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: S5W-13831

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 12 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 22 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reports that recent figures published by the Department of Work and Pensions on the performance of assessment providers Capita and Independent Assessment Services show that neither are meeting contractual targets of 97% of assessments conforming to standards, and how it aims to improve the assessment process under the new Scottish social security system.

The Scottish Government has noted the supporting statistics published by the Department for Work and Pensions, and remains concerned about many aspects of the UK Government's current social security system. We continue to hear from individuals who have experienced distress as a result of Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and Employment Support Allowance (ESA) assessments, and delays in the system exacerbate this for individuals.

As we have made clear from the outset, the Scottish Government is committed to introducing a social security system that is founded on dignity and respect. We are designing an assessment process which prioritises the needs of the disabled person – not the needs of those delivering the assessment.

We have made a clear commitment that profit making companies will not be involved in delivering assessments for disability benefits once devolved to Scotland. The culture and attitude of assessors will also incorporate dignity and respect. To ensure this, and to increase the quality of assessments, there will be consistent and appropriate training of assessors.

Question reference: S5W-13672

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 22 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what the average level of grant funding is for each affordable housing unit in Scotland, and how this compares with England.

Question reference: S5W-13670

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 22 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many affordable homes have been delivered since 2007, and how the supply of affordable housing per head of population in Scotland compares with that in England.

Since 2007, 70,861 affordable homes have been delivered in Scotland (from April 2007 to September 2017).

Over the 2007-08 to 2016-17 financial years, this government’s supply of affordable housing per capita has been 33% higher than the UK government’s supply in England.

The following table shows the number of affordable housing units delivered for Scotland and England, and the rates per capita for each year.

Number of Affordable housing units delivered in Scotland and England, financial years from 2007-08

Scotland

England

Units delivered

Per capita

Units delivered

Per capita

Percentage difference between Scotland and England per capita rates

2007-08	5,670	110	53,180	104	6%
2008-09	6,221	120	55,720	108	11%
2009-10	8,092	155	58,290	112	38%
2010-11	7,231	137	61,090	116	18%
2011-12	6,882	130	58,330	110	18%
2012-13	6,009	113	43,120	81	40%
2013-14	7,012	132	43,030	80	65%
2014-15	7,069	132	66,700	123	8%
2015-16	6,518	121	32,630	60	104%
2016-17	7,336	136	41,530	75	81%
Total over 2007-08 to 2016-17	68,040	1,285	513,620	967	33%

Sources: Scottish Government Affordable Housing Supply Programme management information system and Ministry for Housing & Local Government live tables.

Figures on total affordable housing stock are not available.

Question reference: S5W-13671

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 22 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many homes have been delivered since 2007 for social rent, and how the supply of homes for social rent compares with that in England.

Since 2007, 48,813 affordable homes for social rent have been delivered in Scotland (from April 2007 to September 2017).

Over the period from 2007-08 to 2016-17 financial years, this government’s supply of social rent affordable housing per capita has been 112% higher than in England.

The following table shows the number of affordable housing units delivered for Scotland and England within each financial year and the rates per capita for each year.

Number of Affordable housing units for social rent delivered in Scotland and England, with per capita rates, financial years from 2007-08

Scotland

England

Units delivered

Per capita

Units delivered

Per capita

Percentage difference between Scotland and England per capita rates

2007-08	4,226	82	29,640	58	42%
2008-09	4,662	90	31,120	60	49%
2009-10	5,465	104	33,490	64	63%
2010-11	5,836	111	39,560	75	48%
2011-12	5,652	107	37,680	71	50%
2012-13	4,274	80	17,620	33	144%
2013-14	4,368	82	10,920	20	304%
2014-15	4,376	82	9,570	18	364%
2015-16	3,853	72	6,800	12	478%
2016-17	4,580	85	5,380	10	771%
Total over 2007-08 to 2016-17	47,292	894	221,780	421	112%

Sources: Scottish Government Affordable Housing Supply Programme management information system and Ministry for Housing & Local Government live tables. In 2016, there were 4,099,000 social rented homes in England, which equates to 7,417 per 100,000 population and 594,632 in Scotland which equates to 11,002 per 100,000 population. The rate in Scotland was 48% higher.

Question reference: S5W-13262

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 08 December 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 8 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what measures are being taken to (a) treat and (b) support people with cystic fibrosis.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that everyone living in Scotland with long term conditions such as cystic fibrosis, are able to access the best possible care and support, and benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put the patient at the centre of their care.

Cystic Fibrosis is a complex condition that affects people in different ways. As such, people with cystic fibrosis should be cared for by a team of doctors, nurses and allied health professionals with specialised knowledge providing professional skills, care and support to this group of patients and their families. This will include the development of a care plan unique to the individual’s needs.

Question reference: S5O-01604

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 December 2017
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government what impact UK Government welfare reform is having on homelessness in Scotland.

Question reference: S5O-01563

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 6 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how it is communicating with landlords and tenants regarding the new private residential tenancy, which was introduced on 1 December 2017.

The Scottish Government is working in partnership with Shelter Scotland and the Scottish Association of Landlords on a comprehensive awareness raising campaign to ensure everyone involved in private renting, from tenants and landlords to letting agents and housing professionals, understand their new rights and responsibilities. In the longer term we will continue to raise awareness to ensure that landlords re-letting their property using a Private Residential Tenancy for the first time and tenants starting a new tenancy in the future are aware of their rights and are able to access clear information.

Question reference: S5W-12947

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 4 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking in the next 12 months to tackle violence against women and girls.

Equally Safe is the national strategy to prevent and eradicate violence against women and girls, which was developed by the Scottish Government and COSLA. A delivery plan for this strategy over 2017-21 was published on Friday 24 November and sets out our plans to tackle violence against women and girls. It includes a total of 118 actions under 4 priority areas, which are focused on preventing violence from happening, strengthening services for victims and survivors, and ensuring that perpetrators receive a robust response.

In the next 12 months, the Scottish Government will work with partners to progress actions, including the development of an ‘Equally Safe’ accreditation scheme for employers to promote best practice in tackling gender-based violence in the workforce, including sexual harassment, and an expansion of Rape Crisis Scotland’s sexual violence prevention programme in schools, to at least 11 local authorities. We will also continue to invest significant resources in front-line services to support women and children experiencing violence and abuse. Furthermore, we will continue to work with the Parliament as it considers the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill, which seeks to strengthen legislation around coercion and control.

The delivery plan can be found at http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2017/11/5647.

Question reference: S5O-01514

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 November 2017
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government when the power in the Private Housing Tenancies (Scotland) Act 2016 to designate Rent Pressure Zones will come into force.

Question reference: S5O-01489

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 November 2017
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government how its Draft Budget proposals will take account of Edinburgh’s needs, opportunities and population growth.