Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-13293

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 December 2017
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 21 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-09061 by Kevin Stewart on 9 May 2017, whether the 2017 data has now been published and, if not, by what date it will be.

Question S5W-09061 asked the Scottish Government how many homeless people have used temporary accommodation in each year since 2012. The answer stated that data on the number of people using temporary accommodation in each year is currently unavailable, however a link was provided to published figures from the HL2 collection, which provides snapshot information on the number of households living in temporary accommodation at the end of each quarter.

The Scottish Government are working with local authorities to develop and quality assure the HL3 data return, a new placement level homelessness data collection on temporary accommodation, which will enable analysis of the total number of people living in this type of accommodation throughout a given period of time. Some authorities are still to provide a fully accurate and usable set of data. Once these data issues have been fully investigated and resolved, the HL3 data will be used to monitor and publish more in-depth information on the use of temporary accommodation.

The Scottish Government will take stock of the status and quality of HL3 data provided by Local Authorities at the Annual Homelessness Statistics User Group meeting on 20th February 2018 and discuss any outstanding actions required before plans can be developed to publish analysis and statistics from this data source.

Question reference: S5W-13260

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 08 December 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 21 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to repair potholes that have appeared on the newly-opened section of the M73, and how much this will cost.

Question reference: S5W-13078

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 21 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government by what date the outstanding works on the A8/M8/M74 will be completed.

The new motorway opened to traffic on 1 June 2017. Finishing works are currently underway and the contractor has confirmed his intention to complete these works by April 2018. This is a standard approach for projects of this nature. As this project was procured under the NPD contract form, the contractor will not receive the full payment for the project until all outstanding works are complete.

Question reference: S5W-13291

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 December 2017
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 20 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-09060 by Kevin Stewart on 9 May 2017, on what dates the national seminars have been held, and whether it will provide a list of attendees for each.

The following table shows the dates of the Housing Options Hubs Events and lists those local authorities and organisations who were represented at each event, where available.

