Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-05379

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 20 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many people it anticipates will be in the (a) higher and (b) top income tax bands in April 2022.

Question reference: S6O-00690

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 January 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the implementation of its Endoscopy and Urology Diagnostic Recovery and Renewal Plan.

Question reference: S6F-00650

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 January 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 January 2022

To ask the First Minister what steps the Scottish Government will take to urgently progress the green transition in North Ayrshire, following the closure of Hunterston B power station on 7 January.

Question reference: S6W-04890

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 22 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how much it will spend in the current financial year (a) on welfare, (b) on telecoms and (c) in total in order to mitigate any impact of decisions taken by the UK Government.

Estimated spend on the specified areas is detailed in the following table (this doesn't include the circa £3.5 billion of Social Security benefits which while devolved supports and supplements UK welfare benefits):-

Portfolio	Level 4	2021-22 Budget Amount (£m)	Associated Reserve Power	Assumption for inclusion
Safer Communities	Scottish Veterans Fund and the administration of the fund by Veterans Scotland, Capacity Building Grant for Veterans Scotland and supports Ministerial input to Commemorations.	0.5	Defence	Provides support for those in armed forces which links to defence
CEAC	International Development Fund	10.0	Foreign policy	Supports development programmes delivered by a range of organisations in Scotland. In line with Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998, and underpinning agreement from the UK Government giving Scottish Ministers the necessary powers to undertake International Development work.
CEAC	Humanitarian Aid	1.0	Foreign policy	Budget for Humanitarian Emergency Fund. In line with Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998.
F&E	Capital costs relating to improving digital connectivity infrastructure across Scotland.	98.2	Telecomms	Telecoms is a reserved policy area.
F&E	Resource costs relating to improving digital connectivity infrastructure across Scotland.	4.1	Telecomms	Telecoms is a reserved policy area.
Justice	Support for the armed forces and veterans community in Scotland.	1.5	Defence	Provides support for those in armed forces which links to defence
F&E	Employability - Fair Start Scotland	34.1	Employment	Funds employment support services for those most in need of support. Job search and support is reserved (except education, vocational and careers services)
F&E	Employability & workforce skills	22.0	Employment	Funds a range of employability services included for disadvantaged, disabled, care-experienced. Job search and support is reserved.
SJH&LG	Equalities	30.5	Equal opportunities	Promoting Equality and Human Rights which links to Equal opportunities
F&E	Consumer Scotland Policy and Advice	4.6	Consumer Protection	The consumer policy and advice budget is to allow the delivery of advice to citizens across Scotland by the Citizens Advice Network on consumer matters and to ensure consumer interests are represented to government, regulators and decision-makers. It will also support the establishment of a new public body Consumer Scotland to represent consumer interests.
F&E	Accountant in Bankruptcy	2.5	Insolvency	Linked to insolvency which is reserved. The budget continues to allow Accountant in Bankruptcy to ensure access to fair and just processes of debt relief and debt management for the people of Scotland, which takes account of the rights and interests of those involved.
F&E	Business Economic Network Support	2.0	Business Associations	This could be linked to business associations spend which is reserved. This budget covers the costs (principally in relation to accommodation, catering, travel and subsistence) involved in the biannual meetings of the Convention of the Highlands and Islands, a range of minor costs associated with sponsorship of SE and HIE.
F&E	Innovation and Industries (Aerospace Research & Development)	1.0	Outer Space	New capital funding to support Aerospace Research & Development, therefore could be linked to outer space which is reserved.
F&E	International Trade and Investment	18.0	International Relations	Link to international relations which is reserved. The Budget reflects Scottish Government’s increased ambition for internationalisation of the economy and will support delivery of the actions outlined in our three international economy plans for Inward Investment, Trade and Capital - all underpinned by our soon to be published values led Trade Vision.
