Parliamentary questions

Sarah Boyack

2,373 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

26 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many registered short-term lets are (a) operating in each local authority and (b) registered to pay non-domestic rates; how many short-term lets' owners derive a benefit from the Small Business Bonus Scheme, and whether owners of short-term lets will derive a benefit from the grants …

Answer · Ben Macpherson: There is no official register for short-term lets operating in Scotland. However, the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning announced on 8 January that local authorities will be given the ability to implement licensing schemes for short-term let…

20 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the school closures, what measures it has put in place to provide (a) access to meals, (b) internet access, (c) an appropriate space to (i) study and (ii) self-isolate, if required, and (d) other additional support for children in temporary homeless accommodation during the …

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is very grateful for the work that local authorities have already done in quickly putting measures in place to provide continuing support for vulnerable children and young people. Local authorities will be able to use funds from the £…

11 Mar 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it takes to ensure that its labour market strategy protects the rights and pay of people in sectors perceived as undervalued or insecure.

26 Feb 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to reports of an increase in the number of people who are entitled to carer's allowance not claiming it.

24 Feb 2020 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to COSLA's statement that the draft Budget proposals put the 2030 child poverty target at risk.

21 Feb 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the guidance regarding the short-term lets licensing scheme will be published.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: We are committed to working with local authorities and other stakeholders to develop the specifics of the licensing scheme. The role of guidance, and what form any such guidance should take, will be one of the issues that we shall be exploring with stakeholde…

18 Feb 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what actions it is taking to support Scottish Canals to ensure that all canal bridges are operable and safe.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government announced in its draft budget that it will be providing £20.7m in grant-in-aid funding to Scottish Canals in 2020-21. The equivalent 2019-20 figure was £15m. This funding is provided to enable Scottish Canals to undertake all of their …

18 Feb 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it considers the primary purpose of the Scottish canal network is, and whether this includes it being navigable.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government set out its priorities for Scotland's canals in the policy document "Making the Most of Scotland's Canals". The document makes clear that we expect statutory and regulatory obligations to be met as a fundamental responsibility of Scott…

18 Feb 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether dredging operations on canals are adequate to ensure that the whole canal network is navigable.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government announced in its draft budget that it will be providing £20.7m of grant-in-aid funding to Scottish Canals in 2020-21. Scottish Canals decide the level of expenditure on operational matters, such as dredging, within that allocation and …

12 Feb 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of figures showing that the City of Edinburgh Council has not provided accommodation for homeless applicants on 1,405 occasions since January 2017, what its position is on the council’s Assurance Statement on Housing Services, which acknowledges existing failures on the use of …

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The City of Edinburgh Council recently experienced a technical problem, which meant it was unable to provide data on the number of instances where temporary accommodation was not provided. This problem had not been identified when the council submitted its As…

12 Feb 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that EU powers that related to devolved matters are devolved to the Scottish Parliament.

15 Jan 2020 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has fully costed the policy commitments it has made that are to be delivered through local government.

14 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to local authorities considering council tax rises for 2020-21.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The 2020-21 local government finance settlement, including the approach to council tax rates set by individual councils, is subject to on-going negotiations with COSLA and the results will be confirmed as part of the Scottish Budget on 6 February.

14 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to place conditions on the 2020-21 local government finance settlement and, if so, what these will be, and how it will communicate them to local authorities.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The 2020-21 Local Government Finance settlement is subject to on-going negotiations with COSLA and the results will be confirmed as part of the Scottish Budget on 6 February. The Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work, Derek Mackay will write to…

14 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to send the first Local Government Finance Circular for 2020, and what information it will contain.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government will publish a Local Government Finance Circular on 6 February providing details of the provisional individual local authority allocations for 2020-21 as well as the latest known in-year redeterminations of funding for 2019-20.

14 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to ensure local authority services are funded from 1 April 2020 in the event that the Budget (Scotland) (No.4) Bill [Session 5] has not completed the legislative process by the end of the current financial year.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The issues that arise in the event that a Budget Act does not come into force by the start of the financial year to which it applies are the same for 2020-21 as for previous years. The statutory emergency arrangements which exist for such a scenario would en…

7 Jan 2020 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has overturned the City of Edinburgh Council's rejection of planning permission for a series of boat hotels on the Union Canal.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: A reporter was appointed to decide this appeal and was required to do so in accordance with the development plan for the area. The reporter found that the proposed development accorded overall with the relevant provisions of the development plan and there wer…

9 Dec 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact has been of the Scottish Ambulance Service’s response times policy.

6 Nov 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to mitigate the impact that difficulties in recruiting EU citizens as a result of Brexit will have on the staffing of care services.

24 Oct 2019 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what resources it is allocating to address human trafficking and exploitation.