Mark Griffin

2 Feb 2022 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (a) how many and (b) what proportion of written questions were processed within (i) 0 to 1 (ii) 2 to 3 (iii) 4 to 5 and (iv) 6 or more days after being lodged, in each week since May 2021.

Answer · Maggie Chapman (On behalf of the SPCB): Tables A and B set out information about the number and percentage of written questions up to the week commencing 7 February 2022 that have been processed within the timeframe set out in the question. In providing this information, “processed” has been taken…

2 Feb 2022 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what the reasons are for the delays in processing written questions.

Answer · Maggie Chapman (On behalf of the SPCB): Session 6 has seen a change in the nature of the items that the Chamber Desk processes. In particular, the number of Urgent Questions being lodged has increased significantly. This had had an impact on the previous pattern of work undertaken by the Chamber De…

2 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people the open market shared equity scheme has helped to buy homes that were (a) new build and (b) resold existing property.

Answer · Shona Robison: The number of households who have received assistance to purchase under the Open Market Shared Equity Scheme can be found in the attached Affordable Housing Supply Programme out-turn reports and data. More homes: Affordable Housing Supply Programme - gov.sco…

1 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to distribute the 2022-23 Housing Supply - Financial Transactions (Expenditure) among (a) the Open Market Shared Equity scheme, (b) mid-market rent projects, (c) charitable bonds and (d) other uses.

Answer · Shona Robison: Discussions are ongoing regarding the proposed distribution of the Financial Transactions available for 2022-23. We plan to continue to support the Open Market Shared Equity scheme, but allocations have not yet been agreed for the full use of these funds.

1 Feb 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had regarding how its international development programme can support the sharing of vaccines and help to tackle the reported vaccine apartheid in the global south.

27 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber) has received for evictions and civil proceedings for each rule in each (a) quarter and (b) year since 1 December 2017, and, of these, how many have received a hearing.

Answer · Keith Brown: 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

25 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05465 by Patrick Harvie on 24 January 2022, when it will publish its response and any regulations.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Building (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2022 are currently being developed and expected to be laid in the Scottish Parliament on 31 March 2022. Supporting guidance contained in the technical handbooks will be published in the Spring.

24 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on implementing the recommendations of the Scottish Parliamentary Working Group on Tenement Maintenance in relation to owners (a) in tenements forming owners' associations, (b) and building reserve funds and (c) and five-yearly building condition reports, which …

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Law Commission have accepted a reference from the Scottish Government, commissioning project work to review the law of the tenement in Scotland and to make recommendations regarding the establishment of compulsory owners’ associations, building r…

24 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the Scottish Law Commission in relation to carrying out a law reform project to provide a draft Bill that would implement the recommendations of the Scottish Parliamentary Working Group on Tenement Maintenance.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has issued a letter to the Scottish Law Commission on 10 January 2022, commissioning a Law Reform Project to provide a draft Bill that would implement the recommendations of the Scottish Parliamentary Group on Tenement Maintenance.

17 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it takes to audit the quality of past energy efficiency and retrofit works, and what its plans are to review works where it is found that PAS 2035 standards have not been met.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: We require projects funded as part of our fuel poverty schemes including Local Authority Area Based Schemes, Warmer Homes Scotland and the Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund to comply with all relevant building regulations, retrofit standards and guarantee req…

17 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will require compliance with PAS 2035 standards for its energy efficiency and retrofit delivery programmes.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-05774 on 27 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…

13 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has completed its consideration of how to complete the review of the tax treatment of short-term lets; whether the review is complete, and whether it will (a) publish the review or (b) outline the timetable for completing the review.

Answer · Shona Robison: During the COVID-19 pandemic we prioritised work on the Short-term lets Licensing Order and Amendment Regulations for short-term let control areas. This enabled the statutory instruments for these to be considered by the Scottish Parliament in this session an…

12 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many buildings identified in the High Rise Inventory are classed as student accommodation.

Answer · Shona Robison: This information is not collected in the High Rise Inventory.

11 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the implementation date for the revised Affordable Housing Investment Benchmarks.

Answer · Shona Robison: The revised Affordable Housing Investment Benchmarks were introduced on 29 October 2021.

11 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when owners of homes with combustible cladding will have access to a compensation and remediation scheme.

Answer · Shona Robison: Our building by building approach aims to offer reassurance and our priority is always to secure the safety of people in their own homes. Inspections are underway and we expect the first completed reports soon. We expect that the majority of buildings will …

11 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will write to the construction industry setting a deadline for agreement of a fully-funded plan of action for remediation of unsafe cladding on (a) high-rise and (b) 11 to 18 metre-high buildings.

