- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Paul McLennan on 7 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-24438 by Paul McLennan on 23 January 2024, what its position is on whether local community ownership of social housing asset wealth is in the interests of tenants.
Answer
The Scottish Government values the diverse social housing sector in Scotland. We support the community ownership of social housing asset wealth where the landlord meets the required legal, regulatory and financial framework and where it is in the interests of its tenants.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Paul McLennan on 7 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications have been made to each strand of the Home Owners' Support Fund in each of the last 12 months, and how many of those applications have been accepted.
Answer
Paul McLennan: During the last 12 months (January – December 2023), 40 new applications were made to the Homeowners Support Fund (HOSF).
All applicants to HOSF receive advice from an accredited money adviser who offer holistic services that best meet applicant’s needs. Accredited money advisers are appropriately qualified to determine when homeowners meet the HOSF eligibility criteria. This ensures all options and potential solutions have been considered before an application is made. All 40 applications were accepted for further consideration by SG officials.
Applications are made to the overall HOSF programme, and all are assessed by SG officials to determine suitability for either Mortgage to Shared Equity (MTSE) or Mortgage to Rent (MTR). Every application is carefully considered.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Paul McLennan on 7 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how many times it has used its powers under section (a) 52 and (b) 53 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2014, and what the outcome of any such use of these powers was.
Answer
Section 52 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2014 gives Scottish Ministers the power to ask for documents and information they reasonably need to carry out an inspection on a letting agency company. To date this power has not been used.
Section 53 provides Scottish Ministers powers to carry out an inspection of premises which appear to being used for the purpose of carrying out letting agency work. This power was used on four occasions during 2019. The visits were used to confirm compliance with legislative requirements and no further action was required.
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 7 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-23777 by Michael Matheson on 8 January 2024, when it expects the Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD) to report back on its commissioned work to "improve Community Urgent Care (CUC) pathways as part of the wider Urgent and Unscheduled Care Programme"; which external partner is currently evaluating the Redesign of Urgent Care pathway through NHS 24 111; when this evaluation will be complete, and what the cost of this project will be.
Answer
The Scottish Government works closely with the Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD) to support delivery of improvement programmes, including the Urgent and Unscheduled Care collaborative, to ensure sustainable ways of delivering services, improving access for patients, and reducing unnecessary demand for services. While we monitor progress through discussion with CFSD and NHS Boards, we will provide updates on progress against specific pathways in our NHS Recovery Plan annual update.
Following open competition, the Picker Institute has been awarded the contract to evaluate the Redesign of Urgent Care pathway. The cost of the project was £90,000 and final report will be published on the Scottish Government website in the summer.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Paul McLennan on 7 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how many reports it has received pertaining to sections (a) 52 and (b) 53 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2014, since the commencement of each provision.
Answer
Sections 52 and 53 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2014 provide Scottish Ministers with powers to request information and carry out inspections. Reports are not made to Scottish Ministers using these provisions therefore none have been received.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 7 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an updated publication date for the Student Mental Health Action Plan.
Answer
The Scottish Government will, throughout February 2024, undertake consultation events with members of the Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Working Group on a draft Student Mental Health Action Plan.
Following this, and the completion of attendant Impact Assessments, the Scottish Government will publish the Student Mental Health Action Plan.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 29 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 6 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government which (a) companies and (b) non-governmental organisations were invited to the St Andrew’s Day reception that it hosted during COP28 in Dubai.
