- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 November 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 29 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the process for applying to the Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund 2021, what provision was made to allow registered social landlords to consult their tenants about carrying out any work, and whether it will accept late applications in cases where the landlord chose to consult tenants and this delayed their application to the Fund.
Answer
The Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund asks social landlords to provide evidence of tenant engagement as part of the funding application process and encourages consultation with tenants before any work begins.
The fund, which will support the social housing sector over the next 5 years, reopened this August and welcomes applications from social landlords who want to upgrade their existing housing stock. The fund remains open throughout the year. Applications can be submitted at any time and are assessed on a quarterly basis.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 12 November 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 25 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03714 by Patrick Harvie on 4 November 2021, what response it issued to the group leaders on North Lanarkshire Council in response to their joint letter of 7 October 2021 regarding the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland: Area Based Scheme (HEEPS: ABS), and which other local authorities have written to the Scottish Government about this scheme.
Answer
I have written to the political group leaders of North Lanarkshire Council to advise them of the existing flexibilities and additional support that we provide as part of our Area Based Schemes. These include a higher intensity of grant-in-aid for households in extreme fuel poverty or where there are other relevant factors, for example where there are additional delivery costs due to a non-standard construction type.
I have also encouraged the Council to contribute to the review of our Area Based Scheme (ABS) guidance for 2022-23. We have asked every council in Scotland to provide evidence about any changes in delivery costs in their area. We will continue to seek the views of local authorities and COSLA about the funding and delivery of our Area Based Schemes.
I am not aware of further Ministerial correspondence from local authorities about this scheme during October or November. However Scottish Government officials routinely discuss and where necessary agree a higher intensity of grant-in-aid for some ABS projects facing additional delivery costs.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 05 November 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 23 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides to public bodies regarding the use of court action in response to industrial and/or strike action.
Answer
The Scottish Government’s approach is to promote strong voice and representation for workers such as trade unions to support the delivery of our economic and fair work ambitions, and our relationship with trade unions is based on partnership working.
The Scottish Government was strongly opposed to the Trade Union Act 2016. Whilst we have not issued guidance to our public bodies on this, our position on this legislation had always been very clear. Ultimately, the most effective way to mitigate the negative impacts of this legislation and build stronger and better industrial relations, would be to transfer all powers over industrial relations to Scotland.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 15 November 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 18 November 2021
To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to support tenants, in light of University of Glasgow research indicating that around a quarter of private tenants are in arrears, totalling around £126 million.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 18 November 2021
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 October 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 10 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government on what date it released the £0.5 million funding to Care and Repair Scotland for the purpose of supporting older and disabled homeowners on low incomes to install fire and smoke alarms that are compliant with the new standard, and on what date those funds were released to local care and repair services.
Answer
A grant of £0.5 million was offered to Care and Repair on 28 July 2021, for the purpose of supporting older and disabled homeowners on low incomes to install fire and smoke alarms that are compliant with the new standard. Following completion of necessary governance process, the grant was paid to Care and Repair Scotland on 24 September 2021. Care and Repair Scotland have advised the Scottish Government that this funding was allocated to local Care and Repair services, subject to bids for funding, between 28 September and 4 October 2021.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 October 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 5 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has stopped routinely collecting statistical information on notifications of repossession and eviction action under section 11 of the Homelessness etc. (Scotland) Act 2003, and, if so, (a) when it stopped collecting this information, (b) for what reason it stopped and (c) whether it has considered recommencing regular collection and publication of these notifications.
Answer
The Scottish Government has stopped collecting statistical information on section 11 notifications.
The decision to cease the collection of this information was implemented in 2013, in agreement with the Homelessness Statistics User Group . The last national statistics publication which held data on Section 11 notifications was “Operation of the Homeless Persons legislation in Scotland: 2012-13” which can be found in our archived web page here .
Collection of this information was ceased due to data quality concerns. These included issues such as double reporting and inconsistencies in how information was reported across local authorities and amongst lenders.
