Parliamentary questions
Liam McArthur
3,646 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
1 Feb 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the finding from the Scottish House Condition Survey 2012-2014 that the levels of fuel poverty and extreme fuel poverty had increased in some areas, what plans it has to help people living in fuel poverty in (a) owner-occupied property, (b) social housing and (c) private ren…
Answer · Margaret Burgess: The most recent statistics on fuel poverty were published in December 2015 (Scottish House Condition Survey: Key Findings 2014 http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2015/12/8460) and do not show an increase in fuel poverty between 2013 and 2014. The Scottish House…
1 Feb 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the finding from the Scottish House Condition Survey 2012-2014 that the levels of fuel poverty and extreme fuel poverty had increased in some areas, what plans it has to help (a) children and (b) pensioners living in fuel poverty (i) in Orkney, (ii) in the Highlands and Isla…
Answer · Margaret Burgess: The most recent statistics on fuel poverty were published in December 2015 (Scottish House Condition Survey: Key Findings 2014 http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2015/12/8460) and do not show an increase in fuel poverty between 2013 and 2014. The Scottish House…
1 Feb 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the finding from the Scottish House Condition Survey 2012-2014 that the levels of fuel poverty and extreme fuel poverty had increased in some areas, what discussions it plans to have with (a) Ofgem and (b) energy companies in relation to tackling fuel poverty.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: The most recent statistics on fuel poverty were published in December 2015 (Scottish House Condition Survey: Key Findings 2014 http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2015/12/8460) and do not show an increase in fuel poverty between 2013 and 2014. The Scottish House…
1 Feb 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the finding from the Scottish House Condition Survey 2012-2014 that the levels of fuel poverty and extreme fuel poverty had increased in some areas, what steps it is taking to work with (a) charities, (b) local authorities and (c) other public bodies to reduce the level of f…
Answer · Margaret Burgess: The most recent statistics on fuel poverty were published in December 2015 (Scottish House Condition Survey: Key Findings 2014 http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2015/12/8460) and do not show an increase in fuel poverty between 2013 and 2014. The Scottish House…
1 Feb 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the finding from the Scottish House Condition Survey 2012-2014 that the levels of fuel poverty and extreme fuel poverty had increased in some areas, what additional investment it will make to tackle fuel poverty (a) in Orkney, (b) in the Highlands and Islands and (c) across …
Answer · Margaret Burgess: The results from the Scottish House Condition Survey 2012-2014 for (a) the Highland and Islands (b) Orkney do not show a statistically significant increase in fuel poverty and extreme fuel poverty between 2011-13 and 2012-14. However, the Scottish Government …
1 Feb 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will reconsider its proposed 13% reduction in fuel poverty spending, in light of the finding from the Scottish House Condition Survey 2012-2014 that the levels of fuel poverty and extreme fuel poverty had increased in some areas.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: We have allocated £103 million to tackle fuel poverty and energy efficiency in 2016-17, which will be used to help install energy efficiency measures, including solid wall insulation, in 14,000 homes, building on the more than 900,000 measures delivered since…
1 Feb 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the reasons for the increase in fuel poverty and extreme fuel poverty in (a) the Highlands and Islands and (b) Orkney as shown in the Scottish House Condition Survey 2012-2014.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: The results from the Scottish House Condition Survey 2012-2014 are based on three years of data and are not designed to measure year-on-year change. Due to the small sample size in the Scottish House Condition Survey, the local authority results do not show a…
1 Feb 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the figures in the Scottish House Condition Survey 2012-2014 showing an increase in fuel poverty and extreme fuel poverty in remote, rural and island areas compared with urban areas, what (a) steps it has taken and (b) plans it has to tackle fuel poverty (i) in Orkney, (ii) …
Answer · Margaret Burgess: The results from the Scottish House Condition Survey 2012-2014 are based on three years of data and are not designed to measure year-on-year change. Due to the small sample size in the Scottish House Condition Survey, the local authority results do not show a…
1 Feb 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is on target to eradicate fuel poverty by November 2016, in light of the finding from the Scottish House Condition Survey 2012-2014 that the level of fuel poverty and extreme fuel poverty had increased in some areas.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Scottish Government is committed to meeting its statutory target of eradicating fuel poverty, as far as is reasonably practicable, by November 2016. We have already allocated over half a billion pounds since 2009 on a raft of fuel poverty programmes to h…
1 Feb 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered a reassessment of the 2016 fuel poverty target, in light of the finding from the Scottish House Condition Survey 2012-2014 that the levels of fuel poverty and extreme fuel poverty had increased in some areas.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Scottish Government is committed to meeting its statutory target of eradicating fuel poverty, as far as is reasonably practicable, by November 2016 and it has no current plans to reassess that target. The Scottish Government is doing everything it can to…
1 Feb 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact its policy on fuel poverty has had on fuel poor households (a) in Orkney, (b) in the Highlands and Islands and (c) across the country.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Scottish Government is committed to eradicating fuel poverty and has allocated over half a billion pounds since 2009 on a raft of measures to help people in all of Scotland heat their homes affordably. Since 2013-14, we have allocated almost £18 million …
29 Jan 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of research showing support for measures to address nuisance calls, what (a) powers and (b) plans it has to (i) take action on nuisance calls, (ii) publish an action plan on dealing with nuisance calls, (iii) make senior executives responsible if their companies make nuisance c…
Answer · John Swinney: Regulation of nuisance calls is currently reserved to Westminster. The Scottish Government does not, therefore, have the powers needed to fully address the issue, which currently sit with Ofcom, the Information Commissioner’s Office and the Telephone Preferen…
28 Jan 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has provided to VisitScotland in each year since 2011.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The amount of funding Scottish Government has provided for VisitScotland in each year since 2011 is provided in the following table: VisitScotland cash budget since 2011 (£ million) 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 Grant Funding 46.…
28 Jan 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much VisitScotland has spent on promoting Orkney in each year since 2011.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Orkney benefits from the following types of direct funding provided by VisitScotland. Funding under the memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Orkney Islands Council and VisitScotland. Year Amount 2010-11 £80k (spring campaign from 11 January only) 2011-12 …
27 Jan 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to promote and encourage fair trade both internationally and in Scotland.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government remains committed to ensuring that producers in the developing world achieve a fair price for their goods. Through our continued partnership with the Scottish Fair Trade Forum, who have been awarded more than £1.2 million from the Scot…
26 Jan 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with COSLA about implementing a deposit return system for beverage containers.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government meets with COSLA representatives regularly to discuss waste and resource management issues, including deposit return.
