Questions · Fiona Hyslop

21 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will clarify its position with regard to the Cost Floor Rules (published by The Scottish Office Development Department in March 1999) with specific reference to clause 5 of that document on relevant costs, in relation to the ability of new landlords to recover costs prior to a …

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Section 5 of The Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 (Right to Buy) (Cost Floor) Determination 1999 describes the range of relevant works whose costs are used to calculate the Cost Floor of a property. The ability and scope of a landlord to include in that calculatio…

21 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from professional and representative organisations involved in the housing field on the extension of right to buy and which organisations have indicated support for that policy.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: I issued a paper on A New Single Social Housing Tenancy and a modernised Right-to-Buy on 7 December. I have since received representations from a number of professional and representative organisations including Shelter and SFHA who have raised …

21 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail representations it has received from housing association tenants seeking the right to buy.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: We have received a number of letters and telephone calls from housing association tenants. Tenants and other interested parties will also have the opportunity to offer comments on our detailed proposals for the "modernised" right to buy as set out i…

21 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the modelling methodology used to calculate the figure of 850 units per year expected to be sold under the extension of the right to buy.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Statistical returns to Scottish Homes identified that around 43,000 households of non-charitable registered housing associations do not have a right to buy.A logistic regression using 1996 SHCS data on people who have bought under RTB and their properties,…

21 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what has been the total amount in grants for rent to ownership (GRO) allocated to housing associations since 1986.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Housing associations are not eligible to receive grants for rent and ownership (GRO grants).

21 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what has been the total amount of housing association grant allocated to housing associations since 1986.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Statistics about housing association grant awarded to housing associations are only readily available from 1 April 1989, when Scottish Homes was established. From that date until 31 March 2000, a total of £2,422,559,000 in housing association grant will have …

15 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide a substantive answer to question S1W-945.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: I have today answered question S1W-945.

15 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-476 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 22 July 1999, whether it is now in a position to provide the promised information on planned outputs from the New Housing Partnership Programme.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The available information for 1999-2000 is given below.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=633><TR><TD WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2>Planned outputs</TD><TD WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2><FONT …

2 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what monies have been allocated to former mining communities in the Lothian area through the Coalfields Regeneration Trust.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive recognises the problems that are faced by many former coalmining communities in the Lothian area and across Scotland. This is why we are providing the Coalfields Regeneration Trust with resources of £4.5 million over three years to supp…

9 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it now has to provide easy access to St Giles Cathedral for wheelchair users.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Following a public local inquiry, the Scottish Ministers accepted the Reporter's recommendation that a planning application for wheelchair access at the west door of St Giles Cathedral be refused. This decision was intimated in the Scottish Executive Developm…

4 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail its programme for the current year for The Healthy Homes Initiative.

Answer · Frank McAveety: The Healthy Homes Initiative reflects our commitment to tackling dampness and is a national priority for housing investment. Under our programme substantial resources are available through capital allocations to local authorities for their own stock and for i…

3 Nov 1999 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail its programme for the current year for The Healthy Homes Initiative.

Answer · Frank McAveety: The Healthy Homes Initiative reflects our commitment to tackling dampness and is a national priority for housing investment. Under our programme substantial resources are available through capital allocations to local authorities for their own stock and for …

29 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to support financially the establishment of the Scottish National Speedway School of Excellence as currently proposed in West Lothian.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Government funding for sport is channelled through sportscotland and decisions on priorities are a matter for them within the overall grant-in-aid allocation provided by the Department. Speedway is not recognised as a sports activity for the purposes o…

28 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional new money councils will be able to access for domestic violence abuse projects on top of the #2m available from the Scottish Homes budget and the #3m announced by the Deputy Minister for Communities on 27 October 1999.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: In addition to the Domestic Abuse Service Development Fund, details of which I announced on 27 October 1999, there are other sources of funding for domestic abuse projects. For example, a number of projects are being funded through the Social Inclusion Partne…

30 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the proposed timescale is between the announcement of the Homelessness Task Force and the report of that Task Force.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: We announced our intention to set up the Task Force on 17 June and the remit and membership on 15 August. The group met for the first time on 25 August. The Task Force has been asked to produce an initial report within 6 months so that any proposed amendments…

