people employed as Father Christmas and his assistants prior to Christmas (a) 2009, (b) 2010 and (c) 2011.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: Elaine Murray (Dumfriesshire) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how many applications were made to Disclosure Scotland regarding people employed as Father Christmas and his assistants prior to Christmas (a) 2009, (b) 2010 and (c) 2011. (S4W-1…

10 Dec 2012 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of the Barnett consequentials arising from the Autumn Statement it will allocate to affordable housing.

4 Dec 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the provisions in the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 regarding the offence of stalking have been enacted and, if not, when they will come into effect.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The offence of stalking, at section 39 of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010, came into effect on 13 December 2010.

23 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its advertising campaigns are broadcast in those areas of Scotland served by ITV (a) Tyne Tees and (b) Border.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government wants to see a Scotland-wide channel three licence, so that viewers in the south of Scotland are able to enjoy the same level of programming about Scotland as those in the northern and central parts of the country. The Scottish Governm…

23 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-11127 by Keith Brown on 22 November 2012, how much it spent on (a) the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme, (b) the Borders Railway project, (c) the Paisley Corridor Improvement project, (d) the Waverley Station Redevelopment and (e) its contrib…

Answer · Keith Brown: The budget for Major Public Transport Projects funds specific commitments including the Borders Railway project, the Paisley Corridor Improvement project, the Waverley Station Redevelopment, the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme and our contribution to …

20 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its budget for the construction of homes for social rent, including budget revisions, has been in each year from 2007-08.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: The following table shows planned and actual expenditure specifically in respect of homes for social rent in each year from 2007-08. The figures are part of the Scottish Government’s broader spend on affordable housing supply in each year: 2007-08 (£m) 200…

19 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many businesses in Dumfries and Galloway were contracted to (a) survey properties, (b) install insulation and central heating systems and (c) supply materials under the Energy Assistance Package in 2011-12.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Due to the size of the Energy Assistance Package (EAP) contract, Scottish Gas was required to procure subcontractors to carry out the heating and insulation work via the Official Journal of European Union tender process, giving businesses across Scotland an e…

16 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-10950 by Nicola Sturgeon on 14 November 2012, for what reason the customer contribution is assessed dependent on fuel type and what its position is on whether this discriminates against people in rural areas that are not on the gas grid.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Home Energy Assistance Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 2009 (as in force) provide that individuals meeting certain criteria may apply for works to be done to improve the energy efficiency of their home covered by a grant of £4000 or £6500. Broadly speaking…

14 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the proposed high-speed rail link between Edinburgh and Glasgow will necessitate the modification of stations in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Answer · Keith Brown: As noted in my answer to S4W-11209, on 23 November 2012, the Scottish Partnership Group for High Speed Rail delivered a pre-appraisal planning report to me in January 2012. That report presented a number of planning criteria for the development of new high s…

14 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its estimate is of the financial benefit to Scotland of a high-speed rail link between Edinburgh and Glasgow that is not part of High Speed 2.

Answer · Keith Brown: It is our ambition that a high speed rail link between Edinburgh and Glasgow eventually forms part of a UK high speed rail network. The early construction of an Edinburgh to Glasgow link will bring early benefits to the Scottish network while also forming the…

14 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether a route has been identified for the proposed high-speed rail link between Edinburgh and Glasgow and, if so, when it will be published.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Partnership Group for High Speed Rail delivered a pre-appraisal planning report to me in January 2012. I will ensure that this is placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre. I am keen that Parliament is kept apprised of the detail of t…