- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 15 August 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 7 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to pursue the recommendations of the Business Purpose Commission for Scotland's report, Now is the Time for Purpose.
Answer
The Scottish Government has made a commitment in our National Strategy for Economic Transformation to “Build on the findings from the Business Purpose Commission Report, to inform how businesses can deliver positive impacts on prosperity, wellbeing – including tackling child poverty – and environmental sustainability. ”
The Business Purpose Commission for Scotland launched its report Now is the time for purpose: Putting purpose at the heart of Scottish business on 28 June 2022. The report is comprehensive, and makes recommendations for a range of stakeholders across business, governments, and tertiary education and training organisations. We are considering the recommendations carefully, with particular focus on the two recommendations for Scottish Government to lead. This requires significant cross- government engagement and we look forward to sharing our response when complete.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Date lodged: Monday, 15 August 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 7 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has published average apartment rental charges, used to calculate purchase subsidy grants under the Home Owners' Support Fund, since 2017 and, if this is not the case, what the reasons are for its position on the matter.
Answer
The average apartment rental charges have not been routinely published up to this point as we have considered this an operational matter. Figures are updated each year in line with CPI inflation figures and grant calculations are shared with social landlords before the purchase of a property is agreed. Going forward, the publication of annual rental charges will be looked at as part of the wider scheme review.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Date lodged: Monday, 15 August 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 7 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many households who have applied to the Home Owners' Support Fund since it started have (a) been protected from and (b) subsequently experienced homelessness.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-10243 on 7 September 2022 which shows the number of successful applications to the Home Owners Support Fund in the last 6 years. Where a social landlord acquires a property through the scheme, the homeowner will remain in their home on Scottish Secure Tenancy terms. The Scottish Government does not collect data on homeowners’ circumstances after their application has successfully concluded.
All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 August 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 7 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the (a) use and (b) control of public subsidy in Scotland.
Answer
Scottish Government has engaged regularly with UK Government at official and ministerial level on the new subsidy control regime. Officials have participated in all engagement sessions, continuing to provide feedback and raising our concerns and those of our stakeholders.
Disappointingly many of these remain unaddressed. Nevertheless, Scottish Government will continue to engage with BEIS through the introduction of the new Subsidy Control regime as it affects Scotland. We remain particularly concerned that the Act brings further erosion of devolution through the sweeping powers granted to the Secretary of State. It undermines the long-established powers of the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Ministers to act in relation to matters within devolved competence such as economic development, the environment, agriculture and fisheries.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Date lodged: Monday, 15 August 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 7 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether the HOSFGN/002: Property Thresholds Guidance has been updated for 2022-23 and, if this is not the case, what it estimates (a) the updated property thresholds for the Home Owners’ Support Fund and (b) the number of households with outstanding mortgages with properties under the valuation thresholds would be, had the guidance been updated for 2022-23, broken down by local authority.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-10262 on 7 September 2022.
The Scottish Government does not hold the data requested. Property thresholds are being considered as part of the review.
All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 August 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 7 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) plans it has and (b) additional funding it has allocated to ensure that Ukrainian refugees living in rural areas are able to access affordable travel in order to attend, for example, medical appointments, religious services and job interviews.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-10148 on 7 September 2022 as to the travel support available to displaced people from Ukraine.
I am aware of the importance of bus services to everyone living in rural areas and am committed, in conjunction with operators and local authorities, to looking at ways of improving services to ensure that everyone has accessible public transport regardless of location. The Scottish Government has brought forward a wide toolkit within the Transport Act to enable local authorities to improve bus services in their local area.
All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 August 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 7 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what the projected resource requirements are for delivering a 24/7 thrombectomy service, including numbers of physicians, nurses and other required staff.
Answer
Through the Thrombectomy Advisory Group (TAG), work is currently underway to establish the optimal approach to increasing the out-of-hours availability of thrombectomies, the resources required to do so and the appropriate timescales for safely increasing access.
The Scottish Government continues to work with stakeholders to better understand what resources will be required for the development of a high quality and clinically safe thrombectomy service.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 August 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 7 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what plans there are to encourage staff retention in renewable energy, in light of the reported absence of trade union recognition in some parts of this sector.
Answer
Trade unions are key partners in delivering our economic and social aspirations. We will continue to promote strong trade unions and collective bargaining arrangements in all sectors, including the renewable energy sector. We have made a clear commitment to promote collective bargaining through the inclusion of an employee voice indicator, measured by collective bargaining coverage, within the National Performance Framework.
We also work closely with Scottish Renewables, the trade body for Scotland’s renewable energy industry.
Scottish Renewables played an active role in the development of the Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan (CESAP) which explores issues such as skills development and staff retention in many industries including Energy. Through CESAP’s Implementation Steering Group we engage with both employers and their workforce as they move through the just transition to net zero. We will continue to engage with partners to deliver the Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan (CESAP) and will move forward with improvements to the Green Jobs Workforce Academy.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 August 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Lorna Slater on 7 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how microplastics, such as those from artificial sports pitches, (a) can be safely disposed of and (b) recycled in Scotland.
Answer
Through the ‘Pitch In’ project, KIMO International and the NGO Fidra , have developed a community toolkit and best practice guidance to reduce the source of microplastic pollution. This includes information on reducing this source of microplastic pollution. Marine Scotland is working with stakeholders to support the implementation of this guidance in Scotland.
The Scottish Government is also taking action on the issue of microplastics pollution from plastic pellets, powders and flakes. We have supported the plastic industry’s voluntary ‘Operation Clean Sweep’ initiative which gives guidance for best handling practice, and are currently working with the industry to develop an auditable full supply-chain certification approach to reduce plastic loss from all businesses handling this material.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 August 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 7 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of those in Scotland who signed up for the Homes for Ukraine scheme are waiting for guests to move in.
Answer
Under current arrangements, applications to sponsor or host under the Homes for Ukraine scheme are made to the UK Government, and processed by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Home Office.
The UK Government published data relating to the Homes for Ukraine scheme, but has not published data on numbers of available hosts or sponsors. Published data is available at: Ukraine Family Scheme, Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine) and Ukraine Extension Scheme visa data - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The Scottish Government will be releasing data on matching progress for super sponsor visa holders in the coming weeks.