The Scottish Parliament

Question reference: S5W-26361

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 20 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to update its policies on Housing for Varying Needs in order to improve accessibility standards for new residential properties.

The Scottish Government is committed to delivering housing that is fit for purpose now and also for the future. Recent analysis shows that 96% of new build homes delivered by housing associations and councils in 2018-19, where information was returned on Housing for Varying Needs, met that standard. Although still a very good standard, it is now 20 years old and that is why the Scottish Government has committed to reviewing the Housing for Varying Needs design guide. Work has begun on how to take forward this complex piece of work, and we will ensure that stakeholders are involved closely in the process as we move forward.

Question reference: S5W-26357

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 20 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure equity of service, regardless of housing tenure, for people requiring housing adaptations.

As part of integrated health and social care services, Integrated Joint Boards (IJBs) are responsible for the planning and delivery of adaptations. IJBs have been advised to consider the learning points from the independent evaluation of the Adapting for Change pilot when reviewing and making plans to improve the adaptations process. Officials are working with stakeholders to develop practical guidance to ensure that people, regardless of housing tenure, can access adaptation services when required.

We are also developing regulations under section 37 of the Equality Act 2010 that will give disabled people the right to make necessary, reasonable adaptations to common areas. The creation of this right will be a first within the UK.

Question reference: S5W-26362

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 20 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage property owners of all tenures to alter their properties to achieve better accessibility standards.

While new homes in Scotland are the most accessible in the UK, the Scheme of Assistance encourages existing home owners to take more responsibility for the condition of their homes. It also requires local authorities (and now IJBs) to provide assistance to support a wide range of work to meet the needs of disabled people. We also encourage social landlords to take account of accessibility standards when undertaking programmes of refurbishment to existing properties.

We are also developing regulations under section 37 of the Equality Act 2010 that will give disabled people the right to make necessary, reasonable adaptations to common areas. The creation of this right will be a first within the UK.

Question reference: S5W-26360

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 19 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to (a) meet the demand for accessible housing stock and (b) increase the use of accessible housing registers.

Local authorities are responsible for assessing the housing needs in their areas and setting out in their Local Housing Strategies how this will be met. Local Housing Strategy guidance published in September 2019 requires local authorities to set targets for wheelchair accessible housing across all tenures, including reporting annually on progress.

Increasing the supply of more wheelchair accessible housing will provide more choice and flexibility for disabled people and their families and contribute to the creation of a fairer and more equal society. The houses that we build now will support disabled people to access suitable homes in the areas they want to live now and in the future.

Through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme, we provide a range of housing including new build, off the shelf purchases and rehabilitation projects. For new build projects, wherever possible, all affordable homes are built to Housing for Varying Needs standards. And 96% of new build homes delivered by housing associations and councils in 2018-19, where information was returned on Housing for Varying Needs, met that standard.

The Scottish Government fund Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living to provide Homes2Fit , a national online database and self-help resource to assist disabled people to find suitable housing. It also encourages social housing landlords to take account of local housing need when re-letting adapted properties.

Question reference: S5O-03802

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 November 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that city region deal projects tackle climate change.

Question reference: S5W-25975

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 25 October 2019
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 12 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the effectiveness of the Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016.

The Scottish Government have developed a monitoring and evaluation framework to guide our examination of the impacts and outcomes of the new tenancy. The framework includes indicators and baseline figures from existing data sources, and highlights where there will be gaps in knowledge. We are currently exploring options to address these gaps. We are also monitoring, in house, the Private Residential Tenancy eviction cases published by the First Tier Tribunal housing panel. Alongside this, we are working closely with the Nationwide Foundation whose major longitudinal, qualitative and quantitative research project on the impact of the new Private Residential Tenancy on low income tenants is now under way. We will fully consider the outputs, and any key recommendations, which emerge from the Nationwide evaluation project.

Furthermore, during the passage of the Private Housing Tenancies (Scotland) Bill through Parliament, the then Minister for Housing and Welfare – Margaret Burgess MSP – gave a commitment to review the grounds for repossession after the tenancy had been in operation for 5 years.

Question reference: S5W-25608

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 October 2019
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 24 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) total and (b) average cost would be of bringing all (i) urban and (ii) rural (A) owner-occupied and (B) private-rented domestic properties that are considered not to be cost-effective up to an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) band C rating.

Question reference: S5W-25610

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 October 2019
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 24 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what financial and fiscal support mechanisms it considers should be made available to householders under the proposed Energy Efficient Scotland programme to help meet the proposed minimum standards, and what research it has carried out to determine this.

Modelled costs associated with the proposed standards were outlined in the Energy Efficient Scotland: partial business and regulatory impact assessment published on 2 May 2018.

In addition, we are considering all financial levers that could be used to support delivery of the EES target and will continue to review the evaluations from the Energy Efficient Scotland Transition pilots as they become available to help inform our considerations.

Question reference: S5W-25609

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 October 2019
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 24 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how it will increase the range of financial and fiscal support packages mechanisms available to householders under the proposed Energy Efficient Scotland programme to meet the minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) band C rating.

Question reference: S5W-25611

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 October 2019
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 24 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how it will engage with the public regarding the Energy Efficient Scotland programme to help meet its net-zero carbon targets.

There are a number of ways in which the Government is engaging with the public around Energy Efficient Scotland (EES).

Consultations will play a significant role in gathering public input on the programme. In the past year, consultations have been launched examining public responses to accelerating the timescale of EES and to regulations for the Private Rented Sector.

Before the end of this year we will launch a consultation to invite the public to respond to our proposals on how owner occupier homes can reach EPC C by 2040.

Our wider communications strategy is currently being developed to both interact with the public more effectively and collect valuable input on our proposals. There remains scope throughout Energy Efficient Scotland to engage with further stakeholders, and we hope to be able to create additional visibility for the programme in the future.

Currently, information is available online to the public regarding the schemes and programmes the Government offers –such as Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland (HEEPS) and Warmer Homes Scotland (WHS).

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