Event	Date	Attended by representatives of:
National Housing Options Hubs Seminar	25 August 2011	Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire City Council, Angus Council, Argyll and Bute Council, Clackmannanshire Council, Dumfries and Galloway Council, Dundee City Council, East Ayrshire Council, East Dunbartonshire Council, East Lothian Council, East Renfrewshire Council, City of Edinburgh Council, Falkirk Council, Fife Council, Glasgow City Council, Highland Council, Inverclyde Council, Midlothian Council, Moray Council, North Ayrshire Council, North Lanarkshire Council, Perth and Kinross Council, Renfrewshire Council, Scottish Borders Council, Shetland Council, South Ayrshire Council, South Lanarkshire Council, West Dunbartonshire Council, West Lothian Council, Scottish Housing Regulator, COSLA, SFHA, ALACHO, GHA, Servite Housing Association (HA), Grampian HA, Queens Cross HA, North Glasgow HA, Fife HA, Scottish Landlords, HSEU, SHBVN, IPSOS Mori, Heriot Watt University, Ownership Options Scotland, Govan Law Centre, Rock Trust, Stirling University, SHIEN, SHEN, CRNS, Shelter Scotland, SCSH, GHN
Hub Leads Seminar	14 March 2012	North Ayrshire Council, East Ayrshire Council, City of Edinburgh Council, West Lothian Council, Midlothian Council, Aberdeen City Council, East Dunbartonshire Council, North Lanarkshire Council, Fife Council, Argyll and Bute Council, SHIEN, Rock Trust, CRNS
Hub Leads Seminar	14 June 2012	East Ayrshire Council, East Dunbartonshire Council, East Lothian Council, East Renfrewshire Council, Falkirk Council, Glasgow City Council, Highland Council, Inverclyde Council, North Ayrshire Council, North Lanarkshire Council, Perth and Kinross Council, Renfrewshire Council, Scottish Borders Council, Shetland Council, South Lanarkshire Council, West Dunbartonshire Council, West Lothian Council, SCSH, Queens Cross HA, GHA, Cyrenians,
National Homelessness Event	18 September 2012	Inverclyde Council, Midlothian Council, North Ayrshire Council, Renfrewshire Council, Fife Council, Perth and Kinross Council, Clackmannanshire Council, Glasgow City Council, Dumfries and Galloway Council, Dundee City Council, South Lanarkshire Council, Highland Council, South Ayrshire Council, Falkirk Council, East Renfrewshire Council, East Lothian Council, Argyll and Bute Council, East Dunbartonshire Council, West Dunbartonshire Council, East Ayrshire Council, West Lothian Council, Fife Council, Moray Council, Housing Options Scotland, Cunninghame HA, Abertay HA, CRISIS, NHS Forth Valley, Turning Point Scotland, SHR, Heriot Watt University, Caledonia HA, Link Group, North Edinburgh Neighbourhood, Ng Homes, SCHA, GHN, Blue Triangle HA, Leslie Huckfield Research, Dunedin Canmore HA, Scottish Housing Best Value Network, ARK HA, Shelter Scotland, Community Resources Network Scotland, Inverclyde CHCP, Glasgow Cross HA, SFHA, SHEN, SHIEN, Almond Housing Association, Loretto Care, CIH Scotland, Fife HA, Waverley Housing, Ipsos Mori Scotland,
Hub Leads Event	21 March 2013	North Ayrshire Council, East Ayrshire Council, Inverclyde Council, City of Edinburgh Council, Midlothian Council, Falkirk Council, Scottish Borders Council, West Lothian Council, Highland Council, Aberdeen City Council, Perth and Kinross Council, Fife Council, East Dunbartonshire Council, North Lanarkshire Council, West Dunbartonshire Council, East Renfrewshire Council, Renfrewshire Council, Say Women, GHA, ALACHO
Hub Leads Event	26 June 2013	Attendee list not available
Hub Leads Event	24 October 2013	Attendee list not available
National Homelessness Event	28 November 2013	Dundee City Council, Midlothian Council, North Ayrshire Council, City of Edinburgh Council, North Lanarkshire Council, West Lothian Council, Renfrewshire Council, Stirling Council, Dundee City Council, South Lanarkshire Council, Aberdeenshire Council, Scottish Borders Council, Angus Council, Highland Council, Falkirk Council, East Renfrewshire Council, Aberdeen City Council, East Dunbartonshire Council, West Dunbartonshire Council, Moray Council, East Ayrshire Council, South Ayrshire Council, Fife Council, East Lothian Council, Perth and Kinross Council, Inverclyde Council, Stirling Council, CELCIS, CRNS, Blue Triangle HA, Heriot Watt University, NHS Health Scotland, Grampian HA, SOLACE, Streetwork, Housing Options Scoltand, SCHA, Rock Trust, Shelter, GHN, HSEU, COSLA, Wheatley Group, Crisis Skylight, Turning Point Scotland, ALACHO, Dunedin Canmore Housing, Queens Cross HA,SFHA, Homeless Action Scotland, Link Group, Horizon HA, Cyrenians, Eildon Housing, Princes Trust, Loreburn HA,
Hub Leads Event	03 April 2014	Argyll and Bute Council, Highland Council, North Lanarkshire Council, West Lothian Council, North Ayrshire Council, East Lothian Council, Glasgow Homelessness Network, NHS Scotland, Arneil Johnston, Scottish Refugee Council, CRNS
