Questions and answers

Question reference: S3W-16718

Asked by: Cathy Jamieson, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 October 2008
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 28 October 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive how many young carers are waiting for support services, broken down by local authority area.

From meeting young carers and representatives from young carers projects at the recent National Young Carers Festival, I am aware that young carers can find it difficult to access support.

The number of young carers waiting for support services in each local authority is not held centrally.

We will be examining the provision of support to young carers fully during the development of the young carers section of the revised carers strategy next year.

Question reference: S3W-16720

Asked by: Cathy Jamieson, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 October 2008
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 28 October 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to make core funding available for young carers’ organisations.

I recognise the difficulties young carers'' projects experience in securing core funding. We will examine ways of supporting local young carers projects to access sustainable funding as we develop proposals for the young carers section of the revised Carers Strategy next year.

As the member is aware, the funding of specific local services, including young carer projects, is at the discretion of individual local authorities. By exercising this local discretion in the planning and delivery of services, local authorities and their partners can ensure best use of their available resources.

To enable local authorities to continue to develop their services, the Scottish Government is providing local government in Scotland with record levels of funding over the period covered by the spending review 2008-11. The vast majority of funding, including funding for young carers services, is provided by means of a block grant. 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.

The member may also wish to note that we have provided an additional £4 million over the next two years “ on top of the total settlement to local government - to enable local authorities to deliver in full the concordat commitment of an additional 10,000 respite weeks a year by 2010-11.

In addition to the funding available to local authorities, the Scottish Government has provided resources rising to £5 million per year for the NHS to implement local Carer Information Strategies. These strategies should include measures to identify and support young carers. We have urged boards to use this funding to prioritise front line services for carers and to deliver carer information and training through local carers'' centres, where they exist.

Question reference: S3W-16650

Asked by: Cathy Jamieson, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 October 2008
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 27 October 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reconsider the decision not to fund the completion of the footpath alongside the A76 between Cumnock and New Cumnock.

The circumstances relating to the funding of a footpath are broadly unchanged, consequently the position set out in the answer to S3W-12472 on 14 May 2008 remains. Should the situation change as a result of plans aimed at the regeneration of the Mauchline to New Cumnock corridor, the position will be reviewed. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk./webapp/wa.search.

Question reference: S3W-16653

Asked by: Cathy Jamieson, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 October 2008
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 27 October 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15868 by Stewart Maxwell on 25 September 2008, how many of the 54 dwellings in East Ayrshire identified as not expected to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard by 2015 have been granted exemptions on the ground of (a) works required not being technically feasible and (b) work only being possible at disproportionate cost.

I have asked Karen Watt, Chief Executive of the Scottish Housing Regulator, to respond. Her response is as follows:

The 54 dwellings in East Ayrshire identified as not expected to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) by 2015 belong to the Link Group Ltd, a Registered Social Landlord with around 5,600 dwellings across 21 local authorities in Scotland. Link Group has now confirmed that it is not planning to apply for exemptions for these properties because whilst they will not meet the standard by the end of March 2015, they will be brought up to the SHQS in the financial year 2015-16.

Question reference: S3W-16654

Asked by: Cathy Jamieson, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 October 2008
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 27 October 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15868 by Stewart Maxwell on 20 September 2008, how many of the 145 dwellings in South Ayrshire identified as not expected to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard by 2015 have been granted exemptions on the grounds of (a) works required not being technically feasible and (b) work only being possible at disproportionate cost.

I have asked Karen Watt, Chief Executive of the Scottish Housing Regulator, to respond. Her response is as follows:

South Ayrshire Council owns 133 of the 145 dwellings in South Ayrshire identified as being not expected to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) in 2015. The council has indicated that the properties cannot be brought up to the necessary energy efficiency criteria at a proportionate cost and therefore exemptions have been granted. The exemptions were granted on the understanding that these dwellings meet the SHQS in all other criteria by 2015 and that the Council periodically review its position.

The remaining 12 dwellings projected to not meet the SHQS in 2015 belong to the Link Group Ltd, a registered social landlord with around 5,600 dwellings across 21 local authorities in Scotland. Link Group has now confirmed that it is not planning to apply for exemptions for these properties because whilst they will not meet the Standard by the end of March 2015, they will be brought up to the SHQS in the financial year 2015-16.

Question reference: S3W-16656

Asked by: Cathy Jamieson, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 October 2008
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 27 October 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on the construction of a Maybole bypass to improving safety on the A77.

The Scottish Executive acknowledges the importance of improving safety on the A77.

Transport Scotland''s Strategic Transport Projects Review is examining the longer term needs of Scotland''s nationally strategic transport network, including safety issues. This includes consideration of the Maybole bypass within the A77, as part of the strategic transport corridor linking Glasgow to Ayrshire and Stranraer.

Question reference: S3W-16651

Asked by: Cathy Jamieson, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 October 2008
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 27 October 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15866 by Stewart Maxwell on 25 September 2008, whether it expects every local authority to contribute to the £100 million Affordable Housing Programme.

Question reference: S3W-16658

Asked by: Cathy Jamieson, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 October 2008
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 27 October 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on the construction of a Maybole bypass to improving tourism in Carrick.

The Scottish Executive acknowledges the importance of improving tourism in Carrick.

Transport Scotland''s Strategic Transport Projects Review is examining the longer term needs of Scotland''s nationally strategic transport network. This includes consideration of the Maybole bypass within the A77, as part of the strategic transport corridor linking Glasgow to Ayrshire and Stranraer.

The STPR will lead to a transport programme for the period 2012 to 2022 targeted at facilitating better movement of people and goods across Scotland to increase wealth and enable more people to share fairly in that wealth.

Question reference: S3W-16657

Asked by: Cathy Jamieson, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 October 2008
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 27 October 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on the construction of a Maybole bypass to improving the economy of south-west Scotland.

The Scottish Executive recognises the importance of improving the economy of south-west Scotland.

Transport Scotland''s Strategic Transport Projects Review is examining the longer term needs of Scotland''s nationally strategic transport network. This includes consideration of the Maybole bypass within the A77, as part of the strategic transport corridor linking Glasgow to Ayrshire and Stranraer.

The STPR will lead to a transport programme for the period 2012 to 2022 targeted at facilitating better movement of people and goods across Scotland to increase wealth and enable more people to share fairly in that wealth.

Question reference: S3W-16721

Asked by: Cathy Jamieson, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 October 2008
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 27 October 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will next meet Supporters Direct.

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