Parliamentary questions
Ash Regan
428 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
26 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether there are any plans to take action to reduce the number of traffic accidents involving deer across the Central Belt.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: Alongside our work to reduce deer populations which should have an impact on reducing the number of deer involved in road traffic accidents, we are also taking action at ‘hotspots’ where there are higher numbers of deer vehicle collisions.NatureSc…
26 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the status of its proposed Natural Environment Bill and the anticipated timescale for its progress through the Parliament.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The most recent Programme for Government (2024-25) sets out the Scottish Government’s intention to introduce the Natural Environment Bill in this current parliamentary year.
26 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported concerns regarding the potential negative impact on the mental health of deer stalkers required to cull pregnant female deer, whether it has considered alternative measures to extending the female deer season until 31 March, and what its position is on whether the e…
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government want to ensure that changes to deer management policy are effective in achieving our climate and biodiversity aims.We are aware that there are a range of views on changes to the female deer close seasons. That is why we undertook a ful…
26 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Deer Working Group did not contain any practitioners from the deer stalking community, in light of reports of their expressed interest in participating.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The purpose of the Deer Working Group (DWG) was to “examine the issues over the standards of deer management in Scotland and recommend changes to help resolve these issues in ways that promote sustainable deer management”.Therefore, the DWG was co…
26 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported goal to cull an additional 50,000 deer annually, whether it has explored plans to implement infrastructure in the Central Belt and Lowlands, similar to that established in the Highlands, including community hubs.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government is committed to reducing high deer numbers in order to help us to achieve our biodiversity and carbon objectives. We are pursuing a range of actions to deliver this commitment including the provision of community deer larders and the t…
26 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has implemented any measures to ensure that any additional meat resulting from increased deer culling is not wasted, including distributing it through schools or other community initiatives.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: As deer management increases over the next few years, in line with our aim to increase the Scottish deer cull by 25%, we want to maximise the benefits deer management can bring.We have seen peaks and increased venison numbers in the past that our established …
26 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered recruiting additional staff to support the completion of deer culling by Christmas 2024, in light of the reported preference of cullers to complete culling within this timeframe and the availability of highly trained recreational deerstalkers to facilitate this.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: Approximately 80% of deer culling in Scotland is carried out by the private sector and in these circumstances stalkers are not employed to do so by the Scottish Government, its bodies or agenciesWhere deer are culled on publicly owned land this is done by tra…
23 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Young Carers Package has reportedly not been extended to young adult carers aged 18 to 26 who are eligible for a Young Scot Card but are not currently eligible for the Young Carers Package.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government recognises the incredible contribution that Scotland’s unpaid carers, including our young carers, make to our communities as well as the pressures many carers are under.The Young Carers Package, delivered by Young Scot, was put i…
23 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether net zero is being done to people, rather than with them, in light of reported concerns regarding the Mixed Tenure Improvement Service.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Mixed Tenure Improvement Service is delivered by the City of Edinburgh Council using powers as set out in the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004. Any concerns with the scheme would need to be raised with the Council.Tackling the climate emergency is one of thi…
23 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered issuing additional guidance to local authorities in relation to the (a) purchase of (i) owner-occupier and (ii) private tenancy properties and (b) process of making these Scottish secure tenancies.
Answer · Paul McLennan: There are no current plans to issue additional guidance covering cases where an owner occupier wishes to sell their home to a local authority or a Registered Social Landlord and remain in it as a tenant in the social rented sector. These matters are covered i…
23 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered using the Scottish National Investment Bank to provide finance to local authorities to ensure that buildings meet net zero standards, including through the Mixed Tenure Improvement Service by the City of Edinburgh Council.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: Under its remit, the Scottish National Investment Bank (‘the Bank’) cannot invest in local authorities or give guarantees. However, they can work with local authorities and create joint venture structures, as long as the Bank is not investing in t…
23 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what level of management fee is currently charged by each local authority in relation to Mixed Tenure Improvement, and whether it will consider setting a standard rate to ensure equality across Scotland.
Answer · Paul McLennan: The Scottish Government does not collect or hold management fee information about local authorities’ mixed tenure improvement services, which would need to be obtained directly from each local authority that operates such a service.The Tenements (Scotla…
23 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has reviewed the design of the Mixed Tenure Improvement Service, in light of reported concerns that it was designed without input from the residents that are most impacted.
Answer · Paul McLennan: The Mixed Tenure Improvement Service is not a Scottish Government initiative and was established by the City of Edinburgh Council in 2021. The local authority has created this service based upon powers provided to them under the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004 …
23 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average interest rate charged to local authorities is as part of any loan financing over the last five financial years, broken down by (a) year and (b) local authority.
Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested is not held centrally.As independent corporate bodies with their own powers and responsibilities, any decisions around borrowing and the interest rate charged are a matter for individual local authorities.
23 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to set out its communication and consultation standards for schemes such as the Mixed Tenure Improvement Service by the City of Edinburgh Council, in light of the reported concerns raised by owner-occupiers, private tenants and landlords and social tenants.
Answer · Paul McLennan: The Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004 provides that repairs and maintenance work will be carried out according to the provisions in the relevant title deeds of the properties.Where homeowners have workable provisions in their title deeds to carry out maintenance …
23 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to any owner-occupier families in deprived areas impacted by the Mixed Tenure Improvement Service who are considering selling their homes due to the high financial estimates that they are reportedly receiving.
