Mark Griffin

25 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03968 by Shona Robison on 5 November 2021, when the information "will be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre" under "Bib number 62811".

Answer · Shona Robison: Progress continues to be made by officials carrying out this request. The information will be placed on the Parliament’s Reference Centre as soon as this is available.

22 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it gave to the needs of blind and partially sighted people in developing National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4).

Answer · Tom Arthur: Improving equality and eliminating discrimination across Scotland is one of the six high level outcomes of National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4). In our draft NPF4, we sought to make clear that we want Scotland’s future places to support health, wellbeing and …

13 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the effectiveness of the Third National Planning Framework (NPF3) was monitored and evaluated and whether this was done against the outcomes set out in the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997.

Answer · Tom Arthur: In 2019 we published our National Planning Framework 3 (NPF3) Monitoring Report which reflected on progress across the 30 key actions and 14 national developments. NPF3 was published in 2014 so was not monitored against the 6 outcomes which were introduced by…

13 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government (a) which and (b) how many organisations and businesses were involved in the co-production approach of the Fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) consultation development.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government has conducted extensive engagement and consultation involving a wide range of public, private and third sector organisations and individuals throughout its preparation of National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), including three formal pub…

12 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the scope of its proposed feasibility study on rent data collection will include.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government has published proposals on the collection of additional rent data on pages 76 to 78 of the Draft Rented Sector Strategy Consultation paper titled ‘ A New Deal for Tenants ’. The scope of the feasibility will cover all the aspects ra…

12 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will commission its proposed feasibility study on rent data collection.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The level of engagement with the ‘New Deal for Tenants’ consultation has been positive, generating a large number of responses. The Scottish Government are currently considering these responses to inform the development of our approach to collection of rent d…

6 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-06970 by Shona Robison on 15 March 2022, whether it will clarify what it means by “the regulations are not retrospective", in light of recent reports that the rules will apply to new builds and the recladding of existing ones.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: Building regulations do not apply retrospectively to existing buildings. The regulations apply to new buildings, conversions and to existing buildings where building work is proposed. From 1 June 2022, if remediation is required following a Single Building As…

5 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S6O-00767 and S6W-06283 by Tom Arthur on 23 and 25 February 2022 respectively, whether it will provide details of what work will recommence in the spring.

Answer · Tom Arthur: We are currently reviewing the previous work done, including the draft policy development, the results from the formal consultation and the written reports of the round table events, and will look to commence stakeholder engagement after the local government …

28 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many notifications the Building Standards Division has received from verifiers of building warrant applications, citing BS 8414 as a route to compliance, since the April 2021 update of the Building Standards Technical Handbooks, broken down by (a) type of building and (b) local autho…

Answer · Patrick Harvie: No notifications have been received by the Building Standards Division since the April 2021 update to the Building Standards Technical Handbooks.

23 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to strengthen the landlord registration scheme in order to identify the beneficiaries of private rented sector properties, including owners who are registered in tax havens.

Answer · Shona Robison: There are currently no plans to use landlord registration to identify beneficiaries of private rented sector properties. The purpose of landlord registration is to ensure the owner is a fit and proper person to let houses and that the properties meet certain …

17 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when section 99 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 will come into force.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: We will legislate to bring into force the remaining outstanding tenant farming provisions, contained within Part 10 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016, including section 99 – removing the requirement for tenant farmers to register an interest in the pre-e…

15 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is the case that work on the Housing to 2040 Improving the quality of all homes milestones for 2021-22 has not begun and, if this is the case, (a) what the reasons are for this and (b) when work will (i) begin and (ii) be completed on the actions to (A) consult on new housing …

Answer · Shona Robison: Work to progress early milestones set out within Housing to 2040 for improving the quality of all homes is currently underway. We intend to consult on proposals for a new Housing Standard later this year, and plan to launch a formal consultation on proposals …

15 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will record and publish progress towards its target for the rate of zero carbon heating system installations in new and existing homes and buildings to double every year from the current baseline to at least 64,000 installations in 2025.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government gathers data on deployment of zero emissions heat through a variety of channels, including the Scottish House Condition Survey, the Renewable Heat Database, and Energy Performance Certificates, as well as through our own delivery progr…

14 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review its processes and relationship with Energy Saving Trust in light of the views included in the Home Energy Efficiency Equity Loan Pilot: Feedback survey assessing the impacts of the pilot on loan holders: analysis of responses that there was (a) room for improvement…

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Home Energy Efficiency Equity Loan Pilot is now closed to new applicants. The Call for Evidence and Homeowner Feedback Survey conducted last year have ensured that we have captured both the positive and negative impacts of this pilot, as well as gathering…

14 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will issue its response to the homeowner feedback survey on the Home Energy Efficiency Equity Loan Pilot.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Homeowner Feedback Survey and the Home Energy Efficiency Equity Loan Pilot Call for Evidence were published in March this year. The Scottish Government will consider the possibility of a national rollout of such a scheme as part a suite of financial solut…

14 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many evictions from the private rented sector the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber) has granted since 1 December 2021.

