- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 November 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Annabelle Ewing on 8 November 2017
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of comments by the Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs in The Scotsman on 28 October 2017 that the Office of the Public Guardian had seen a "40 per cent increase in submissions for registration over the last two years", what analysis has been undertaken of the causes of this increase, and what steps it is taking to tackle the additional workload.
Answer
This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who reply in writing within 20 days.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 October 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 7 November 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to proposals in the RAC Foundation report, Ultra-Low-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure – What Can Be Done, and what steps it is taking to implement them, including raising the report with the UK Government and relevant stakeholders.
Answer
The RAC Foundation’s report, Ultra-Low-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure – What Can Be Done was published in September 2017, reflects many of the recommendations that already form part of our Switched on Scotland Action Plan. The RAC report refers to the need for infrastructure. With Investment of £15m since 2012 we have already delivered one of the most comprehensive networks in Europe. The recent Programme for Government announcement will further support this by leading the way on electric vehicles and expanding the electric charging infrastructure between now and 2022.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 October 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 7 November 2017
To ask the Scottish Government how many times Transport Scotland's (a) electric and (b) petrol vehicles have been used by officials in each of the last six months.
Answer
Transport Scotland currently have five vehicles allocated to their car fleet. Two electric: a Renault Fluence ZE Dynamique and a Nissan Leaf Teknaand three diesel: a Mitsubishi Outlander 2.2 DI-D , Skoda Superb SE Greenline and Skoda Fabia Greenline Estate. Details of the number of times each of the vehicles has been used by officials (individual journey – signed out from base location & returned) in the last six months are provided in the following table:
|
Month
|
Renault Fluence
|
Nissan Leaf
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Mitsubishi Outlander
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Skoda Superb
|
Skoda Fabia
|
|
April-17
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0
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8
|
9
|
11
|
10
|
|
May-17
|
3
|
5
|
5
|
6
|
8
|
|
June-17
|
2
|
7
|
18
|
9
|
9
|
|
July-17
|
1
|
3
|
5
|
12
|
12
|
|
Aug-17
|
18
|
4
|
12
|
6
|
11
|
|
Sept-17
|
3
|
5
|
5
|
9
|
10
|
|
Total
|
27
|
32
|
54
|
53
|
60
|
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 October 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 7 November 2017
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-11582 by Derek Mackay on 5 October 2017, how many vehicles are allocated to Transport Scotland's officials, broken down by how many are electric.
Answer
Transport Scotland currently have five vehicles allocated to their car fleet. Two electric: a Renault Fluence ZE Dynamique and a Nissan Leaf Teknaand three diesel: a Mitsubishi Outlander 2.2 DI-D , Skoda Superb SE Greenline and Skoda Fabia Greenline Estate.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 October 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 6 November 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made to make buildings more energy efficient since it was announced that this would be designated as a national infrastructure priority.
Answer
Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme (SEEP) will be the cornerstone of delivering the national infrastructure priority. We are developing Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme. During the initial phases of the Programme we are focusing on delivering existing programmes more effectively and developing new pilot schemes to test delivery mechanisms for domestic and non-domestic buildings. to, our residential, services and industrial sectors. We will publish a routemap on the future direction of the programme next year
We are delivering the 2016 PfG commitment to make half a billion pounds available over the next 4 years. The Scottish House Condition Survey is used to track improvements to the energy efficiency of Scotland’s homes. The 2015 survey showed that around two-fifths of homes now has an EPC Rating of Band C or above. The 2016 survey will be published in December 2017.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 October 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 6 November 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what its response to the 2016-17 winter mortality statistics, which recorded an excess of 2,720 deaths compared with the warmer months and, in light of these figures, (a) what immediate action it is taking to address (i) the health of older people and (ii) fuel poverty, (b) whether it considers that there is a need to improve the housing stock in terms of central heating and thermal insulation and (c) what plans it has to revise the policies and proposals regarding domestic energy efficiency in the draft Climate Change Plan.
Answer
The causes of winter excess mortality are varied and complex. The Scottish Government remains committed to improving health and to reducing health inequalities.
We have made an additional £5 million available to NHS Boards to support winter resilience across Health and Social Care. This funding is to support winter planning and enhance resilience across the services, making sure patients are seen quickly, efficiently and without delay. We are also committed to ensuring people can receive the right care and support, at the right time and in the right setting. Free personal care for people aged 65 and over in Scotland currently benefits approximately 77,000 older, vulnerable adults and we have committed to extending the policy of free personal care to all adults who require it by April 2019.
