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: S5O-01561

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 November 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made to end rough sleeping this winter.

Question reference: S5W-12720

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 29 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it is undertaking in response to reports that more than 2,700 more people died in the winter months of 2016 and 2017 compared to summer months.

A seasonal increase in deaths is seen each winter in Scotland, across the UK, and across Europe. Previous research has shown Scotland to be about average for Europe in terms of its seasonal increase¹.

The long-term trend in the seasonal increase in mortality in the winter has generally been downward. Although there have been unusually large figures in some years (including 4,060 in winter 2014-15), the size of these periodic peaks has also generally appeared to be falling.

As part of their Winter Mortality in Scotland 2016-17 publication, the National Records of Scotland has undertaken and published a range of analysis investigating the seasonal increase in deaths observed in winter.

This includes analysis describing the age of those that died and the causes of death, as well as providing figures for individual NHS Boards and Local Authorities. Also included is analysis presenting winter death rates alongside average winter temperatures and measures of influenza activity. The publication of results for previous winters allows comparisons over time.

Winter Mortality in Scotland 2016-17:https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/vital-events/deaths/winter-mortality/winter-mortality-in-scotland-201617

1. Healy JD, 2003 - Excess winter mortality in Europe: a cross-country analysis identifying key risk factors. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 57: 784 - 789.

Question reference: S5W-12726

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 27 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many self-build homes have been completed in each of the last five years.

The Scottish Government does not collect data on the number of self-build homes completed.

Information is collected from local authorities on the number of private-led housing completions relating to single-plot sites, and this is provided in the following table.

Approximate estimated number of private-led single plot housing completions in Scotland, financial years 2012-13 to 2016-17.

2012-13	1,257
2013-14	1,241
2014-15	1,194
2015-16	1,246
2016-17	1,361

Note that these figures include an estimate for Highland Council based on historical data.

Source: Scottish Government NB2 private-led new build housing returns collected from local authorities.

Question reference: S5W-12725

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 27 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of housing approvals in each of the last five years have been for self-build homes.

The Scottish Government does not collect data on housing approvals for self-build homes.

The answer to S5W-12726 on 27 November 2017 provides the estimated numbers of self build completions over the last five years.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Question reference: S5W-12724

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 27 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many new home approvals in each of the last five years have been for self-build homes.

Question reference: S5O-01382

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 2 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how it is helping small businesses to access superfast broadband.

As a result of our intervention through the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme, over 800,000 homes and businesses across the whole of Scotland, that would not otherwise have been connected, are now capable of accessing fibre broadband.

However, more needs to be done, and, despite telecoms being reserved to Westminster, the Scottish Government has chosen to act now. That is why; we have made a commitment to deliver 100% superfast broadband access across Scotland by the end of 2021. This is a unique commitment across the UK and stands in stark contrast to the UK Government’s lack of ambition.

Question reference: S5W-11856

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 06 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 25 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the (a) Reduced Data Standard Assessment Procedure and (b) Energy Performance Certificate to incorporate Scotland-specific building performance data.

The Scottish Government currently have no plans to review the Reduced Data Standard Assessment Procedure (RdSAP) or the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) to incorporate Scotland-specific building performance data.

The current RdSAP already includes Scotland-specific building performance data along with Scottish climate data.

Whilst no review is planned, as we develop Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme (SEEP), we will identify any areas where further Scotland-specific content or process is needed to support action under the Programme.

Question reference: S5W-11852

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 06 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 25 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will put measures or exemptions in place in energy efficiency legislation to ensure that (a) important heritage, (b) listed and (c) pre-1919 buildings are protected from inappropriate adaptations.

The Scottish Government is committed to improving the energy efficiency of all types of buildings across Scotland as part of Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme (SEEP) and we will publish a routemap on the future direction of the programme next year.

The special characteristics of listed buildings identified under the terms of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 are already taken into account within the planning process when changes to the building in question are proposed.

In reference to non-listed buildings, as part of the recent consultation on setting minimum energy efficiency standards in private rented housing, we sought views on an assessment which would recommend only technically appropriate measures to meet a standard, and on what skills would be needed of an assessor. Views were also sought on how to address situations where improvements were not technically appropriate for the property. Scottish Ministers are considering the response to the consultation, and will confirm standards in due course.

Views will also be sought from winter 2017-18 on options to incentivise appropriate improvements to energy efficiency in existing owner occupied housing.

Question reference: S5W-11855

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 06 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 25 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers the Energy Performance Certificate to be appropriate for stone-built properties, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are appropriate for the assessment of stone-built buildings.

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).

To produce an EPC, an assessor must identify and record information on the form and construction of the building. Default values for the performance of building elements are provided for use in the calculation methodology where it is impractical to obtain building-specific values.

Question reference: S5W-11854

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 06 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 25 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how it can ensure that there will be a supply chain of professional accredited assessors for traditional buildings; how it will assess their accreditation standards, what steps it is taking to ensure that training and qualifications are developed to establish a qualified workforce to support the installation of energy efficiency measures.

The Scottish Government is committed to improving the energy efficiency of all types of buildings across Scotland as part of Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme (SEEP). A key element of SEEP will be to ensure that we have a workforce with the right skills, including those for traditional buildings, in the right places and numbers to deliver the programme aims. We will publish a routemap on the future direction of the programme next year.

With reference to grant aided projects improving traditional buildings, Historic Environment Scotland (HES) actively support professional body accreditation and also require a lead professional for grant schemes to be conservation accredited.

HES continues to support the retrofit sector, contributing technical material for the development of skills and qualifications in this area, linking in with wider further education provision at all levels and the resources to develop qualifications at Trade, supervisory and assessment levels in thermal refurbishment.