Answer
The following list of companies and organisations were invited to the St Andrew’s Day reception during COP28 in December 2023:
Abu Dhabi Aviation | CPI media | Islamic Finance Guru | Radisson |
AD Ports Group | DAHC | JM Foods | Retail Is Detail LLC of Alabbar Enterprises |
ADIO | D-CAT | Joulon | ReVentas |
ADNOC | DHA | Karpowership | Ritz Carlton DIFC |
ADQ | Dhabi Hold Co | Kent | Robertson Group |
Aforza | Doosan Babcock | KEZAD | Roslin Technologies |
AGR Petroleum Services | Drax | Kibsons | Safco |
Al Rostamani Tavel | Dubai Academic Health Authority | Kitopi | Scotmas |
AL TAYEB MEAT SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP LLC | Dubai Chamber | Krucial | Seafood Scotland |
Al Tayer Holidays | Dulsco LLC | Lactalis GCC | SEHA |
Al Yaseah | Edinburgh Science | Lactalis Group | Seven Media |
Al Yusr Industrial Contracting | Elevation Sustainable Solutions | Lactalis UAE | Shell |
Amity Fish | Emirates | LRQA | Siccar |
Aquatera Group | Energy Industries Council | LULU | Siemens Energy |
Arbikie | Equiom Group Middle East | MAF Hypermarkets LLc | Sirocco |
Areej International | Euro Mechanical | Masdar | SolarisKit |
Astro Agency | EY | Max Foods Inc | SOV |
Atlantis | Fawaz Alhokair Group | Mazrui International | Spinney |
Australian Embassy | FCDO | MEED | Sunamp Ltd |
Automech Engineering | finefarefood | Midgard Oilfield Services | SUNMEET GENERAL TRADING LLC |
AzurX | Fluitron | MMI | TAQA |
Baker Hughes | Fonterra | Mocean Energy | The Corporate Group |
Bee'ah | Foodsource International | Motive Offshore Group Ltd | Truebell |
Bidfood Middle East | FreshExpress | NAMA Development Enterprises | Tyde Digital |
Bidfood UAE | Gateway Group of Companies UAE | NKMS | UAE Space Agency |
Blake Evans & Co | Global Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Institute | Norco Group Ltd | Valeo Snackfoods Ltd |
BP | Green Bioactives | North Oil Company | VS |
Bristow Aviation Holdings Limited | Gulf Business Consulting | Nova Innovation | Waterfalls |
British Chamber of Commerce Abu Dhabi | HFI Consulting International | NPCC | Watson Farley & Williams |
Bureau Veritas | HSBC | OiLSERV | WetFish |
Carrefour | Hunter Food | Orbital Marine Power | Wishfoods |
Casinetto | Hydrogen Vehicle Systems Ltd | Park N Shop | Wood |
CBRE ME | IAS International Oil & Gas Consultants | PDF Beveage LLC | Xergy |
Chef Middle East LLC | IGS | PETRASCO Middle East LLC | Y International UK Ltd |
Choithram & Sons LLC | INVest NI | Proserv | Zumo Money |
Christof Globabl | IRBcreative | PWC | |
Core (A Zahid Group Company) | Isla Seafood | Quality Meat Scotland | |
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 29 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 6 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide a full list of the non-government representatives who were part of its delegation to COP28, including private organisations such as businesses and trade associations.
Answer
The following list of companies part in Scotland’s business delegation to COP28 in December 2023:
Company | COP 28 Attendees |
Aquatera | 4 Delegates |
AstroAgency Limited | 1 Delegate |
CCU International | 1 Delegate |
D-CAT | 1 Delegate |
Green Bioactives | 1 Delegate |
Hydrogen Vehicle Systems (HVS) | 4 Delegates |
Krucial | 1 Delegate |
Mocean Energy | 1 Delegate |
Motive Offshore Group | 1 Delegate |
Norco | 2 Delegates |
Nova Innovation | 1 Delegate |
Orbital | 1 Delegate |
ReVentas | 2 Delegates |
Roslin Technologies | 1 Delegate |
Siccar | 2 Delegates |
SolarisKit Ltd | 3 Delegates |
Sunamp | 1 Delegate |
Additional Companies |
NZTC | 3 Delegates |
Xodus Group | 1 Delegate |
Additional Team Scotland Representatives |
Scottish Development International | 7 Representatives |
Scottish Chambers of Commerce | 2 Representatives |
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 26 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 6 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what the target timescale is for the Energy Consents Unit to log submissions made by members of the public, and whether this target is being met.
Answer
The Energy Consents Unit does not have a target timescale for logging representations. Representations may be made to the Scottish Ministers in line with statutory timeframes set out in public notices, which require to be given in accordance with applicable regulations. Representations are managed such that the material issues raised within are always taken into account before any decision is taken by Scottish Ministers.
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 26 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 6 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there is reportedly a three-month delay in logging submissions sent to the Energy Consents Unit, and what action it is taking to address this.
Answer
All representations submitted within statutory timeframes are logged such that the material issues raised within such representations can be taken fully into account prior to a determination being made on an application.