Parliamentary questions
Ash Regan
428 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
9 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason young carers below the age of 11 do not have access to the Young Carers Package or an analogous scheme, and what support is in place instead.
Answer · Maree Todd: As set out in our National Carers Strategy, the Scottish Government recognises the importance of young carers being identified so that they can be supported in achieving their educational and wider goals.Under the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016, local authorities…
9 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support is in place for young carers below the age of 16 who do not yet qualify for the Young Carer Grant, and what its position is on whether such support is sufficient.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: We want to ensure there is appropriate support for young carers so that they can be children first and foremost.Alongside Young Carer Grant the Scottish Government funds non-cash support through the Young Scot Young Carers Package. It is available to young ca…
9 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the annual Young Carer Grant of £385.75 for young carers aged 16 to 18 adequately reflects the responsibilities that a young carer undertakes.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Our Young Carer Grant is the only benefit if its kind in the UK, supporting young carers in Scotland to access the same opportunities as their peers. An Interim Evaluation, published in August 2021, confirmed the grant has made a positive impact on young care…
5 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what safeguards are in place to ensure that the provisions in the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill balance the protection of the principle of private ownership with the interests of the local community.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The European Convention on Human Rights is fundamental to our legal framework in Scotland. Our proposals in the Bill are fully compliant with the ECHR, including the right to private property.More details on the consideration of the effect of the provisions o…
5 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the provisions in the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill, what safeguards are in place for large landowners, such as farmers, to be protected from having their land split up on sale where this would be detrimental to their business.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: If passed by the Scottish Parliament, the Bill will allow Ministers to consider the impact on the local community of certain sales of land over 1000 hectares before the sale can proceed.Ministers may decide that the landholding should be sold as separate lots…
5 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the provisions in the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill, what its position is on whether the holding of large amounts of land by private landowners is detrimental to Scotland.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: We do not think it is right that ownership and control of much of Scotland’s land is still in the hands of relatively few people.A 2019 report by the Scottish Land Commission: The Model CHP for the Scottish Government and Associated Public Authorit…
5 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on what benefits the compulsory splitting up of land by the Scottish Ministers can have for local communities.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Land is key to ensuring that rural and island communities can thrive, to giving people places to live and work, to providing essential infrastructure that people need and to help us keep people on the land.When land is transferred at scale this makes it more …
5 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that affordable homes as part of new developments are not of a lesser quality than other properties on the site.
Answer · Paul McLennan: All new homes, regardless of tenure, are required to comply with Scottish building regulations, which set minimum standards for a wide range of building function and performance topics. Responsibility for compliance rests with the party commissioning the work…
5 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to improve building standards in new social housing developments.
Answer · Paul McLennan: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-28955 on 28 August 2024.Building regulations set out technical requirements applicable to building work to protect the public interest. The Scottish Government publish technical handbooks which explain how to a…
5 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that the Young Person's Guarantee is offering equal opportunities to deprived communities to encourage young people into further opportunities.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government launched the Young Person’s Guarantee in November 2020, with the aim of protecting young people against the immediate economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Guarantee was set up to ensure every young person between 16 and…
5 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that the Young Person's Guarantee is successfully encouraging young people into further opportunities.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government launched the Young Person’s Guarantee in November 2020, with the aim of protecting young people against the immediate economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Guarantee was set up to ensure every young person between 16 and…
5 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what dedicated support is in place for students who are unsatisfied with their exam results, and whether the SQA has been provided with additional resources for the appeals process in the current academic year.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: As a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB), SQA operates at arm’s length to Ministers and is therefore responsible for its own operational decisions and processes, including on appeals.The Scottish Government works closely with the SQA to ensure that its …
5 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that there are enough apprenticeship opportunities available to all young people who wish to undertake one.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government continues to work closely with Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) to maximise apprenticeship opportunities and ensure that employers wishing to take on an apprentice are supported and able to do so…
5 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the "no wrong path" approach is working within the education system, and what changes are being made in light of changes within the Scottish economy.
Answer · Graeme Dey: Launched in 2017, No Wrong Path is an initiative led by Developing the Young Workforce (DYW), designed to provide inspiration and reassurance to young people receiving their exam results. DYW facilitates the engagement between employers and schools to support…
5 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact that the Young Person's Guarantee has had in the Edinburgh Eastern constituency since its introduction.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Young Person’s Guarantee Implementation Progress Report highlights the progress made against the initial recommendations contained within the Young Person Guarantee- No-one Left Behind: initial report, as well as outlining the next steps against the…
5 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support is in place for students receiving their exam results on 6 August 2024.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: A range of support was available for students receiving their exam results, including:The SQA Candidate Advice Helpline, which was open from 6 to 9 August, answered queries relating to Scottish Qualifications Certificates.The SDS Results Helpline which provid…
2 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recently reported decision by the UK Government to retract the £800 million of support for the University of Edinburgh exascale supercomputer, and whether it has had any recent discussions with the UK Government regarding this matter.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: This is a matter between the University and UK Government, and general UK Government budgeting is continuing to be reviewed. However, the Scottish Government recognises the University’s unique track record and further potential as the UK’s foremos…
2 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with (a) the City of Edinburgh Council and (b) other stakeholders regarding the regeneration of Niddrie, and whether it has considered any further financial support for the area.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government has not had any recent discussions regarding regeneration of Niddrie with the City of Edinburgh Council or other stakeholders. We are committed to supporting our most disadvantaged communities and places to build their capacity, resil…
2 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-28571 by Ivan McKee on 30 July 2024, when it plans to announce the Investing in Planning proposals, and whether industry bodies have been consulted on these.
