Parliamentary questions

Jeremy Balfour

489 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

14 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to issue revised guidance to local authorities, regarding the High Hedges (Scotland) Act 2013, to ensure that the definition of high hedges specified in the Act, which includes “a hedge which is formed wholly or mainly by a row of 2 or more trees or shrubs”, is used b…

Answer · Elena Whitham: The Scottish Government issued guidance in 2019 to support the application of the High Hedges (Scotland) Act 2013. This states that “In order for a hedge to be considered as a high hedge they must meet the definition given in the Act.” We have no current plan…

2 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how much of the £10 million fund to install Changing Places toilets has been distributed to date, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government is committed to investing in Changing Places Toilets during this parliamentary term, in order to increase the number of these facilities across the country and to support mobile Changing Places Toilets to allow people easier access to …

28 Feb 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any post-legislative reviews of the Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) Scotland Act 2022 are being conducted.

15 Feb 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any benefits of paying the Winter Heating Payment in November rather than February.

9 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide the exact date on which it requested data from the Department for Work and Pensions regarding the Winter Heating Payment.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: Throughout our programme of work to deliver the new Winter Heating Payment in Scotland, the Scottish Government engaged regularly with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and emphasised the need for data to be transferred as early as possible. DWP wer…

8 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it will publish its consideration of the final report of the Scottish Mental Health Law Review.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Mental Health Law Review published its final report on 30 September 2022 and set out over 200 proposals for reform. The report recommendations are complex and wide-ranging, and cross-government work is underway to consider them and assess their i…

6 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made, since the Children (Scotland) Bill became an Act in October 2020, regarding its commitment to introduce guidance on children in care maintaining a connection with former foster carers, which was made during the amending stages of the Bill, and, if it is the c…

Answer · Clare Haughey: The Scottish Government values the commitment that foster carers make to providing safe and loving homes for children and young people who are not able to stay with their own families. As part of Keeping The Promise, we are taking action to support children a…

2 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the potential delays to the delivery of the Winter Heating Payment, and when the payments will reach those in need.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: There has been no delay to making Winter Heating Payments. Payments started in February and will continue to be made automatically during March to support 400,000 eligible people. While it was not possible to make payments earlier this year since the Departm…

30 Jan 2023 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what schemes the Scottish Government has in place to support disabled people with the energy costs of running lifesaving and independent living equipment at home.

17 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to bring forward pilot schemes regarding accessibility in Scottish elections, and whether any such pilot schemes have taken place to date.

Answer · George Adam: Improving the accessibility of elections is a key element of the Scottish Government’s electoral reform agenda. It is our ambition to remove or reduce barriers that some voters face and to improve the accessibility of elections. We have been working with RNI…

16 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will re-open its national frameworks for the Supply of Electricity and Supply of Natural Gas to new customers, including eligible third sector organisations.

Answer · Ivan McKee: That decision is still under review by the Risk Management Committee; however they are examining a range of other options to accommodate public and third sector bodies who do not currently use the energy frameworks.

16 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Risk Management Committee, which oversees its national frameworks for the Supply of Electricity and Supply of Natural Gas, will next meet to review its decision to temporarily suspend the on-boarding of all new customers.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Risk Management Committee is scheduled to meet on 21 March 2023.

16 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Risk Management Committee, which oversees its national frameworks for the Supply of Electricity and Supply of Natural Gas, last met to review its decision to temporarily suspend the on-boarding of all new customers, and what it concluded.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Risk Management Committee last met on 6 December 2022. It concluded that the suspension should remain in place; however we are examining a range of other options to accommodate public and third sector bodies who do not currently use the energy frameworks.

12 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-13088 by Patrick Harvie on 10 January 2023, which states that the timing and scope of the Bill is subject to ongoing review and consideration as it continues to deliver its emergency response to support tenants through the ongoing cost of living cri…

Answer · Patrick Harvie: As I announced to Parliament on 19 January 2023, the Scottish Government intends to introduce the Housing Bill – which will include long-term rent control measures – as soon as possible after the 2023 summer recess. The Scottish Government is committed to in…

15 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with implementing split payments for Universal Credit.

Answer · Shona Robison: Scottish Government officials continue to work with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to ensure that policy proposals for Split Payments are deliverable within the technical constraints of the DWP’s Universal Credit system. We have also carried out w…

13 Dec 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce legislation to support the edible insect sector in Scotland.

8 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it initially allocated to the Tenant Grant Fund; what percentage of this fund was distributed to each local authority, and whether it will provide an update on how much each local authority has spent of its allocated funds to date.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Tenant Grant Fund was a £10 million fund with each local authority receiving a share, based on a distribution agreement between CoSLA and Scottish Government. The allocations were as follows: Local Authority Allocation Aberdeen City 4.1% Aberdeenshi…

8 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the new housing bill that it proposed to deliver the actions of the New Deal for Tenants, the proposed Homelessness Prevention Duties and other aspects of the Housing to 2040 vision, and whether there is an expected date for when the bill will be intr…

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Government plans to introduce a new Housing Bill this year. The timing and scope of that Bill is subject to ongoing review and consideration as we continue to deliver our emergency response to support tenants through the ongoing cost of living crisis.

28 Nov 2022 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government will mark the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

22 Nov 2022 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to ban the installation of replacement fossil fuel boilers from 2025.

15 Nov 2022 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the right of disabled people to dedicated accessible spaces.

10 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of any threat to former Hong Kong residents who have resettled in Scotland from the Chinese police service, which is reportedly operating from Glasgow.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-12089 on? 21 November 2022 which is available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

10 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of the number of any attacks by members of the Chinese Communist Party on former Hong Kong residents who have resettled in Scotland.

10 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has met with former Hong Kong residents who have resettled in Scotland to discuss their experiences since moving to Scotland.

10 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the role of Confucius Institutes in Scottish higher education.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-12095 on ? 24 November 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-comm…

25 Oct 2022 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that affordable housing development plans have been put on hold because of its rent freeze.

18 Oct 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work it is doing to improve attainment across primary education in Scotland.

12 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the implementation of the British Sign Language (Scotland) Act 2015 in deaf children’s education.

Answer · Clare Haughey: Under the British Sign Language (Scotland) Act 2015, the Scottish Government has a British Sign Language (BSL) National Plan in place for 2017 to 2023 with 70 actions across ten long-term ambitions. The Scottish Government published the BSL Progress Report on…

8 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its progress in introducing pension-age heating assistance payments.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: We are putting in place robust plans to deliver our replacement for Winter Fuel Payment from winter 2024 and we will consult on the proposals for this replacement in due course. Our priority in taking on full responsibility for all the devolved benefits is a …

6 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the electricity and natural gas framework agreements offered via its procurement contracts directory provide an opportunity for eligible third sector organisations to lessen the impact of rising energy prices.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The national frameworks for the Supply of Electricity and Supply of Natural Gas wholesale volumes are bought up to 2½ years in advance in tranches, following a proven ‘hedging’ purchasing strategy overseen by a cross-sectoral Risk Management Committee. The Co…