Parliamentary questions
Miles Briggs
4,209 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
8 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05804 by Patrick Harvie on 1 February 2022, whether it will publish the (a) membership and (b) remit of the Green Heat Finance Taskforce.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The membership and remit of the Green Heat Finance Taskforce is available on the Scottish Government website at https://www.gov.scot/groups/heat-in-buildings-green-heat-finance-taskforce/.
2 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05488 by Ben Macpherson on 28 January 2022, whether it will provide the information requested regarding how many of these reports have been solved and how many remain unresolved, and for what reason it did not provide this information in its answer.
Answer · Ben Macpherson: All reports received via the mygov.scot portal between 24 August 2020 and 30 November 2021 have been analysed, with appropriate actions identified and initiated. Social Security Scotland therefore consider that these information reports are resolved. Informa…
1 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with the Department for Work and Pensions to assess demand in Scotland for Universal Credit app-based services.
Answer · Ben Macpherson: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-06233 on 25 February 2022 . All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-commi…
1 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many Universal Credit claimants in Scotland use (a) online and (b) phone-based services.
Answer · Ben Macpherson: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-06233 on 25 February 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-commit…
1 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with the Department for Work and Pensions to improve Universal Credit service delivery in order to reduce complaints from service users in Scotland.
Answer · Ben Macpherson: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-06233 on 25 February 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-commit…
1 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it works with the Department for Work and Pensions to monitor the satisfaction and employee retention levels of (a) Universal Credit staff and (b) staff supporting Universal Credit service users in Scotland.
Answer · Ben Macpherson: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-06233 on 25 February 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-commit…
1 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it works with the Department for Work and Pensions to monitor feedback and complaints from Universal Credit service users in Scotland.
Answer · Ben Macpherson: Universal Credit (UC) is reserved to the UK Government. The Scotland Act 2016 enables the Scottish Parliament to legislate to allow for specific flexibilities in the way Universal Credit is delivered to clients in Scotland, with agreement from the Secretary o…
31 Jan 2022 · Written Question
26 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the spending allocation for tackling homelessness in Edinburgh, in light of reports that the City of Edinburgh Council will miss out on the equivalent of £9.3 million of funding because funds were administered by the Council directly, rather than through the Edinbu…
Answer · Shona Robison: The majority of funding local authorities receive for tackling homelessness is provided through the annual local government finance settlement. The distribution of the local government settlement for 2022-23 was discussed and agreed with COSLA and the City of…
25 Jan 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it will provide to help increase the numbers of allotments and community garden spaces available in Edinburgh.
21 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many domestic abuse court cases have been delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer · Keith Brown: Both prior to and throughout the pandemic, the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service have prioritised domestic abuse trials. During the pandemic this has included supporting the running of a Specialist virtual Domestic Abuse trial pilot Courts in Inverness an…
21 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) women have frozen their eggs and (b) men have frozen their sperm through NHS fertility services in each of the past five years.
Answer · Maree Todd: This information is not held centrally. You may wish to contact the Health Boards for the four NHS Assisted Conception Units in Scotland who may be able to provide this information. Contact details for each Health Board is set out below. NHS Grampian – for t…
21 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to create a Rural Heat Decarbonisation Fund.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government has committed to invest at least £1.8 billion in heat and energy efficiency over the course of this parliament. This funding is delivered via a range of support options, which are available to households across Scotland, including thos…
21 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking as part of the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Viruses (SHBBV) services Recovery Plan to ensure that adequate numbers of staff are available for finding and treating new cases of hepatitis C, and collecting and analysing data on levels of blood borne virus infection.
Answer · Maree Todd: Individual health boards are responsible for allocating staff, in recognition that they best understand local priorities and needs. The Scottish Government understands that many NHS staff have been unavoidably redeployed since 2020 to support the response to …
21 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many Integration Joint Boards have (a) suspended meetings and (b) suspended committees during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: This is a matter for the Integration Authorities. The information is not held by the Scottish Government.
