Parliamentary questions
Lewis Macdonald
2,224 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
15 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many affordable homes it will build in each of the next five years.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government aims to approve an average of 6,000 affordable homes per year for the lifetime of this Parliament.
15 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many homes it expects to be procured through the National Housing Trust in (a) 2011-12 and (b) 2012-13.
Answer · Keith Brown: Under the first phase of procurement of homes through the National Housing Trust initiative (NHT), the Scottish Futures Trust is seeking to finalise contracts for the construction of almost 700 affordable homes in 2011-12. In view of the substantial interest …
15 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many homes for social rent it will build through the Innovation and Investment Fund in each of the next five years.
Answer · Keith Brown: We have indicated that we plan to build 5,000 new council houses during this Parliament, but have not set an overall target for council/housing association homes for social rent. We received a very positive response for the 2011-12 Innovation and Investment F…
15 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-00254 by Fergus Ewing on 13 June 2011, when it will meet the UK Government to discuss borrowing powers for Scottish Water.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is in discussion with the UK Government on a range of improvements to the Scotland Bill.
15 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-00254 by Fergus Ewing on 13 June 2011, whether it will list each of the improvements that it has identified for its discussions with the UK Government.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: The First Minister identified proposals for changes to the Scotland Bill in his statements to the Parliament on 18 May 2011 and 26 May 2011. Other proposals for change have been made by the Scottish Government and the Scotland Bill Committee in the last sessi…
9 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the capital value is of schools built as part of the 3Rs Project in Aberdeen.
Answer · Michael Russell: The capital value of schools built as part of Aberdeen City Council’s 3Rs school building project is £120.5 million.
9 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what annual unitary charge payments have been made by Aberdeen City Council for the 3Rs Project in Aberdeen each year to date.
Answer · Michael Russell: The following table sets out the annual unitary charge payments made by Aberdeen City Council to date for their 3Rs school building project. Financial Year Amount (£ million) 2009-10 6.6 2010-11 12.9
9 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it will provide over the lifetime of the 3Rs Project in Aberdeen.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government will provide funding of £171.6 million to Aberdeen City Council over the 30-year lifetime of their 3Rs school building project.
9 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much Aberdeen City Council will pay in annual unitary charge payments under the 3Rs Project in Aberdeen over the lifetime of the project.
Answer · Michael Russell: The current estimated total unitary charge payable by Aberdeen City Council for their 3Rs school building project over its 30-year lifetime is £478 million. Further financial information regarding school PFI and NPD projects is publically available on the Sco…
9 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has provided for the 3Rs Project in Aberdeen in each year to date.
Answer · Michael Russell: The following table sets out the level of Scottish Government funding provided to Aberdeen City Council for their 3Rs school building project in each year to date. Financial Year Amount 2009-10 £1,892,261 2010-11 £5,113,083
7 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will extend the Home Insulation Scheme to other areas during the current parliamentary session.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Home Insulation Scheme is being wound down and will not continue in 2011-12. In March 2011 I announced that the Universal Home Insulation Scheme (UHIS), offering free energy efficiency measures, would operate in 20011-12. UHIS allows local authorities to …
7 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what further assistance and incentives it has introduced or will introduce in relation to its report, Regulation of Energy Efficiency in Housing, in order to meet its obligations under section 64 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government will continue to provide support and encouragement to home owners and landlords to install energy efficiency measures, including through our national Energy Assistance Package and area-based insulation and energy efficiency programmes.…
7 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is required to introduce regulations under section 64 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 in relation to its report, Regulation of Energy Efficiency in Housing, and, if so, how it will do so.
Answer · Alex Neil: Section 64 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 requires the Scottish ministers to make regulations to improve the energy efficiency of existing housing. Section 64(6)(b) requires the Scottish ministers to publish a report on its plans for use of these e…
7 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many homes have received assistance under the Home Insulation Scheme in each local authority area in each year since 2007.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Home Insulation Scheme began in November 2009. Since then, the Scottish Government has supported the development of the programme which has enabled around 390,000 homes across Scotland to be offered energy efficiency advice, and where appropriate discount…
7 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reopen the boiler scrappage scheme and, if so, from what date.