Answer · Shona Robison: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who will reply in writing within 20 days.

10 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will establish an all-tenure target of at least 25,000 homes per year in order to meet current levels of need and demand.

Answer · Shona Robison: Local authorities are responsible for assessing and evidencing housing need and demand, and setting out through local housing strategies and local development plans the housing requirements for their area. The Scottish Government continues to collaborate with…

10 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Homes for Scotland report, The Social and Economic Benefits of Home Building in Scotland.  

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government welcomes the focus in the report on the delivery of high quality, accessible homes in sustainable communities and recognition of the broader contribution that housing can play in terms of people's health and well-being.

10 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-06407 by Keith Brown on 10 March 2022, whether it will review the transparency and reporting duties on the tribunal. 

Answer · Ash Regan: The legislative framework relating to the reporting duties of the Scottish Tribunals in general, and on the Housing and Property Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland in particular, are outlined in the previous answer to question S6W-06407. The Sco…

9 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) scope and (b) timeline is of the empty homes audit.

Answer · Shona Robison: The audit will provide enhanced information on where empty properties are located to help determine the prospects of bringing them back into use and enable better targeting and design of future interventions. The scoping exercise is currently underway and we …

2 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its (a) rationale and (b) modelled size is of the priority groups eligible for the (i) open market and (ii) new supply shared equity schemes.

Answer · Shona Robison: Priority groups for the Open Market Shared Equity and New Supply Shared Equity schemes were established following discussions with a range of stakeholders. In 2017 people aged 60 and over were included further to a Programme for Government commitment to assis…

1 Mar 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work it has undertaken with its partners, and funding it has identified, to accommodate refugees from Ukraine. 

1 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many full single building assessments (a) have been completed and (b) will be completed by the end of the financial year 2021-22.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Programme is actively supporting 25 blocks through key stages of assessment. As this is a representative-led process the time to completion of each Single Building Assessment cannot be accurately predicted.

1 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it anticipates that the Single Building Assessment programme will move from a pilot to a full scheme.

Answer · Shona Robison: To support our approach and ensure quality for the next phase, we will shortly begin an interim and independent evaluation of the pilot phase.

1 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the name is of the new cladding stakeholder group that it has formed with industry representatives and a homeowner representative; how frequently it meets; on what dates it has met; what its full remit is; what its full membership is, and where the minutes of its minutes can be acce…

Answer · Shona Robison: The Cladding Stakeholder Group was formed in June 2021 and meets monthly. The Group provides a forum for discussion, partnership working, continuous improvement and constructive challenge to support the Single Building Assessment and Cladding Remediation prog…

28 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent to raise awareness of, and market for, the Open Market Shared Equity and New Supply Shared Equity schemes, in each of the last five years, and how much it plans to spend in 2022-23.

Answer · Shona Robison: Marketing for the Open Market Shared Equity scheme is carried out by the administering agent as part of their contract to administer the scheme on behalf of the Scottish Government. It is the responsibility of Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) who deliver t…

28 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it has done to raise awareness of, and market for, the Open Market Shared Equity and New Supply Shared Equity schemes, in each of the last five years, and what its plans are for 2022-23.

Answer · Shona Robison: Marketing for the Open Market Shared Equity scheme is carried out by the administering agent as part of their contract to administer the scheme on behalf of the Scottish Government It is the responsibility of Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) who deliver th…

28 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is the case that the New Supply Shared Equity scheme cannot be used for private new supply, and, if so, for what reason.

Answer · Shona Robison: The New Supply Shared Equity Scheme is only available for the purchase of new build homes being sold by a local authority or registered social Landlord . This is an affordable housing scheme and counts towards the target of delivering 110,000 affordable homes…

26 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will allow local authorities to carry forward unspent Tenant Hardship Grant funding to 2022-23, or whether it will seek to recover any underspend.

Answer · Shona Robison: Each local authority has been given a set allocation of funding which will close when that allocation is fully spent. Local authorities can continue spending into the next financial year with any remaining allocation should they need to do so. The Tenant Gra…

24 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to promote awareness of the Tenant Grant Fund.

Answer · Shona Robison: The £10 million Tenant Grant Fund, launched last September, is being administered by local authorities who are best placed to target and deliver the funding to vulnerable tenants who are facing potential eviction and homelessness within their local area. We …