Willie Rennie

3 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to provide an initial progress update on its Scams Prevention, Awareness and Enforcement Strategy 2021-24.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government’s Scam Prevention, Awareness and Enforcement Strategy 2021-24 states that an initial update would be published at an appropriate time within 18-24 months of its publication in March 2021. However, our response to the cost of living cri…

18 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding is available for homeowners or landlords of properties that have heat pumps installed, and who want to maximise the decarbonisation of their properties and decrease their energy bills by installing solar PV and battery storage systems.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government provides funding to both homeowners and landlords of properties through the Home Energy Scotland (HES) Grant and Loan Scheme and the Private Rented Sector Landlord (PRS) Loan Scheme respectively. For homeowners who already have a heat…

28 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made regarding any lessons that could be learned in Scotland of the recent decision by the Welsh Government to remove the age cap on accessing funding for modern apprenticeships.

Answer · Graeme Dey: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19549 on 9 August 2023. 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-committee…

28 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Skills Development Scotland regarding removing or changing the age cap on accessing funding for modern apprenticeships.

Answer · Graeme Dey: Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) are available to anyone in Scotland aged 16 or over. Skills Development Scotland funding contributions depend on the type of apprenticeship, the qualification level and the age of the apprentice, however there is no specific age …

28 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ask Skills Development Scotland to review the value and purpose of the age cap on accessing funding for modern apprenticeships.

Answer · Graeme Dey: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19549 on 9 August 2023. 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-committee…

28 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the modern apprenticeship programme remains fit for purpose in delivering government objectives.

Answer · Graeme Dey: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19548 on? 14 August 2023. 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…

28 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) training providers and (b) employers regarding whether the modern apprenticeship programme is fit for purpose.

Answer · Graeme Dey: On behalf of the Scottish Government, Skills Development Scotland (SDS) plays an active role in managing information relating to the performance of apprenticeships and regularly engages with training providers and employers to continue to adapt and improve ap…

28 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has asked Skills Development Scotland to consider widening the range of courses eligible for modern apprenticeship funding.

Answer · Graeme Dey: Apprenticeships in Scotland are demand-led, and our apprenticeship system aims to be as responsive to industry demand as it can be. Any new Modern Apprenticeship (MA) frameworks created would be as a result of sufficient demand from employers for a new MA and…

28 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Skills Development Scotland regarding removing or changing the time limit in place on accessing funding for modern apprenticeships to allow an individual to begin a modern apprenticeship at any point in their career.

Answer · Graeme Dey: There is no time limit for accessing Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) in Scotland. Any individual over the age of 16 can start an MA at any point in their career. Skills Development Scotland provide funding contributions which depend on the type of apprenticeship…

15 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of public adherence to its recommendation that people continue to wear a face covering in indoor public places and on public transport.

Answer · Michael Matheson: At the start of the pandemic Scottish Government set up opinion polling research to help understand knowledge, attitudes and claimed behaviour in relation to coronavirus, and motivations and barriers to adopting desired behaviours. This ran weekly from end o…

7 Jun 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it plans to take to ensure a fair application of funds from EventScotland and Creative Scotland to every part of Scotland.

30 May 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the second appliance at Methil Fire Station will be withdrawn from service by 4 September 2023.

24 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the latest Index of Private Housing Rental Prices, published by the Office for National Statistics, which reportedly shows that the annual rental percentage change in Scotland continues to surpass that in England and Wales.

Answer · Paul McLennan: The latest Experimental Statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on the Index of Private Housing Rental Prices (IPHRP) were published on 24 May 2023, available at Index of Private Housing Rental Prices, UK - Office for National Statistics (on…

23 May 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it will take to reverse the reported decline of NHS dentistry.

23 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported change to residency eligibility criteria for free student tuition support in Scotland, whether people from Hong Kong with a British National (Overseas) visa will be eligible for free tuition fees in higher education, if they have three years of residency in Scot…

Answer · Graeme Dey: I am pleased to confirm that from Academic Year 2023-24 all students who meet the following criteria will be eligible for home fees status and student financial support in Further Education and Higher Education:Ordinarily resident in the UK for three years pr…

23 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding non-domestic rates, whether it will reduce the combined poundage rate for the largest properties, to match the equivalent rate in England, over the course of the current parliamentary session.

