Parliamentary questions

Mary Mulligan

707 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

21 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30609 by Alex Neil on 19 January 2010, what number of applicants constitutes 5%.

Answer · Alex Neil: In 2008-09, 5% of applicants, 255 applicants per month, slept rough the night before applying for assistance. The official statistics show that the percentage of applicants under the homeless persons legislation who reported sleeping rough the night before ap…

20 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will legislate on proposals regarding landlord registration in the Scottish Private Rented Sector Strategy Group Consultation Recommendations Report, December 2009.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government established the Scottish Private Rented Sector Strategy Group to provide advice on the development of a professional, high quality private rented sector. The first phase of the group''s work ended with the publication of its consultati…

13 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the last field survey of rough sleepers was carried out.

Answer · Alex Neil: The last survey of rough sleepers was carried out in 2003, coinciding with the then Scottish Executive''s target to eliminate the need to sleep rough by 2003. The Scottish Government no longer carries out twice yearly rough sleeper counts. Figures on rough sl…

13 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to carry out a field survey to ascertain the number of rough sleepers.

Answer · Alex Neil: Figures on rough sleeping are now collected by local authorities through the HL1 form. Applicants are asked if they slept rough the night before applying for assistance. The HL1 form data has the advantage of providing data from 2002 which enables changes to …

11 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is sufficient hostel capacity to accommodate the number of people sleeping rough.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government does not collect figures on the number of available hostel beds. Figures on rough sleeping are collected by local authorities though the HL1 form. Applicants are asked if they slept rough the night before applying for assistance. In 20…

11 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what figure was established in its most recent survey of the number of people sleeping rough.

Answer · Alex Neil: Figures on rough sleeping are now collected by local authorities through the HL1 form. Applicants are asked if they slept rough the night before applying for assistance. In 2008-09, 5% of applicants slept rough the night before applying for assistance. The Sc…

11 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when its most recent survey was carried out on the number of people sleeping rough.

Answer · Alex Neil: Figures on rough sleeping are now collected by local authorities through the HL1 form. Applicants are asked if they slept rough the night before applying for assistance. In 2008-09, 5% of applicants slept rough the night before applying for assistance. The Sc…

6 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20924 by Alex Neil on 10 March 2009, when it will publish its plans for recording the provision of housing support services.

Answer · Alex Neil: The detail and timescales for the new data collection will be determined following the completion of the work of the joint working group referred to in my replies to question S3W-20924 and the related answers to questions S3W-26591, S3W-26592 and S3W-26593 on…

6 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the use of the term heating system measures in the Energy Assistance Package was agreed with the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum.

Answer · Alex Neil: It was not thought necessary to agree with the forum the use of this term, which is intended to cover the considerable range of measures that are installed: mains gas boilers, electric storage heaters, oil boilers, LPG boilers, solid fuel boilers, air source …

6 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 4,701 heating system measures under the Energy Assistance Package in 2009 were legacy central heating installations.

Answer · Alex Neil: Figures are presented related to financial years, in this case the year is 2009-10. Five thousand, one hundred and thirty-eight heating system measures were installed between April and end November 2009. All were funded from the same budget. Some w…

6 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 4,701 heating system measures under the Energy Assistance Package in 2009 were gas central heating systems.

Answer · Alex Neil: Of the 5,138 heating system measures delivered between April and end November 2009, 3,863 included mains gas boilers; 1,017 included electric storage heating systems, 186 included oil boilers; 29 included liquid petroleum gas (LPG) boilers; 22 included solid …

6 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 4,701 heating system measures under the Energy Assistance Package in 2009 were central heating installations.

Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30463 on 14 January 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/App…

6 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much of its funding on the Energy Assistance Package from April to October 2009 was used (a) to purchase insulation and (b) for central heating systems.

Answer · Alex Neil: We do not have separate funding streams for insulation and central heating. The Managing Agent sub-contracts the delivery of the appropriate measures for each household, which often comprises a package of measures such as a heating system, insulation, and dra…

6 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its total spend was on the Energy Assistance Package from April to October 2009.

