Mark Griffin

24 Oct 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it estimates the financial cost will be of its recently announced council tax freeze policy.

17 Oct 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent meetings it has had with neonatologists from NHS Lanarkshire.

3 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many homes built under the Affordable Housing Supply Programme since 2016 were (a) one-bed, (b) two-bed, (c) three-bed, (d) four-bed and (e) five-bed or more homes.

Answer · Paul McLennan: The Scottish Government does not hold that information. However, Table 10 within our AHSP 2021-2022 Out-turn Report (www.gov.scot) details the average cost per home and average grant per home for the financial year 2021-22, and also shows the number of pr…

3 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-21426 by Paul McLennan on 2 October 2023, how many of these purchases were (a) second-hand from the (i) open market and (ii) with a tenant in-situ, and (b) off-the-shelf.

Answer · Paul McLennan: From a total of 232 purchases, 224 were off-the-shelf and eight were new build off- the-shelf purchases.  

20 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the value was of its financial transaction investments at the point of transaction for those investments in relation to which it still holds an investment, and what the current estimated value is of those equity stakes, broken down by scheme.

Answer · Shona Robison: Financial Transactions (FTs) are allocated to Scottish Government (SG) portfolios in the annual budget process. The Scottish Government centrally monitors the flow of FTs and records the end of year value. The financial information provided is for FTs that fa…

20 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it (a) reviews and (b) reports on the performance of its financial transaction investments.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government (SG) provides Financial Transactions (FTs) in the form of loans (such as Health Board GP Loans) and equity investments (such as the Help to Buy Scotland programme). Loans are capital amounts that are to be repaid. FTs are managed and …

20 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to S6W-21015 by Paul McLennan on 20 September 2023, for what reasons it does not report quarterly financial expenditure against resource planning assumptions at the same time that it publishes housing supply statistics.

Answer · Paul McLennan: Resource planning assumptions are only one element of the Affordable Housing Supply Programme budget. Expenditure within a financial year will not correlate directly with approvals, starts and completions as, for example, some projects can span more than one …

20 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when legislation enabling local authorities to charge a premium of up to 100% on council tax for second homes will be laid; whether it is expected that the legislation will enable local authorities to implement and charge the premium from 1 April 2024, and what guidance it has provided t…

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Programme for Government 2023 committed to deliver secondary legislation to enable councils to apply up to a 100% premium on Council Tax rates for second homes. Subordinate legislation will be laid later this year to enable local authorities to charge a p…

20 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has earmarked funds from the reported phased increases in fees from Crown Estate Scotland's finfish tenants from January 2023.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: No. It is anticipated that any additional funds would be paid to the Scottish Government for distribution to coastal local authorities under the current arrangement.

20 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it expects the forecast income to be from the reported phased increases in fees from Crown Estate Scotland's finfish tenants from January 2023.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Crown Estate Scotland are unable to provide a forecast at this stage. The recent reinstatement of rent to 1% of turnover took effect from January 2023. The subsequent increase to 1.5% turnover from January 2026 will bring finfish operators in line with most o…

20 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the current distribution of fees is from Crown Estate Scotland's finfish tenants.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Finfish farm tenants pay rent to Crown Estate Scotland, who pass all revenue profits to the Scottish Government, via the Scottish Consolidated Fund. Under the current commitment, the proportion of this net revenue that is obtained from Scottish Crown Estate m…

19 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to ensure that essential respite care services will be readily available to unpaid carers, in light of the forthcoming new legal entitlement to a break from caring responsibilities.

Answer · Maree Todd: Ahead of the proposed legislation, the Scottish Government has increased the voluntary sector Short Breaks Fund by £5m to £8m in 2022-23, to expand easy-access short breaks support, and has maintained the fund at £8m for 2023-24. This is in addition to £88.4m…

19 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures are being implemented to ensure the financial viability of respite care services, especially in light of reports of rising demand and escalating costs.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government has overall responsibility for health and social care policy in Scotland and local Health and Social Care Partnerships (HSCPs) have the responsibility for commissioning and managing the appropriate services for local needs. The Scottis…

13 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-20844 by Paul McLennan on 13 September 2023, how many of the applications that were received and approved (a) prior to and (b) since the announcement on 19 July 2023 were for (i) one-bed, (ii) two-bed, (iii) three-bed, (iv) four-bed and (v) five-bed…

Answer · Paul McLennan: The Scottish Government does not hold that information.  

13 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-20844 by Paul McLennan on 13 September 2023, what the (a) purchase price and (b) grant offered was for each property in the applications received and approved (i) prior to and (ii) since the announcement on 19 July 2023, and whether it will also pro…

Answer · Paul McLennan: The following tables shows applications and homes formally approved prior to, and since 19 July, including grant offered split by registered social landlord and local authority in 2023-24. It should also be noted that discussions have taken place to support a…

13 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-20844 by Paul McLennan on 13 September 2023, whether it will provide a breakdown by local authority of each property in the applications received and approved (a) prior to and (b) since the announcement on 19 July 2023.