Answer · Paul McLennan: In Edinburgh, the council’s Scheme of Assistance Strategy allows owner occupiers to sell their homes back to the Council and remain in their home with a Scottish Secure Tenancy. Throughout the 3-year Pilot programme in Wester Hailes, the team have engag…
23 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether local authorities, including the City of Edinburgh Council, which purchase (a) owner-occupier and (b) private tenancy properties can flip these into Scottish Secure Tenancy Agreements under existing legislation.
Answer · Paul McLennan: There is no statutory process for either scenario.Subject to the agreement of both parties, any owner-occupier who wishes to sell their home to a local authority and remain in it as a tenant in the social rented sector may do so.If there is already a private …
23 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered setting a limit on the financial cost to households impacted by the transition to net zero buildings, including as part of the Mixed Tenure Improvement Service, in light of the reportedly large financial bills that families are currently facing.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: With energy bills remaining significantly high, the Scottish Government has offered to work with the UK Government to ensure energy consumers are supported, including through driving improvement to the energy efficiency of our housing stock, in order to tackl…
23 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of how households with a poor credit rating will be able to access finance to afford the reportedly significant financial bill from the Mixed Tenure Improvement Service by the City of Edinburgh Council.
Answer · Paul McLennan: The council have considered residents with poor credit ratings and have offered payments plans which have been extended to 15 years and the interest rate was lowered to 4% from 8%. This option was specifically established where owners would not be eligible fo…
23 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the City of Edinburgh Council's Mixed Tenure Improvement Service, what its position is on whether 21 days to respond to an estimated bill is enough time to make significant financial decisions.
Answer · Paul McLennan: The City of Edinburgh Council set their 21-day timescale during the Wester Hailes pilot and the timescale is based on experience gained during the pilot programme.The timescale allows owners to reflect and seek advice but is short enough to prevent undue dela…
23 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether a 15 to 20% management fee applied by the City of Edinburgh Council as part of the Mixed Tenure Improvement Service is (a) excessive and (b) above industry standard.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Mixed Tenure Improvement Service is delivered by the City of Edinburgh Council using powers as set out in the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004. The Scottish Government does not collect or collate information about the management fees charged by local authori…
23 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has been engaged in discussions with the City of Edinburgh Council's Mixed Tenure Improvement Service regarding the Scottish Government's part-ownership of any properties under the Low-cost Initiative for First Time Buyers (LIFT) scheme that are impacted.
Answer · Paul McLennan: The Scottish Government has not engaged in any such discussions with the City of Edinburgh Council's Mixed Tenure Improvement Service. Homeowners who have purchased properties under the Low Cost Initiative for First Time Buyers (LIFT) are able to participate …
23 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has provided to the City of Edinburgh Council in relation to the Mixed Tenure Improvement Service in each financial year since 2021.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government does not provide funding in support of the Mixed Tenure Improvement Service operated by the City of Edinburgh Council.The total amount of grant claimed as part of the Area Based Schemes programme by the City of Edinburgh Council since …
23 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported concerns expressed by Living Rent Edinburgh regarding the City of Edinburgh Council's 15 to 20% management fee as part of the Mixed Tenure Improvement Service, which reportedly reduces the amount of financial support that (a) homeowners and (b) landlo…
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The level of grant-in-kind potentially available to households participating in Area Based Schemes is not affected by these fees. Councils are required to separately claim a proportion of overhead costs such as surveys, scaffolding and project management as e…
23 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish National Investment Bank has been approached for low-interest finance by local authorities as part of their drive towards net zero buildings.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: As noted in the answer to question S6W-29325 on 16 September 2024, the Bank cannot invest in local authorities and it does not make sub-commercial investments or provide grant funding.As the Bank has operational independence it can work with local authorities…
23 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with the City of Edinburgh Council to discuss the Mixed Tenure Improvement Service, and whether the Minister for Housing will meet with Living Rent Edinburgh to hear its reported concerns.
Answer · Paul McLennan: The Minister for Housing visited the Wester Hailes pilot on 4 July 2023 and met with local councillors, members of the City of Edinburgh Mixed Tenure Improvement Service (MTIS) Team and local tenants living in flats affected by the MTIS. Scottish Government o…
23 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support is in place for any tenants receiving a notice to quit from landlords impacted by the Mixed Tenure Improvement Service, where the landlord has decided to sell their property due to the reportedly high financial cost.
Answer · Paul McLennan: The prescribed Notice to Leave that landlords must use to end a private residential tenancy includes important information for tenants and signposts to a number of organisations, such as Citizens Advice Scotland and Shelter Scotland, should they need advice a…
23 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether private homeowners in deprived areas reportedly being charged a 4% interest fee by the City of Edinburgh Council on their payment plan as part of the Mixed Tenure Improvement Service is helping to meet its mission of eradicating poverty.
Answer · Paul McLennan: The interest rate is applicable to debt where private property owner occupiers pay back over an agreed period of time. The City of Edinburgh Council consider this a last resort for private property owners who may be able to source more favourable rates throug…
20 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the cost to the NHS was of dispensing methadone in the last year, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Neil Gray: The total drug costs and fees for dispensing methadone mixture and solution (1mg/ml) to the NHS in the last year (July 2023 – June 2024), broken down by NHS Board, are presented in the following table. Cost data are complete for all NHS Boards, whereas …
19 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many prisoners have had early release into the Edinburgh Eastern constituency in each of the last three years, and what assessment it has made of any pressures placed on local services as a result of this.
Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:In the period 2021-2024 there has only been one period of Emergency Release (ER). This took place over 4 tranches during June – Ju…