Parliamentary questions
Mark Griffin
2,186 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
5 Aug 2021 · Written Question
As at 6 September, against a total of 1051 applications there have been 481 unsuccessful applications[1], representing 46% of total applications. Within the unsuccessful applications there were 158 social rented sector tenants and 323 private rented sector tenants. We do not hold a breakdown of unsuccessful applica…
Answer · Shona Robison: As at 3 August, against a total of 1009 applications there have been 458 unsuccessful applications, representing 45% of total applications. Within the unsuccessful applications there were 153 social rented sector tenants and 305 private rented sector tenants…
5 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Tenant Hardship Loan Fund debtors will have a right to convert their loan to a grant.
Answer · Shona Robison: No, there is no right to convert a loan to a grant. The Tenant Hardship Loan Fund is an interest free loan paid to remove the risk of eviction. Debtors have demonstrated their ability to make loan repayments during the application process. The tenant grant f…
5 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the consultation on its short-term lets draft Licensing Order and Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA), how many of the estimated 32,000 short-term lets it anticipates will return to the long-term housing market following the implementation of its plans.
Answer · Shona Robison: Our regulatory proposals will give local authorities powers to strike a balance between the needs and concerns of their local communities, with the wider economic and tourism benefits of short-term lets. In certain areas, achieving this balance may require a …
5 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the estimated number of (a) empty private residential properties, (b) empty public sector residential properties, (c) second homes and (d) self-catering units there currently are.
Answer · Shona Robison: (a) & (c) The latest set of annual statistics on the number of Long Term Empty Properties and Second Homes, based on Council Tax Base data as at September 2020, were published in the Housing Statistics Quarterly Update in December 2020, and are available at: …
5 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the consultation on its short-term lets draft Licensing Order and Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA), what method it used to estimate that there are 32,000 short-term lets in Scotland, and whether it will provide a breakdown of this figure by how many are (a) a …
Answer · Shona Robison: The figure of 32,000 short-term lets quoted in our BRIA relates to Airbnb listings, and is taken from our independent research on the impact of short-term lets on communities, which was published in October 2019: Short-term lets - impact on communities: rese…
5 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications from registered social landlords (RSL) seeking consent to waive the Right to Recover Grant it has approved each year, broken down by (a) RSL and (b) amount waived.
Answer · Shona Robison: The following table contains details of instances over the last five financial years where the Scottish Government has waived the Right to Recover Housing Association Grant on previously grant funded projects and where the grant was not recycled within the Af…
4 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will publish an update to the report, Housing statistics: Empty properties and second homes.
Answer · Shona Robison: The current published set of annual statistics on the number of Long Term Empty Properties and Second Homes, based on Council Tax Base data as at September 2020, were published in the Housing Statistics Quarterly Update in December 2020, and are available at:…
3 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) housing developments and (b) homes (i) are or (ii) will be connected to residential district heating networks that are operational or in development.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The answers to each part of this question are as follows:In respect of (a)(i) (housing developments currently connected to residential district heating networks): this information is not held centrally.In respect of (b)(ii) – (homes currently connected reside…
3 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what statistics it (a) collects and (b) publishes related to the Scottish Landlord Register, including whether it collects and publishes statistics related to (i) registrations, (ii) landlords, (iii) properties, (iv) enforcement action, (v) EPC ratings, and (vi) local authority staffing …
Answer · Shona Robison: Local authorities are responsible for the administration and enforcement of landlord registration, and are the data controllers of the information on the landlord registration IT system for landlords in their area. The Scottish Government receives monthly agg…
3 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on a compulsory rent register for the private rented sector, and whether any appraisal of (a) the Scottish Landlord Register, (b) Rent Service Scotland, and other (c) existing or (d) new systems has been conducted with a view to exploring the feasibility of such a re…
Answer · Shona Robison: We are committed to taking action to ensure the housing market operates more fairly across Scotland, providing affordable housing options and choices in all communities. Housing to 2040 , Scotland’s vision for housing to 2040, includes a commitment that befor…
3 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it received reports about scammers exploiting the new fire and smoke alarm standard in autumn 2020 and, if so, what (a) types of scam were reported, (b) lessons were learned from the reports in preparation for the introduction of the standard in 2022 and (c) measures it has imple…
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has not received specific reports of scammers exploiting the new fire alarm standard. We are, however, recognise that the risk of people falling victim to a scam remains a possibility The Scottish Government launched a comprehensive aw…
3 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Rural and Islands Housing Fund review has been completed and, if so, (a) who participated in it, (b) whether any reports have been drafted or received detailing the outcomes of the review and (c) by what date any such report(s) will be published.
Answer · Shona Robison: The review of the operation of the Rural and Islands Housing Fund has been completed and in response to the questions asked (a) The Scottish Government engaged with Local Authorities, Registered Social Landlords, funding scheme participants, a rural housing s…
26 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) scope and (b) timeline is for the planned comprehensive audit of current housing and homelessness legislation.
Answer · Shona Robison: We have committed to taking action to realise the right to adequate housing in Scotland. To establish the best way to make the right to adequate housing a reality, we have said that we will undertake a comprehensive audit of our current housing and homelessne…
20 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason student accommodation is an excluded accommodation type under the Town and Country Planning (Short-term Let Control Areas) (Scotland) Regulations 2021, and what provisions are in place to prevent student accommodation premises being used as short-term lets once they have …
Answer · Tom Arthur: The Short-Term lets control Areas legislation applies to changes of use from a dwellinghouse to a short-term let property. As such specifically designed and purpose built student accommodation will generally not be affected by the legislation, however the ref…
19 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government by what date the delayed document, Housing Options (PREVENT1) Statistics in Scotland: 2020/21, will be published.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Homelessness Statistics team are in the process of collecting, processing and quality assuring data returns from local authorities for the Housing Options (PREVENT1) Statistics in Scotland: 2020-21 publication. As such, we are not yet in a position to con…
19 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government by what date the delayed document, Housing Statistics for Scotland 2020: Key Trends Summary, will be published.
