Pauline McNeill

4 Apr 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many social houses have been refurbished in each year since 2000.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government does not collect this information.

3 Apr 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of people using the Help to Buy scheme are first-time buyers.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Between September 2013 and March 2016, we estimate that in 66% of the sales under Help to Buy (Scotland) the purchaser (or, in the case of joint purchasers at least one of the purchasers) was a first time buyer. This estimate is based on voluntary sales log f…

21 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to ensure that the (a) legal system and (b) legislation regarding repossession ensures that the rights of asylum seekers are protected, and that this group is not subject to arbitrary (i) intrusion, (ii) eviction or (iii) homelessness.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Provision of support for asylum seekers - including delivery and management of asylum accommodation - is a reserved matter, for which the Home Office is responsible. The Home Office is currently tendering the next asylum accommodation contract for the period…

14 Mar 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to extend concessionary travel for all 16- to 18-year-olds.

6 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers Justices of the Peace to be part of the Justiciary. 

Answer · Michael Matheson: Justices of the Peace are lay magistrates who sit with a legally qualified adviser to deal with summary criminal cases. They sit either alone or on a treble bench and deal with many driving offences, less serious assaults, breach of the peace, theft and other…

21 Feb 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that the Scottish Police Authority has access to a diverse and wide cross-section of skills and experience, including from those who have experience of operational policing matters in Scotland.

14 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has budgeted for implementing any recommendations that are made by the Poverty and Inequality Commission regarding tackling child poverty.

Answer · Angela Constance: The first Delivery Plan due under the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act covers the period 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2022, and will set out the Scottish Governments action to make significant progress towards the challenging interim targets set for 2023-24. The Sco…

14 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will publish its delivery plan on tackling child poverty.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government will publish its first delivery plan, due under the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017, by the end of March 2018.

12 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding (a) the number of households using energy pre-payment meters, including (i) the trends in the take-up and (ii) the potential impact on the take-up of the implementation of a price cap and (b) other energy social obligations reporting areas, including…

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: On 17 January 2018 the Scottish Government convened a summit of energy suppliers and consumer groups to facilitate collaborative working to support vulnerable consumers. In order to gather more specific information at a Scottish level, and to ensure that prog…

12 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of the potential impact on households in Scotland of the proposals in the Domestic Gas and Electricity (Tariff Cap) Bill, including the plan to remove the right of interested parties to appeal to the Competition and Markets Authority, and whether it has made…

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government have commissioned research looking at Scottish considerations for a price cap and this has shown that a cap can be beneficial for households which are struggling to afford their energy bills. I am concerned however that there are nume…

8 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the process will be for the appointment of the new chief constable, and what role the Scottish Police Authority board will have in this.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Under the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012, the appointment of the new Chief Constable is a matter for the Scottish Police Authority. Scottish Ministers must approve the appointment of a Chief Constable, as recommended by the Scottish Police Authori…

8 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what requirement there is for members of the Scottish Police Authority board to have policing experience, and how many board members have this.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Police Authority Board has no requirement for its Members to have policing experience although it currently has one (until very recently two) Board Members with this background.

1 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it issues to local authorities regarding the minimum proportion of new-build properties that should be accessible.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: It is the responsibility of local authorities to determine the appropriate housing required in their areas, based on the findings from their Housing Need and Demand Assessment and the policies set out in their Local Housing Strategy. The current SG guidance …

1 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it provides for local authorities to improve their provision of accessible housing.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government has allocated more than £2.5 billion from the Affordable Housing Supply Programme in resource planning assumptions to local authorities over the five-year period to March 2021 to deliver their strategic housing priorities. This funding…

1 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that all local authorities are able to provide information regarding the number of disabled people on their housing waiting list.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The way in which social landlords, including local authorities, hold information on their housing lists is a matter for each organisation. The Scottish Government’s Social Housing Allocations: A PracticeGuide includes advice on collecting information from app…

1 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether barrier-free housing standards offer full accessibility for wheelchair users.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Barrier free design is not intended to be a substitute for dwellings designed specifically for wheelchair users who need the full benefits that specially designed and equipped houses can give. That is why Action 63 of A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People - …

1 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase the number of accessible properties available to wheelchair users.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Current SG guidance for local authorities on developing a statutory Local Housing Strategy (LHS) encourages local authorities to ensure they provide a wide range of housing types to suit the needs of people of all ages, including the need for accessible housi…

1 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on introducing an additional grant subsidy for the provision of wheelchair-accessible homes.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government wants disabled people in Scotland to have access to homes that enable them to participate as full and equal citizens. A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People - Our Disability Delivery Plan launched in December 2016 set out a number of ho…

31 Jan 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its policy objective is for mid-market rents.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government is committed to the expansion of mid-market rent housing, where required, to ensure that those on low to moderate incomes have access to high quality homes at affordable rent levels. We will continue to work with local authorities to d…

25 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has carried  out regarding how the closure of the Children's Ward at the Royal Alexandra Hospital might impact on GP surgeries in Glasgow.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-14112 on 1 February 2018. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness…

25 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has held with clinicians at the Glasgow Children’s Hospital regarding the impact of closing the Children's Ward of the Royal Alexandra Hospital.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-14056 on 1 February 2018. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness…

25 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact moving services from the Children's Ward at the Royal Alexandra Hospital (RAH) will have on waiting times and elective surgery at the RAH.

Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde advise there will be no impact.

25 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the closure of the Children's Ward at the Royal Alexandra Hospital (RAH) will have on staffing arrangements at the RAH.

Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde have advised that the majority of paediatric consultants will move to the Royal Hospital for Children under the established organisational change policy. They will continue to contribute to outpatient services in Clyde. Specialty g…

24 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the role and work of justices of the peace.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government values the important role that justices of the peace play in the administration of Justice.

22 Jan 2018 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce the number of disabled people on housing waiting lists.

17 Jan 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what financial support it plans to provide to the Scottish Sports Association.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government has a strong relationship with the SSA and appreciates the independent role they play and the support they provide to Scottish Sporting Governing Bodies (SGBs) Yesterday I held a meeting with the SSA and representatives of the Cross P…

15 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-13357 by Maree Todd on 9 January 2018, whether this work will be continued through the 2018 Year of Young People with the aim of building on previous programmes and the Race Action Plan; what additional plans it has for 2018, and what key areas of w…

Answer · Maree Todd: Community based events, alongside a programme of funded events which are taking place throughout the Year of Young People are inclusive to all and reflects our overarching Equality and Discrimination Policy aim for the Year – that young people experience grea…

18 Dec 2017 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to protect vulnerable people from rogue money lenders over the festive period.

12 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring that race equality is being taken forward as part of the Year of Young People 2018, and how diverse young ethnic minority people are being included in the theme year.

Answer · Maree Todd: Equality groups representing young people have been engaged from the outset of planning the 2018 Year of Young People (YoYP) and continue to be involved across each of the six themes. Equality and Discrimination is one of the six themes for the Year and orga…

7 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) people and (b) families in each local authority area in each of the last five years registered as homeless, also broken down by how many (i) asked for and (ii) were given emergency accommodation.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Tables (a) and (b) provide the number of (a) people and (b) families in each of the last five years that had a homelessness assessment, by local authority area. The Scottish Government does not currently collect data on how many of these people and families …