21 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many individuals specialising in domestic abuse cases are currently employed in the justice system.
Answer · Keith Brown: It is not possible to quantify the number and broad spectrum of specialism across the Justice sector in relation to domestic abuse cases. It is a matter for independent justice partners to provide essential training in domestic abuse matters to ensure and sup…
21 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider launching public health campaigns to address the stigma around hepatitis C and other blood borne viruses.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government recognises the negative impacts of stigma, both on individuals and on wider efforts to prevent blood borne viruses. Over the next year, the Scottish government will focus on progressing the commitment to eliminate Hepatitis C by 2024; …
21 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people were registered blind or partially sighted in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Maree Todd: This matter is for local authorities who hold the requested information. This information is not held centrally by Scottish Government.
21 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the Home Energy Scotland loan scheme that provides up to £15,000 for energy efficiency improvements in homes.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government’s Home Energy Scotland (HES) loan scheme provides up to £15,000 for energy efficiency improvements plus up to £17,500 for zero emissions heating and micro-renewables and up to £6,000 for battery storage. Cashback grants are available w…
19 Jan 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding for local authorities it has allocated in its draft Budget to help tackle homelessness.
23 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05272 by Ben Macpherson on 23 December 2021, how many of these reports remain unresolved.
Answer · Ben Macpherson: All 429 of the intelligence reports received between 24 August 2020 and 30 November 2021 via the webform have been assessed, with appropriate actions identified and initiated.
23 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what specific consultation was carried out with local authorities prior to its announcement that, from 27 December 2021, nightclubs would be closed for three weeks, and on what date any consultation was first carried out.
Answer · Kate Forbes: Following engagement with sector bodies it was clear that many nightclubs would not be viable with distancing and table service restrictions in place. A decision was therefore taken by Ministers, using a four harms approach, that closure of nightclubs with ap…
21 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on two reported independent economic impact assessments, which stated that, in Scotland, economic activity connected to short-term let and self-catering properties generated over £670 million in annual GVA prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and what data it has to suppo…
Answer · Shona Robison: Economic impact studies by BiGGAR Economics for Airbnb, and Frontline Consultants for the Association of Scotland's Self-caterers are discussed in Section G of our Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment which we published in November 2021.
21 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what advice it has received on the legal compatibility of its plans to introduce licensing for short-term lets with plans, under discussion by the European Commission, to introduce a registration system for short-term lets across the EU.
Answer · Shona Robison: Before the licensing legislation, or any other Government legislation, is laid at the Scottish Parliament, government lawyers carry out robust analysis to ensure that it is competent. For the licensing legislation, that means ensuring that the SSI is made wit…
21 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what role it has planned for VisitScotland regarding the implementation and management of planned short-term let restrictions.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-05420 on 24 January 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committ…
21 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with VisitScotland regarding the tourist organisation's role in the production and implementation of short-term let regulations.
Answer · Shona Robison: VisitScotland is a member of the Scottish Government’s stakeholder working group, which has met four times since February 2021. Details of these meetings can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/groups/short-term-lets-stakeholder-working-group/ . VisitScotla…
21 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with local authorities regarding their power to designate all or part of their area a short-term let control area.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-05400 on 24 January 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committ…
21 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to Scotland’s ability to host international events if there is a significant reduction in the number of short-term lets as a result of further regulations.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-05411 on 24 January 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committ…
21 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it (a) has considered and (b) will consider using its power of veto on plans to designate all of Edinburgh a short-term let control zone.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-05400 on 24 January 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committ…
21 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated costs are of its proposed legislative process for regulating short-term lets, and how this compares with the previously proposed process that it did not pursue.
Answer · Shona Robison: The costs associated with The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Short-term Lets) Order 2021, which we withdrew in February 2021, are set out in the draft Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment published in December 2020. The costs assoc…