- 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: Thursday, 11 August 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 7 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Home Owners’ Support Fund, what (a) written or electronic (i) promotional
materials (ii) briefings and (iii) training and (b) promotional meetings it has
provided or offered to (A) money advisers acting on behalf of applicants (B)
social landlords who are part of the Mortgage to Rent scheme (C) trustees
acting on behalf of applicants (D) UK lenders and (E) others, in the last 12
months.
Answer
Guidance documents for each participant are available at Support for homeowners at risk of homelessness - Homelessness - gov.scot (www.gov.scot). HOSF officials regularly provide support and information to applicants, Money Advisers, Social Landlords, Trustees and Lenders on individual applications.
- Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 11 August 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 7 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how much government funding bus operators have received in each of the last five years,
broken down by (a) operator and (b) fund.
Answer
The Scottish Government has provided funding to bus operators through a number of grants during the last five years. Information on the amount of funding provided to bus operators per year is provided for the following funds: Bus Service Operators’ Grant, Scottish Bus Emissions Abatement Retrofit Fund, Scottish Green Bus Fund, Smart Pay Grant Fund, Covid Support Grant, Covid Support Grant - Restart, Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme, Scottish Zero Emission Bus fund, Network Support Grant and Network Support Grant Plus.
Due to the number of entries, a spreadsheet containing the requested information has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. Number: 63569).
Transport Scotland actively publishes monthly details of all items of expenditure of a value of £25,000 or over. This information is available at Expenditure | Transport Scotland . Further information on the purpose of these funds is available on the Transport Scotland website: Bus Travel in Scotland (transport.gov.scot) .
Partial information is provided for 2022 but may be subject to change by the end of the financial year, for example where funding is provided subject to a financial reconciliation taking place later in the year to adjust final funding levels.
- 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: Wednesday, 10 August 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 7 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Home Owners’ Support Fund, what the average processing time has been for (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful applications in each of the last six years, and how many applications in each of the last six years took (i) less than one year (ii) one to two years (iii) two to three years and (iv) more than three years to process.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not collect data in relation to the turnaround of unsuccessful applications. The following table shows the average processing time in months for successful applications during each of the last six years.
Year | Average Processing Time (Months) |
2016-17 | 5 |
2017-18 | 6 |
2018-19 | 9 |
2019-20 | 11 |
2020-21 | 15 |
2021-22 | 20 |
The Home Owners Support Fund is a voluntary scheme and the full co-operation and participation of applicants, social landlords, lenders, solicitors and surveyors is necessary for the smooth and efficient delivery of the scheme. The pandemic made it more difficult to progress cases, particularly as social landlords were unable to visit properties for repairs assessments.
The following table shows the number of successful applications and the timescales, during each of the last six years.
| | Number of Successful Applications Processed in |
Year | < 1 Year | 1-2 years | 2-3 | > 3 years |
2016-17 | 65 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2017-18 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2018-19 | 29 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
2019-20 | 21 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
2020-21 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
2021-22 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
- 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: Wednesday, 10 August 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 7 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) enquiries about and (b) applications for the Home Owners' Support Fund it has received in each of the last six years, broken down by the (i) Mortgage to Rent and (ii) Mortgage to Shared Equity schemes, and, of those applications that were received, how many were (A) successful and (B) ineligible.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not collect information on enquiries relating to the Home Owners Support Fund (HOSF). The Mortgage to Rent (MTR) and Mortgage to Shared Equity (MTSE) schemes are delivered as part of the HOSF programme. Each application is assessed on a case by case basis to determine which scheme best meets the applicant’s needs. During the last six years there have been no cases eligible for MTSE, due to the circumstances of applicants not meeting the eligibility criteria, in particular applicants with complex debts.
The following table shows the number of applications received during each of the last six years, the number of applications successfully completed and the number of cases closed due to ineligibility. Mortgage to Rent is a voluntary scheme and participation from applicants, lenders, trustees and social landlords is required for a case to succeed.
