Parliamentary questions
Mary Mulligan
707 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
18 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what actions it has taken to advertise the measures available to people at risk of repossession of their home, following the passing of the Home Owner and Debtor Protection (Scotland) Bill.
Answer · Alex Neil: We are working with the Scottish Legal Aid Board and the Repossessions Advice Group to develop training for the advice sector and plan to hold dissemination events during the summer. We are also considering what other measures are needed to publicise informat…
18 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will bring before the Parliament regulations and guidance to support the operation of the Home Owner and Debtor Protection (Scotland) Bill.
Answer · Alex Neil: We plan to lay regulations and produce guidance to support the operation of the Home Owner and Debtor Protection (Scotland) Act 2010 by the end of June 2010.</p>
18 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many debt advisers have received training to use the provisions in the Home Owner and Debtor Protection (Scotland) Bill to assist clients in mortgage arrears.
Answer · Alex Neil: We are working with the Scottish Legal Aid Board and the Repossessions Advice Group to develop training for the advice sector and plan to hold dissemination events during the summer. The training will focus on the new requirements and the skills and competenc…
18 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the provisions in the Home Owner and Debtor Protection (Scotland) Bill will come fully into force.
Answer · Alex Neil: We are consulting with stakeholders, including lenders, the courts, the advice sector, insolvency practitioners and others to ensure that all involved have sufficient time to prepare. We anticipate that we will commence the act in its entirety in September 2…
17 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether abuses of the planning system were identified that prompted the review of the planning gain scheme and, if so, what abuses.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government is seeking to implement the provisions of section 23 of the Planning etc (Scotland) Act 2006 which will amend the existing legislation on planning agreements. We will shortly be consulting on regulations required to implement the new l…
16 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to consult prior to the publication of the white paper on housing policy referred to in the news release of 16 March 2010, Housing reform essential.
Answer · Alex Neil: In May, the Scottish Government will publish a discussion document to launch a wide-ranging debate on how we meet the challenges facing housing over the next five years and beyond.</p>
16 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to make changes to the planning gain scheme and, if so, whether it will consult on such changes.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government has no plans to change the underlying principles and mechanisms for negotiating planning agreements. We will however shortly be publicly consulting on draft regulations required to implement the changes contained in the Planning etc (S…
15 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many disabled people have used the right to buy in each year since 1990.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government does not collect this information for local authority tenants and the Scottish Housing Regulator does not collect this information for Registered Social Landlord tenants.</p>
12 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many sheltered housing units have been built in each year since 2000.
Answer · Alex Neil: The number of new sheltered housing units built each year in Scotland is not held centrally.</p> <p >However sheltered housing stock numbers in the social sector are published each year by council area. These figures can be found on the Scottish Government''…
10 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £60 million allocated to the Energy Assistance Package was spent by the end of February 2010.
Answer · Alex Neil: The following table shows the spend to the end of February for the various elements of the £60 million package of support, as set out in my answer to question S3W-21692 on 1 April 2009. As Minister for Housing and Communities I have responsibility for the Fu…
10 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many central heating installations there were between April 2009 and end of February 2010 under the terms of the Energy Assistance Package, excluding those installed under legacy provisions.
Answer · Alex Neil: To the end of February 2010, the Energy Assistance Package delivered 7,127 heating system measures.</p> <p >Four thousand, two hundred and sixty-six result from our commitment to complete the previous programme.</p> <p >Three thousand and five systems wer…
8 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the date is of the next meeting of the Housing Support Forum.
Answer · Alex Neil: The next meeting of the Housing Support Forum is due to take place on 17 May 2010.</p>
8 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the date was of the most recent meeting of the Housing Support Forum.
Answer · Alex Neil: The most recent meeting of the Housing Support Forum took place on 25 February 2010.</p>
8 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the membership is of the Housing Support Forum.
Answer · Alex Neil: The current membership of the Housing Support Forum is:</p> <p >Robert Aldridge, Chief Executive, Scottish Council for Single Homeless </p> <p >Yvette Burgess, Director, Housing Support Enabling Unit </p> <p >Ron Culley, Health and Social Care, Convention …
8 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the date is of the next meeting of the short-life working group on housing support data collection.