Answer · Tom Arthur: As set out in our 2021 manifesto and confirmed in the Framework for Tax 2021, we are committed to reducing the Higher Property Rate, ensuring that the largest businesses pay the same combined poundage in Scotland as in England by the end of this parliamentary…

17 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, ahead of the scheduled end in September 2023 of its £5 million funding that it announced in July 2021 to support the reduction of waiting lists in support services for women and girls affected by gender-based violence, and in light of claims by Fife Rape and Sexual Assault Centre, in it…

Answer · Siobhian Brown: We recognise the vital work that services like Fife Rape and Sexual Assault Centre do day in, day out to support women and girls. We also understand the difficult circumstances that the Covid pandemic and the cost of living crisis continues to put on front li…

17 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has taken steps to ensure that the transition to the proposed new funding model for specialist services for women and girls affected by gender-based violence does not result in interruptions in funding for rape crisis centres.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: In March 2022, the Scottish Government agreed that the Delivering Equally Safe (DES) funding period should be extended by 18 months beyond September 2023, to allow suitable lead in time for a new funding model to be developed, following the conclusion of the …

17 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the extension of the Delivering Equally Safe Fund until March 2025, whether it has taken steps to ensure that rape crisis centres are able to apply for additional funding before the introduction of its proposed new funding model for specialist services for women and girls af…

Answer · Siobhian Brown: In March 2022, the Scottish Government agreed that the Delivering Equally Safe (DES) funding period should be extended beyond September 2023, to allow suitable lead in time for a new funding model to be developed, following the conclusion of the Independent S…

12 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what year it anticipates ending fuel poverty, and whether it has set any interim targets to meet this aim.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Our Fuel Poverty (Scotland) Act 2019 came into law in July 2019.It is the most ambitious fuel poverty legislation in the UK and sets challenging targets that in 2040 (including at local authority level) as far as reasonably possible:no more than 5% of househo…

12 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many households it estimates will be supported through its new Warmer Homes Scotland Scheme.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Warmer Homes Scotland successor will be a demand led scheme, i.e. the number of households supported will depend on the number of households contacting the scheme, which reduces the accuracy of any estimates of households that will benefit. Substantial ch…

12 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much money will be available for homeowners to use through its new Warmer Homes Scotland scheme.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: Budgets for the scheme will be set out annually in line with the Scottish Budget allocation process. The contract for the Warmer Homes Scotland successor has a maximum value of £728m (ex VAT) over a period of 7 years. Household intervention rates have not y…

12 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for how long it had been planning to pause the current Warmer Homes Scotland scheme ahead of relaunching a new one.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: It has always been planned for new referrals for Warmer Homes Scotland to close before the contract with the current managing agent ends on 29 September 2023, to exit the contract in a managed way and allow for all customer journeys to be completed. We must …

12 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when its new Warmer Homes Scotland scheme will be launched.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The successor scheme to Warmer Homes Scotland will launch on 2 October 2023.

4 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason referrals to Warmer Homes Scotland have been paused from 31 March 2023 until October 2023.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The current Warmer Homes Scotland contract is drawing to a close and new applications for the scheme have now ended to allow for the current customer journeys to be completed before the end of the contract. All applications received from 1 April 2023 will be …

26 Apr 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to reverse the reported decline of NHS dentistry.

13 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Information Commissioner's Office finding that North Ayrshire Council's use of facial recognition in schools was "deployed in a manner that is likely to have infringed data protection law", whether it will consider a ban on the use of biometric technology in schools.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The introduction of biometric identification systems is a matter for local authorities and schools to decide upon at local level. Our position is clear that the views of parents, pupils and school staff should be taken into account as part of any decision-ma…

22 Mar 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its commitment to deliver superfast broadband to 100% of premises by 2021.  

14 Mar 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its repose is to reports that GPs are working at "unsafe levels" and that patient numbers have increased significantly at a third of practices.

13 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the national service specification for secure transport that it is developing jointly with COSLA, whether it plans to appoint the Care Inspectorate to monitor compliance with the specification.

Answer · Clare Haughey: The Care Inspectorate are members of the working group which is exploring how to address issues facing local authorities in relation to secure transport. The service specification for secure transport is still in development. Multi-agency discussions are ong…