Chamber and committees

I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

Information is notheld centrally on the number of central heating systems installed in areas not connectedto the gas network.

In all applications,priority is given to householders over 75, those living alone and the disabled.

Eviction proceduresfor tenants in the social rented sector are governed by the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 and are designed to afford protection to allparties concerned. They are intended to protect tenants’ rights by requiring proofof the offending conduct by the tenant and are subject to the sheriff’s view asto the reasonableness of eviction as a remedy for that conduct. This can be a protractedprocess, particularly where the action is defended. But a streamlined and more rapidprocess was introduced under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 where proof of antisocial behaviour is already established. The2001 act gives social landlords the power to give a “probationary tenancy” to personswho have been evicted for antisocial behaviour in any part of the UK and from any tenure. This can also be offered to tenantswhere they are subject to an ASBO. In both cases the landlord must provide supportto tenants to help them sustain the tenancy and convert to a full SST. These probationarytenancies convert automatically to a full Scottish Secure Tenancy (SST) after 12months, if there had been no repetition of antisocial conduct. If there has beenbad behaviour, the landlord can simply serve a statutory Notice ending the tenancy.If the tenant refuses to leave, the courts must grant an order for recovery of possessionif the correct procedures have been observed.

Eviction proceduresfor assured and short assured tenancies in the private rented sector are set outin the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988. Under the act, a sheriff may granta private landlord a court order to evict a tenant on grounds of antisocial behaviour.

We have no plans tointroduce age restrictions on eligibility for new tenancies in tower blocks. Itis for landlords and the police to ensure that all tenants can be safe and securein their homes.

The Glasgow 2014 transportplan will set out how the existing and proposed transport infrastructure aroundgames venues will support the games and provide details of operational transportproposals. These will include transport services for athletes, officials and mediaand a comprehensive spectator access strategy for each venue.

These operationaltransport proposals will cost £13.58 million in 2007 prices. This figure is includedwithin the Games Organising Committee budget.

Further details of the transport proposals are contained within the Glasgow 2014 Candidate City File,which can be found at http://www.glasgow2014.com/Our-Bid/Candidate-City-File/.

The construction of the East End Regeneration Route is a matter for Glasgow City Council as thelocal roads authority.

We have no plans tore-examine legislation or financial arrangements regarding allocation and managementof multi-storey tower blocks. We have commissioned research on landlords’ viewsof tensions in allocations policy and practice, and expect to publish this in theautumn.

The key to promotingtenant safety and security rests with effective crime prevention and antisocialbehaviour strategies and tenancy management. In relation to tenancy management,a model tenancy agreement embodying strong conditions relating to behaviour wasissued to all social landlords in 2001 to help strengthen the management of allScottish secure and short Scottish secure tenancies. Social landlords must enforcetenancy conditions and have many management tools available to tackle antisocialbehaviour, including the power to offer probationary style tenancies to those foundguilty of antisocial behaviour.

Where anti-socialbehaviour has been established through the granting of an ASBO or eviction withinthe previous three years, a social landlord can offer a probationary style shortScottish secure tenancy to prospective tenants. The landlord is required to providesupport to enable the tenancy to convert to a full Scottish secure tenancy after12 months and this provides the necessary supervision.

Under the AntisocialBehaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004, a local authority may serve an Antisocial Behaviour Notice on a private landlordif the landlord has failed to take action to control the antisocial behaviour ofhis or her tenants, despite having received advice from the local authority abouthow to tackle the problem. The Antisocial Behaviour Notice specifies actions thelandlord is required to take to address the situation. Failure to comply with thenotice is a criminal offence and may result in a fine, suspension of rent, or thelocal authority taking over management of the property.

This information isnot held centrally.

I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-3222 on 29 August 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-3269 on 29 August 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.