Parliamentary questions
Malcolm Chisholm
362 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
12 Feb 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from mental health organisations in opposition to the merger of the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland with NHS Quality Improvement Scotland.
Answer · Shona Robison: Ministers have received representations from various stakeholders expressing concerns and seeking further engagement about the proposal to bring the Mental Welfare Commission into a new scrutiny body.</p> <p >Ministers are considering how these representatio…
22 Jan 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications there have been to the Climate Challenge Fund and how many have been successful.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: <i> This PQ was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0122-01.htm">http://www.scottish.pa…
9 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent the shortage of affordable housing is taken into account when considering distribution of housing resources.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The shortage of affordable housing is one factor that is taken into account when considering the distribution of housing resources. Other factors include homelessness pressures, regeneration priorities, existing commitments, etc.</p>
9 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent achievement of the 2012 homelessness target is taken into account when making decisions about the distribution of housing resources.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The shortage of affordable housing is one factor that is taken into account when considering the distribution of housing resources. Other factors include homelessness pressures, regeneration priorities, existing commitments, etc.</p>
9 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a new weighted system has been established for the distribution of housing resources and, if so, on what basis.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: A new weighted system for the distribution of housing resources has not been established but we have agreed with COSLA to set up a joint group to look at the framework for allocating affordable housing investment, including key indicators, geographic prioriti…
9 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the affordable housing investment programme for 2009-10 and 2010-11, whether Edinburgh’s housing need has been assessed against that of Glasgow or the whole of Scotland and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: No decisions have been taken yet on the allocation of Affordable Housing Investment Programme resources at local authority level in 2009-10 or in 2010-11.</p> <p >The split in resource allocation between Glasgow and Edinburgh in 2008-09 is in line with what …
9 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-18285 by Stewart Maxwell on 8 December 2008, how the announcement of a combined housing allocation for Edinburgh and Glasgow for 2009-10 and 2010-11 will be affected by the re-profiling of housing expenditure.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: A combined housing allocation has been announced for Edinburgh and Glasgow for 2009-10 and 2010-11 as this is included in the Local Government Finance Settlement.</p> <p >Decisions on the final tranche of reprofiled expenditure for 2008-09 are still to be ta…
9 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-18285 by Stewart Maxwell on 8 December 2008, why a combined housing allocation for Edinburgh and Glasgow has been announced for 2009-10 and 2010-11 while there are no projections for other local authorities.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: A combined housing allocation has been announced for Edinburgh and Glasgow for 2009-10 and 2010-11 as this is included in the Local Government Finance Settlement. Grant allocations for other local authority areas come from the Affordable Housing Investment Pr…
1 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-17219 by Stewart Maxwell on 5 November 2008, whether it will elaborate on the criteria being applied for distribution of the accelerated funding for £100 million of affordable housing investment.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The criteria set out in the answer to S3W-17219 continue to be applied for distribution of the accelerated funding.</p>
27 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent it considers the ability of local authorities to meet the 2012 homelessness target when making decisions about the distribution of housing resources.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: One of the four joint priorities agreed between the Scottish Government and COSLA in moving towards the 2012 target is to invest in the right areas to meet homelessness and wider housing need. Decisions on allocations within the Affordable Housing Investment …
27 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether City of Edinburgh Council will receive less or more money for housing during 2008-11 than originally planned.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Decisions are still to be made on the Affordable Housing Investment Programme for 2009-10 and 2010-11, and on the remainder of the accelerated AHIP for this year.</p> <p >However, over the spending review period 2008-09 to 2010-11 we have already announced c…
27 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether those local authorities that will not receive anything from this year’s £30 million of accelerated funding of affordable housing investment will be compensated during the rest of the current spending review period.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Decisions on allocating the Affordable Housing Investment Programme in 2009-10 and 2010-11 will take into account a range of factors in discussion with local authorities.</p>
27 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will confirm that City of Edinburgh Council will not receive anything from this year’s £30 million of accelerated funding for affordable housing investment and, if so, what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Decisions are still to be made on the allocation of the remainder of the accelerated Affordable Housing Investment Programme for 2008-09.</p>
5 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent on the Mortgage to Rent scheme in each of the last three years.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Mortgage to Rent expenditure for the last three financial years was as follows:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=112 valign=top > <p align=center >Financial Year</p> </td> <td valign=top > <p …