26 Jan 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on how the Competition and Markets Authority’s approval of the merger of BT and EE will impact on the mobile telecoms market in Scotland.
Answer · John Swinney: At this stage, the Scottish Government considers it is too early to make an assessment of the likely impact of the merger of BT and EE on the mobile telecoms market in Scotland. The increasing convergence of fixed and mobile infrastructure and services will r…
26 Jan 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the British Infrastructure Group report, Broadbad, which calls for BT's Openreach service to be sold off.
Answer · John Swinney: The issues raised in the British Infrastructure Group’s report, including structural separation of BT, are currently being considered by Ofcom as part of the Strategic Review of Digital Communications. The Scottish Government set out its position in response…
26 Jan 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the accessibility of mobile broadband services and wifi on public transport has been in (a) Orkney (b) the Highlands and Islands and (c) Scotland in each of the last five years.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government does not collect or hold information on mobile broadband services and Wi-Fi on bus and coach services, which form Scotland's principal modes of public transport. These are provided either through local authorities or directly by operat…
26 Jan 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government by what date 100% of residents of (a) Orkney, (b) the Highlands and Islands and (c) Scotland will have access to superfast broadband.
Answer · John Swinney: Our £410 million investment in the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband programme will extend fibre broadband access to at least 95% of homes and businesses in Scotland by the end of 2017. The programme has already met its target of 85% coverage across Scotla…
26 Jan 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the next Scottish House Condition Survey will publish the percentage of fuel poor households broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: The most recent statistics on the number and percentage of fuel poor households by local authority area were published on 29 January 2016. They relate to the period 2012-14. The next publication of fuel poverty statistics for Scotland is due in December 2016 …
25 Jan 2016 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding how it could assist in accommodating 3,000 unaccompanied refugee children.
25 Jan 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-28830 by Angela Constance on 17 December 2015, how much non-cash departmental expenditure available has been unused in each of the last five years.
Answer · Angela Constance: The following table sets out the non-cash departmental expenditure unused in each of the last five years: Year Estimated/actual unused budget 2015-16 £81.1 million 2014-15 £32.2 million 2013-14 £56.1 million 2012-13 £64.8 million 2011-12 n/a* *T…
25 Jan 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-28830 by Angela Constance on 17 December 2015, what the non-cash departmental expenditure budget will be for 2016-17.
Answer · Angela Constance: The non-cash DEL budget for 2016-17 is £175.6 million. The budget has been adjusted downwards to reflect estimated requirements.
25 Jan 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-28832 by Angela Constance on 17 December 2015, what resource accounting and budgeting charge is expected to apply in 2016-17.
Answer · Angela Constance: Based on the draft budget, the resource accounting and budgeting charge is expected to be £175.6 million in 2016-17.
25 Jan 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-28830 by Angela Constance on 17 December 2015, what the UK Government-advised maximum budget for the Scottish Government was for the cost of loans in each of the last five years and what figure has been advised for 2016-17.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government maximum budget for the cost of loans in 2016-17 and each of the last five years is in the following table. The figure for 2016-17 is an initial estimate. Year Final expenditure as in Scottish Government accounts 2016-17 £175.6 mil…
25 Jan 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-28833 by Angela Constance on 17 December 2015, what different student loan repayment thresholds have been modelled and what was the resulting resource accounting and budgeting charge.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government has modelled increasing the repayment threshold from £17,000 to £21,000. This is expected to increase the resource accounting and budgeting charge by around four percentage points.
22 Jan 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it had with the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs before withdrawing a grant of £66,000.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government provided the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC) with funding of £66,000 for a three year period which was always intended to end in March 2016, with no organisations guaranteed funding beyond this point. The applicatio…
22 Jan 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what financial impact assessment it carried out before withdrawing a £66,000 grant from the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government provided the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC) with funding of £66,000 for a three year period which was always intended to end in March 2016, with no organisations guaranteed funding beyond this point. The applicatio…
22 Jan 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the availability is of (a) 2G, (b) 3G and (c) 4G mobile phone coverage in each local authority area.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government does not collect data on mobile coverage by technology type at local authority level. As part of its 2015 Connected Nations report, Ofcom – the UK telecoms regulator – published a detailed table of mobile coverage statistics (premises,…