F&E	Enterprise Zones	39.0	Industrial Development	NMIS and AMCF support manufacturing section which could be linked to industrial development. ‎ Support for the manufacturing sector and continued business engagement, it includes funding to progress the new National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) with the aim to develop and enhance skills, accelerate innovation and improve productivity.
F&E	Low Carbon Economy (Green Jobs Fund)	4.9	Employment ‎ Industrial Development ‎ Energy	Links to 3 reserved areas. This budget line has a focus on supporting our low carbon economy ambitions. Includes Green Jobs Fund (Supply Chain Development) ), Low Carbon Manufacturing Fund (£26m over 5 years) and Clyde Mission Low Carbon Heating (£25m over 5 years). Link to employment, Industrial development and energy.
NZ,E&T	Sustainable Action Fund (Climate Justice Fund)	1.7	International Relations	Climate Justice Fund purpose is to help fight global climate change therefore is linked to international relations which is reserved (note there is a separate FOI request about this fund specifically, following FM's announcement to treble the funding - 202100252499)
NZ,E&T	Sustainable Action Fund (Climate Challenge Programme Malawi)	0.8	International Relations	Link to international relations which is reserved
NZ,E&T	Climate Change Policy (International)	1.5	International Relations	Link to international relations which is reserved
NZ,E&T	Energy Efficiency and Industries	108.5	Energy	Energy is reserved. ‎ This budget supports the promotion of energy efficiency, the continual development of Energy Efficient Scotland and supporting heat decarbonisation. It includes funding to support major capital funding programmes to decarbonise the buildings in the non-domestic and public sectors; projects supporting the transition phase of Energy Efficient Scotland; development of district heating regulations and legislation; provision of programmes of advice and support to encourage the continued uptake of home renewables and non-domestic energy efficiency measures.
NZ,E&T	Renewable and Community Energy	38.8	Energy	Energy is reserved. ‎ In recognition of the potential of wind, hydro, wave and tidal energy to curb global emissions, this budget supports renewable energy projects, including support for the Scottish Government's Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES). It also helps increase community ownership of renewable energy developments and supports renewables workforce development.
NZ,E&T	Low Carbon Economy	50.9	Energy	Energy is reserved. ‎ The low carbon economy budget is aimed at supporting the development of low carbon infrastructure projects including heat networks and the development of innovative financial mechanisms to encourage investment in low carbon infrastructure.
NZ,E&T	Energy Consents, Strategy and Operations	2.4	Energy	Energy is reserved. ‎ Energy Consents Unit processes applications for onshore wind farms, battery storage and other energy related projects. The bulk of spend is on staffing and related costs.
SJ,H&LG	Discretionary Housing Payments	83.1	Social Security (non-devolved social security schemes)	Funding for Discretionary Housing Payments to fully mitigate losses as a result of the "bedroom tax". Of the total, £71m is anticipated to be spent on bedroom tax mitigation. Also allows Local Authorities to provide support to qualifying individuals in housing crisis, including support for those affected by Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates and benefit cap. These benefits are reserved.
SJ,H&LG	Promoting Equality and Human Rights	32.3	Equal Opportunities	Equal opportunities is reserved. This budget supports the equality and human rights infrastructure across Scotland. Investing in the capacity of equality organisations; Strategic Interventions to support key equality outcomes; and specific funds to support frontline activity to address violence against women and to support activities to promote equality and human rights.
	TOTAL	593.9

Question reference: S6O-00540

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 December 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what preparations it is making for holding an independence referendum in the first half of the current parliamentary session.

Question reference: S6W-04194

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 05 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 3 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how much it expects to spend on reserved policy areas in 2021-22, with itemised details for each expenditure line.

Question reference: S6W-04570

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 1 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how much North Ayrshire Council will pay in Public Private Partnership (PPP) and Private Finance Initiative (PFI) payments in the financial year 2021-22.

Question reference: S6W-04281

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 24 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its capital allocation has been to North Ayrshire Council in real terms in each year since 1999-2000, up to and including 2021-22.

