Question ref. S6W-06752
Asked by: Halcro Johnston, Jamie, Highlands and Islands, Date lodged: 24 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what monitoring it undertakes of vandalism of public toilet facilities and the impact that vandalism has on the availability of toilet facilities in local communities.
Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 3 March 2022
This information is not collated centrally. It is for local authorities to ensure that it has sufficient services, including public toilet services, and to ensure they are safe to use.
Question ref. S6W-06753
Asked by: Halcro Johnston, Jamie, Highlands and Islands, Date lodged: 24 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) reported incidents, (b) prosecutions, (c) convictions and (d) penalties for vandalism and related offences committed against public toilet facilities there have been in each of the last 10 years.
Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 3 March 2022
The data on vandalism that the Scottish Government receives from Police Scotland does not include any information on the type of location in which they were committed. As such we are unable to separately identify whether any individual crime of vandalism recorded by the police or proceeded against in court, occurred in a public toilet facility.
Question ref. S6W-05705
Asked by: Halcro Johnston, Jamie, Highlands and Islands, Date lodged: 14 January 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what financial support is available to self-catering businesses that have seen their business disrupted by COVID-19.
Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 24 January 2022
The funding package to deal with the Omicron crisis has been targeted at those businesses most severely impacted by the cancellations due to public health advice and re-introduction of restrictions on some businesses. For this tranche of funding this has meant support for the hostel sector, and hotels with bars and restaurants.
We recognise that the self-catering sector, alongside many other businesses across Scotland has also been adversely affected by COVID-19 and we strongly sympathise with them in light of the challenges this has presented. Limited funding available has necessitated our focus on targeting those most impacted by restrictions. We will continue to monitor the impacts of COVID on businesses and to engage in dialogue with the UK Government on the case for support.
Question ref. S6W-05704
Asked by: Halcro Johnston, Jamie, Highlands and Islands, Date lodged: 14 January 2022
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason self-catering, bed and breakfast accommodation and guest houses have reportedly been excluded from COVID-19 business funding delivered through VisitScotland, while hotels and hostels have been eligible for support.
Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 24 January 2022
The funding package to deal with the Omicron crisis was focused on those businesses most severely impacted by the cancellations due to public health advice and re-introduction of regulations on some businesses. The hostel sector whose business model is reliant on accommodating large numbers of (often unrelated) households mixing at one time, was particularly impacted during this period. Similarly hotels with bars and restaurants were particularly affected and therefore made eligible for hospitality top-up payments.
We sympathise with businesses such as self-catering, B&Bs and Guesthouses and others which have also been impacted by COVID-19. However, with limited funds available we have had to focus support on those most severely affected by restrictions. We will continue to consider the impacts of COVID and make the case with the UK Government for more comprehensive support.
Question ref. S6W-03569
Asked by: Halcro Johnston, Jamie, Highlands and Islands, Date lodged: 7 October 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what proposals it has to improve the quality of installation and maintenance work on electrical installations.
Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 3 November 2021
The Scottish Government published a consultation on the Regulation of Electricians on 23 November 2020 which closed on 12 February 2021. An analysis of responses has been undertaken and report published on 23 March 2021. A link to the report, and submitted responses, where consent has been given to publish the response, can be found on the consultation webpage at http://consult.gov.scot/energy-and-climate-change-directorate/a-consultation-on-the-regulation-of-electricians .
The Scottish Government is currently considering its response to the consultation and key stakeholders will be updated in due course.
More widely, working with officials, the Electrical Contractors' Association of Scotland (SELECT) and the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC) have introduced a new Single Certificate of Construction designed to help simplify the process of electrical certification in Scotland. The new multi-page document now combines all relevant certificates of construction and electrical installation, confirming that associated building warrant electrical work undertaken is fully compliant with all aspects of Scottish building regulations. Such work aims to improve efficiency and productivity across the industry as well as encourage greater use of certification schemes in Scotland.