This Government has always prioritised tackling fuel poverty and we remain committed to improving the energy efficiency of Scotland’s homes. We are delivering our 2016 Programme for Government commitment to make half a billion pounds available over the next 4 years. This means that by the end of 2021, we will have allocated over £1 billion since 2009 on tackling fuel poverty and improving energy efficiency. In addition to this, we will consult on a new fuel poverty strategy and target shortly and take these forward in a Warm Homes Bill to be introduced to Parliament in 2018.
The Scottish Government is committed to improving the energy efficiency of Scotland’s homes and buildings. Work is on-going to develop Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme (SEEP) and we are committed to publishing a route map in 2018 that sets out the aim, objectives and clear milestones of SEEP. Alongside this, good progress is already being made and the share of the most energy efficient dwellings (rated EPC Band C and above) has increased by 74% since 2010. As set out in this year’s Programme for Government, we will confirm the introduction of new energy efficiency standards for the private rented sector to ensure tenants are able to enjoy homes that warmer and more affordable to heat, and we will consult owner-occupiers on improving the energy efficiency of their homes.
We are currently finalising our own Climate Change Plan which will set out the actions we will take in Scotland to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. We will publish the final Climate Change Plan in early 2018.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 October 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 2 November 2017
To ask the Scottish Government when it will respond in full to the UK Climate Change Committee report, Reducing emissions in Scotland 2017 Progress Report to Parliament, and, in particular, to the claims that (a) the draft Climate Change Plan (CCP) “as it stands lacks credibility in meeting the emissions targets to 2032 and fails to prepare properly for deeper decarbonisation in the longer term”, and (b) “the balance of sectoral emissions reduction in the draft CCP should be revised”.
Answer
A response to the recent Committee on Climate Change report on Scotland’s progress on reducing greenhouse gas emissions was laid in the Scottish Parliament on 12 October (laying number SG/2017/208). This makes clear that the Scottish Government will reflect carefully on all of the recommendations in the Committee’s report, alongside those arising from parliamentary scrutiny of the draft Plan and the most up to date evidence and modelling, as we work to finalise the Climate Change Plan for publication in February 2018.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 October 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Annabelle Ewing on 2 November 2017
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of comments made in The Sunday Post on 10 September 2017, what its response is to (a) the concerns raised by Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s assistant chief officer that, without an increase in government funding, the service will have a £23.3 million shortfall in its budget by 2025-26, (b) the proposed reforms mentioned in Mr Scott's report, and (c) the confirmation provided by the executive council member for the Fire Brigades Union Scotland that it will oppose any reductions.
Answer
The Scottish Government increased the operational budget of SFRS by £21.7m in 2017-18. The finding for SFRS would go much further if the UK Government would allow the service to recover VAT like other fire services across the UK, adding an estimated £10m to their annual budget. The Scottish Government will continue to press for a change to VAT legislation to remedy this long running inequity.
Consideration of the budget for 2018-19 is on-going.
The SFRS is currently exploring how it should develop to meet the new and emerging risks facing our communities including how transformation of the service could see the SFRS do more for communities across Scotland. No decisions have been made yet on what the transformation will look like and any transformation will involve liaison and discussions with SFRS staff, partners (including unions and staff associations) and the public.
The priority of the SFRS and the Scottish Government is to ensure the resources are in place to enable firefighters to deliver a modern, flexible and effective service for the people of Scotland.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 October 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 2 November 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the UK Climate Change Committee recommendation in its report, Reducing emissions in Scotland - 2017 Report to Parliament, that the final version of the plan relies on low-carbon sources providing no more than 50% of heat by 2032.
Answer
We are working through the Committee on Climate Change’s report, as well as the recommendations of Parliament and feedback from stakeholders as we finalise the Climate Change Plan, which we will publish early next year.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 October 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 1 November 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the number of places required in care homes over the next (a) 5, (b) 10 and (c) 15 years.
Answer
Integration Authorities are responsible across Scotland for undertaking strategic needs assessments to inform their statutorily required strategic commissioning plans for their area. These plans are required to be prepared and reviewed on a 3 year rolling basis, so that Integration Authorities are planning for the medium to longer term, including identifying and determining the needs of their local population for care home places. This work considers needs, population dynamics and projections, service activity, supply and demand and gaps in provision, which in turn allows strategic commissioning plans to identify investments and disinvestments according to locally determined priorities within available resources, and which require to achieve or contribute to the national health and wellbeing outcomes.