The total capital grant funding provided by the Scottish Government to North Ayrshire Council, in real terms, since 2008-09 is set out in the following table. Prior to 2008-09 the Scottish Government supported local authorities’ capital funding programmes through a combination of loan charge support for historic debt, supported borrowing allocations and a range of separate capital grants outwith the annual local government finance settlement (the details of which are not held centrally).

The capital funding for local authorities changed fundamentally with effect from 1 April 2008 with these individual capital grants being incorporated into the annual local government finance settlement. It should also be noted that funding for Police and Fire transferred out of the local government finance settlement with effect from 1 April 2013. As a result the years prior to 2013-14 are not comparable to the years after 2013-14.

The real terms figures were calculated using the October 2021 HM Treasury GDP deflators.

Year	Cash	Real terms
	£m	£m
2008-09	17.071	21.863
2009-10	17.445	21.996
2010-11	13.472	16.708
2011-12	12.193	14.897
2012-13	9.578	11.471

2013-14	9.739	11.402
2014-15	14.076	16.292
2015-16	16.190	18.624
2016-17	12.108	13.623
2017-18	32.387	35.824
2018-19*	1.894	2.055
2019-20	26.160	27.717
2020-21	32.339	32.121
2021-22*	0.609	0.609

* North Ayrshire Council's reduced allocations were due to slippage in the Flood Prevention Scheme projects (Millport Coastal and Upper Garnock). Capital funding provided in advance was adjusted to reflect the latest financial forecasts provided by the council.

Question reference: S6W-04258

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 23 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it provided to North Ayrshire Council for the construction of new council housing in each year between 1999 and 2011.

The Scottish Government Council House Build Programme was introduced in April 2009, the aim being to incentivise local authorities to build new homes. This was the first such central government support to councils in a generation.

The following table shows the funding provided to North Ayrshire Council through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP) for council house building since its introduction in 2009 to 2011.

Financial Year

Funding provided

through the AHSP

£m

2009-10

0

2010-11

0.575

A more comprehensive annual breakdown by local authority and programme type, including expenditure, is made available each year in the published Scottish Government Affordable Housing Supply Programme Out-turn Reports.

Out-turn reports can be accessed using the following link: https://www.gov.scot/policies/more-homes/affordable-housing-supply/ .

Question reference: S6W-04259

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 23 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it provided to the (a) Cunninghame, (b) Irvine and (c) Trust Housing Associations for the construction of new housing in each year between 1999 and 2011.

The following table shows the funding provided to Cunninghame, Irvine and Trust Housing Associations between 1999-2000 to 2011-12 to deliver affordable homes. This funding supported delivery of new build homes, rehabilitation projects, conversions and off-the-shelf purchases of both new and second hand homes.

Funding provided to support delivery of affordable homes to Cunninghame, Irvine and Trust Housing Associations 1999-2000 to 2011-12*

Financial Year	Registered Social Landlord (RSL)			Total
	Cunninghame HA	Irvine HA	Trust HA
	(£m)	(£m)	(£m)	(£m)
1999-00	3.070	0.000	0.635	3.705
2000-01	3.290	0.011	1.278	4.579
2001-02	1.797	0.128	0.646	2.571
2002-03	2.106	0.550	1.019	3.675
2003-04	0.790	1.397	1.407	3.594
2004-05	3.666	1.550	1.943	7.159
2005-06	8.943	2.442	2.161	13.546
2006-07	3.162	9.972	1.795	14.929
2007-08	10.279	2.694	0.390	13.363
2008-09	8.635	0.088	1.273	9.996
2009-10	8.831	2.158	1.874	12.863
2010-11	5.046	0.000	1.366	6.412
2011-12	3.855	0.000	0.000	3.855
Total (£m)	63.470	20.990	15.787	100.247

*Figures exclude any funding for adaptations, Care and Repair or Special Needs Allowance Programme (SNAP)

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