Hub Leads Event	10 June 2014	City of Edinburgh Council, Dumfries and Galloway Council, East Lothian Council, Falkirk Council, Highland Council, Inverclyde Council, Midlothian Council, North Ayrshire Council, Perth and Kinross Council, Renfrewshire Council, Scottish Borders Council, South Lanarkshire Council, West Lothian Council, West Dunbartonshire Council, CRNS
Hub Leads Event	2 October 2014	East Lothian Council, West Lothian Council, Falkirk Council, Highland Council, Aberdeen City Council, East Ayrshire Council, North Ayrshire Council, South Ayrshire Council, Dumfries and Galloway Council, Fife Council, West Dunbartonshire Council, North Lanarkshire Council, Glasgow City Council, East Dunbartonshire Council, Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services, Scottish Centre for Conflict Resolution, Homeless Action Scotland, SHIEN, Rock Trust
National Homelessness Event	10 December 2014	Dumfries and Galloway Council, Renfrewshire Council, South Lanarkshire Council, East Ayrshire Council, Dundee City Council, Inverclyde Council, Highland Council, Aberdeen City Council, Clackmannanshire Council, East Dunbartonshire Council, West Lothian Council, East Lothian Council, South Ayrshire Council, North Ayrshire Council, West Dunbartonshire Council, Fife Council, Midlothian Council, City of Edinburgh Council, CIH, Scottish Drugs Forum, Heriot Watt University, SCHA, Rock Trust, Craigforth, Wheatley Group, Scottish Women’s Aid, SHR, COSLA, GWSF, Cyrenians, Eildon HA, Shelter Scotland, SHBVN, NG Homes, Coalition of Care and Support Providers in Scotland, Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board, ALACHO, HAS, CELCIS, CRNS, NHS Scotland, Craigowl Communities, GHN, Link Group, Crisis, NHS Fife, Abused Men in Scotland,
Hub Leads Event	4 March 2015	West Lothian Council, North Ayrshire Council, Wheatley Group, Renfrewshire Council, East Dunbartonshire Council, Highland Council, West Lothian Council, East Lothian Council, East Ayrshire Council, Dundee City Council, Renfrewshire Council, CRNS, INCLUDEM, NHS Fife
Hub Leads Event	18 June 2015	East Lothian Council, West Lothian Council, Renfrewshire Council, East Dunbartonshire Council, City of Aberdeen Council, Highland Council, East Ayrshire Council, Inverclyde Council, Dundee City Council, GHN, SHBVN, Homeless Action Scotland, CRNS, STAF, SVRU
Hub Leads Event	23 September 2015	North Ayrshire Council, Inverclyde Council, East Dunbartonshire Council, Renfrewshire Council, West Dunbartonshire Council, East Lothian Council, West Lothian Council, Falkirk Council, Highland Council, Rock Trust, CRNS, GHN, SHBVN
National Homelessness Event	1 December 2015	South Lanarkshire Council, Aberdeen City Council, Renfrewshire Council, Falkirk Council, East Ayrshire Council, Dundee City Council, Scottish Borders Council, Inverclyde Council, Perth and Kinross Council, City of Edinburgh Council, West Lothian Council, East Lothian Council, Aberdeenshire Council, Angus Council, East Dunbartonshire Council, Highland Council, Glasgow City Council, Moray Council, South Lanarkshire Council, Almond HA, SCHA, JIT, Cyrenina, SOLACE, Turning Point Scotland, Dunedin Canmore Group, Transform Community Development, Maryhill HA, Riverclyde Homes, Wheatley Group, COSLA, SFHA, Shelter, Homeless Action Scotland, NHS Forth Valley, Streetwork, CRNS, Simon Community, GHN, NHS Fife, NHS Health Scotland, Y People, Heriot Watt University, link living, SHN, ALACHO, NHS Lothian
Hub Leads Event	21 September 2016	East Renfrewshire Council, South Lanarkshire Council, North Lanarkshire Council, Inverclyde Council, East Lothian Council, Stirling Council, Fife Council, Falkirk Council, Midlothian Council, Perth and Kinross Council, West Lothian Council, North Ayrshire Council, West Dunbartonshire Council, Scottish Borders Council, Aberdeen City Council, Scottish Housing Network, Wheatley Group, GHA, Arneil Johnston
National Homelessness Event	7 December 2016	North Lanarkshire Council, Perth and Kinross Council, Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council, Falkirk Council, Dundee City Council, Moray Council, Highland Council, West Lothian Council, East Lothian Council, Fife Council, City of Edinburgh Council, East Renfrewshire Council, North Ayrshire Council, Midlothian Council, South Lanarkshire Council, Stirling Council, Dundee City Council, Heriot Watt University, Turning Point Scotland, Shelter Scotland, NHS Lothian, NHS Fife, NHS Ayrshire and Arran, COSLA, SOLACE, HAS, ALACHO, SFHA, Almond HA, Dunedin Canmore Housing, GHN, Homeless Action Scotland, SHN, SPS, Ypeople, Streetwork, SCHA, Dental Health Services, Scottish Women’s Aid, GHA, Church of Scotland, Scottish Refugee Council, ODAP, Link Living, Aberdeen Foyer, Frontline Fife Homelessness Services, CRNS, Rock Trust,
Hub Event	28 September 2017	West Lothian Council, Dumfries and Galloway Council, South Lanarkshire Council, East Lothian Council, East Renfrewshire Council, North Ayrshire Council, West Dunbartonshire Council, Renfrewshire Council, Falkirk Council, Aberdeen City Council, GHA,