Mortgage to Rent Applications* |
Year | Received | Successful | Ineligible |
2016-17 | 113 | 65 | 20 |
2017-18 | 91 | 39 | 17 |
2018-19 | 106 | 32 | 30 |
2019-20 | 79 | 28 | 16 |
2020-21 | 20 | 8 | 7 |
2021-22 | 36 | 9 | 10 |
*Figures for received, successful and ineligible do not necessarily refer to the same cases.
We have received significantly fewer applications during the last two financial years. Regulations were introduced by the Scottish Government that protected homeowners in financial difficulty from repossession at the height of the pandemic. n addition, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and mortgage lenders also put in place temporary measures to assist homeowners facing difficulties in managing their mortgage repayments. From March 2020 to March 2021, mortgage lenders offered payment deferrals of up to six months and whilst those temporary measures have now expired, the FCA continues to work with lenders to help improve and strengthen arrears management and mortgage lenders must demonstrate that they have done everything required to make repossession a matter of last resort.
- Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 11 August 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 7 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported decision by the Welsh Government to provide additional funding to
support the recovery of the bus industry in Wales, which will run until April
2023, whether it will consider similar action in Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Government continues to provide financial support for bus services to keep services more extensive, and fares more affordable than would otherwise be the case. On 1 April 2022, the Network Support Grant was introduced, with up to £93.5 million allocated for 2022-23 and an additional £25.7 million is being provided to extend the Network Support Grant Plus until October of this year. The Scottish Government continues to engage with bus operators and local government to keep support under review.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 11 August 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 7 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether any Scottish Ministers have ever had meetings with Uber and, if this is the case, what the purpose of any such meetings was, whether any notes were taken at the meetings, and, if this is the case, whether it will place copies of any such notes in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe).
Answer
There have been no meetings between Scottish Government Ministers and Uber in the current parliamentary term. The former Minister for Transport and Islands, Mr Yousaf, met with Uber on two occasions on 20 April and 10 October 2017. Topics discussed included congestion, licensing, car-pooling, electric vehicles, and rural accessibility.
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 11 August 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 7 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many waste water treatment works (a) there are and (b) monitoring exercises (i) were
carried out during the Chemical Investigation Programme 2 (CIP2) and (ii) are planned for CIP3, in each case broken down
by local authority.
Answer
Scottish Water operates 1,857 wastewater treatment works (WWTW) across Scotland; this figure includes septic tanks.
Scottish Water works closely with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to develop the Chemical Investigation Programmes (CIP). Phase 1 of the CIP2 Scotland project involved sampling at 20 low dilution WWTWs monthly over a period of 2 years. Phase 2 of the CIP2 Scotland project involved sampling at a further 24 WWTWs monthly over a 6 month period for substances identified of further concern. 4 septic tanks were sampled as part of CIP2 Scotland. CIP3 Scotland is sampling at 5 WWTWs for substances of emerging concern monthly over a year starting in June 2022. CIP3 Scotland will be sampling at 5 coastal WWTWs monthly for 6 months.
WWTWs were chosen due to their low dilution as these WWTWs pose the greatest risk of not achieving the Environmental Quality Standard where the substance is controlled by existing legislation or the Predicted Non Effect Concentration (PNEC) where there are no controls in legislation. Dilution varies according to the population served by a WWTW and the volume of water in the receiving watercourse.
The following table gives a breakdown of the WWTWs sampled in each Local Authority Area in Scotland.
