- Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 July 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 14 July 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-01697 by Shona Robison on 16 August 2021, whether it will provide an update on how many property factors have been de-registered in each year since 2011, broken down by whether the factor was de-registered due to (a) no longer being considered to be a fit and proper person to be registered as a property factor, (b) having failed to comply with the obligation to include its registration number in correspondence sent to homeowners and (c) having failed to demonstrate compliance with (i) the property factor Code of Conduct and (ii) any property factor enforcement order made against the property factor by the First-tier Tribunal.
Answer
The updated information requested is contained in the following table:
Year (See Note 1) | Number removed from the register of property factors (See Note 2) | Removed under S4(7) as registration expired after 3 year period without an application for renewal | Removed under 8(1) (not fit and proper - failed to comply with the Code and / or a property factor enforcement order(s) (See Note 3) | Removed under 8(1) (dissolved / no longer a legal entity) |
2011 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
2012 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2013 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2014 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2015 | 20 | 19 | 1 | 0 |
2016 | 38 | 37 | 1 | 0 |
2017 | 19 | 15 | 0 | 4 |
2018 | 24 | 20 | 0 | 4 |
2019 | 44 | 42 | 1 | 1 |
2020 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 0 |
2021 | 22 | 22 | 0 | 0 |
2022 (to 30/06/22) | 27 | 27 | 0 | 0 |
Note 1:
The register of property factors opened in October 2012 so no data is available for 2011.
Note 2:
The Property Factors (Scotland) Act 2011, allows that a property factor can be removed from the register for the following reasons:
- under section 4(7) (a) - where registrations are removed as no further application is received before expiry of the previous registration.
- under section 8(1) for no longer being a fit and proper person or failing to demonstrate compliance with:
o the property factor code of conduct, or
o any property factor enforcement order.
- under section 8(1) for no longer being a fit and proper person as they are no longer a legal entity (technical removal).
No Property Factor has been removed for failing to comply with their obligations around use of their property factor registered number.
Note 3:
Any non-voluntary removal of registration would be expected to be on the basis of a range of issues and not related to a single issue such as not complying with the requirements around the use of a property factor registered number.
- Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 June 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 14 July 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of patients at abortion clinics in the Central Belt being harassed at these premises, whether it is monitoring activity at hospitals and clinics across the country, and whether instances of intimidation have occurred elsewhere in Scotland.
Answer
As agreed by the Ministerial-led working group on Safe Access Zones, independent research has been commissioned by the Scottish Government; part of this research will involve more formal monitoring of the prevalence, nature and impact of any vigils or protests with NHS Boards.
The Scottish Government also continues to discuss with NHS Board staff whether they have experienced issues or concerns relating to protests of vigils outside abortion clinics. We will continue to work with key stakeholders to ensure that evidence is gathered .
The Scottish Government is aware that recent vigils or protests have been held at the following locations in Glasgow: the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, the Sandyford clinic and Glasgow Royal Infirmary. Vigils or protests have also been held earlier this year outside the Chalmers clinic in Edinburgh and Aberdeen Maternity Hospital. While there has been activity at other locations in the past, the Scottish Government is not aware of activity at any other locations having taken place during the past year.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 June 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Kate Forbes on 14 July 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported calls from COSLA, whether it will make additional funding available for local authorities to match the 5% pay offer that has reportedly been made to some other public sector workers.
Answer
The Scottish Government greatly values the hard work and dedication of the local government workforce. We also recognise the challenges across the public sector, including local government, in ensuring that pay increases are affordable to employers but are fair to employees against the backdrop of the cost of living crisis.
Local government pay negotiations are entirely the responsibility of local authorities and COSLA. However, both the Scottish Government and COSLA are working to jointly explore all of the options available to find solutions.
- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 July 2022
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Current Status:
Initiated by the Scottish Government.
Answered by Neil Gray on 14 July 2022
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the next paper in the Building a New Scotland series to inform the debate on Scotland’s future.
Answer
I am pleased to advise Parliament that the Scottish Government is continuing to deliver on its commitment to give people the information they need to make an informed choice about their future, and is today publishing Renewing Democracy through Independence .
As our second scene-setting paper for the Building a New Scotland prospectus series, the paper sets out the evidence in support of the democratic case for independence. Renewing Democracy through Independence sets out the Scottish Government’s view that the people of Scotland have the right to choose their own future, and the opportunities for democratic government offered by Scotland becoming an independent country.
Building a New Scotland: Renewing Democracy through Independence is available to view on the Scottish Government website from today:
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 04 July 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 14 July 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress with the development of a new national strategy for palliative and end of life care, including the expected timeframe for the publication of the strategy.