Answer · Shona Robison: The publication of the Housing Statistics for Scotland 2020: Key Trends Summary and associated Excel web tables had been initially planned for September 2020, however was subsequently delayed due to the impacts of COVID-19 on data provision and staff resourci…
19 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-01292 by Shona Robison on 19 July 2021, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of (i) homes and (ii) projects seeking grant funding in excess of the relevant benchmark have been subject to a more detailed value-for-money assessment in (A) total and (B…
Answer · Shona Robison: 13,743 homes, which is 36% of homes assessed against benchmarks, have sought grant funding in excess of the relevant benchmark over the last five years. These homes were spread across 476 projects. All projects seeking grant funding in excess of the relevant …
19 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what proportion of homes have been delivered at or below the Affordable Housing Investment Benchmark in (i) total and (ii) each of the last five years, also broken down by (A) local authority and (B) registered social landlord.
Answer · Shona Robison: 24,596 homes, which is 64% of homes assessed against benchmarks, have sought grant funding either at or below the relevant grant subsidy benchmark over the last five years. The table showing Affordable Housing Supply Programme Affordable Homes Approved At or …
15 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which public bodies (a) have and (b) have not had engagement with the local governance review.
Answer · John Swinney: On 22 June 2018 the Scottish Government and COSLA wrote to public sector leaders, including all chairs and Chief Executives of public bodies, inviting them to submit proposals to the Local Governance Review. 20 Local Authorities, 6 Community Planning Partners…
15 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government by what date phase 2 of the Democracy Matters - local governance review, will be completed.
Answer · John Swinney: This Scottish Government is committed to concluding the Local Governance Review within this parliament. During the first phase of the Review, the Scottish Government, COSLA and the community sector undertook a highly inclusive engagement process called Democr…
15 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government by what date the local democracy review will be concluded.
Answer · John Swinney: This Scottish Government is committed to concluding the Local Governance Review within this parliament.
15 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consultation it undertook with COSLA regarding its 100-day plan.
Answer · Ben Macpherson: Before the Scottish Parliament election, the First Minister launched an action plan which set out a series of key steps for the first 100 days of an SNP government. Following the election, strategic discussion on the implementation of the 100 days commitment…
15 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many members of Building Standards (Fire Safety) Review panels in (a) 2018 and (b) 2021 have (i) worked for organisations that carry out BS 8414 tests on behalf of commercial sponsors, and (ii) had a role in designing BS 8414.
Answer · Shona Robison: My officials have sought confirmation on this issue from panel members. There are 25 panel members, of whom 18 have responded to date. Of those responses:1 member of the 2018 panel and 3 members of the 2020-21 panel had a role in designing BS 8414;1 member o…
15 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-35383 by Kevin Stewart on 1 March 2021, whether changes have been made to the building standards verifier requirements regarding BS 8414 and BR 135 and, if so, when the decisions related to any changes were (a) taken and (b) implemented.
Answer · Shona Robison: A public consultation exercise, Building standards (fire safety) - a consultation on external wall systems - Scottish Government - Citizen Space , is currently being undertaken which includes options on the role of BS 8414 (and associated BR 135). Response…
15 Jul 2021 · 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, by a) type of building and b) local authority.
Answer · Shona Robison: No notifications have been received since issue of the provision in April 2021.
15 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-35383 by Kevin Stewart on 1 March 2021, whether it will provide an update on what plans it has to ban the use of combustible materials in cladding systems on high-rise residential buildings, in light of the position taken by other UK administrations…
Answer · Shona Robison: A public consultation exercise, Building standards (fire safety) - a consultation on external wall systems - Scottish Government - Citizen Space , is currently being undertaken which includes consideration of high risk materials in external wall systems. R…
15 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government (a) how it is monitoring the number of notifications received by the Building Standards Division 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, and (b) whether it will pu…
Answer · Shona Robison: (a) No notifications have been received since issue of the provision in April 2021. Monitoring is only on receipt of such notifications. (b) No intention to publish such information but it will be summarised as part of reporting on the consultation on externa…
15 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-00917 by Shona Robison on 18 June 2021, (a) how many expressions of interest were received for its Single Building Assessment programme, (b) who these expressions were from, and (c) by what date safety assessments will be carried out.
Answer · Shona Robison: a) A total of 338 expressions of interest were received, 5 were subsequently withdrawn leaving 333. b)Breakdown of respondents by tenure: Respondent Total Individual owner 102 Owners’/residents’ organisation 1 Property factor 1 Private Company 35 …
14 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what criteria it uses to define housing as affordable in relation to household income.
Answer · Shona Robison: In section 126 of Scottish Planning Policy, affordable housing is defined broadly as housing of a reasonable quality that is affordable to people on modest incomes and this includes social rented accommodation, mid-market rented accommodation, shared ownershi…
14 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to include the number of children in homeless households across all of the data that is reported in the Homelessness in Scotland statistics series.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Homelessness in Scotland statistics series reports data from the HL1 (homelessness applications), HL2 (snapshot temporary accommodation) and HL3 (placement level temporary accommodation) data collections. Information on the number of children within the …