Answer · Alex Neil: The fuel poverty programme spend up to the end of December 2009 was £20,290,773.

5 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to issue an analysis of the returns from local authorities on their progress in reaching interim homelessness targets.

Answer · Alex Neil: An analysis of the returns from local authorities in reaching interim homelessness targets was provided in the statistics bulletin published by the Scottish Government on 4 September 2009. This analysis and continuing engagement with local authorities is inf…

5 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to issue examples of best practice in housing allocation to local authorities.

Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30392 on 13 January 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/A…

5 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to issue fresh guidance to local authorities on housing allocations.

Answer · Alex Neil: We are currently in the process of developing the new practical guide to social housing allocations and gathering practice examples for inclusion in the guide. We anticipate publishing the guide for consultation in spring this year.

5 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has discussed a boiler scrappage scheme with the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum.

Answer · Alex Neil: The subject of boiler scrappage schemes is to be included on the agenda of the next meeting of the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum on 26 January 2010.

5 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce a boiler scrappage scheme, similar to that in England.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government''s recent consultation on an Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland, which closed on 5 January 2010, welcomed views on any energy saving scheme, including potential incentives to replace inefficient boilers. We will now analyse res…

21 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost will be to developers of houses provided under national housing trust proposals.

Answer · Alex Neil: Under the proposals for a National Housing Trust, participating private sector partners would be expected to fund 35% of the purchase price of any homes to be provided for affordable rent through the housing trust model. As noted in the answer to question S3W…

21 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost will be to local authorities of houses provided under national housing trust proposals.

Answer · Alex Neil: Under the proposals for a National Housing Trust, participating local authorities would be expected to fund 65% of the purchase price of any homes to be provided for affordable rent through the Housing Trust model in their area. As noted in the answer to ques…

21 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost will be of houses provided under national housing trust proposals.

Answer · Alex Neil: The upfront purchase price of any houses provided under the National Housing Trust proposals would depend on the outcome of a public procurement exercise under which any bids would be assessed to ensure they offer good value for public money, and good quality…

17 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Audit Scotland plans to examine the housing debt of local authorities.

Answer · Alex Neil: Audit Scotland audits local authorities on behalf of the Accounts Commission. The audit of best value provides independent assurance on whether local authorities manage their finances and resources efficiently and effectively. I understand that Audit Scotland…

17 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, regarding local authorities that successfully applied for additional funding for building houses in 2009, how much the cost of that building added to the housing debt of each authority.

Answer · Alex Neil: The local authorities that have been successful in applying for additional funding for building houses in the first two rounds of Scottish Government''s Council House New Build programme are published here: <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics…

16 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress there has been in establishing a housing investment bank.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government is exploring possible options, considering the potential scope and role for a housing investment bank and sounding out stakeholders.

15 Dec 2009 · Written Question

Answer · Alex Neil: (a) In 2006-07, there were 1,807 evictions carried out by social landlords. One thousand and fifty five of these were against local authority tenants and 752 against housing association tenants. There were an additional 368 technical evictions by housing asso…

15 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many evictions were carried out by each local authority in 2008-09.

Answer · Alex Neil: Information on the number of eviction actions raised and outcomes reached in each local authority is published online annually as part of the statistical publication Housing Statistics for Scotland “ Evictions, which can be accessed using the followin…

15 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many evictions were carried out by each housing association in 2008-09.

Answer · Alex Neil: Information on the number of eviction actions raised and outcomes reached in each housing association in Scotland is published online annually by the Scottish Housing Regulator, as part of their statistical tables which can be accessed through the following l…

10 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for the implementation of recommendations from the report, Review of Care and Repair Projects.

Answer · Alex Neil: There is no fixed timescale for the implementation of recommendations from the review. Additional funding from the Scottish Government to support the national co-ordinating body in the changeover and implementation of review findings is available for a period…

10 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been available to the care and repair scheme over the last five years, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Alex Neil: The funding available to local authorities between 2005-06 and 2009-10 for running costs for care and repair services is set out in the following table, rounded to the nearest thousand pounds. In financial years 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08, funding…