Parliamentary questions
Liam McArthur
3,663 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
23 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the ending of the shared ownership scheme for affordable housing will have on the delivery of mixed, sustainable communities.
Answer · Keith Brown: The independent evaluation of low-cost Initiative for first time buyers (LIFT) by ODS Consulting found that new supply shared equity, grants for rent and ownership (GRO) and shared ownership schemes have all contributed to creating mixed communities. We will …
23 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what help is available to prospective home owners who cannot afford the minimum 60% share of ownership required under the New Supply Shared Equity scheme.
Answer · Keith Brown: People buying a New Supply Shared Equity property from a registered social landlord must generally take an equity stake of between 60 and 80 per cent of the market value of the property. The grant provider may however agree to reduce the minimum equity stake …
23 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considered continuing the shared ownership scheme for affordable housing in regions where (a) there had been demand for it and (b) it had been effective in meeting the need affordable for housing.
Answer · Keith Brown: The independent evaluation of low-cost initiative for first time buyers by ODS Consulting demonstrated that in particular the shared equity schemes had delivered their objectives by meeting buyers’ housing needs. Whilst recognising that there are still some a…
23 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, prior to the decision to end the shared ownership scheme for affordable housing, it carried out research on the scheme's (a) take up and (b) effectiveness in meeting the demand for affordable housing in each region.
Answer · Keith Brown: ODS Consulting carried out independent research for the Scottish Government on four of the low-cost initiative for first time buyers (LIFT) schemes in 2010-11. The four schemes were new supply shared equity, open market shared equity, shared ownership and gra…
23 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) individuals and (b) families will be unable to access affordable housing as a result of the ending of its shared ownership scheme, broken down by region.
Answer · Keith Brown: This information is not held centrally.
23 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how housing associations wanting to set up their own shared ownership schemes will fund them.
Answer · Keith Brown: It would be for the governing body members of the registered social landlord to ensure that they seek and follow independent advice from appropriately qualified individuals to help them make these decisions.
23 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received regarding the ending of the shared ownership scheme for affordable housing.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government received a formal representation opposing the decision from Grampian Housing Association. A small number of other registered social landlords have also commented informally, some to support the Scottish Government’s decision and others…
23 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the ending of the shared ownership scheme for affordable housing will have on meeting the needs of house buyers.
Answer · Keith Brown: The independent evaluation by ODS Consulting identified concerns about how the shared ownership scheme met purchasers’ needs. It found that shared ownership does not offer the best value for money for either the Scottish Government or for the purchaser compar…
23 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be restrictions to shared ownership schemes set up by individual housing associations.
Answer · Keith Brown: Registered social landlords (RSLs) may set up shared ownership schemes as long as they ensure good value for money and support for the sharing owner and provided that, in marketing the properties, they are careful to ensure that buyers fully understand what t…
23 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances prospective home owners will be allowed to reduce their share of ownership to 51% when making an application under the New Supply Shared Equity scheme.
Answer · Keith Brown: This is likely to apply where a housing market is particularly pressured, or where people with particular housing needs have identifiable additional housing costs.
17 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to what parts of (a) Orkney, (b) Shetland and (c) the Western Isles next generation broadband will be rolled out by 2015.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Highlands and Islands Enterprise is leading on the development of a local broadband plan for the Highlands and Islands region, which will include Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles. As this project is being led by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and is…
17 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received regarding the impact on (a) voluntary organisations and (b) businesses of the exclusion of business travel from the Air Discount Scheme.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-85 on 31 May 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/De…
17 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to help island-based voluntary organisations to participate in national events on the Scottish mainland following the exclusion of business travel from the Air Discount Scheme.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-85 on 31 May 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/De…
17 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out or plans to carry out an investigation of the impact on island-based businesses of the exclusion of business travel from the Air Discount Scheme.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-85 on 31 May 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/De…
17 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its target dates are to roll out superfast broadband to rural areas in each region.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government’s overarching ambition, as outlined in our digital strategy of 3 March 2011, is that next generation broadband will be available to all by 2020, with significant progress made by 2015. We are developing a strategic infrastructure plan …
17 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out or plans to carry out an investigation of the impact on island-based voluntary organisations of the exclusion of business travel from the Air Discount Scheme.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has not conducted, and has no plans to conduct, an investigation of the impact on voluntary organisations and businesses of the exclusion of business-related claims from the Air Discount Scheme (ADS). We have not received representati…
17 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its target dates are for the development of a local broadband plan for each region.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Highlands and Islands Enterprise is currently finalising its local broadband plan for the Highlands and Islands region. Additionally, the South of Scotland Alliance, whose area covers the geographic boundaries of Scottish Borders Council and Dumfries and Gal…
17 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria will be used to prioritise the roll-out of superfast broadband to each (a) region and (b) local area in each region.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government’s overarching ambition, as outlined in our Digital Strategy of 3 March 2011, is that next generation broadband will be available to all by 2020, with significant progress by 2015. We are developing a strategic infrastructure plan for S…
17 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what stakeholders will be involved in the development of a local broadband plan for Orkney.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Highlands and Islands Enterprise is leading on the development of a local broadband plan for the Highlands and Islands region, which will include Orkney. Highlands and Islands Enterprise plans to engage with a range of stakeholders in the development of its l…
16 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the Housing Association Grant benchmark of £40,000 per house for new properties.
