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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S5W-27274

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 February 2020
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 19 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the local government funding settlement for 2018-19 on (a) employment, (b) public services, (c) council tax and (d) local authority reserves.

The Scottish Government provided local authorities with £10.7 billion through the local government settlement in 2018-19, a real terms increase in both revenue and capital funding. Taken together with the flexibility to increase council tax the total funding delivered an additional £342 million or 3.3 per cent to support vital local services.

(a) - Employment levels in Scottish local government rose by 7,200 or 2.9 per cent to 252,000 in March 2019.

(b) - The vast majority of funding is provided to local authorities by means of a block grant. It is the responsibility of individual local authorities to manage their own budgets and to allocate the total financial resources available on the basis of local needs and priorities. However the overall settlement provided local government with an additional £342 million in 2018-19 to invest in essential public services.

(c) - The level of council tax increase was capped at 3 per cent in 2018-19 to protect household incomes and preserve the financial accountability of local government whilst generating an additional £77 million for investment in vital public services.

(d) - Local authorities must use their resources as efficiently as possible and deliver services effectively to ensure taxpayers get the best possible value. Decisions on the use of reserves are rightly the responsibility of individual councils to take where it is prudent and sustainable to do so.

Question reference: S5W-27133

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 4 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what regulations are in place governing the operation of landowning maintenance companies, which charge people in residential developments for maintenance.

The Property Factors (Scotland) Act 2011 sets out a statutory framework to provide protection for homeowners in Scotland who receive services from a property factor. The Act sets minimum standards for the property management industry and requires all factors (including land-owning land maintenance companies) to register on the Scottish Property Factor Register, and to abide by a statutory code of conduct.

The Code sets out minimum standards of practice in the delivery of services to homeowners. Section 1 of the Code requires a registered property factor to supply each homeowner with a written statement of services, including a statement of the basis of the property factor’s authority to act and any financial and charging arrangements which apply.

Question reference: S5W-27134

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 4 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take in relation to the imposition of unfair management charges in residential developments by landowning maintenance companies.

The Property Factor Code of Conduct sets standards for clarity and transparency in the information provided to owners, including on charges, to ensure that home owners can make informed decisions about contracts.

It would not be appropriate for Scottish Ministers or the Scottish Government to become involved in private property disputes relating to management charges.

The Scottish Government recognises that although there are provisions in the Title Conditions (Scotland) Act 2003 and the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004 to dismiss and replace a factor, this may not be straightforward when the factor is a land-owning land maintenance company as they own the land that they maintain.

The Scottish Government is currently working on a non-statutory voluntary Code of Practice on the dismissal and replacement of land-owning land maintenance companies. The Code would introduce guidance on the minimum standards expected from any land-owning land maintenance company following a request from home owners who wish to dismiss and replace their factor and facilitate the transfer of ownership of the open space maintained.

Question reference: S5O-04100

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 January 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports local authorities in tackling fly tipping.

Question reference: S5O-04038

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 January 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the financial sustainability of the further education sector.

Question reference: S5O-04010

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 January 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the delivery of foundation apprenticeships.

Question reference: S5O-03941

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 December 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what update it can provide on legal action in relation to Northern Isles Ferry Services.

Question reference: S5O-03824

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 November 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that as many older people as possible can continue to live independently in their own homes.

Question reference: S5O-03798

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 November 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve transport connections in remote and rural areas.

Question reference: S5O-03717

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 October 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the management of the geese and stoat populations in Orkney.