Gordon Lindhurst

11 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to pausing the implementation of the new smoke alarm regulations beyond 2022 pending further consultation with local authorities and community and consumer groups.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Fire safety remains our priority and changes to the requirement for fire and carbon monoxide detectors in all homes mean that everyone will benefit from the same level of protection, whether they own their home or rent. These changes were due to come into fo…

10 Mar 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the UK’s withdrawal from the EU has had on Scotland’s relationships with countries outwith the EU.

9 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what provision it is making to ensure that local authorities and schools are able to provide adequate classroom space to facilitate face-to-face teaching for all pupils, in light of physical distancing requirements and other related considerations.

Answer · John Swinney: To date, we have committed over £375 million to support local authorities and schools to prepare for the phased return to face to face learning. This investment supports costs of necessary safety mitigations in schools such as infrastructure adjustments. It a…

9 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether, in line with UK Government policy, it will re-classify garden centres and plant nurseries as essential retail premises in order to allow them to reopen. 

Answer · Ben Macpherson: The First Minister announced on 16 March that the impact of the current lockdown and the positive effect of the vaccine roll out give us more confidence about mapping a path out of lockdown, with a firmer indicative timeline for lifting restrictions. This me…

9 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to ensure that correspondence and appointment scheduling for the COVID-19 vaccination programme is accurate and timeous, and whether it will ensure that those who receive an appointment through correspondence that arrives after the scheduled appointment will be…

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The updated information at NHS Inform has details about contacting either the helpline or local board if an eligible individual finds their appointment is unsuitable: Rearrange or opt-out of your vaccination appointment | The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine (…

9 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what financial provision it will make to support businesses that are ineligible for its Self-Employed Hardship Fund due to commencing trading prior to 1 October 2018, and whether it has considered measures such as backdating eligibility to the beginning of the 2018-19 financial year.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Newly Self Employed Hardship Fund was designed to help alleviate financial hardship for those who are newly self-employed and not eligible for the UK Government’s Self-employment Income Support Scheme. The fund closes to applications on 23 March 2021 and …

9 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide financial support to business owners who are otherwise ineligible for self-employment support due to having begun trading after March 2020, are ineligible for universal credit and have received no business rates-based support due to operating as a sole trader o…

Answer · Kate Forbes: We recognise the significant financial hardship that many of those who are newly self-employed have experienced over the past year as a result of being excluded from the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) which is why we have introduced two separat…

9 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether agency workers in healthcare settings are being prioritised for a COVID-19 vaccination along with NHS employees, and whether it will commit to making the vaccination process for agency staff as simple as possible, without an additional administrative burden.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: To save lives it is essential that vaccination be given to the first priority groups as set by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), and these include frontline patient-facing health and social care workers. This includes staff who have …

17 Feb 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to decrease class sizes and reduce the prevalence of multi-level teaching.

2 Dec 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what provision it has made to ensure that both publicly- and privately-owned public transport continues to operate viably, in light of reduced passenger numbers and changing working patterns following COVID-19.

18 Nov 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what further financial support it is considering making available to the arts, culture and tourism sectors as a result of COVID-19.

22 Sep 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the imposition of more restrictive regulations in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, what discussions the minister for older people has had with the health secretary regarding allowing families contact with older relatives while in care.

2 Sep 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has reviewed the uses to which the Spaces for People programme has been put since it was established, and whether this includes safety and cost-effectiveness.

19 Aug 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it is offering to local authorities to respond to COVID-19 outbreaks among young people in school estates.

2 Jun 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether a transport company it owns should pressure a witness to withdraw evidence given before a parliamentary committee.

