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.

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Question reference: S4W-00169

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 23 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 2 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the ending of the shared ownership scheme for affordable housing will have on meeting the needs of house buyers.

The independent evaluation by ODS Consulting identified concerns about how the shared ownership scheme met purchasers’ needs. It found that shared ownership does not offer the best value for money for either the Scottish Government or for the purchaser compared to shared equity schemes. A significant proportion of those sharing owners interviewed raised concerns about the scheme; with only half feeling shared ownership had definitely been the right option for them.

Question reference: S4W-00172

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 23 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 2 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considered continuing the shared ownership scheme for affordable housing in regions where (a) there had been demand for it and (b) it had been effective in meeting the need affordable for housing.

The independent evaluation of low-cost initiative for first time buyers by ODS Consulting demonstrated that in particular the shared equity schemes had delivered their objectives by meeting buyers’ housing needs. Whilst recognising that there are still some areas of Scotland where shared ownership was popular, the Scottish Government decided to focus its resources on those schemes which were effective in delivering key outcomes, such as helping first time buyers and delivering mixed communities; which offered the best value for taxpayers’ money; and which were shown to be most affordable to buyers.

Question reference: S4W-00165

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 23 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 2 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive how housing associations wanting to set up their own shared ownership schemes will fund them.

Question reference: S4W-00089

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 2 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what its target dates are to roll out superfast broadband to rural areas in each region.

The Scottish Government’s overarching ambition, as outlined in our digital strategy of 3 March 2011, is that next generation broadband will be available to all by 2020, with significant progress made by 2015. We are developing a strategic infrastructure plan for Scotland, which will comprise local broadband plans and will be developed throughout 2011 collectively with local authorities, enterprise agencies and other stakeholders. Local broadband plans will outline how and when next generation broadband will be rolled-out to the areas within each region. Key to the success of these local broadband plans will be securing the best possible share from the £530 million allocated at UK level for broadband delivery.

Question reference: S4W-00090

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 1 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what its target dates are for the development of a local broadband plan for each region.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise is currently finalising its local broadband plan for the Highlands and Islands region.

Additionally, the South of Scotland Alliance, whose area covers the geographic boundaries of Scottish Borders Council and Dumfries and Galloway Council, expects to have a comprehensive plan completed by September 2011.

The Scottish Government is currently working with local authorities, Scottish Enterprise and other stakeholders to help them develop local broadband plans for the remaining regions of Scotland this year.

Question reference: S4W-00092

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 1 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive to what parts of (a) Orkney, (b) Shetland and (c) the Western Isles next generation broadband will be rolled out by 2015.

Question reference: S4W-00093

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 1 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria will be used to prioritise the roll-out of superfast broadband to each (a) region and (b) local area in each region.

The Scottish Government’s overarching ambition, as outlined in our Digital Strategy of 3 March 2011, is that next generation broadband will be available to all by 2020, with significant progress by 2015. We are developing a strategic infrastructure plan for Scotland, which will comprise local broadband plans and will be developed throughout 2011 collectively with local authorities, our Enterprise Agencies and other stakeholders. It is the responsibility of these bodies to set the criteria for the prioritisation of the rollout of next generation broadband in each region and local area within each region.

Question reference: S4W-00091

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 1 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what stakeholders will be involved in the development of a local broadband plan for Orkney.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise is leading on the development of a local broadband plan for the Highlands and Islands region, which will include Orkney. Highlands and Islands Enterprise plans to engage with a range of stakeholders in the development of its local broadband plan, including local authorities, the Scottish Government, the wider public sector, industry, local businesses, communities and individuals, MSPs and the UK Government.

As this project is being led by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and is an operational matter for them, I suggest you write to its chief executive if you require additional information.

Question reference: S4W-00086

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 1 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out or plans to carry out an investigation of the impact on island-based businesses of the exclusion of business travel from the Air Discount Scheme.

Question reference: S4W-00087

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 1 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to help island-based voluntary organisations to participate in national events on the Scottish mainland following the exclusion of business travel from the Air Discount Scheme.