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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S6W-16652

Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will extend the Ukraine Longer Term Resettlement Fund for local authorities and registered social landlords beyond 31 March 2023 for all potentially viable housing proposals, and, if it has no plans to do so, whether it will consider reopening the fund at a later date.

Question reference: S6W-15517

Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 17 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the Office of the Public Guardian, in light of the reported delays for processing power of attorney submission requests, and whether it anticipates an improvement in processing times in the near future.

This question relates to functions that are the responsibility of the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) which the Office of the Public Guardian for Scotland (OPG) is a part of. The SCTS is an independent body corporate and as such it is not directly answerable to the Scottish Government.

The Scottish Government has regular engagement with SCTS where a range of issues are discussed. The SCTS capital budget allocation will increase from £8 million in 2022-23 to £12.7m in 2023-24. This will include funding to replace the OPG IT system, which will help improve processing times for PoA applications.

Question reference: S6W-15518

Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 17 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the average response time has been for the Office of the Public Guardian to process (a) Electronic Power of Attorney Registration (EPOAR) submissions and (b) postal power of attorney requests in each financial year from 2018-19 to 2022-23.

The information below has been provided by the Office of the Public Guardian (Scotland) (OPG). Full-year information is not yet available for 2022-23. The average response time for the OPG to process powers of attorney, online via Electronic Power of Attorney Registrations (EPOAR) and by post, in business days (excluding those expedited where special urgency was indicated) is as follows:


Year	Business Days
Year	EPOAR	Postal
2018-19	30	39
2019-20	36	43
2020-21	150	154
2021-22	123	135

Question reference: S6W-15519

Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 17 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) Electronic Power of Attorney Registration (EPOAR) and (b) postal power of attorney submissions were received by the Office of the Public Guardian in each financial year from 2018-19 to 2022-23.

The following information has been provided by the Office of the Public Guardian (Scotland) (OPG). The number of power of attorney submissions received by the OPG via electronic power of attorney registrations (EPOAR) and by post from 2018-19 to 2020-22. Full-year information is not yet available for 2022-23.

	No of PoA submissions
	EPOAR	Postal	Total
2018-19	46,260	32,748	79,008
2019-20	50,503	31,026	81,529
2020-21	33,334	17,397	50,731
2021-22	49,095	23,888	72,983

Question reference: S6W-14808

Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 9 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on widening the range of providers that are part of the Accessible Vehicles and Equipment (AVE) Scheme, and whether it can confirm the total number of new applicants for accreditation.

Applications for additional providers to join the Accessible Vehicles and Equipment (AVE) Scheme opened on 16 January 2023 and closed on the 24 February 2023.

We will make a further announcement about the outcome of this current accreditation process in due course.

There will be further opportunities for alternative suppliers to join the Scheme at regular intervals, and we will work with any potential applicant to help them understand our requirements, as well as how to obtain accreditation.

Question reference: S6W-15516

Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 8 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Office of the Public Guardian is reportedly taking approximately eight months to process Electronic Power of Attorney Registration (EPOAR) submissions and seven months to process postal submissions, in light of there being a target timescale for processing of within 30 working days of receipt of the power of attorney documentation.

Question reference: S6W-14807

Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-06120 by Ben Macpherson on 25 February 2022, what information it has on whether clients have received, or are in the process of receiving, a rebate from Motability, and what progress has been made with the proposed investment by Motability in greener vehicles.

Motability Operations have reported to the Scottish Government that 62,537 people in Scotland have received a £350 payment which is an early payment of the ‘Good Condition Payment’. This would normally be paid at the end of a person’s lease if they return their vehicle in good condition, but Motability have paid this to clients early to support disabled people during the cost-of-living crisis. Motability have told the Scottish Government that this payment was made in October and November 2022.

Motability Operations have also advised that they have paid a ‘New Vehicle Payment’ designed to help disabled people pay any advanced payment needed for accessible vehicles or equipment. 17,420 eligible people who have leased vehicles with Motability have received £250 each and 685 individuals who have leased powered wheelchairs or scooters have received £100 each. This payment will increase from £250 to £750 at the end of February for vehicles. There is a top up payment of £500 to be made from 28 February 2023. Thereafter any person ordering a new vehicle over the next two years will receive a £750 payment.

Motability Operations have informed us that they have added 10,000 Electric Vehicles (EVs) and 22,000 hybrid vehicles to their fleet, representing 21% of new vehicles joining the fleet. Alternatively fuelled vehicles now represent approximately 13% of the current fleet, having increased year on year since 2019. Motability Operations is investing £300m over the next three years to support customers with the transition to EVs. Further information on this can be found in Motability Operations annual report at: https://www.motabilityoperations.co.uk/Annual_Report_2022.pdf.

Question reference: S6W-15272

Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it last reviewed the effectiveness of promotional activities for the Young Scot National Entitlement Card to ensure that 11- to 25-year-olds are aware of how they can use the facility.

In Autumn 2022, Transport Scotland launched a national marketing campaign to increase awareness and understanding of the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme.

Analysis of the campaign was completed in February 2023 and showed that over 97% of the adult population in Scotland, and 94% of 13-18 year olds, would have seen or heard the campaign at least three times.

The evaluation also showed that the campaign helped to improve opinions of bus and increase bus use. Over half of those who responded to the post campaign survey said their opinion of bus travel improved as a result of the campaign. 91% of the young people who responded, and had already joined the scheme, said they were using bus more.

Question reference: S6W-15273

Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the eligibility criteria for the Young Scot National Entitlement Card, for what reason the current age range of 11- to 25-year-olds is considered to be the most appropriate, and whether it has considered lowering the age range to include all young people living in Scotland who are of primary school age.

The National Concessionary Travel Schemes are delivered on both Young Scot-branded and non-Young Scot-branded National Entitlement Cards (NEC).

Children aged 5-11 are able to access the Young Persons Free Bus Travel Scheme (YPTS) using a photoless NEC. Young people aged 11-21 can choose to access the YPTS with either a Young Scot NEC or non-Young Scot branded photo NEC. Information on the types of NECs available to access YPTS is available at freebus.scot .

Young people in the National Concessionary Travel Scheme for Disabled Persons aged 11-25 can choose to access the scheme through either a Young-Scot branded or non-branded NEC.

Non-concessionary travel benefits of the Young Scot NEC are the responsibility of Young Scot who determine the age at which this is available.

Question reference: S6W-13790

Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 24 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has assessed the reporting mechanisms put in place by local authorities for members of the public to complain about potholes and other damage to roads, and whether it will consider introducing a national standard whereby all local authority areas adopt the same methods for the reporting of road defects.

The Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 places statutory responsibility for local roads, including the procedure for reporting road defects/damage on local authorities. As such it is the responsibility of the local authority to determine how best to meet its duties on local roads in their respective areas, including how the public report issues, and no formal guidance is issued on this matter.

SCOTS (the Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland) – www.scotsnet.org , are responsible for implementing new materials and best practice on local road maintenance.