Mary Mulligan

30 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for how many years it will guarantee local authority funding under the National Housing Trust.

Answer · Alex Neil: Each guarantee to local authorities under the National Housing Trust (NHT) initiative will last for 10 years from the date the homes are completed and purchased by an NHT special purpose vehicle (SPV) or until the point when the local authority''s loan to an …

30 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average level of rent will be for homes built under the National Housing Trust.

Answer · Alex Neil: The level of rent for homes procured through the National Housing Trust (NHT) initiative will start at 80% of the current relevant local housing allowance rate in each area. At this level they will be affordable to those on housing benefit even after the redu…

30 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much capital will need to be raised by local authorities under the National Housing Trust.

Answer · Alex Neil: The amount of capital that each participating local authority will have to lend for the National Housing Trust (NHT) initiative will be dependent upon the number of homes which will be provided by those developers who are successful in the NHT procurement pro…

30 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many houses will be built under the National Housing Trust.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government anticipates that the first phase of the National Housing Trust (NHT) initiative will allow around 1,000 additional affordable homes to be built. However, the precise number of homes built will depend on the number of suitable tenders p…

29 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure that the Energy Assistance Package addresses the needs of carers.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government recognises the important role that carers play in Scotland and has put a number of measures in place to support carers. To that end, we have published, with COSLA, a carers strategy on 26 July 2010. This strategy takes into account the…

27 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many tenants will face a reduction in Local Housing Allowance as a result of changes proposed by the UK Government.

27 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 8,092 units completed under the Affordable Housing Investment Programme in 2009-10 were for sale.

23 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35785 by Alex Neil on 19 August 2010, what expertise the Scottish Futures Trust has regarding housing matters.

Answer · Alex Neil: Staff at the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) have experience in both the private and public sector of delivering large investment projects. This experience is demonstrated by the SFT''S delivery of £111 million of net savings and benefits for the taxpayer during…

23 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many houses sold under the Open Market Shared Equity Scheme in 2009 cost (a) less than £80,000, (b) between £80,000 and £120,000 and (c) over £120,000.

Answer · Alex Neil: In 2009-10 there were 1,459 houses sold under the Open Market Shared Equity Pilot. Of these 274 properties sold for less than £80,000, 942 properties sold between £80,000 and £120,000, and 243 sold for over £120,000.</b></p>

23 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 8,092 units completed under the Affordable Housing Investment Programme in 2009-10 were for sale.

Answer · Alex Neil: The number of housing units completed in 2009-10 under the Affordable Housing Investment Programme which were intended for sale (either outright or in part) was 2,568.</b></p>

23 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has commissioned research on the impact on the Scottish economy of the UK Government’s proposed changes in housing benefit and Local Housing Allowance.

Answer · Alex Neil: We are considering these issues. Further clarity is needed from the UK Government on the second tranche of reforms (planned for 2013) to enable a robust assessment of the impact of housing benefit changes on Scotland''s economy.</p>

23 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many tenants will face a reduction in housing benefit as a result of changes proposed by the UK Government.

Answer · Alex Neil: Only private sector tenants who receive Local Housing Allowance will be affected by the first tranche of reforms when they are brought in April 2011. The Department of Work and Pensions estimate this will affect around 50,000 households in Scotland. The UK Go…

23 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many tenants will face a reduction in Local Housing Allowance as a result of changes proposed by the UK Government.

Answer · Alex Neil: The data collated so far indicates that 97% of housing benefit claimants receiving Local Housing Allowance will be affected by the housing benefit reforms. DWP estimate around 50,000 households could be affected Scotland, losing an average of £10 per week as …

23 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has researched what impact the UK Government’s proposed changes in housing benefit and Local Housing Allowance will have on tenants.

Answer · Alex Neil: Detailed work has begun to assess the full extent of the impact in Scotland. This includes setting up a working group to assess the impact of reforms in Scotland. We are concerned that the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and other Whitehall departments …

23 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding will be lost to local authorities as a result of the proposed reduction in housing benefit for people in temporary accommodation, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Alex Neil: This information is not held centrally. I have raised my concerns about this particular issue with Lord Freud, Minister for Welfare Reform. We are now setting up a working group with representation from COSLA, housing service providers and other key stakehold…

9 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30126 by Alex Neil on 15 January 2010, what further progress there has been in establishing a housing investment bank.