28 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what onus it will place on lenders to prove that they have done everything possible to avoid repossessions when homeowners get into mortgage difficulties.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Mortgage Rights (Scotland) Act 2001 provides significant protection for those at risk of repossession. Owners have the right to ask the Sheriff to give them time to pay off arrears, and lenders are also obliged to comply fully with Financial Services Auth…
27 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent legal aid is available for homeowners seeking a delay in home repossessions under the Mortgage Rights (Scotland) Act 2001.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government takes the issue of home repossessions very seriously and funds a number of measures to assist individuals and families who are in danger of losing their homes. Free or subsidised legal advice and representation is available through the…
27 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many homeowners have asked for a delay in their homes being repossessed under the Mortgage Rights (Scotland) Act 2001 during the last five years.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The information requested is not held centrally.</p>
27 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the shared equity scheme will benefit only those already living in a shared equity property.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Further details of the government''s Home Owners Support Fund, including Mortgage to Shared Equity, will be announced in December.</p> <p >Mortgage to Shared Equity is not intended to benefit existing LIFT shared equity owners, as these owners will be allowe…
27 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when announcements will be made about its shared equity scheme.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Further details about the Home Owners Support Fund, including the new Mortgage to Shared Equity scheme, will be announced in December.</p> <p >Mortgage to Rent will continue to help those home owners facing repossession to sell their house to a social landlo…
27 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the £25 million in the Homeowners’ Support Fund will be spent.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Home Owners'' Support Fund is expected to be spent as follows:</p> <p >Approximately £10 million in 2008-09, mainly on the Mortgage to Rent scheme but with some expenditure anticipated on the new Mortgage to Shared Equity scheme, and</p> <p >Approxima…
4 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make a decision about the location of Creative Scotland.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: Ministers are considering the report from the joint board of the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen and will respond to the joint board on this in due course.</p>
4 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will advertise the post of chief executive of Creative Scotland.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: Once the company is established, ministers will appoint a new chair and board of directors as quickly as possible to keep up the momentum in establishing the new body. It will be the new board''s responsibility to appoint a chief executive.</p>
4 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take in relation to the Royal Charter of the Scottish Arts Council.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government is committed to establishing Creative Scotland which will involve replacing the Scottish Arts Council. We are exploring the most suitable mechanism for the Scottish Arts Council''s Royal Charter being brought to an end to enable that p…
4 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will clarify the role of Creative Scotland in supporting the creative industries and any resulting changes to the role of (a) Scottish Enterprise, (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise and (c) local authorities.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: As I stated in the Parliament on 18 June 2008, Creative Scotland will be the national development body for the arts and culture. It will work in partnership with other publicly funded organisations including Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterpri…
4 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has or will be transferred from Scottish Enterprise to Creative Scotland in order to support the creative industries.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: £100,000 in respect of support for the cultural enterprise office will, from 2009-10, transfer from Scottish Enterprise to Creative Scotland. I confirmed this in the Parliament on 18 June 2008.</p>
4 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all the reports it has requested about the costs of establishing Creative Scotland.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: Scottish Government officials have been working closely with the joint board to progress plans and transition costs for establishing Creative Scotland prior to 18 June 2008. Ministers received on 22 August the joint board''s report on potential transition cos…
4 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the latest estimates it has received about the costs of establishing Creative Scotland.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government is currently considering a paper from the joint board on potential transition costs. The transition costs will be public when they are submitted to the Parliament through the Public Services Reform Bill''s Financial Memorandum.</p>
4 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether all sections of the Creative Scotland Bill will reappear in the Public Services Reform Bill.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: The Parliament voted in principle for establishing Creative Scotland. We intend to bring forward as part of the Scottish Public Services Reform Bill measures to establish Creative Scotland as a statutory body on the same basis as the measures that were set ou…
4 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what opportunities the Parliament will have between now and April 2009 to influence the remit and funding of Creative Scotland.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: The Parliament will be able to scrutinise the financial memorandum of the Public Services Reform Bill which will include the transition costs for establishing Creative Scotland and Stage 2 of the bill process will allow the Parliament to comment on the remit …
4 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assumptions about the timetable of the various stages of the Public Services Reform Bill underlie the statement in its press release of 3 September 2008 that Creative Scotland will become a statutory body by February 2010.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government is planning on the basis that the Public Services Reform Bill will be introduced to the Parliament in early 2009, and will complete its parliamentary passage towards the end of 2009. It will be for the Parliament to determine the timin…