Question ref. S6W-03565
Asked by: Halcro Johnston, Jamie, Highlands and Islands, Date lodged: 7 October 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) the UK Government and (b) relevant professional and trade bodies on improving the quality and safety of electrical installations in buildings.
Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 1 November 2021
The Electricians Working Group was established in 2017 with a membership reflective of industry, safety, and consumer interests. This group has explored the challenges of ensuring the safety of electrical installation and discussed proposals that aim to protect consumers, protect scrupulous traders, and maintain an environment that allows competition within the provision of electrical services in Scotland.
To date, this work has culminated in the publication of the Regulation of Electricians in Scotland: Research Report (7 June 2019), the Consultation (23 November 2020), and the Consultation Analysis (23 March 2021). Throughout these discussions, the UK Government has been informed of the proposals developed by the Scottish Government. Further detail on these discussions and the outcomes of the consultation are contained within responses to related questions S6W-03566, S6W-03567, and S6W-03568 on 29 October 2021
The Scottish Government continues to hold discussions with key stakeholders in relation to the improvement of the quality and safety of electrical installations in buildings. In addition to the above, officials have maintained robust engagement with Certification Scheme Providers who provide optional certification of electrical installations subject to a building warrant. In June 2021, a certification strategy was approved through the Building Standards Futures Board . Working with delivery partners, including the Electrical Contractors' Association of Scotland (SELECT) and the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC), we will encourage greater uptake in use of certification of construction as a further means of supporting improvement to the quality and safety of electrical installations in Scotland.
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-committees/written-questions-and-answers
Question ref. S6W-03568
Asked by: Halcro Johnston, Jamie, Highlands and Islands, Date lodged: 7 October 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what the outcomes were of its consultation on the regulation of electricians, and how it plans to take these conclusions forward.
Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 29 October 2021
The Scottish Government’s consultation on the regulation of electricians closed on 12 February 2021. All responses were analysed and a report was published on 23 March 2021. A link to the report can be found on the consultation web page at https://consult.gov.scot/energy-and-climate-change-directorate/a-consultation-on-the-regulation-of-electricians In addition, on the same web page can be viewed the submitted responses where consent had been given to publish the response. The Scottish Government is currently considering its response to the consultation and key stakeholders will be updated in due course.
Question ref. S6W-03567
Asked by: Halcro Johnston, Jamie, Highlands and Islands, Date lodged: 7 October 2021
To ask the Scottish Government when the Electricians Working Group is next scheduled to meet and what issues will be on the agenda.
Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 29 October 2021
The Electricians Working Group is expected to meet once the Scottish Government’s response to the consultation is published and will discuss that response.
Question ref. S6W-03566
Asked by: Halcro Johnston, Jamie, Highlands and Islands, Date lodged: 7 October 2021
To ask the Scottish Government when the Electricians Working Group last met and what issues it discussed.
Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 29 October 2021
The Electricians Working Group last met on 29 October 2019 and discussed the proposed consultation on the regulation of electricians and on increasing consumer awareness about the use of electricians. Minutes of all meetings of the Electricians Working Group are available at https://www.gov.scot/groups/electricians-working-group/ .
Question ref. S6W-01385
Asked by: Halcro Johnston, Jamie, Highlands and Islands, Date lodged: 14 July 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that (a) ministers, (b) officials and (c) its agencies (i) are fully aware of and (ii) follow its guidance regarding three- and one-day COVID-19 testing prior to visiting island communities, and under what circumstances this guidance might not be required to be followed.
Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 August 2021
The Scottish Government encourages anyone planning to visit a Scottish Island to test for coronavirus prior to travel, this includes any Ministers, staff or agency employees who are traveling to the islands. Scottish Government staff are not routinely travelling for work purposes and continue to work from home wherever possible.
Pre-departure testing for travel to the Scottish Islands is a voluntary scheme, however, everyone is encouraged to participate in order to reduce the risk of inadvertently carrying coronavirus into one of the island communities. Information on travel, including to the Scottish islands, is set out in the COVID-19 Framework for Decision Making – Scotland’s route map through and out of the crisis, which is available at www.gov.scot/coronavirus .