Local Authority | Number of WWTWs in each Local Authority | WWTWs sampled in CIP2 Scotland phase 1 | WWTWs sampled in CIP2 Scotland phase 2 | Septic tanks sampled in CIP2 Scotland | Sampled in CIP3 Scotland for emerging substances | Sampled in CIP3 Scotland for emerging substances |
Aberdeen City | 7 | | | | | |
Aberdeenshire | 190 | | 9 | | | |
Angus | 61 | 1 | 1 | | | |
Argyll and Bute | 149 | | 1 | | | |
City of Edinburgh | 4 | 1 | 1 | | 1 | 1 |
Clackmannanshire | 6 | | | | | |
Dumfries and Galloway | 182 | | | | | |
Dundee City | 2 | | | | | |
East Ayrshire | 30 | | | | | |
East Dunbartonshire | 2 | | | | | |
East Lothian | 28 | 1 | | 1 | | |
East Renfrewshire | 3 | | | | | |
Falkirk | 11 | | | | | |
Fife | 61 | 2 | 2 | | | 1 |
Glasgow City | 3 | 2 | | | 2 | 1 |
Highland | 300 | | 1 | 1 | | |
Inverclyde | 1 | | | | | |
Midlothian | 13 | 2 | | | | |
Moray | 63 | | 1 | | | |
Na H-Eileanan an Iar | 171 | | | | | |
North Ayrshire | 33 | | | | | |
North Lanarkshire | 15 | 3 | 3 | | 1 | |
Orkney Islands | 38 | | | | | |
Perth and Kinross | 91 | 1 | | | | |
Renfrewshire | 3 | | | | | |
Scottish Borders | 98 | | 1 | | | |
Shetland Islands | 81 | | | | | |
South Ayrshire | 22 | | | | | |
South Lanarkshire | 125 | 1 | 2 | 2 | | |
Stirling | 38 | 1 | | | | |
West Dunbartonshire | 4 | | | | | 2 |
West Lothian | 22 | 5 | 2 | | 1 | |
- 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: Thursday, 11 August 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 7 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government when it last updated the HOSFGN/002: Property Thresholds Guidance for the Home Owners' Support Fund.
Answer
HOSFGN/002 was published in April 2017. The Home Owners Support Fund property threshold guidance is being considered as part of the current review and will be updated if required.
- Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 11 August 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 7 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has attempted to recoup money from any bus operators that were in receipt of
COVID-19 recovery funding but have since been unable to deliver services and,
if this is the case, whether it will provide details, broken down by bus
operator.
Answer
COVID-19 recovery funding is provided via the Network Support Grant Plus and paid as a pence per kilometre rate for each kilometre actually run. Funding is provided by advance payment on forecasts and then payment is adjusted after the scheme ends in October to ensure the final payment reflects actual services operated. This will include recovery of any funding paid to operators for services that did not operate. The scheme has not yet ended so no reconciliation or payment recovery from operators has yet taken place.
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 August 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 7 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost has been of any financial penalties issued by Transport Scotland to CalMac Ferries Ltd, in each year since 2007.
Answer
Under the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service contract, performance deductions can be applied by in certain circumstances.
The level of performance deductions by Contract Year incurred by CalMac Ferries Ltd is detailed below:
| | CHFS1 | |
CY01 | Oct 2007 - Sept 2008 | £ 35.384 |
CY02 | Oct 2008 - Sept 20009 | £ 70,705 |
CY03 | Oct 2009 - Sept 2010 | £ 60,733 |
CY04 | Oct 2010 - Sept 2011 | £ 71,219 |
CY05 | Oct 2011 - Sept 2012 | £ 119,012 |
CY06 | Oct 2012 - Sept 2013 | £ 96,241 |
CY07 | Oct 2013 - Sept 2014 | £ 126,162 |
CY08 | Oct 2014 - Sept 2015 | £ 445,524 |
CY09 | Oct 2015 - Sept 2016 | £ 338,359 |
| | CHFS2 | |
CY01 | Oct 2016 - Sept 2017 | £ 1,127,097 |
CY02 | Oct 2017 - Sept 2018 | £ 1,101,741 |
CY03 | Oct 2018 - Sept 2019 | £ 1,033,138 |
CY04 | Oct 2019 - Sept 2020 | £ 584,255 |
CY05 | Oct 2020 - Sept 2021 | £ 2,089,383 |
CY06 (to date) | Oct 2021 - Jun 2022 | £ 2,345,940 |