Questions and answers

Question reference: S4W-29210

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 January 2016
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 19 January 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it (a) has had or (b) plans to have with the UK Government on devolving the National Lottery.

Question reference: S4W-29217

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 January 2016
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 19 January 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, following publication of the report, Understanding Disabled People’s Housing Pathways: Initial Insights, what guidelines it has developed for local authorities to make social housing units better equipped for the needs of disabled people.

Guidance to local authorities on the Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP) promotes the delivery of flexible housing capable of being adapted to suit peoples’ changing requirements. Therefore, wherever possible, housing projects receiving grant funding through the AHSP should comply with published guidance on the essential aspects of housing for varying needs (HfVN). As well as meeting the HfVN guidance, new social housing must be constructed in accordance with national building regulations which apply to all new-build homes regardless of tenure. In terms of minimum accessibility and energy standards they are the most demanding in the UK. This means occupiers are provided with both a very good basic level of accessibility/adaptability and energy-efficient fabric/heating.

Question reference: S4W-29215

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 January 2016
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 19 January 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, following publication of the report, Understanding Disabled People’s Housing Pathways: Initial Insights, what financial support it will provide to help disabled people access housing more suitable for their needs.

In 2016-17 we will increase the capital funding for the affordable housing supply programme by £90 million, to increase the supply of new social and affordable homes, including for disabled people. We are continuing to provide £10 million to Registered Social Landlords to help fund adaptations for their tenants.

Through the Housing Voluntary Grant Scheme we fund a number of organisations which aim to help disabled people access housing suitable for their needs. This includes Housing Options Scotland, Capability Scotland and Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living who developed Home2Fit, a national register of accessible housing which helps disabled people to more easily find suitably adapted and accessible housing. We also fund Care and Repair Scotland, the national co-ordinating body for care and repair services.

Question reference: S4W-29216

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 January 2016
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 19 January 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, following publication of the report, Understanding Disabled People’s Housing Pathways: Initial Insights, what plans it has to make more social housing units available to disabled people.

In 2016-17 we will increase the capital funding for the affordable housing supply programme by £90 million, to increase the supply of new social and affordable homes, including for disabled people. Local authorities are required under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 to produce a local housing strategy setting out its strategy, priorities and plans for the delivery of housing and housing related services in its area. Updated local housing strategy guidance was issued in 2014 and this will inform the forthcoming round of local housing strategies from local authorities due in the next two years. The guidance has been strengthened to provide a strong focus on the role of the authority in the planning and delivery of specialist housing.

Social housing is allocated in line with a landlord’s allocation policy. People who are disabled and who are in housing need would generally receive priority for housing on the basis of living under unsuitable housing conditions.

As part of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2014 the Scottish Government will make it easier for social landlords to recover possession of certain properties designed or adapted for special needs. The provision, which is expected to come into force in autumn 2016, should help ensure that landlords make best use of adapted properties by allocating them to people who can make use of the adaptations.

Question reference: S4W-29218

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 January 2016
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 19 January 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, following publication of the report, Understanding Disabled People’s Housing Pathways: Initial Insights, how it will change its housing strategy to accommodate improved construction of social housing stock to meet the needs of disabled people.

Question reference: S4W-29221

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 January 2016
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 14 January 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its plans are to develop a mental health strategy to succeed the Mental Health Strategy for Scotland: 2012-2015.

Question reference: S4W-29219

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 January 2016
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 13 January 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-28224 by Jamie Hepburn on 13 November 2015, when it will publish the follow-up report, and for what reason it was not published before Christmas 2015.

Question reference: S4O-05260

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 January 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 January 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what Barnett consequentials will arise from the £600 million increase in mental health spending announced in the recent Spending Review, and how the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy plans to allocate this.

Question reference: S4W-28851

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 07 December 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 18 December 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements it has put in place to facilitate travel for NHS staff affected by the closure of the Forth Road Bridge.

We have put in place a travel plan to support those affected by the closure of the Forth Road Bridge. This includes details enhanced public transport provisions and the measures put in place to manage the flow of traffic via the Kincardine and Clackmannanshire Bridges.

Health boards affected by the bridge closure have also put a range of measures in place to support NHS staff. These include guidance to staff and managers on issues to cope with the travel disruption such as flexible working, home working, working in alternative locations, providing staff accommodations and measures and advice on additional costs incurred through using public transport. In addition, health boards, for example NHS Fife, have implemented shuttle bus transfer arrangements so that staff can get quickly from rail stations to their places of work during the current disruptions.

Question reference: S4W-28852

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 07 December 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 18 December 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the closure of the Forth Road Bridge on nursing and medical staff who commute.

The Scottish Government has been engaged with health boards affected by the Forth Road Bridge on a daily basis since the closure was announced. Initially, ministers, officials, representatives from health boards and emergency services took part in daily Scottish Government resilience calls to ensure that the response was appropriate and well co-ordinated.

As well as receiving reports on the impact of the closure, officials have taken part in daily calls with health boards to discuss the impact of the travel plan. While, as expected, staff encountered some delays when travelling to and from their places of work, there has been no significant impact on health services as a result of these delays.

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