Answer · Paul McLennan: The following table shows the number of applications received and homes formally approved prior to, and since 19 July 2023 by local authority in 2023-24. It should also be noted that discussions have taken place to support additional acquisitions with other p…

12 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-20647 by Jenni Minto on 12 September 2023, how much of the budget for the Young Patients Family Fund, and its predecessor, the Neonatal Expenses Fund, has been underspent in each year since 2018.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Neonatal Expenses Fund (NEF) and the Young Patients Family Fund (YPFF) are demand-led funds and the Scottish Government has ensured full funding against demand in each year since 2018-19. Actual spend may differ from profiled spend as demand requirements …

11 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications that have been received by Home Energy Scotland and assessed under the new eligibility criteria for the Warmer Homes Scotland scheme since 1 April 2023, are awaiting referral and being "held onto" until 2 October 2023.    

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The total number of Warmer Homes Scotland referrals in process was 4429 as of 18 September 2023. Some of these are awaiting eligibility checks so the final number of eligible applications at that point will be lower. Assessments and installations will proceed…

7 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many homes completed under the Affordable Housing Supply Programme have been placed in council tax bands E to H in each of the last five years.

Answer · Paul McLennan: The Scottish Government does not hold this information.  

5 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its 2021 Affordable Housing Supply Programme resource planning assumptions compare with (a) national budget allocations and (b) local expenditure to date.

Answer · Paul McLennan: We have published resource planning assumptions covering 2021-2026. When annual financial year expenditure is concluded and finalised we publish an annual out-turn report which illustrates actual spend compared to original resource planning assumptions at the…

4 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-20667 by Paul McLennan on 4 September 2023, whether it will provide the information requested regarding whether its More Homes Division is subject to a recruitment cap; if so, when any such cap was put in place and when it is expected to end, and fo…

Answer · Paul McLennan: Workforce numbers are reviewed regularly to make sure the Scottish Government is delivering its policy priorities efficiently and effectively. Enhanced recruitment controls are in place to ensure best value for taxpayers’ money, however these operate at the l…

1 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the longest length of time is that a child has spent in temporary accommodation in each local authority area since 2016.

Answer · Paul McLennan: The Scottish Government collects information on the composition of households making homelessness applications through the HL1 data collection. This includes information on the number of children in the household. The HL3 data collection collects information …

29 Aug 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with trade unions to ensure that it includes workers' voices in its policy development.

28 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to keep the New College Lanarkshire nurseries in Coatbridge and Cumbernauld open.

Answer · Graeme Dey: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-20878 on ? 26 September 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-com…

28 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with New College Lanarkshire regarding the reported proposed closure of its nurseries in Coatbridge and Cumbernauld.

Answer · Graeme Dey: It is for each individual college, and not the Scottish Government, to determine how best to secure its financial sustainability and therefore operational decisions reside within colleges themselves. New College Lanarkshire has engaged with the Scottish Fund…

24 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it anticipates that the £60 million for the National Acquisition Plan will be spent in full in 2023-24.

Answer · Paul McLennan: We are making available at least £60 million for the National Acquisition Programme. Spend will be reliant on suitable properties being available to purchase that align with local authorities’ strategic housing priorities. We are working closely with partners…

24 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many affordable housing supply programme units it approved in the period from 1 April to 31 August 2023.

Answer · Paul McLennan: The quarterly statistics covering the period to end June 2023 are planned to be published on 12 September. The quarterly statistics for the period including to end August are expected to be published in December.

24 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications from (a) registered social landlords and (b) local authorities have been (i) received and (ii) approved for the National Acquisition Plan since it was announced on 19 July 2023.

Answer · Paul McLennan: The following table shows the number of homes approved from applications received from (a) registered social landlords (b) local authorities since the National Acquisition Plan was announced on 19 July 2023. This information is to 24 August 2023: National Ac…

18 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S6W-20290 and S6W-20295 by Paul McLennan on 17 August 2023, at what point in the conveyancing process the local area team would be able to agree grant funding for an acquisition under the national acquisition plan.

Answer · Paul McLennan: Further to the answer to S6W-20732 on 6 September 2023, grant funding arrangements are expected to be agreed with grant applicants in advance of the conveyancing process. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s websit…

18 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S6W-20290 and S6W-20295 by Paul McLennan on 17 August 2023, how quickly it expects area team offices to (a) handle applications and (b) agree grant funding for acquisitions under the national acquisition plan.

Answer · Paul McLennan: We already work with registered social landlords and local authorities to agree annual funding allocations to support the purchase of second-hand properties through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme. This streamlined approach is designed to allow these …