Answer · Ivan McKee: On 15 August 2024, we published the Summary of Responses to Investing in Planning - a consultation on resourcing Scotland’s planning system, which ran from 28 February 2024 to 31 May 2024. We received 140 responses from a range of stakeholders, including in…
2 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what resources it is providing to Police Scotland to tackle any anti-social behaviour issues caused by (a) off-road bikes, (b) e-bikes and (c) e-scooters in communities across Scotland, and whether it has had any recent discussions with (i) Police Scotland and (ii) local authorities rega…
Answer · Angela Constance: Despite deeply challenging financial circumstances, we are investing record funding of £1.55 billion in policing in the current financial year, which is an increase of £92.7 million. It is for the Scottish Police Authority, working with the Chief …
2 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, following the recent statement on spending inheritance by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 29 July 2024, what it estimates the impact will be on (a) revenue and (b) capital funding in (i) the Scottish Budget 2024-25 and (ii) subsequent budget years.
Answer · Shona Robison: No additional funding has been confirmed as part of the Chancellor’s statement, with the consequential position, as per normal practice, confirmed as part of the Supplementary Estimates process in January/February 2025. The Scottish Government will continue …
28 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what financial support is currently available for private owner-occupiers in relation to remediation works as part of the Mixed Tenure Improvement Scheme, administered by the City of Edinburgh Council, in light of reports of significant financial constrains on vulnerable families.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: Eligible owner/occupiers and eligible landlords can receive a minimum of £11,050 and a maximum of £16,900 as grant-in-kind funding as part of the Scottish Government’s Area Based Schemes allocation to the City of Edinburgh Council. Owners’ contributions to to…
28 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the recent decision by the City of Edinburgh Council to permanently close Brunstane Road to through traffic, in light of the closure reportedly receiving 618 objections from the local community.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: In Scotland, responsibility for all traffic management on local roads lies with local authorities. Under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, local authorities have a general duty to secure the expeditious, convenient and safe movement of traffic. The Local…
28 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported concerns of (a) council tenants, (b) private tenants and (c) private owner-occupiers regarding the Mixed Tenure Improvement Scheme, administered by the City of Edinburgh Council, in light of the remediation works set to be undertaken at Lochend and Re…
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The City of Edinburgh Council’s Mixed Tenure Improvement Scheme (MTIS) is operated under the Area Based Schemes which are designed, managed and delivered solely by Scottish local authorities or their managing agents. Hence any complaints about the MTIS should…
28 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring that retrofit schemes are well designed with (a) tenants, (b) private owner-occupiers and (c) the local community at the heart.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: Retrofit schemes that are funded by the Scottish Government are assessed for value for money and the benefits to owners and the community as a whole. Scottish Government officials meet regularly with councils to monitor progress.
28 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) average and (b) longest wait time was for the awarding of Disabled Students' Allowance in the 2023-24 academic year.
Answer · Graeme Dey: This information is not currently held centrally. Students applying to the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) for the Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) for the first time are referred for an assessment of their needs before a decision can be made. SAAS do…
28 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) the Minister for Housing, (b) any other minister and (c) its officials have met with (i) the City of Edinburgh Council, (ii) Shelter Scotland, (iii) Living Rent, (iv) owner-occupiers, (v) representatives of owner-occupiers and (vi) tenant representatives, to discuss the repor…
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The former Deputy First Minister undertook a visit in December 2022 and the Minister for Housing visited the MTIS project in July 2023 in Westerhailes to understand the scope of the works being undertaken. The former Deputy First Minister also met with a home…
28 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered introducing any additional financial support for private owner-occupiers in relation to remediation works as part of the Mixed Tenure Improvement Scheme, administered by the City of Edinburgh Council, in light of reported concerns that owners may need to sell th…
Answer · Alasdair Allan: City of Edinburgh Council received £5.3m in 2023-2024 of Area Based Scheme funding from the Scottish Government. Private homeowners are also able to access interest-free loans from Home Energy Scotland and should contact Home Energy Scotland either by calling…
26 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-27934 by Mairi Gougeon on 18 June 2024, what it estimates the final cost of designating a new national park will be, and what its position is on whether this is an effective use of public money, in light of the reportedly restricted financial situat…
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: As outlined on 18 June 2024 in response to question S6W-27934, the delivery costs to date of designating a new National Park, excluding staffing costs and expenses, are £331,409.05. The Scottish Government estimates the final cost of designating a new Nation…
21 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-27492 by Fiona Hyslop on 31 May 2024, what financial support is being made available to local communities to install public EV charging points as part of its Vision for Scotland's Public Electric Vehicle Charging Network, and how groups can access a…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: As set out in my previous reply to S6W-27492 we have now reached a point where there is a need for a transition to a public charging network that will be largely financed and delivered through the private sector. The £30 million EV infrastructure fund will su…