Answer · Keith Brown: The £50 million Innovation and Investment Fund is a one year programme planned for 2011-12. Funds will be allocated in due course on the basis of bids from potential housing providers which are due to be submitted by 31 May 2011. Once all bids have been asses…
16 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how may new housing association properties it expects to be built in each year of the current parliamentary session, broken down by region.
Answer · Keith Brown: We said in our Strategy and Action Plan Homes Fit for the 21st Century that we aim to deliver 18,000 new affordable homes over the next three years through housing associations, councils and other developers. The breakdown by year and by region will be decide…
16 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware that, at the current level of subsidy available, Orkney Housing Association Ltd does not plan to start building new houses in 2011-12 and whether it will take steps to address this situation.
Answer · Keith Brown: We have not been advised by Orkney Housing Association Ltd whether they will submit a bid to the Innovation and Investment Fund (2011-12) which is making £50 million available across Scotland. We said in our Strategy and Action Plan Homes Fit for the 21st Ce…
16 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received regarding the impact that the Housing Association Grant benchmark of £40,000 per house for new properties will have on the number of new houses that will be built in each year of the current parliamentary session.
Answer · Keith Brown: We consulted with a range of representative bodies on the detail of the 2011-12 Innovation and Investment Fund and received comments from the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations and Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum before finalising guidance on the …
16 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the Housing Association Grant benchmark of £40,000 for new properties will allow housing associations in all regions to build new houses.
Answer · Keith Brown: We said in our Strategy and Action Plan Homes Fit for the 21st Century that we would make a decisive change in the way we support new developments, using Government funding to lever in the maximum investment from other sources. Developments will also need to …
22 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to update the procurement policy note on timber and timber products on its website.
Answer · John Swinney: The Procurement Policy Note on timber and timber products on the Scottish Government website recommends that public procurement officials should specify in orders and contracts that suppliers must provide evidence that timber and timber products have been law…
22 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the proportion of wood-based products procured by (a) it and (b) its agencies in the last 12 months that come from (i) Forest Stewardship Council-certified, (ii) Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification scheme-certified, (iii) other certified …
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government first issued guidance to public bodies in Scotland on the policy for procurement of timber and timber products in 2004. A further policy update was issued in 2005. This update gave details of four approved timber schemes, including the…
22 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the compliance of (a) its directorates, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies with the UK Government’s Central Point of Expertise on Timber’s criteria for sourcing sustainable timber.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has issued its own guidance on procurement policy relating to timber and timber related products. The guidance recommends that public procurement officials should specify in orders and contracts that suppliers must provide evidence tha…
15 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances (a) environmental impact and (b) habitats regulations assessments will be required before legal agreements associated with planning consents can be amended or revoked under the new provisions introduced on 1 February 2011.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-39655 on 10 March 2011. 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/Apps2/…
15 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that interested parties, including statutory bodies, local communities and interest groups, will be (a) made aware of and (b) given an opportunity to comment on applications to amend or revoke legal agreements associated with planning consents.
Answer · Keith Brown: Where an application is made to a planning authority for the modification or discharge of a planning obligation, the authority is required to notify any person (other than the applicant) against whom the obligation is enforceable and provide them with details…
15 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the environmental effect of retaining, amending or revoking legal agreements associated with planning consents will be taken into account under the new provisions introduced on 1 February 2011.
Answer · Keith Brown: There is no change to existing criteria against which the need for any subsequent obligation would be assessed.</p> <p >The requirement for a) environmental impact assessment and b) habitats regulations appraisal, is provided by The Environmental Impact Ass…