29 Sep 1999 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the proposed timescale is between the announcement of the Homelessness Task Force and the report of that Task Force.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: We announced our intention to set up the Task Force on 17 June and the remit and membership on 15 August. The group met for the first time on 25 August. The Task Force has been asked to produce an initial report within 6 months so that any proposed amendmen…

2 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve the position of homeowners in Scotland.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Home owners with a mortgage are currently benefiting from low interest rates. To reduce the cost of house purchase we are keen to support sellers surveys. We are also currently studying whether legislation could help to safeguard those with mortgages who get …

1 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take to address delays in allocating elderly people in hospital in West Lothian places in residential or nursing homes given that placement dates in April and May 2000 are currently being allocated and that the number of vacancies in homes exceeds the numbers awa…

Answer · Susan Deacon: Health Boards continue to work with their local authority partners in addressing all avenues to reduce and, where possible, remove delays in discharge from NHS Care.We are aware that an increase in referrals from St Johns Hospital…

1 Sep 1999 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve the position of homeowners in Scotland.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Home owners with a mortgage are currently benefiting from low interest rates. To reduce the cost of house purchase we are keen to support sellers surveys. We are also currently studying whether legislation could help to safeguard those with mortgages who ge…

18 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it intends to provide to help find a buyer for the Continental Tyres plant at Newbridge.

Answer · Henry McLeish: The Newbridge plant is owned by Continental Tyres and decisions on the sale of it will rest with the company.Since the announcement of the decision to close the plant, The Scottish Executive has been directing its immediate effort…

18 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government about the effect which the high value of Sterling has on export, market and investment decisions made by international export companies with plants in Scotland such as Continental Tyres.

Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a range of issues, including financial and economic matters.

18 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what communications it has had with the German management of Continental Tyres since the company announced a consultation process on the future of the Newbridge plant on 15 July 1999 and what was the content of these communications.

Answer · Henry McLeish: Myself and my Ministerial and official colleagues have had frequent and detailed discussions with Continental Tyres over a lengthy period to try to secure the future of the Newbridge plant. These discussions have taken place both prior to and since the format…

18 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support packages for the Newbridge plant of Continental Tyres have been presented to the German management of Continental Tyres, including any offers made prior to the announcement on the proposed closure of the Newbridge plant.

Answer · Henry McLeish: On many occasions, both I and my Ministerial and official colleagues have offered our help to the Newbridge plant. I have personally stressed to Continental management both here and in Germany, the willingness of the Scottish Executive to discuss ways in whic…

16 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce provisions for Scottish courts to use discretionary powers, such as suspended repossession orders, to assist homeowners who are facing repossession of their homes due to temporary financial difficulties.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: I have made it clear that we are willing to support suitably drafted proposals for legislation to protect those in temporary financial difficulties who are facing repossession.

13 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much money will be available for distribution in Scotland under the new domestic energy efficiency schemes (HEES and HEES plus) for the years 2000-2002, how many homes will qualify for grants under these schemes and what is the estimate of the number of homes that will receive grants …

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme was replaced in Scotland on 1 July by the Warm Deal. The budget for the Warm Deal in the current year is £12 million and it is expected that about 24,000 homes will receive grants. I hope to make an announcement s…

9 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on age discrimination in employment.

Answer · Donald Dewar: The Scottish Executive is an equal opportunities employer and does not discriminate on grounds of age in recruitment or employment.

9 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish on the internet the responses to the "Investing in modernisation - an agenda for Scotland's housing" green paper.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: All the responses to the Green Paper (except for those expressly submitted in confidence) are already available for public inspection at the offices of the Scottish Executive, and I have also arranged for copies to be placed in the Scottish Parliament Informa…

8 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to introduce common housing registers in all Scottish local authorities.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Housing Green Paper sought views on the need for common housing registers and made it clear that the Government looks to local authorities to take the lead in establishing them in their areas. In examining responses to the Green Paper we will consider ho…

8 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the level of investment required to bring housing up to a modern standard in (a) the social rented sector, (b) the private rented sector, and (c) the owner occupied sector.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The 1996 Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS) estimated that the minimum cost to repair and bring all occupied dwellings up to a fully modernised standard, including tackling Below Tolerable Standard dwellings, would be:<OL TYPE="a"><LI>£…

8 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many households are currently excluded from housing by (a) local authority landlords and (b) housing association landlords because of previous anti-social behaviour.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: This information is not held centrally.