Answer · Alex Neil: A housing investment bank is one of the ideas about how to fund investment in affordable housing which was included in this summer''s wide-ranging debate on how we meet the challenges facing housing over the next five years and beyond. Officials have also bee…

3 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are in place to monitor the implementation of the Wider Role Fund

Answer · Alex Neil: Implementation of the Wider Role Fund is administered by officials within the Housing and Regeneration Directorate. Current monitoring procedures are as follows:</p> <p >Each grant award letter contains a schedule listing activities, outputs and outcomes th…

3 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to produce an evaluation of the Wider Role Fund

Answer · Alex Neil: There are currently no plans to produce an evaluation of the Wider Role Fund.</p>

3 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place between it and COSLA regarding the UK Government’s proposed changes to Housing Benefit.

Answer · Alex Neil: We have real concerns about the impact these proposals might have and are taking steps to ensure that the views of the people of Scotland are heard in London. It is essential that any changes do not affect the most vulnerable households, who simply cannot aff…

31 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 8,092 units completed under the Affordable Housing Investment Programme in 2009-10 were refurbishments

Answer · Alex Neil: Of the 8,092 units completed under the Affordable Housing Investment Programme (AHIP) in 2009-10 442 were rehabilitations.</p> <p >Time series tables showing all AHIP activity since the programme began in 2000-01 are published on the Scottish Government''s w…

31 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 8,092 units completed under the Affordable Housing Investment Programme in 2009-10 were off-the-shelf purchases from private developers.

Answer · Alex Neil: Of the 8,092 units completed under the Affordable Housing Investment Programme (AHIP) in 2009-10 1,658 were off the shelf purchases from private developers.</p> <p >Time series tables showing all AHIP activity since the programme began in 2000-01 are publish…

20 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the rent arrears in each housing association was in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10

Answer · Alex Neil: I have asked Michael Cameron, Acting Chief Executive of the Scottish Housing Regulator to respond.</p> <p >His response is as follows: </p> <p >The information relating to rent arrears in registered housing associations for 2008/09 is available from tables …

20 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the rent arrears in each local authority was in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10.

Answer · Alex Neil: The rent arrears in each local authority are given as part of the official statistics publication, <i >Local authority housing income and expenditure: 1997-98 to 2009-10</i>. The publication and associated tables can be accessed at:</p> <p >http://www.scotla…

20 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-32230 by Alex Neil on 16 March 2010, when the method of recording housing support data will be published

Answer · Alex Neil: The methodology to be used will be published once this has been agreed by the short-life working group. At its April meeting members of the working group asked Scottish Government statisticians to consult with the Care Commission to identify whether the Care …

19 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been progress in defining how the hub model for distribution of funding will operate under the Housing Options programme.

Answer · Alex Neil: The members of each local authority grouping (or hub) will identify and cost their own priorities and submit an action plan which will be considered by the Scottish Government/COSLA 2012 Steering Group.</p> <p >Initial discussions on how the hubs will procee…

19 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the National Housing Trust initiative will produce guidance on the conditions under which a mid-market rent for a householder would be terminated.

Answer · Alex Neil: A short assured tenancy agreement and tenants'' handbook are being prepared for the National Housing Trust initiative (NHT). These will make clear to tenants the circumstances under which their tenancy would be terminated.</p>

19 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the National Housing Trust initiative will produce guidance on the level of specification for houses designated as being for mid-market rent in housing developments.

Answer · Alex Neil: The 2007 building regulations will be the minimum standard that all local authorities will expect developers to meet. However, it is envisaged that during the bid evaluation process the quality of the houses will be taken into account.</p>

19 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the National Housing Trust initiative will produce guidance on how to achieve the numerical balance between houses for mid-market rent and other social rented houses in housing developments.

Answer · Alex Neil: It is for participating local authorities, in discussion with the Scottish Government (SG), to lead on and determine the appropriate balance between the provision of intermediate rented homes through the National Housing Trust initiative (NHT) and the provisi…

19 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the National Housing Trust initiative will produce guidance on how houses for mid-market rent will be physically integrated with other social rented housing in housing developments.

Answer · Alex Neil: The purpose of the National Housing Trust initiative (NHT) is to make additional private rented housing available at intermediate rent levels. It is not aimed at providing social rented homes. In some cases NHT homes may be provided on sites where there is so…

26 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive in what ways the use of the Scottish Housing Options funding will be monitored.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Housing Options funding will be monitored by an evaluation process which will examine the benefits of implementing the Housing Options approach to the prevention of homelessness and how this impacts on progress towards the 2012 homelessness targe…