The on-going homelessness data review is considering the strength of demand for, and feasibility of collecting, data related to homelessness and homelessness prevention. Data related to section 11 notifications will be considered as part of this review.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 October 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 5 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how many affordable housing supply programme approvals in each year since 2016-17 were given an estimated completion date at tender stage.
Answer
When affordable housing supply programme projects are submitted to the Scottish Government for approval an estimated completion date will have been provided. Details on approvals by financial year can be found in our published statistics at the following link, in the table ‘Affordable Housing Supply Programme Summary Tables – new style’ .
https://www.gov.scot/publications/housing-statistics-for-scotland-new-house-building/
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 October 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 5 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the (a) number of units to which the rent applied and (b) average forecast yield above the benchmark for each registered social landlord that has applied to raise rents by over (i) 5% and (ii) 10% in each of the last five years.
Answer
Rents for social rented homes should not be set without regard to the importance of affordability for tenants. The Scottish Government therefore considers the proposed rents for Registered Social Landlord social rented homes at the point of first let as part of the Affordable Housing Supply Programme grant assessment process.
Applications from Registered Social Landlords for grant funding to deliver projects through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme at tender stage contain information on any projected rent levels at the date of completion which are more than 5% above the relevant social rent benchmark published by the Scottish Government.
Information on the number of units which were approved at tender stage which contained Registered Social Landlord projected rent levels at the point of completion which exceeded the relevant social rent benchmark by more than 5% began to be collected in 2018-19.
The following table shows the number of units approved at tender stage – by Registered Social Landlord – where the projected rent levels at the date of completion were more than 5% and up to 10% above, and more than 10% above, the relevant social rent benchmark. The table also shows – by Registered Social Landlord – the average forecast yield above benchmark (calculated as the weighted average of the rent as a percentage above benchmark) where the projected rent levels at the date of completion were more than 5% and up to 10% above, and more than 10% above, the relevant social rent benchmark.
| | Projected rent levels more than 5% and up to 10% above benchmark | Projected rent levels more than 10% above benchmark |
Number of units approved at tender stage | Average forecast yield above benchmark | Number of units approved at tender stage | Average forecast yield above benchmark |
2018-19 | | | | |
Angus Housing Association | 5 | 7.52% | - | - |
Cassiltoun Housing Association | - | - | 20 | 11.01% |
Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association | 10 | 7.00% | 27 | 12.80% |
Cunninghame Housing Association | 59 | 6.98% | - | - |
Dunedin Canmore Housing Association | 28 | 5.34% | 48 | 14.31% |
East Lothian Housing Association | 14 | 9.00% | 8 | 10.53% |
Eildon Housing Association | 4 | 7.25% | 2 | 10.33% |
Elderpark Housing Association | 16 | 7.16% | - | - |
Fyne Homes | - | - | 12 | 15.42% |
Glasgow West Housing Association | 29 | 9.73% | 32 | 14.06% |
Hillcrest Housing Association | 2 | 8.59% | - | - |
Home Group | 8 | 7.24% | - | - |
Kingdom Housing Association | 10 | 6.05% | - | - |
Waverley Housing | 1 | 5.82% | - | - |
West Highland Housing Association | 2 | 6.25% | - | - |
West Lothian Housing Partnership | 44 | 9.36% | - | - |
West of Scotland Housing Association | 15 | 5.71% | - | - |
2019-20 | | | | |
Albyn Housing Association | 1 | 5.77% | 10 | 15.42% |
Almond Housing Association | 5 | 9.06% | 1 | 13.21% |
Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association | 8 | 5.64% | 15 | 12.71% |
Cunninghame Housing Association | 36 | 8.52% | - | - |
Dunedin Canmore Housing Association | 26 | 9.25% | 23 | 16.44% |
East Lothian Housing Association | - | - | 2 | 12.76% |
Eildon Housing Association | 9 | 5.72% | - | - |
