Kevin Stewart

15 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what research it has carried out on utilising single solar and hydrogen combined heat and power units for home usage.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Hydrogen will be a key part of the net zero journey. Complementary alongside electricity, hydrogen will potentially play a role in heating some homes and buildings, this role depends upon strategic decisions by the UK Government and we continue to urge the UK…

15 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what investment it has made to support the production of hydrogen technology, such as fuel cells or electrolysers, in Scotland.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Alongside our aim to accelerate the development of industrial scale renewable hydrogen projects, the Scottish Government continues to foster demonstration, innovation and manufacturing and workforce skills development in the hydrogen sector. To support resea…

7 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is considering for implementation within any new Investment Zones that may be established in Scotland.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government have been clear that any Investment Zones here must be a good fit for Scotland’s policy, economic and governance landscape; be well aligned to our National Strategy for Economic Transformation, our approach to regional economic policy,…

7 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Aberdeen City Council regarding the possibility of an Investment Zone in Aberdeen.

Answer · Neil Gray: Once the Scottish and UK Government have agreed the elements of a partnership approach, including the methodology to be used to select possible locations, they will engage with the relevant local authorities and their partners.

7 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the possibility of an Investment Zone in Aberdeen.

Answer · Neil Gray: Scottish Government and UK Government officials are actively discussing a partnership approach to possible Investment Zones in Scotland. The Scottish Government has been clear in these discussions that any Investment Zones must be a good fit for Scotland's po…

7 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding potential measures to protect workers’ rights in any new Investment Zones that may be established in Scotland.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government and all of Scotland's local authorities are committed to the principles of Fair Work First. So we would expect to see fair work practice embedded from the outset in any Investment Zones in Scotland, just as we have done for Green Freep…

21 Mar 2016 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what actions the Scottish Government can and will take to create a fairer Scotland, in light of recent UK Government decisions.

7 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce legislation to close any loopholes in the law regarding fraudulent disposition of title to protect the public.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: There is already a Client Protection Fund (the operating name of the Scottish Solicitors’ Guarantee Fund) to protect clients who have lost money because of the dishonesty of a solicitor or a member of their staff. More details about a consultation carried …

7 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland publishes answers to freedom of information requests on its website.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Registers of Scotland (RoS) does not currently publish Freedom of Information (FOI) responses on its website. However, RoS plans to introduce a disclosure log of FOI information to its publication scheme in spring 2016 in line with best practice guidance.

7 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland has introduced any procedural changes following the recent cases of fraudulent disposition of title.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The keeper has adopted a new policy on holding applications in abeyance. I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-30418 on 17 March 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility fo…

7 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland has made recommendations to the Scottish Government about any legislative change required following the recent cases of fraudulent disposition of title.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The keeper has robust measures in place to minimise the effects of fraud, and keeps them under review. She has a designated fraud officer responsible for implementing her fraud prevention and mitigation policies, and for delivering regular staff training. Her…

7 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland has taken following the recent cases of fraudulent disposition of title.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The keeper has robust measures in place to minimise the effects of fraud, and keeps them under review. She has a designated fraud officer responsible for implementing her fraud prevention and mitigation policies, and for delivering regular staff training. Her…

7 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what liability the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland has in relation to the recent cases of fraudulent disposition of title.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The statutory scheme of land registration is set out in the Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Act 2012, which came into effect on 8 December 2014. A person affected by a fraudulent disposition that has been registered may request rectification of the register…

7 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a difference in communal repair legislation between the City of Edinburgh Council and other local authorities and, if so, whether it plans to address this.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: For historical reasons Edinburgh City Council had local powers to enforce repairs under Part 6 of the City of Edinburgh District Council Order Confirmation Act 1991. Since 2009 all local authorities have had discretionary powers to require owners to carry out…

7 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to (a) property owners and (b) tenants to identify whether communal repairs are required.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: Assistance for home owners is the responsibility of local authorities. Local authorities have a wide range discretionary powers to assist owners who need help to identify work needed to look after their home. If occupants are private tenants, the landlord is…

7 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to property owners wishing to change the factoring agreement for their property.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Property Factors (Scotland) Act 2011 came into force on 1 October 2012 and provides protections for homeowners who use the services of a registered property factor. The Act introduced a code of conduct which sets out minimum standards of practice which al…

7 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what proportion the number of registered landlords living outwith the UK has changed since the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004 came into force.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Scottish Government does not hold information on the number of number of registered landlords living outwith the UK nor the proportion by which this has changed since the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004 came into force.

7 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the private rented housing sector has increased since the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004 came into force and, if so, by what proportion.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Tenements (Scotland) 2004 came into force on 28 November 2004 with the exception of section 18 (obligation of owner to insure) which came into force on 27 January 2007. The first available statistics on the private rented sector following the enforcement …

7 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action can be taken against landlords who fail to keep their contact details up-to-date on their landlord registration form.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: Registered landlords have a legal duty under section 87(2) of the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 to notify the local authority in writing as soon as practicable, if any information provided by the person in their registration application, becom…

7 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to (a) property owners and (b) tenants to enforce minor repairs and maintenance in order to prevent essential repairs being needed at a later date.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: Assistance for home owners is the responsibility of local authorities. Local authorities have a wide range of powers to assist owners who need help with work needed to look after their home. However, it is for each local authority to decide what kinds of help…

7 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it would consider giving greater powers to property owners to enforce communal maintenance and non-essential repairs.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: If any owner refuses to pay his or her share of repairs, the obligation to pay can be enforced in the sheriff court by any owner or anyone authorised by an owner or owners. The Housing (Scotland) Act 2014 introduces new discretionary powers for local authorit…

7 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it (a) last reviewed and (b) will next review the legislation on property factoring and under what circumstances it would consider changing it.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Property Factors (Scotland) Act 2011 came into force on 1 October 2012 and provides protections for homeowners who use the services of a registered property factor. The current legislation has been operating for just over three years and no review has ta…

7 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it (a) last reviewed and (b) will next review the legislation on communal repairs and under what circumstances it would consider changing it.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004 followed a detailed report on the law of the tenement by the Scottish Law Commission. The Scottish Government introduced new powers amending the tenement management scheme in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2014. We made a commitm…

1 Mar 2016 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its response to the Commission on Local Tax Reform.

Answer · Marco Biagi: I can confirm that the details of our plans on local taxation have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib number 57721).

29 Feb 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made on the construction of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

23 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on Scotland's economy, what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the introduction of a government loan guarantee scheme to allow oil and gas supply chain companies to access finance.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Deputy First Minister wrote to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 12 February 2016 outlining a series of measures the UK Government must consider ahead of the March budget. Along with urgent fiscal measures to reduce the tax burden, we have asked the UK G…

23 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on Scotland's economy, what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding fiscal reform to secure the future of the oil and gas industry.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The key fiscal levers that affect the sector remain with the UK Government. The Scottish Government has made repeated calls for the fiscal regime to support greater exploration, protect critical infrastructure and encourage further investment in the oil and g…

22 Feb 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making with the Aberdeen women's hospital and cancer care unit projects.

Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Grampian is continuing to plan the Baird Family Hospital and ANCHOR Centre in Aberdeen with the support of the Scottish Government and the Scottish Futures Trust. The planning process involves a wide range of clinical staff and public engagement. The clin…

15 Feb 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in introducing a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses.

18 Jan 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Aberdeen City Council to discuss education issues.