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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.

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Question reference: S6W-09081

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 10 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 21 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6O-01176 by Shona Robison on 1 June 2022, what the source was for the cabinet secretary's comment that "mortgage approvals for first-time buyers have increased by 13% in the 12-month period to quarter 1 in 2022, from the amount in the period up to quarter 1 in 2021".

Question reference: S6W-09092

Asked by: Kaukab Stewart, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 10 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 21 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to respond to the Zero Emissions Social Housing Taskforce report, Achieving net zero in social housing, in order to provide registered social landlords with as much certainty as possible as they plan to retrofit their stock of tenement accommodation to meet its climate targets, including in the Glasgow Kelvin constituency where the stock is reportedly extensive.

The Scottish Government published its response to the Zero Emissions Social Housing Taskforce (ZEST) report on 14 th June 2022, and can be accessed at http://www.gov.scot/ISBN/9781804355176 .

The ZEST report rightly highlighted the need for clarity with regards to the second Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing (EESSH2) given that milestones were not fully aligned with net zero and it also confirmed that Housing Associations and Local Authorities need long-term certainty to plan investment appropriately.

The Scottish Government has therefore confirmed that the review of EESSH2 will be brought forward to commence this year for completion in 2023, in order to provide registered social landlords with as much certainty as possible as they plan to retrofit their stock.

While the review is underway the current EESSH2 2025 and 2032 milestones will be temporarily put on hold to ensure that any investment is targeted toward long-term solutions that deliver net zero and support the eradication of fuel poverty. Social landlords should continue to invest in energy efficiency measures to help reduce running costs, and in zero emissions heating systems where appropriate.

The Scottish Government’s Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund supports projects to deploy zero emissions heat, improve energy efficiency and reduce fuel poverty. The fund will make £200 million available over the course of this parliament.

As set out in the Heat in Buildings Strategy, the Scottish Government recognises the challenges presented in decarbonising Scotland’s tenements and earlier this year convened a Short Life Working Group of experts, tasked with developing recommendations on the best approach for tenement buildings to reach a good level of energy efficiency and install a zero emissions heating supply. The recommendations made by the Group will form part of a forthcoming public consultation.

Scottish Ministers have also commissioned the Scottish Law Commission (SLC) to undertake a law reform project, considering the establishment, formation, and operation of compulsory owners’ associations in tenement properties, including the feasibility and desirability of providing powers for associations to carry out energy efficiency and heating improvement work. This was one of the key recommendations of the Scottish Parliamentary Working Group on Tenement Maintenance. The SLC expects to provide the Scottish Government with a report detailing its recommendations and providing a draft Bill for consideration by Spring 2026.

Question reference: S6W-09033

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 10 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 21 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what average annual charge is set by care home providers for a place that is occupied by someone who is self-funding, broken down by integration joint board (IJB) area.

We currently do not have the data by IJB and the following table gives details by Local Authority area. Full details are contained in the Care home census for adults in Scotland Statistics for 2011 to 2021 ( Care home census for adults in Scotland - Statistics for 2011 to 2021 (full release) - Care home census for adults in Scotland - Publications - Public Health Scotland ) .

Estimated Average Gross Annual Charge (£) for Fully or Mainly Self-Funded Long Stay Residents (without nursing care) in Care Homes for Older People in Scotland, by Local Authority Area.

Local Authority	Annual Charge (£)
Scotland	51,740
Aberdeen City	63,128
Aberdeenshire	53,612
Angus	48,360
Argyll and Bute	63,544
Clackmannanshire	39,988
Dumfries and Galloway	41,704
Dundee City	48,412
East Ayrshire	47,008
East Dunbartonshire	64,324
East Lothian	54,444
East Renfrewshire	46,748
Edinburgh, City of	68,692
Falkirk	56,368
Fife	49,296
Glasgow City	46,072
Highland	54,236
Inverclyde	50,232
Midlothian	55,900
Moray	55,172
Na h-Eileanan Siar	39,676
North Ayrshire	41,548
North Lanarkshire	43,108
Orkney Islands	53872
Perth and Kinross	49,764
Renfrewshire	52,416
Scottish Borders	51,532
Shetland Islands	67,860
South Ayrshire	48,568
South Lanarkshire	42,640
Stirling	53,768
West Dunbartonshire	46,852
West Lothian	50,232

The estimated average gross costs at 31 March are calculated by PHS using data submitted by care homes open on 31 March of each year. Missing data are not imputed by PHS. In 2021, 67% of care homes open on 31 March submitted data to the Care Home Census.

Question reference: S6W-09066

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 10 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 21 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce measures to reduce cigarette butt pollution as part of its work to reduce the amount of single-use plastic items.

We are currently refreshing our Tobacco Action Plan and considering a range of evidence-based interventions. One of the actions we are considering within the next Tobacco Action Plan is to introduce more ‘SmokeFree’ spaces. This could include beaches, amusement parks, playgrounds, hospitality venues etc. The addition of these measures, would not only reduce the prevalence of the use of tobacco products in these areas, but would also reduce the visibility, and impact of single-use plastics such as cigarette butts on the environment.

The Scottish Government are also currently running a call for evidence on single-use food containers and other single-use items, including single-use plastic tobacco filters. This call for evidence will be used to gather evidence on a selection of single-use items used in Scotland to aid future decision making on actions that could be taken to reduce the impact they have on the Scottish environment.

Question reference: S6W-09053

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 10 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 21 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-08994 by Jenny Gilruth on 1 June 2022, which states, "This scheme forms part of a rolling programme that is expected to see electrification extended to Dundee and Aberdeen", when it anticipates electrification will reach (a) Dundee and (b) Aberdeen, and what the estimated cost is of electrification (i) to Dundee and (ii) between Dundee and Aberdeen.

Question reference: S6W-08745

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 21 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when the steering group to implement the recommendations on safety performance in response to the Carmont rail accident will be convened, and when it anticipates it will report.

Question reference: S6W-08728

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 21 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many trains (a) departing and (b) arriving at Glasgow Central Station were cancelled in the week beginning 16 May 2022.

Reasons for train cancellations week beginning 16 May 2022 included driver shortages, trespass onto the tracks, fleet issues, signalling issues, points failures and other track faults. The following table provides the data for ScotRail service cancellations, week beginning 16 May 2022, for Glasgow Central station:-

	Total cancellations (planned + unplanned)			Number of trains planned (booked + planned cancellations)			% of train cancellations
	Departing	Arriving	Pass Through *	Departing	Arriving	Pass Through *	Departing	Arriving	Pass Through *
Glasgow Central High Level	219	241		2,516	2,528		8.7%	9.5%
Glasgow Central Low Level			87			1,343			6.5%

* trains call at Glasgow Central Low Level but do not commence or terminate at the station

Question reference: S6F-01272

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 June 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 June 2022

To ask the First Minister, in light of the increase in COVID-19 cases, what measures the Scottish Government is taking to ensure that everyone eligible for the spring booster vaccine receives it.

Question reference: S6F-01264

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 June 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 June 2022

To ask the First Minister when the Scottish Government plans to appoint a Women's Health Champion, in light of the appointment of a Women's Health Ambassador for England.

Question reference: S6F-01255

Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 June 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 June 2022

To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of reports that incidents of bullying in NHS Scotland have risen by nearly 50% in five years.