Answer · Shona Robison: We work with stakeholders regularly including with our Cladding Stakeholder Group to ensure all appropriate solutions are considered for homeowners and residents in affected buildings. The Single Building Assessment programme in Scotland will not have a res…

22 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the outcome of its consultation, Building standards (fire safety) – a consultation on external wall systems, will be published.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: An independent consultation analysis by Optimal Economics was published on 17 January 2022 which can be found at https://www.gov.scot/publications/analysis-responses-building-standards-fire-safety-consultation-external-wall-systems/

22 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the (a) minutes of the third meeting of the Fire Safety Review Panel will be published and (b) Panel is expected to finalise its work.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: Minutes of the third meeting of the Fire Safety Review Panel will be ratified at the fourth review panel meeting on 24 January 2022 and published shortly thereafter. The next fire safety review panel meeting on 24 January 2022 will be the final panel meeting…

13 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether priority access to the open market shared equity scheme should be offered to households who receive the Scottish Child Payment.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Open Market Shared Equity scheme is targeted at first time buyers on low to moderate incomes regardless of the source of their income. This includes those in employment and in receipt of benefits. In 2020-21, the average gross household income of benefici…

13 Dec 2021 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will require large retail stores to close on New Year’s Day 2022 so that retail workers can spend the day with their loved ones.

7 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for grant assistance to deliver affordable housing above Affordable Housing Investment Benchmark level have been required to be withdrawn and resubmitted due to (a) contract offers having expired and (b) costs having increased since the initial application was submi…

Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested is not held by the Scottish Government.

2 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many local authorities have begun accepting applications to the Tenant Hardship Grant Fund, and when full statistical information on the applications submitted will be released.

Answer · Shona Robison: Local authorities were issued with non-statutory guidance to support them in their administration of the Tenant Grant Fund on 17 September 2021. A copy of this guidance can be found here . We know some local authorities are already delivering Tenant Grant …

1 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many applicants have been required to withdraw and resubmit applications for grant assistance to deliver affordable housing above Affordable Housing Investment Benchmark level due to (a) contract offers having expired and (b) costs having increased since the initial application was s…

Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested is not held by the Scottish Government.

1 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) project and (b) housing unit applications have been (i) received and (ii) approved for grant assistance to deliver affordable housing above Affordable Housing Investment Benchmark level in each quarter since Q1 2016.

Answer · Shona Robison: The following table shows the total number of homes and projects received and approved where investment benchmarks were applicable, as well as separating out those homes and projects approved above benchmark. The benchmark system is a flexible, administrativ…

1 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) target and (b) actual average timescale has been for assessing applications for grant assistance to deliver affordable housing above Affordable Housing Investment Benchmark level, in each quarter since Q1 2016.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government does not set a target timescale for assessing applications for grant assistance to deliver affordable housing above the applicable affordable housing investment benchmark level. Using information from our Housing and Regeneration Prog…

1 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) FTE staff and (b) staffing hours have been assigned to assessing applications for grant assistance to deliver affordable housing above Affordable Housing Investment Benchmark level, in each quarter since Q1 2016.

Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested is not held by the Scottish Government. The assessment of such applications forms part of the wide range of activities undertaken by Scottish Government staff who are involved in delivering the Affordable Housing Supply Programme, an…

1 Dec 2021 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the self-referral breast screening programme will resume for non-symptomatic women over 70 who have had breast cancer.

23 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-02085 by Maree Todd on 23 August 2021, whether women over 70 who have had breast cancer are entitled to self-refer into the breast screening programme in the absence of lumps, signs and symptoms of breast cancer.

Answer · Maree Todd: Once they have completed breast cancer treatment and follow-up with the symptomatic breast service, women aged 71 and over are ordinarily able to self-refer into the Scottish Breast Screening Programme for screening every three years. However, self-referrals …

23 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-02085 by Maree Todd on 23 August 2021, how regularly women who have had breast cancer are screened following recovery, and how many women over 70 who have had breast cancer self-referred into the breast screening programme in each year since 2011.

Answer · Maree Todd: Following treatment for breast cancer, women are followed up by the symptomatic breast service annually, commonly for at least 5 years. After that, women who are aged between 50 and 70 years are invited to attend the Scottish Breast Screening Programme (SBSP)…

22 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the housebuilding and lending sectors about the Deposit Unlock mortgage scheme, and what comparable government support for home buyers will be available from April 2022.

Answer · Shona Robison: Deposit Unlock, is an industry led mortgage indemnity scheme which enables buyers of new build properties to purchase with a 5% deposit. Homes for Scotland have kept the Scottish Government informed about the scheme throughout its development. The UK Mortgag…