Parliamentary questions
Johann Lamont
1,407 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
7 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in what form the performance of private landlord registration will be reported in light of the ending of ring fencing.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The performance of landlord registration is monitored monthly using statistics which show how many applications for registration have been received and how many have been approved, broken down by local authority area. Removal of the ring-fenced funds has had …
7 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in what form the performance of tackling homelessness will be reported in light of the ending of ring fencing.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: National homelessness statistics continue to be the core mechanism for recording and reporting performance in tackling and preventing homelessness. Performance against the indicator <i >All unintentionally </i><i >home</i><i >less households will be entitled…
7 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in what form the performance of tackling antisocial behaviour will be reported in light of the ending of ring fencing.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: This issue is being considered as part of the review of national antisocial behaviour policy, the findings of which will be reported to Parliament in early 2009.</p>
7 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in what form the performance of tackling violence against women will be reported in light of the ending of ring fencing.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The collection of performance data will remain the same as it has in previous years i.e. Violence Against Women projects funded by the Scottish Government will be asked to complete end of year progress reports for internal monitoring.</p> <p >Furthermore, l…
7 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in what form the performance of the Fairer Scotland Fund will be reported in light of the ending of ring fencing.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The ring-fenced status of the Fairer Scotland Fund (FSF) will end at March 2010. For the period 2008-10 we intend to fully integrate performance reporting arrangements for the FSF into the wider single outcome agreement (SOA) approach. Progress towards outcom…
7 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in what form the performance of housing support services will be reported in light of the ending of ring fencing.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The ending of ring fencing provided local authorities with an opportunity to better integrate care and support services which allow people to sustain independent living when they might otherwise not be able to do so.</p> <p >Until 31 March 2008, the Scottish…
7 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many school pupils received clothing grants in 2007-08 and what the average level of grant was, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Maureen Watt: This information is not collected centrally.</p>
3 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in what ways the Local Government and Communities Committee will be included in the consultation on the future of Communities Scotland.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8181 on 17 January 2008. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…
3 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the consultation on the future of Communities Scotland will include consideration of the method of allocation of funding for housing.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Following consultation with COSLAlast year, the Scottish Government announced to Parliament on 31 October 2007 itsdecision to abolish Communities Scotland. The discussion document Firm Foundations: The Future of Housingin Scotland refers to this. It also sets…
3 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the consultation on the future of Communities Scotland will include consideration of community regeneration.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8181 on 17 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…
3 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the consultation on the future of Communities Scotland will include consideration of the regulation of housing providers.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answerto question S3W-8181 on 17 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…
3 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the consultation document on the future of Communities Scotland will be made available.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Following consultation withCOSLA last year, the Scottish Government announced to Parliament on 31 October 2007 its decision to abolish Communities Scotland. The discussion document Firm Foundations: The Future ofHousing in Scotland refers to this andsets out …
3 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to implement the decision regarding funding registered social landlords, as stated in Firm Foundations: The Future of Housing in Scotland, to “consult separately in the coming weeks on detailed proposals for getting better value from the current arrangements with effect fr…
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government’s consultationon proposals for getting better value for Housing Association Grant will be launchedin February.</p>
3 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken in respect of those local authorities which have not submitted Strategic Housing Investment Plans (SHIPs) to Communities Scotland.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I have asked James Hynd, ActingChief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:</p><p>Revised submission dates of 18 January 2008 and8 February 2008 have been agreed with Dumfries and Galloway Council andShetland Islands Council…
3 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what reasons have been given by those local authorities which have not submitted Strategic Housing Investment Plans (SHIPs) to Communities Scotland for not doing so.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I have asked James Hynd, ActingChief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:</p><p>Dumfries and Galloway Council and Shetland Islands Council haveboth indicated that pressure of work has prevented the submission of their Stra…
3 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have not submitted Strategic Housing Investment Plans (SHIPs) to Communities Scotland.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I have asked James Hynd, ActingChief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:</p><p>Dumfries and Galloway Council and Shetland Islands Council havenot yet submitted Strategic Housing Investment Plans.</p>
3 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many social rented houses were built in (a) 2004, (b) 2005, (c) 2006 and (d) 2007.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The information requested ispublished on the Scottish Government website at <ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/NewBuildSummary">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/Ne…
17 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities will be informed that ministers will report on progress of single outcome agreements to the Parliament and the Local Government and Communities Committee before they decide whether to agree to the terms of its concordat with COSLA.