Fyne Homes | 2 | 8.85% | 4 | 10.22% |
Hillcrest Housing Association | 14 | 6.02% | 11 | 13.36% |
Home Group | 2 | 6.12% | 22 | 16.20% |
Kingdom Housing Association | 1 | 5.31% | - | - |
Partick Housing Association | 15 | 8.72% | - | - |
Port of Leith Housing Association | 1 | 9.16% | 41 | 16.00% |
West Highland Housing Association | 2 | 6.54% | - | - |
2020-21 | | | | |
Bield Housing Association | - | - | 30 | 16.27% |
Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association | 4 | 7.72% | 16 | 15.85% |
Clyde Valley Housing Association | 17 | 7.69% | - | - |
Cunninghame Housing Association | 56 | 8.18% | - | - |
Dumfries & Galloway Housing Partnership | 1 | 9.30% | 1 | 17.38% |
Dunedin Canmore Housing Association | 21 | 6.81% | 101 | 14.79% |
Grampian Housing Association | 63 | 6.83% | 14 | 13.89% |
Hillcrest Housing Association | 1 | 5.54% | 185 | 18.94% |
Home Group | - | - | 69 | 19.54% |
Kingdom Housing Association | 2 | 6.65% | - | - |
Loreburn Housing Association | 13 | 6.67% | 2 | 12.45% |
West Lothian Housing Partnership | 4 | 6.45% | - | - |
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 25 October 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 5 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many home purchases it has supported and (b) what total value of funding it has provided as part of the (i) Open Market Shared Equity, (ii) New Supply Shared Equity, (iii) Help to Buy and (iv) First Home Fund programme in each financial year since the programme's inception, also broken down by Scottish Government 6-fold Urban Rural Classification.
Answer
Published information on home purchases and spend across the First Home Fund, Help to Buy, Open Market Shared Equity and New Supply Shared Equity schemes can be found on the Scottish Government website at the following links:
Help to Buy (Scotland)
https://www.gov.scot/policies/homeowners/help-to-buy/
Open Market Shared Equity and New Supply Shared Equity
https://www.gov.scot/policies/more-homes/affordable-housing-supply/
First Home Fund
https://www.gov.scot/publications/first-home-fund-spend-and-units-monitoring-information-report-december-2019-to-march-2021/
The Evaluation of Scottish Government Shared Equity Schemes, which includes the Help to Buy (Scotland), Open Market Shared Equity and the New Supply Shared Equity schemes, was published in June 2020, and includes some information on the profile of buyers using the Scottish Government’s 6-fold urban/rural classification. The attached link provides further information
Shared equity schemes: evaluation reports - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
The First Home Fund Evaluation includes information on uptake based on the 4-fold Rural & Environmental Science & Analytical Services classification
First Home Fund evaluation: quantitative analysis - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
The detailed breakdown by 6-fold Urban Rural Classification is not readily available in the format requested. We will investigate whether it is feasible to provide a full breakdown, given issues such as lags in new postcodes relating to new housing being allocated to the 6-fold urban-rural classification. I will write to the member with the outcome of this work as soon as the exercise has been completed. A copy will be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre, Bib number 62811.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 October 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 5 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how many affordable housing supply programme approvals that had an estimated completion date at tender stage now have a revised completion date in (a) 2020-21 and (b) 2021-22.
Answer
Completions dates for housing projects change on a regular basis for a variety of reasons and overwrite previous estimated dates. We are therefore unable to advise on the exact number of approvals where completion dates have been revised.
Due to the pandemic, construction was paused for three months in 2020-21 followed by a phased re-opening of sites in compliance with COVID guidance and restrictions. That impact has now been compounded by the current difficulties with the rising cost of materials and shortages in supplies and labour.
As a result and, based on management information, at the end of 2020-21 there were 9,017 less affordable homes delivered than were originally estimated to be completed at the start of 2020-21 and the estimated completions for 2021-22 have decreased by 267 since the start of this financial year.
