Questions and answers

Question reference: S6O-03011

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 January 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to ensure that it meets its affordable homes target by 2032.

Question reference: S6O-03013

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 January 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the lives of disabled people.

Question reference: S6W-24275

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 17 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is giving to living heritage organisations.

The Scottish Government delivers support for culture and heritage organisations through the sponsorship of our public bodies. In turn, Historic Environment Scotland and Creative Scotland deliver grant programmes to support many varied heritage, traditional skills and cultural practices.

Museums Galleries Scotland, the national development body for Scotland’s museum sector, also distributes grant funding for the Scottish Government to support accredited museums in Scotland which can also showcase living heritage.

Question reference: S6W-24193

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 17 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to extend the Storm Babet Recovery Grant to Argyll and Bute Council, in light of the reported written request from the Leader of Argyll and Bute Council.

The Scottish Government acknowledges the profound impacts and hardships inflicted by the October storms on local communities. The Government has been working closely with affected local authorities on a package of support to help people whose homes and businesses were flooded. This package includes extending the Bellwin scheme’s application window to help all Councils, including Argyll and Bute, cover eligible expenditure for urgent repairs.

The Scottish Welfare Fund also provides emergency support to those on low incomes in Scotland, including in Argyll and Bute. Support may be provided through the provision of Crisis Grants and Community Care Grants, including to those who have experienced a disaster situation, such as a flood. Residents can apply to the Scottish Welfare Fund through their Council.

This support is in addition to Scotland’s longer-term investment in flood resilience, where we have committed £150m over the course of this Parliament to deliver improved flood resilience, in addition to the £42m provided annually to councils for flood resilience through the general capital grant.

The Deputy First Minister has written to Councillor Currie, the leader of Argyll and Bute Council, on support for councils and communities affected by severe weather and reiterated our commitment to work with Argyll and Bute Council and those directly affected by the October storms to support the response and recovery. Communication between Scottish Government and Argyle and Bute Council continues on these matters.

Question reference: S6W-24287

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 17 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide details of how it ensures (a) cultural, (b) arts and (c) heritage organisations that are in receipt of grant funding abide by Intangible Cultural Heritage principles.

The general Intangible Cultural Heritage principles of transparent collaboration, open communication, mutual respect and inclusivity are echoed across the Scottish Government, as well as across the work delivered by our public and national bodies.

The Scottish Government delivers support for cultural and heritage organisations through the sponsorship of our public bodies. In turn, Historic Environment Scotland and Creative Scotland deliver grant programmes to support many varied heritage, traditional skills and cultural practices.

Museums Galleries Scotland, the national development body for Scotland’s museum sector, also distributes grant funding for the Scottish Government to support accredited museums in Scotland which can also showcase Intangible Cultural Heritage and living heritage.

Question reference: S6W-23877

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don on 17 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what the legislative framework is for providing young disabled people with a plan for their transitions from school to adulthood, and what its position is on whether it should include a guarantee that it is started from no later than their 14th birthday.

The Additional Support for Learning Act 2004 sets out clear timescales for post school transition planning. In the accompanying statutory guidance , schools are encouraged to plan for transitions well ahead of the statutory timescales, which apply from the date a young person is expected to leave school.

We recognise that not all young people are currently getting the transitions support they need. We are working closely with local government partners to improve the experience of children and young people with additional support needs at school, through the implementation of the recommendations set out in the 2020 review of additional support for learning. This includes work to encourage best practice in this area and improve the implementation of existing transition duties. A further update on this work is due to be published in May 2024.

Through the development of the National Transitions to Adulthood Strategy, we are also considering what additional support disabled young people may need. As set out in the published Statement of Intent for the strategy, one of the proposed overarching ambitions is to further embed the Association for Real Change Scotland’s widely-endorsed seven Principles of Good Transitions , and the similar characteristics of good transitions outlined in our published literature review , in the policy, planning and practice of organisations that provide support for disabled young people.

Question reference: S6W-24179

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by George Adam on 17 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many ministerial visits were made in Scotland in 2023, broken down by parliamentary (a) constituency and (b) region.

Question reference: S6W-24056

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 17 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what economic assessment it has undertaken regarding any impact of its proposal to prohibit the use of polluting heating systems in new buildings from 2024 on the affordability of new build homes within the (a) rural and (b) urban housing market.

A Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment was completed for the provisions contained within The Building (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2023 (which introduce the New Build Heat Standard from 1 April 2024). This contains an assessment of how the Standard may impact costs associated with new homes across Scotland. The affordability of buying a home is impacted by multiple factors, including the sale price of a new building (which is determined by individual developers and takes into account a range of variables related to building construction costs and local housing markets), location and access to personal finance for buyers.

New Build Heat Standard 2024: business and regulatory impact assessment - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Question reference: S6W-24278

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 17 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what support it can provide to ensure that Gaelic living heritage can be safeguarded in Gaelic communities in the Highlands and Islands region.

The Scottish Government supports various cultural and educational initiatives across the Highlands and Islands which safeguard the living heritage of Gaelic communities. Our support of cultural venues such as Cnoc Soilleir in South Uist and the Islay Gaelic Centre provide innovative modern facilities for the celebration of local Gaelic heritage. As an example of this, Cnoc Soilleir recently hosted the first Gaelic Climate Convention exploring the intersection of local Gaelic culture and actions against climate change.

The Scottish Government funds Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s Dìleab project which showcases the cultural history of the Outer Hebrides and creates opportunities for intergenerational learning. The online archive Tobar an Dualchais is a vital resource for accessing Gaelic songs and traditions collected by the School of Scottish Studies since the mid-20th century. Its benefits can be seen, among other places, in the inspiration it provides contemporary Scottish musicians to adapt traditional Gaelic music for a modern audience.

Through initiatives such as these, and our funding of the work done by bodies like Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, MG Alba and Stòrlann, the Scottish Government is working to ensure that the living Gaelic heritage of the Highlands and Islands is protected. Our ongoing work on the Scottish Languages Bill and the Scottish Government response to the Report on Economic and Social Opportunities for Gaelic will build on this important work.

Question reference: S6W-24051

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 17 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what economic assessment it has undertaken regarding its proposal for private landlords to meet a minimum energy efficiency standard by 2028 and any potential impact on the availability of private rental homes.

This proposal is contained within the current public consultation Delivering net zero for Scotland's buildings - Heat in Buildings Bill: consultation - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) . A draft business and regulatory impact assessment has been published to support this consultation Heat in Buildings Bill consultation: business and regulatory impact assessment (partial) - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

This draft impact assessment and a range of other relevant impact assessments will be developed and then finalised based on the outcome of the consultation. Further development of proposals will then occur and will be the subject of detailed final impact assessments.

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