Question reference: S5W-13292

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 December 2017
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 20 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-09060 by Kevin Stewart on 9 May 2017, which local authorities have set up a housing options hub, and where each hub is located.

Housing Options Hubs bring together neighbouring councils in Scotland to promote, develop and share information and best practice on the prevention of homelessness. There are 5 Housing Options Hubs which all 32 local authorities in Scotland participate in. The hubs meet regularly at different locations across Scotland.

The Housing Options Hubs and associated local authorities are:

Ayrshire & South: North Ayrshire, Dumfries & Galloway, East Ayrshire, Inverclyde and South Ayrshire
Edinburgh, Lothians & Borders: City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Falkirk, Midlothian, Scottish Borders and West Lothian
North & Islands: Highland, Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Eilean Siar, Moray, Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands
Tayside, Fife & Central: Perth & Kinross, Angus, Argyll & Bute, Clackmannanshire, Dundee City, Stirling and Fife
West: East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire.

Further information is available on the Scottish Government website which can be found at: https://beta.gov.scot/policies/homelessness/housing-options/

Question reference: S5W-13288

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 December 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 19 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-11311 by Paul Wheelhouse on 29 September 2017, whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding how much it is investing into research on the offsite construction sector.

My response to S5W-11311 made clear Scottish Government support for encouraging a higher take-up of innovation in product and process across the construction sector.

We are providing £7.5 million funding, via the Scottish Funding Council, for the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre which provides businesses with a ‘one-stop shop’ for accessing a team of experts and public support along with access to state of the art production, prototyping and technology equipment that allows companies to develop new products and modern methods of construction, including offsite production.

In addition, the Draft Budget 2018-19 announces our intention to deliver a new
£150 million Building Scotland Fund to support the development of new public and private sector housing, of modern industrial and commercial space and industry-led research and development. The cross portfolio fund will be supported by £70 million in 2018-19 and £80 million in 2019-21. We will work closely with the construction sector and Construction Scotland Innovation Centre to ensure this investment acts as a catalyst for skills development and innovation across the sector including encouraging the use of offsite construction where appropriate.

Question reference: S5W-12806

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 17 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it (a) has considered or (b) is consulting on the provision of a train station in the village of Plains, North Lanarkshire.

Scottish Government is aware that North Lanarkshire Council (NLC) instructed consultants SWECO to undertake the Plains STAG (Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance) Transport Options Study on their behalf. Transport Scotland provided advice to the consultants at appropriate stages.

Transport Scotland’s response to the final report noted that the appraisal was well communicated, proportionate and sufficiently detailed for this stage of appraisal.

Question reference: S5W-13028

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 13 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many new skilled workers it estimates are needed to meet its house-building targets.

Through the More Homes Scotland approach we are taking a number of steps to increase housing supply across the country. We have set out a five year commitment to deliver at least 50,000 affordable homes, including 35,000 homes for social rent, backed by more than £3 billion investment.

With our support, these homes will be delivered mainly by local authorities and housing associations, who make their own assessments of need and contract for delivery.

More widely, the Scottish Government is working with industry and others through Homes for Scotland to review the skills position and consider what further measures may be required to support the workforce and new skillsets for the future.

Question reference: S5W-13036

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 12 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-11854 by Kevin Stewart on 25 October 2017, in light of the development of the skills listed being voluntary, what plans it has to make accreditation mandatory for retrofit work on listed and traditional buildings.

Question reference: S5W-13039

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 12 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether EPC measures for the U-value of stone construction in Scotland fairly represent actual in situ performance.

EPCs are produced using the UK Government National Calculation Methodology (NCM) that conforms to the requirements of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (2010/31/EU).

Within the NCM, default U-values for the performance of building elements are provided for use in the calculation methodology where it is impractical to obtain building-specific U-values. These U-values are developed by the UK Government to be representative of typical constructions.

A recent UK Government review of the NCM resulted in changes to default values cited for solid and cavity brick construction. We are currently investigating whether a similar review of U-values for stone external wall construction is merited.

Chamber and committees