- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 May 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 2 June 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive how the pilot scheme for testing new arrangements for public notices will be assessed.
Answer
The Improvement Service are managing the Public Information Notices Project on behalf of local government. They will be formally reviewing the pilot testing with the councils involved. This will be to ensure that the functionality of the administration system is as specified, and fit for purpose. Pilot councils are also committed to controlled public testing and this is likely to be via citizens panels or similar groups.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 May 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Neil on 20 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it monitors the number of prosecutions of landlords for illegally operating houses in multiple occupation.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not monitor the number of prosecutions of landlords for illegally operating houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). However, we discuss progress on enforcement of the HMO licensing requirements, including prosecutions, with local authorities.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 May 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Neil on 18 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings it has had in relation to implementation of Part 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 regarding the increase in fines.
Answer
Officials of the Scottish Government have had discussions on various aspects of the implementation of Part 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 with local authority officials, including within the context of the Scottish Houses in Multiple Occupation Networking Group.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 May 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Neil on 18 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last discussed with Glasgow City Council the implementation of Part 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006.
Answer
Officials of the Scottish Government last discussed the implementation of Part 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 with officials from Glasgow City Council and other local authorities at the most recent meeting of the Scottish Houses in Multiple Occupation Networking Group on 12 May 2009.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 May 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Neil on 18 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to implement Part 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 in relation to the increase in fines by the end of 2009.
Answer
We will draw up a timetable for implementation of Part 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 following consultation with stakeholders regarding the options for implementation and taking into account the drafting of statutory guidance and decisions on transitional arrangements. The increases in maximum fine levels for offences relating to houses in multiple occupation could not be implemented separately from the rest of part 5.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 May 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Neil on 18 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has assessed the impact of implementation of Part 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 as it relates to an increase in fines for failure to have a house in multiple occupation licence.
Answer
The increase in the maximum fine for operating a licensable house in multiple occupation (HMO) without a licence is intended to address concerns that the current level of fines does not provide an adequate deterrent to landlords operating unlicensed HMOs. There has not been an assessment of the precise effect of this change on the number of unlicensed HMOs being operated.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 April 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 7 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it expects the public services reform Bill to be introduced by May 2009.
Answer
The public services reform Bill will be introduced to Parliament in late May. It will include provisions for the establishment of Creative Scotland, the simplification of the public services landscape and organisational changes to health, social work and social care scrutiny bodies.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 April 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 7 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last discussed the public services reform Bill with regard to the establishment of Creative Scotland with Scottish Enterprise.
Answer
I discussed Creative Scotland, its establishment and its role in supporting creative industries with the Creative Industry Framework Agreement Implementation Group on 24 March 2009. The group includes Scottish Enterprise and its Chief Executive, Jack Perry, attended the meeting. That group is tasked with developing the operational delivery of the Creative Industries Framework Agreement.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 April 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 7 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any part of the creative industries budget would be transferred to Creative Scotland.
Answer
On 18 June 2008, the Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture announced in Parliament that resources of £100,000 provided by Scottish Enterprise to the Cultural Enterprise Office, for complementary specialist advice and information services for creative enterprises, would transfer to Creative Scotland. That commitment remains.
The Creative Industries Framework Agreement, published on 5 February 2009, sets out how Creative Scotland will work together with Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and local authorities to deliver practical support for the creative industries, making best use of the resources available in each/across all these organisations.
The framework agreement is available at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/ArtsCultureSport/arts/CulturalPolicy/creative-scotland/CreativeIndustries.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 April 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 7 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions with Scottish Screen regarding the retention of its brand if Creative Scotland is established.
Answer
The branding of Creative Scotland will be an operational matter for the organisation to decide on. As I said in my statement to Parliament on 2 April 2009, Creative Scotland should, will and must be a highly successful and recognised brand, and all our efforts should go into making it so while not looking backwards but forwards.