Answer · Alex Neil: The decision to reopen the boiler scrappage scheme in 2011-12, supported by £2.5 million of Scottish Government funding, was announced on 19 March 2011. An announcement on when the scheme will reopen for new applications will be made shortly.
7 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many homes have received grants under the Energy Assistance Package in each local authority area in each year since 2007.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Energy Assistance Package was introduced in April 2009. The Energy Assistance Package offers a much broader range of support to a wider group of people than the previous Central Heating Programme and Warm Deal, including: energy advice, help to maximise i…
3 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which public body has responsibility for (a) organising, (b) monitoring and (c) meeting the costs of referenda organised by local authorities.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: Local authorities are responsible for issues relating to any local referendums.
3 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what referenda have been organised by local authorities since May 1999 and on what subjects.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: This information is not held centrally. Local referendums are a matter for individual local authorities.
3 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with (a) Aberdeen City Council and (b) other interested parties regarding holding a local referendum.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: No discussions have taken place with Aberdeen City Council about holding a local referendum.
1 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made toward securing funding for the A8 Baillieston to Newhouse upgrade.
Answer · Keith Brown: After parliamentary approval of the orders for the M8 scheme, the affirmative process has now passed without any objections being received. It is anticipated that the procurement process will commence towards the end of this year and that funding will be secu…
1 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on those projects proposed in the 2008 Infrastructure Investment Plan that are being taken forward.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-437 on 14 June 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/…
1 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the projects proposed the in 2008 Infrastructure Investment Plan (a) have been completed, (b) are being taken forward or (c) have yet to begin.
Answer · Alex Neil: An updated Infrastructure Investment Plan will be published by the Scottish Government in autumn 2011 and this will include a summary of progress on delivering the projects contained in the 2008 plan.
1 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish an updated infrastructure investment plan.
Answer · Alex Neil: An updated Infrastructure Investment Plan will be published by the Scottish Government in autumn 2011.
1 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made toward securing funding for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.
Answer · Keith Brown: We will continue to progress the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) with a view to bringing forward for construction as soon as the legal challenges surrounding the AWPR are resolved. The project will be procured through a non-profit distributing model…
31 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the impact of changes to housing benefit on residents of communities with high-cost housing.
Answer · Keith Brown: We wrote to the Lord Freud, Minister for Welfare Reform at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), on 20 December 2010 to express our significant concerns about the adverse consequences of the UK Government’s housing benefit reforms, and followed that by …
31 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with local authorities since May 2007 regarding the enforcement of tenancy rules for tenants who commit antisocial behaviour.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government regularly engages with local authorities through the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA). While no discussions with individual local authorities have taken place, COSLA is a key partner in developing policy and practice in…
31 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the national strategy on housing for older people will be published.
Answer · Keith Brown: The national strategy on housing for older people is due to be published in December 2011.
31 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will next meet the Scottish Private Rented Sector Strategy Group and what items will be discussed.
Answer · Keith Brown: A date has not yet been agreed for the next meeting of the Scottish Private Rented Sector Strategy Group. A meeting will be held in summer 2011, continuing the group’s work aimed at stimulating growth in the private rented sector and improving its overall qu…
31 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many affordable homes it expects to be built in each local authority area in 2011 by (a) housing associations, (b) housing cooperatives and (c) the local authority.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government collates the estimated completion dates for affordable homes that the Scottish Government helps fund. The estimated completions in each local authority area for 2011-12 broken down by (a) housing association, (b) housing co-operative a…
31 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding is or will be available for housing projects under the National Housing Trust in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14 and (d) 2014-15.
Answer · Keith Brown: The National Housing Trust initiative differs from the traditional grant funding approach in that the purchase of homes will be jointly funded by participating councils and developers, with the Scottish Government providing guarantees to councils to ensure th…