Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S5W-03367

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 13 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how long its Help to Buy (Scotland) schemes are scheduled to run.

Question reference: S5W-03378

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 30 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 12 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on extending the Scottish Housing Quality Standard to (a) the private rented sector and (b) tied housing.

Question reference: S5W-03693

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S5W-03372

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 30 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 6 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to prevent excessive rents and excessive rises in rents in the private sector.

The provisions in the Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016 (the 2016 Act) will enable a tenant to refer a rent increase to a rent officer for adjudication if he or she considers that a proposed rent increase is unreasonable. A local authority can also apply to Scottish Ministers to have rent increases in a particular area capped if rents in that area are causing undue hardship to tenants and having a detrimental effect on the authority's broader housing system. The 2016 Act is expected to commence in December 2017.

We are currently consulting on proposals for regulations and policy to support the 2016 Act. You can view the consultation on the Scottish Government's consultation web pages.

Question reference: S5W-03375

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 30 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 6 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how many, and which, local authorities have implemented rent caps in areas of their responsibility under the Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016.

Question reference: S5W-03012

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 5 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what recent representations it has had from the business sector regarding reported slow broadband service in Glasgow.

The Scottish Government has not received any specific representations from businesses on slow broadband service in Glasgow. However, we do recognise that some businesses across Scotland are affected by slow speeds and poor quality of service from broadband suppliers. This was highlighted during my recent meeting with CBI Scotland on 29 September 2016.

We continue to press telecoms providers, as well as Ofcom, on the need for improvements to broadband speeds and quality of service. I made this point in meetings with BT representatives on 6 September 2016 and with Sharon White, Ofcom’s Chief Executive, on 24 August 2016.

Question reference: S5W-03065

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 4 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have received support each year from the Help to Adapt scheme.

Help to Adapt provides various levels and types of support from initial advice and information about the scheme, through to specialist advice, recommendations and support leading to the installation of an adaptation. Where the homeowner is not eligible for the scheme they are given advice on alternative sources of help such as Care and Repair, Housing Options Scotland, local authority, welfare rights and various third sector organisations.

First Year

(2015 – 2016)

Second Year

(to 27-09-2016)

Total number of enquires

289

140

Completed adaptations

Question reference: S5W-03059

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 3 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had or plans with universities to discuss the impact of the UK leaving the EU.

The Scottish Government has engaged closely with the higher education sector on the impact of the EU Referendum on universities in Scotland.

We have already provided reassurance through two joint statements with Universities Scotland on the tuition fee status of EU students and on EU research collaborations (published 1 and 21 July 2016 respectively).

http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Reassurance-for-EU-students-25e2.aspx

http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Research-excellence-in-Scotland-continues-2754.aspx

Scottish Ministers have met or discussed EU Referendum issues with University Principals. We will continue to discuss any issues raised by universities and students on the impact of the referendum result and how we can all ensure Scotland’s universities continue to thrive; remain attractive and enhance their competitiveness.

The university sector is also represented on the Scottish Government’s Standing Council on Europe which is chaired by the Principal of University of Glasgow, Professor Anton Muscatelli.

Question reference: S5W-03007

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 30 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the number of households with pre-payment meters.

The information requested is not held centrally.

However, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) publish quarterly information on regional variations in payment methods for domestic energy which is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/quarterly-domestic-energy-price-stastics.

As at March 2016, BEIS figures show that 20 per cent of Scottish standard electricity customers were paying through prepayment meters, compared to the GB average of 15 per cent. Similarly, 17 per cent of Scottish gas customers paid through prepayment meters, compared to a GB average of 15 per cent.

Question reference: S5W-03008

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 30 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to assist people on low incomes in accessing cheaper energy.

The Scottish Government is committed to improving the energy efficiency of our homes making them warmer and cheaper to heat, allocating almost £650 million since 2009.

We also recognise the importance of innovative energy models in the market and last year we backed the launch of ‘Our Power’ with £2.5 million Scottish Government investment. Our funding has enabled over 30 Registered Social Landlords to come together to establish an energy supply company. We are committed to further promoting this social enterprise energy model for councils and housing associations, to help keep costs down for households.

Later this year we will convene a summit of utility companies to challenge them to do more to provide the best rates available for low income households and reduce the need for prepayment meters which result in the poorest in society paying the most for their energy.

The Scottish Government funds the Home Energy Scotland (HES) advice centres and helpline which provides free and impartial advice on energy saving to all householders. This includes information about specific energy efficiency measures, as well as checking eligibility for government schemes and programmes. Through this service we are also helping consumers to engage with the retail energy market. We recently launched a new partnership for impartial advice on energy supplier switching delivered by the social enterprise Citrus Energy. This pilot is helping HES clients who require additional help and support to explore the option of switching. HES can be contacted on 0808 808 2282 or further information can be found at: www.greenerscotland.org/warm-homes.

Switching energy tariff or supplier can provide significant savings for consumers. The Scottish Government is examining collective switching and group buying of energy to better understand the potential to increase Scottish consumer engagement in the energy market, and in particular, how to reach the most vulnerable in line with the Scottish Government’s call for a fair deal for all Scottish energy consumers.