- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 June 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 27 June 2017
To ask the Scottish Government whether a decision has been made on electrifying the rail line between East Kilbride and Glasgow and, if not, when it will it made and by whom.
Answer
The Scottish Government recognises the benefits that electrification brings in terms of improved journey times and connectivity, as well as environmental benefits and reduced industry costs.
The Scottish Government’s investment strategy for the railway network beyond 2019 is currently being developed and has been informed by a range of evidence, including industry advice and a consultation exercise. It is in this context that electrification schemes, such as those involving the route between Glasgow and East Kilbride, will be considered. Any investment decisions will be subject to a fully developed business case, affordability and deliverability.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 May 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 7 June 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to attract visitors to the 2017 British Transplant Games in North Lanarkshire in July, and what support it is giving to the event.
Answer
The British Transplant Games in North Lanarkshire is receiving funding of £24,600 through the EventScotland National Programme.
EventScotland, as part of VisitScotland, will work with event organisers to maximise the tourism benefits of the event, with a particular focus on encouraging friends and families of competitors to extend their stay and explore the local area and the rest of Scotland.
Shona Robison will be attending the Transplant Games opening ceremony on the 27th July.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 May 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 7 June 2017
To ask the Scottish Government how many section (a) 30 work notices, (b) 42 maintenance orders and (c) 114 closing orders have been served by each local authority in each of the last five years.
Answer
Local Authorities are required, under section 24 of the Building (Scotland) Act 2003, to register any work notices served under section 30 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 in their building standards register. Information on the number of work notices served is not held centrally.
Local Authorities are required, under section 61 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006, to register any maintenance orders served under section 42 of the of that Act in an appropriate land register. Information on the number of maintenance orders served is not held centrally.
Local authorities are not required to register closing orders served under section 114 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 May 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 6 June 2017
To ask the Scottish Government how it is implementing the Housing With Care model as a way of reducing delayed discharge.
Answer
Integrated Joint Boards are responsible for making local decisions about the health and care needs of patients, to ensure that those who use services get the right care and support whatever their needs, at any point in their care journey. The Scottish Government has through the Public Bodies (Joint Working) Act 2015 and the supporting guidance, created a framework that encourages Integrated Joint Boards to consider a range of options when making local decisions about the health and care needs of patients including reducing delayed discharge.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 May 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 1 June 2017
To ask the Scottish Government how many homes meet the Living Home Standard.
Answer
The Living Home Standard (LHS) is a housing standard developed independently by Shelter and assesses a home’s standard against 39 different attributes. The number of homes meeting the LHS is not held by the Scottish Government.
Existing applicable housing standards in Scotland include: the tolerable standard (the minimum standard for all living accommodation in buildings in Scotland); the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) (the minimum standard for social housing); and the repairing standard (for most other kinds of tenancy except agricultural holdings, small landholdings, some tied housing, and crofts).
Information on how many homes in Scotland meet the tolerable standard and the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) is published annually in the Scottish House Conditions Survey Key Findings Report, available at: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/SHCS/Downloads.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 May 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 1 June 2017
To ask the Scottish Government how it is helping to expand the role of modern methods of construction in order to meet its target of 50,000 affordable homes.
Answer
The Scottish Government supports expansion of modern methods of construction, including off-site construction, which offer real opportunities for the industry to further improve efficiency, standards and to support new skillsets in delivering the homes Scotland needs.
We are working hard with partners to ensure best value through the significant investment supporting delivery of the 50,000 affordable homes target over the
five-years to March 2021 and to maximise the wider benefits from this investment. It is vital that the affordable housing sector procures homes in the most effective and efficient way. We are therefore also working with partners to improve the procurement performance of individual organisations, and to develop effective strategic procurement approaches across the affordable housing sector
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 May 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 31 May 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to monitor the effectiveness in narrowing the attainment gap of the literacy schemes that have been developed by primary schools.
Answer
The National Improvement Framework provides teachers with nationally consistent data to help inform their professional judgement. In December 2016 and January 2017, we published the percentage of children achieving Curriculum for Excellence levels in aspects of literacy as well as numeracy on a local authority by local authority, and school by school basis.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 May 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 31 May 2017
To ask the Scottish Government how much government funding to local authorities has been ring-fenced for additional support needs in schools in each year since 2011.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not provide ring-fenced funding for Additional Support for Learning in schools. Funding is included in the block grant which the Scottish Government provides to all local authorities as part of the annual local government finance settlement. It is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate the total financial resources available to it on the basis of local needs and priorities having first fulfilled its statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities including the Scottish Government's key strategic objectives.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 May 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 25 May 2017
To ask the Scottish Government when ScotRail will next update its Cycling Innovation Plan.
Answer
The Cycle Innovation Plan is updated annually. The document is currently with the members who attend the ScotRail Cycle Forum for comment before being published in June.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 May 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 25 May 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of ScotRail's performance in meeting the improvement targets set out out in its Cycling Innovation Plan, and how this was carried out.
Answer
Transport Scotland meet ScotRail every four weeks to review, monitor and challenge the franchise obligations related to cycling, and this includes the proposals contained in the Cycle Innovation Plan.