Parliamentary questions
Jim Tolson
304 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
16 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) expenditure and (b) unit approvals in the Affordable Housing Investment Programme were for (i) each local authority area and (ii) Scotland for 2007-08, also showing the distribution of investment for (A) registered social landlords for rented accommodation, (B) registered soc…
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Expenditure and unit approvals in the Affordable Housing Investment Programme for 2007-08 by local authority area is set out in the following table:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td valign=bottom > <p >Local …
16 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many rail stations it will ensure are wheelchair accessible by 2011 and how these compare with the present figure.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Disabled access to Scotland’s railway is a matter reserved to Westminster as it sits within disability and equality legislation that is the responsibility of the UK Government.</p> <p >There are 346 railway stations in Scotland. At present 201 are fully acce…
12 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13701 by Stewart Maxwell on 9 June 2007, whether it has held discussions with any stakeholders about introducing a national accreditation scheme for property managers and, if so, which stakeholders.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-14180 on 20 June 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <u>http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.sear…
12 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13701 by Stewart Maxwell on 9 June 2007, when it expects to make a decision on whether to introduce a national accreditation scheme for property managers.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Scottish Government officials have held discussions with the Property Managers Association Scotland Limited, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations and the Scottish Consumer Council. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Scotland and Homes for…
4 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many homes were built in each local authority area in 2007-08 using Housing Association Grant.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The number of homes completed in 2007-08 using Housing Association Grant (HAG), broken down by local authority area are detailed below.</p> <p >HAG includes the provision of affordable housing for rent and for low cost home ownership (LIFT).</p> <table bor…
4 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13606 by Stewart Maxwell on 30 May 2008, how many homes it expects to be built in each local authority area in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11 under the provisional allocation of Housing Association Grant.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The following table provides details of the number of homes currently expected to be approved for construction through the Affordable Housing Investment Programme in 2008-09. Details of the proposed unit approvals for 2009-10 and 2010-11 will be available nea…
2 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to offer public funding to encourage alternative operators to offer a replacement ferry service between Rosyth and Zeebrugge, and if so, what conditions will be attached to the offer.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We are seeking continuation of the service on a commercial basis. In the event of an application being made, a replacement operator may be eligible for support under Waterborne Freight Grant, which assists with operating costs during the start-up period of ne…
2 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in discussions with alternative operators offering a replacement ferry service between Rosyth and Zeebrugge.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Discussions are on-going and are of a commercially confidential nature.</p>
2 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it took, after learning of the intention to withdraw the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry service, to encourage Attica or Superfast Ferries to continue the service.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We are pursuing all viable options for the continuation of the service on a commercial basis. We will continue to work closely with Forth Ports, Attica and others to that end.</p>
2 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has discussed with Attica or Superfast Ferries any return of public funding following the decision to withdraw the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry service.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: No.</p>
2 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who took part in meetings with Attica or Superfast Ferries to discuss the withdrawal of the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry service.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We and Forth Ports met Attica to discuss the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry service. These meetings were not discussions about withdrawal of the service.</p>
2 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when and where ministers (a) first and (b) subsequently met representatives of Attica or Superfast Ferries to discuss the withdrawal of the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry service.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Ministers first met Attica in Edinburgh on 21 January, and subsequently on 21 April in Athens to discuss the future of the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry service and the issues which Attica wished to raise. These discussions were not about withdrawal of the servic…
2 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when Superfast Ferries first indicated its intention to withdraw the ferry service from Rosyth to Zeebrugge.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Attica first indicated its intention to withdraw the ferry service from Rosyth to Zeebrugge on 28 May 2008.</p>
2 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether public funding was given to Superfast Ferries from 2002 onwards to maintain or improve the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry service and, if so, how much.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Public funding totalling £2,958,955 has been provided to Superfast Ferries since 1 April 2002.</p>
2 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much public funding was given to Superfast Ferries prior to 2002 to encourage introduction of the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry service.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-13764 on 13 June 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…
2 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much public sector funding was invested to establish the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry service.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Public funding totalling £11,381,628 was provided to establish the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry service. This comprised an award of Freight Facilities Grant of £10,968,529 to Forth Ports and an additional £413,099 provided to Superfast Ferries in 2001-02.</p> <…
30 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce a national accreditation scheme for property managers.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government is eager to see higher standards in the residential property management sector. We have been considering options to achieve this, including proposals for a national accreditation scheme, based on recommendations of the Housing Improvem…
22 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps is it taking to encourage housing associations to pursue a social enterprise agenda.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The forthcoming Enterprising Third Sector Action Plan 2008-11 recognises the role of Registered Social Landlords, including housing associations, in developing and supporting social enterprise and will provide support for their activities. This is currently u…
22 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to Better Value from Housing Association Grant - Changes to Grant in 2008-09, whether it has any concerns that increasing the levels of private finance could lead to registered social landlords being viewed as higher risk borrowers by lenders.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-13391 on 4 June 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…
22 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that increasing the level of private finance is the most effective way to increase the number of high quality sustainable homes built by housing associations.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: In its 2006-07 Financial Digest the Scottish Housing Regulator has stated its view that the housing association sector continues to be financially healthy and has sufficient financial capacity to either take on further debt or to use its cash balances to cont…
22 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to Better Value from Housing Association Grant - Changes to Grant in 2008-09, on what evidence it based the statement “new stock being funded by HAG ought to be less expensive to manage and maintain”.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: New homes funded by Housing Association Grant will meet higher build and design standards than older homes. The cost of managing and maintaining an additional new home will be less than the cost of managing and maintaining an existing home.</p>
22 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for rent increases in the registered social landlord sector and over what period.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Scottish ministers have no powers to set rent levels for registered social landlords. Rent levels are a matter for registered social landlords to agree in consultation with their tenants.</p>
22 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will respond to the consultation, Better Value from Housing Association Grant - Changes to Grant in 2008-09.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-13606 on 30 May 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…
21 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that a six-month short-assured tenancy is enough to give vulnerable individuals a secure start after a period of homelessness.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-13256 on 2 June 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scotting.parliament.uk/webapp/w…
21 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what role it believes that the private sector should play in meeting the target to abolish all unintentional homelessness by 2012.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-13256 on 2 June 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scotting.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…
21 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that short-assured tenancies are appropriate for housing vulnerable individuals.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-13256 on 2 June 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scotting.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…
21 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the use by councils of six-month short-assured tenancies for homeless people in order to meet the goal of abolishing all unintentional homelessness by 2012.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The adequate supply of affordable housing in the right areas is central to meeting the target to abolish the priority need distinction in homelessness legislation by 2012. As announced in <i >Firm Foundations</i>, the government believes the private rented se…
12 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on whether young people travelling abroad on educational trips should be liable for prescription charges incurred in association with such trips.
Answer · Shona Robison: Young people travelling abroad on educational trips are treated in the same way as anyone else wishing to travel abroad. Certain vaccinations for travelling abroad, such as those for typhoid, hepatitis A and poliomyelitis, are available through the NHS on pub…
12 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether prescriptions required for foreign travel are covered by current guidance on prescription charge exemptions.
Answer · Shona Robison: No. Prescription charge exemptions relates to patients'' individual personal circumstances. If a prescription required for foreign travel is available through the NHS no charge would be payable by an exempt patient.</p> <p >Guidance on travel vaccinations is…
12 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any circumstances in which a person under 16 years old would have to pay for a prescription.
Answer · Shona Robison: Persons under 16 years of age are not required to pay for items prescribable through the NHS. However, they may be asked to pay for medicines which are not available through the NHS, and which are therefore prescribed privately.</p>