Answer · Alex Neil: The third meeting of the working group is planned for mid April 2010.</p>
8 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the date was of the most recent meeting of the short-life working group on housing support data collection.
Answer · Alex Neil: The most recent meeting of the group was on 15 February 2010. This was the second meeting of the group. Minutes and papers for the first two meetings are available on the Scottish Government website at: </p> <p ><a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Sta…
3 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 7,701 units provided by the Affordable Housing Investment Programme in 2009 were off-the-shelf purchases from private developers, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Alex Neil: The following table provides details of how many of the 7,701 units provided by the Affordable Housing Investment Programme in 2009 that were off-the-shelf purchases from private developers, broken down by local authority.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 …
3 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 7,701 units provided by the Affordable Housing Investment Programme in 2009 were the result of refurbishment, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Alex Neil: The following table provides details of how many of the 7,701 units provided by the Affordable Housing Investment Programme in 2009 were the result of refurbishment, broken down by local authority area.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <t…
25 Feb 2010 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is supporting local authorities to achieve environmental targets.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Under the current settlement Scotland''s councils are continuing to receive an increasing share of the total Scottish budget. It is for local authorities to determine how they allocate resources according to local priorities and needs.</p> <p >The Scottish G…
11 Feb 2010 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress there has been in relation to the Home Owners’ Support Fund.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Home Owners'' Support Fund has helped 243 households since 1 April 2009. This is an increase on last year when a total of 233 cases were settled. Over £30 million of the £35 million made available for the Fund over two years has been spent so far. The rem…
3 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average rent levied by each housing association was in 2009.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28126 on 27 October 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps…
3 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average rent levied by each local authority was in 2009.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28126 on 27 October 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps…
1 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the supplementary to question S3O-9334 by Alex Neil on 28 January 2010, in what way the reduction in the number of housing co-operatives is “a direct result of the Labour-Lib Dem Administration’s efforts in 2001”.
Answer · Alex Neil: Under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 the then Scottish Executive decided to phase out the section 54 (Tax Relief) grant paid to non charitable housing associations, including housing co-operatives, to assist with corporation tax liability incurred on operati…
28 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has given guidance to local authorities on recording data regarding the availability of accommodation for rough sleepers and the extent to which supply matches demand.
Answer · Alex Neil: It is for local authorities to plan how best to accommodate the needs of rough sleepers, homeless applicants and waiting list applicants and to consider the availability of appropriate accommodation. Local authorities have developed local housing strategies t…
28 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30251 by Alex Neil on 21 January 2010, how much of the £137,000 represents costs other than land, design and building.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31159 on 8 February 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps…
28 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30251 by Alex Neil on 21 January 2010, how much of the £137,000 represents the cost of building the property.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31159 on 8 February 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps…
28 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30251 by Alex Neil on 21 January 2010, how much of the £137,000 represents the cost of designing the property.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31159 on 8 February 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps…
28 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30251 by Alex Neil on 21 January 2010, how much of the £137,000 represents the cost of land.
Answer · Alex Neil: The breakdown of this figure into the various cost elements to arrive at the final purchase piece will vary from site to site and be influenced by location and type of property. Under the procurement process any bids would be assessed to ensure that they offe…
25 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken research into educational benefits obtained by children receiving Gaelic medium education compared with children educated in English, other than being able to communicate in Gaelic.
Answer · Michael Russell: The, then Scottish Executive published a study in 1999 which looked at the attainments of pupils receiving Gaelic medium primary education in Scotland. The research team was led by Professor Richard Johnstone. More recently, B²rd na G idhlig has commissioned …
21 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30610 by Alex Neil on 19 January 2010, whether it is satisfied that the needs of rough sleepers are being catered for and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer · Alex Neil: In working to achieve the broader objectives for tackling and preventing homelessness jointly agreed between the Scottish Government and COSLA, we recognise the importance of addressing rough sleeping. It is however the duty of the individual local authoritie…