Answer · John Swinney: COSLA is the representative voiceof Scottish local government, and the Scottish Government and COSLA agreed the termsof the concordat in November 2007. The content and details of the single outcomeagreements are being developed jointly with local government, …
17 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities will be informed about the reporting process for single outcome agreements before they decide whether to agree to the terms of its concordat with COSLA.
Answer · John Swinney: COSLA is the representative voiceof Scottish local government, and COSLA and the Scottish Government agreed the termsof the concordat in November 2007. The details of the single outcome agreements,including the reporting process, are being developed jointly w…
17 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities will be informed about the format of single outcome agreements before they decide whether to agree to the terms of its concordat with COSLA.
Answer · John Swinney: COSLA is the representative voiceof Scottish local government, and COSLA and the Scottish Government agreed the termsof the concordat in November 2007. The details of the single outcome agreements,including the format of the agreements, are being developed jo…
17 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that the transcripts of meetings in local communities to discuss antisocial behaviour are published.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: It is not routine practice forthe Scottish Government to take or publish full transcripts of meetings in localcommunities. However, notes of the outcome or action points from such meetings willbe provided on request where available and appropriate, in accorda…
17 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings to discuss antisocial behaviour are planned in local communities in 2008.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: A range of meetings in localcommunities will be held as part of the consultation on the review of the nationalantisocial behaviour strategies, including focus groups and public forums. Details,including dates and locations, have yet to be confirmed.</p>
17 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings to discuss antisocial behaviour were held in local communities from August to December 2007.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The following meetings were heldin local communities between August and December 2007 to discuss antisocialbehaviour:</p><p>10 August 2007 – Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Kenny MacAskill, heldmeetings with Fife Community Safety Partnership and Fife Police in…
17 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6655 by John Swinney on 12 December 2007, why there is no person with a specific equal opportunities remit included in the group to oversee the implementation of single outcome agreements.
Answer · John Swinney: The remit of the group is tooversee the successful delivery of single outcome agreements between the ScottishGovernment and local authorities. One of the key purposes of the group is to setout the process of engagement with all policy communities across the S…
17 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6655 by John Swinney on 12 December 2007, whether the inclusion of a representative from Audit Scotland on the group to oversee the implementation of single outcome agreements is compatible with the independent auditing role of Audit Scotland.
Answer · John Swinney: Audit Scotland hasa statutory responsibility to audit the performance of public bodies on behalf of the Auditor General and the Accounts Commission. Audit Scotland’s roleon the group is to assist in ensuring that single outcome agreements are underpinnedby ro…
17 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6578 by John Swinney on 12 December 2007, whether reports by ministers to the Local Government Committee and the Parliament on progress in relation to single outcome agreements will be in written form.
Answer · John Swinney: Parliamentary scrutiny will bean essential part of monitoring progress in relation to single outcome agreements.I will be writing to the Convenor of the Local Government and Communities Committeein due course outlining how I propose the process of reporting t…
17 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6578 by John Swinney on 12 December 2007, how many times each year ministers will report to the Local Government Committee and the Parliament on progress in relation to single outcome agreements.
Answer · John Swinney: Parliamentary scrutiny will bean essential part of monitoring progress in relation to single outcome agreements.I will be writing to the Convenor of the Local Government and Communities Committeein due course outlining how I propose the process of reporting t…
17 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were in fuel poverty in each year from 2000 to 2007.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Figures for the number of peoplein fuel poverty are estimated from the results of the Scottish House Condition Survey.Figures for the individual years requested are unavailable, except for 2002. Surveysafter 2002 were conducted on an annual but not calendar y…
14 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost will be of employing additional civil servants to ensure the co-ordination of the activities of community planning partnerships in the event of Communities Scotland being abolished.
Answer · John Swinney: As it is not anticipated thatany additional civil servants will be needed, there will be no additional cost.</p>
14 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many additional civil servants will be needed to ensure the co-ordination of the activities of community planning partnerships in the event of Communities Scotland being abolished.
Answer · John Swinney: It is not anticipated that anyadditional civil servants will be needed.</p>