Answer
The Scottish Government is committed to developing a new Palliative and End of Life Care Strategy that takes a whole system, public health approach to achieve the very highest standards of care right up to the end of life, and ensure that everyone who needs it can access seamless, timely and high quality palliative care. We are currently taking stock of the leadership, resources and partnerships we need to deliver this.
We will continue to plan a series of engagement events with partners across the sector to think strategically about improvements and priorities across the wide range of services and support. This will contribute to a holistic, integrated and multi-disciplinary approach which will ensure access to palliative and end of life care wherever and whenever it is needed, and which has the person and their families and carers at the centre. Development of the strategy is likely to continue into 2023 to enable meaningful engagement and ensure alignment with the development of the National Care Service.
- Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 July 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 14 July 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-01695 by Shona Robison on 16 August 2021, whether it will provide an update on how many property factors have been registered, as required by the Property Factors (Scotland) Act 2011, in each year since 2011, broken down by (a) those remaining on the register, (b) those who have been newly admitted to the register, and (c) those who have been removed from the register.
Answer
The updated information requested is contained in the following table:
Year (See Note 1) | Number registered | Number remaining on register | Number newly admitted to register | Number removed from register (see Note 2) |
2011 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
2012 | 242 | N/A | 242 | 0 |
2013 | 326 | 242 | 84 | 0 |
2014 | 365 | 326 | 39 | 0 |
2015 | 381 | 365 | 36 | 20 |
2016 | 384 | 381 | 41 | 38 |
2017 | 403 | 384 | 38 | 19 |
2018 | 404 | 403 | 25 | 24 |
2019 | 387 | 404 | 27 | 44 |
2020 | 393 | 387 | 22 | 16 |
2021 | 395 | 393 | 24 | 22 |
2022 (to 30/06/22) | 374 | 395 | 6 | 27 |
Note 1:
The register of property factors opened in October 2012 so no registration data is available for 2011.
Note 2:
The Property Factors (Scotland) Act 2011, allows that a property factor can be removed from the register for the following reasons:
- under section 4(7) (a) - where registrations are removed as no further application is received before expiry of the previous registration.
- under section 8(1) - for no longer being a fit and proper person or failing to demonstrate compliance with:
o the property factor code of conduct, or
o any property factor enforcement order.
- under section 8(1) - for no longer being a fit and proper person as they are no longer a legal entity (technical removal).
Property Factors are required to apply for renewal of their registration every 3 years and a register entry must be removed if the factor does not submit an application to renew.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 24 June 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 14 July 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will set out its timetable for enshrining the human right to food in Scots Law.
Answer
The Scottish Government has committed to the introduction of a Human Rights Bill within this Parliamentary session (2021-26) and we will consult on proposals this year.
The Human Rights Bill will incorporate the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which includes a right to adequate food as an essential part of the overall right to an adequate standard of living, into Scots law, as far as possible within devolved competence.
- Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 June 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 13 July 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on the commitment in its Programme for Government to "put in place measures to seek to double the amount of land used for organic farming by 2026".
Answer
The Agri Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) has supported the conversion of over 34,000 Ha of land to organic standards over the life of the Scheme and the total area under management in 2022 is 85,077 Ha. To date a total of 495 organics contracts have been approved, with £28.8m committed. Historically very few applications for organic conversion have been denied where they meet the eligibility criteria, and approvals from the 2021 round in particular have seen the area of organic land receiving support increase by a fifth from the previous year.
Applications for organic conversion support in the AECS 2022 round are currently being assessed and no approval decisions have been made, however I can confirm that SG received applications from 34 businesses. Once assessed, this has the potential to put more than 8,000 Ha into organic conversion from 2023, across all land type options under the Scheme.
We are committed to extending AECS up to the end of the period of stability in 2024. This will continue to underpin the ambition for organic farming set out Programme for Government 2021-22, alongside a suite of other measures aimed at promoting low carbon farming and protecting the environment. We also will seek new opportunities to prioritise local and organic produce in public sector menus, and we are committed to seeing more organic farming and organic produce for sale in Scotland. We will work with the sector to establish a new Organic Food and Farming Action Plan.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 June 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 13 July 2022
To ask the Scottish Government when any review of the accessibility standard in its strategy, Housing to 2040, will be published.
Answer
Fulfilling the commitment made within the Housing to 2040 route map, we are currently in the process of reviewing the Housing for Varying Needs design guide. The guide offers good practice in the design of homes in order to help them achieve a good standard of accessibility and flexibility. Where possible, all new affordable homes delivered through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme are built to Housing for Varying Needs standards.
Over the coming months, we will publish a consultation on proposed changes to the guide. As part of this consultation we plan to seek views on the introduction of building standards in 2025-26 to underpin a new Scottish Accessible Homes Standard, which all new homes will need to achieve, regardless of tenure.
- Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 June 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 13 July 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that GPs and primary carers are trained to recognise and treat eating disorders.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-07140 on 21 March 2022. 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