18 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made on digitising the land register that is held by the Registers of Scotland.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: This is a question for the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland. She advises me that as of the end of April 2020 RoS have registered 39.3% of land mass on the digital land register which equates to an estimated 68.4% of titles. The published Key Performance I…

18 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to proposals to allow for the clearing of a backlog of home reports required to support housing transactions in progress.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Most housing transactions in progress are likely to have been brought to the market with valid Home Reports before 23 March lockdown. Providing a property has not been withdrawn from the market for a period exceeding four weeks, the Home Report will remain va…

18 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on developing a safe operating protocol that would allow the recommencement of the property transaction process, in light of the resumption of this in England.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The health and safety of the people of Scotland is our top priority. The Scottish Government published guidance on moving home during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak on 31 March: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-moving-home…

1 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of concerns regarding restrictions on freedom of movement and the policing of this, including for those visiting vulnerable people who may require support, care or assistance due to issues such as mental health, what account Police Scotland is taking of such issues, and what…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Police Scotland is playing a key role in the fight against Covid-19 by ensuring individuals comply with the advice from government and the health service on social distancing to stop the spread of the pandemic, protect the NHS and save lives. Scottish Govern…

31 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the COVID-19 outbreak, what its response is to reports that Airbnb and other similar businesses are continuing to list properties for rent, and what measures it has put in place to ensure that such businesses comply with its guidance.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government’s top priority is the health and safety of the people of Scotland. Regulations are now in force requiring anyone carrying on a business providing holiday accommodation to cease carrying on that business. The Health Protection (Coronavi…

17 Mar 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it can provide that any real-terms reductions to council funding will not impact on its commitment to provide sport and physical exercise, as set out in its Active Scotland Delivery Plan and other national strategies.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The 2020-21 local government finance settlement increases local government day to day spending for local services by £589.4 million in cash terms, a real terms increase of 3.9 per cent. The Scottish Government are working with Scotland's 32 Councils to mitig…

12 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-27616 by Kevin Stewart on 5 March 2020, what discussions it has had with the City of Edinburgh Council regarding how the increase in the number of hotel rooms in the city over the last decade has impacted on the city’s local housing strategy and dev…

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Scottish Government officials have met with the City of Edinburgh Council (‘the Council’), and other local authorities within the South East area of Scotland, at the South East Scotland Housing Forum, to discuss matters of relevance to the development and rev…

12 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-15195 by Kevin Stewart on 15 March 2018, what impact the increase in the number of hotel rooms in Edinburgh during the last decade is having on its target to increase the (a) housing supply and (b) number of homes available for purchase in the city.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government has not made a specific assessment of the impact of the increase in the number of hotel rooms in Edinburgh on its target to increase the (a) housing supply and (b) number of homes available for purchase in the city. Over the life of t…

5 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been delivered through the Scottish Growth Scheme in each year, also broken down by the proportion that was delivered through (a) European funding streams and (b) Scottish Enterprise and other public sector bodies in Scotland.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: To 31 January 2020, under the Scottish Growth Scheme, some £193.2 million investment, in debt and equity has been unlocked for 342 companies. The following table contains a breakdown by year of the funding delivered by the Scottish Growth Scheme and also the…

26 Feb 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on property prices in Edinburgh of the reportedly almost 50% increase in the number of hotel rooms in the city over the last decade.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The City of Edinburgh Council, as the statutory housing and planning authority, has primary responsibility for assessing local housing requirements. This is based on findings from their Housing Need and Demand Assessment, which considers a range of issues inc…

18 Feb 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of how the increase in the number of tourists is impacting on the country’s cities.

28 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it plans to take in response to Scottish Natural Heritage's finding that 32% of Sites of Special Scientific Interest are in an unfavourable condition.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government uses the ‘Condition of protected nature sites’ National Performance Framework indicator to report on the percentage of natural features on protected sites to be found in favourable condition or recovering with the necessary management …

8 Jan 2020 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that a record number of people are waiting over 12 hours in A&E departments.

17 Dec 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that there will be a functioning equivalent to the Motability scheme in Scotland.

3 Dec 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to improve transport infrastructure through Ratho and the Lothian area in response to reports of an increase in accidents because of excessive traffic flow.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The roads through Ratho are local roads which are the responsibility of the relevant Councils. This includes the identification and delivery of any road safety interventions which may be required. In addition, Transport Scotland has been liaising with both th…