Chamber and committees

The current published set of annual statistics on the number of Long Term Empty Properties and Second Homes, based on Council Tax Base data as at September 2020, were published in the Housing Statistics Quarterly Update in December 2020, and are available at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/housing-statistics-scotland-quarterly-update/ , with detailed local authority level Excel tables covering the period from 1996 to 2020 available at Housing statistics: Empty properties and second homes - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

The next set of annual statistics as at September 2021 are due to be published as part of the Housing Statistics Quarterly Update in December 2021. An exact publication date will be pre-announced no later than 4 weeks in advance, in line with the Statistics Code of Practice, on the Scottish Government website: Official statistics: Official statistics: forthcoming publications - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

Local authorities are responsible for the administration and enforcement of landlord registration, and are the data controllers of the information on the landlord registration IT system for landlords in their area. The Scottish Government receives monthly aggregate information extracted from the system, the number of new and renewal applications both received and pending registration, along with the total number of active registrations, and the number of properties these relate to.

The Scottish Government uses this information to monitor the number of registered landlords operating and properties in Scotland and to appropriately distribute the applications fees to the relevant local authorities. The information is also used more broadly to help with gaining insights and understanding of the Private Rented Sector and its regulation in Scotland, alongside other official statistics on the sector such as results from the Scottish Household Survey. The Scottish Government does not publish this information because the Landlord Registration System is an administrative system used primarily to manage the registration of landlords and rental properties. It has not been designed to produce robust Official Statistics on the sector.

Registers of Scotland, as provider of the Register, publish the total number of applications received within their annual reports. https://www.ros.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/168431/Registers-of-Scotland-annual-report-2019-to-2020.pdf (page 10)

The Scottish Government considers regulation of short term lets to be vital in balancing the needs and concerns of residents and communities with wider economic and tourism interests. Mr Stewart, the then Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning, announced in January 2020 that regulation of short-term lets would include a licensing scheme. The remit of the Short-Term Lets Stakeholder Working Group established in February 2021 is to refine the licensing legislation and develop guidance.

The Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers, the Scottish Bed and Breakfast Association, Airbnb and the UK Short Term Accommodation Association favour a registration scheme. The Scottish Government has valued their contributions to the Working Group and is disappointed that they have decided not to continue to participate. The Scottish Government is committed to getting this important legislation absolutely right and monitoring its implementation.

As announced by myself, Professor Ken Muir has been appointed to act as the Independent Advisor to the Scottish Government on the reform of the Scottish Qualifications Authority and Education Scotland. In his role as Advisor, Professor Muir will provide advice to the Scottish Government as outlined in his revised remit that was published on 19 August 2021.

Since taking up role as Advisor on 2 August, Professor Muir has established an Expert Panel and a Practitioner and Stakeholder Advisory Group to support his work. We understand the Advisor has invited the Scottish Youth Parliament to join the Practitioner and Stakeholder Advisory Group. This Group will play a significant role in supporting the work of the Advisor and his Expert Panel - further information, including Terms of Reference and membership of these groups, is available here: Scottish Government | Education Reform

I also announced the creation of a Children and Young Person’s Education Council and we will ensure that this group and the voices of young people are heard during the process led by Professor Muir and broader plans to implement the recommendations of the OECD report.

The Scottish Government is pleased that three Scottish areas are involved in the expression of interest phase of the UK City of Culture 2025 competition. Scottish Government officials have attended the dedicated information session for potential Scottish bidders and are working closely with DCMS and Creative Scotland to support the overarching application process. Officials will continue to work with all of the bid teams and will continue to discuss the Borderlands bid with South of Scotland Enterprise and all relevant partners.

(a) Scottish Government and (b) Transport Scotland officials have (i) & (ii) not held any discussions with Professor Iain Docherty in relation to his Scotland’s Railway after the pandemic report.

Transport Scotland, as part of the Rail Recovery Task Force, uses Transport Focus’s passenger pulse research to identify the changing priorities and requirements of rail passengers during and post Covid-19 which also provide a platform to assess the scale and pace of recovery from Covid 19 and, in particular, the potential to move towards our policy vision of an integrated public sector controlled railway.

Transport Scotland is pressing ahead to put in place arrangements to mobilise a wholly owned company of the Scottish Government to provide ScotRail services when the current franchise expires as expected on 31 March 2022.

From 2017 to the end of 2021 we have received a total of £194.8m in EU Exit preparation consequentials.

Spend, both in preparation and post-EU Exit, has been on staff supporting activities such as legislative preparations, and supporting stakeholders and partners, including businesses, cultural bodies, higher education institutes, local government and the third sector.

We have consistently targeted our spending responsibly and appropriately to mitigate against the negative impacts of exiting the EU and this last year we have allocated our spend to deal with the concurrent impacts of Covid and EU exit. An example of this is the £100m Winter Support package which was announced to support those on low incomes, children, and people at risk of homelessness or social isolation in coping with winter weather and the economic impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19) and Brexit.

Transport Scotland does not hold the information requested, therefore, I would refer the member to the British Transport Police and/or Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service.

Youth related anti-social behaviour data, which will not result in court proceedings can be sourced via the Scottish Children’s Reporter.

The clause in the Serco Caledonian Sleepers Ltd franchise that permits the operator, from 1 April 2022, to seek adjustments to the financial terms of the Franchise Agreement, or exit the contract, cannot be instigated by the Scottish Government. As per the Franchise Agreement, this must be requested by Serco Caledonian Sleepers Ltd.