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: S6W-16805

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support access to free internet (a) services and (b) devices in public spaces.

Every public library in Scotland provides access to free WiFi, networked devices and trained staff to offer digital support. The Scottish Government works with the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) to ensure public library staff have access to training to ensure the public receive the support they need. Library Services can apply for funding to develop digital services through the Scottish Government’s Public Library Improvement Fund and latterly (2021-22) through the Scottish Government’s Public Library COVID Relief Fund (£1.25M) both of which are administered by SLIC.

In addition to these routes, The Scottish Government also provided funding for public libraries to support the roll out of NHS Near Me services in public libraries in 2022-23.

Question reference: S6W-16612

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to amend the pre-action requirements relating to private tenancies to formalise the referral of tenants for free independent money advice.

The aim of the Pre-Action Protocol for rent arrears is to sustain a tenancy, as far as possible, so that tenants can remain in their homes. Before taking action to repossess a property, landlords are required to have carried out certain steps to support their tenant to address any arrears. This includes providing tenants with clear information on how to access information and advice on financial support and debt management. In any subsequent eviction action, a landlord must demonstrate how they have complied with the protocol.

There are no plans at this time to formalise the referral of private tenants for free independent money advice. Guidance for private landlords on complying with the pre-action protocols includes sample letters which help ensure tenants are provided information on their rights and sign-posted to available support, including free independent advice from the Money Talk Team. The guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-private-landlords-on-seeking-repossession-of-private-rented-housing-on-rent-arrears-grounds/pages/summary/ .

Question reference: S6O-02187

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 April 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address antisocial behaviour on public transport.

Question reference: S6W-16817

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 25 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce legislation to give creditors greater flexibility to reduce the amount of money taken in an earnings arrestment.

Question reference: S6W-16814

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 25 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to remove the application fee for Minimal Asset Process bankruptcy.

Question reference: S6W-16807

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 25 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee report, Robbing Peter to pay Paul: Low income and the debt trap, what work it has carried out on the Committee's recommendation "that the Scottish Government supports COSLA and local authorities to map money advice services, as well as potential contact points for referrals to inform service delivery”.

As set out in the Scottish Government’s response to the Committee’s recommendations in September 2022, no further work has been undertaken in relation to a mapping exercise for Advice Services. Mapping a sector as complex and dynamic as the advice sector would be a lengthy, labour-intensive process and any mapping exercise would be out-of-date very soon after completion.

Scottish Government has provided funding to the Independent Food Aid Network to develop localised 'Worrying About Money?' cash first referral leaflets for every local authority area in Scotland. These resources can be used both for people facing money worries and support workers. The leaflets identify which local agencies are best placed to help people maximise income and access any existing financial entitlements.

Question reference: S6W-16813

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 25 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to remove any charges for the completion of the Debt and Mental Health Evidence Form in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-16610

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 25 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what work it has undertaken with (a) COSLA and (b) local authorities to develop national standards for council tax collection.

Council Tax is a local tax, and each council is financially and administratively accountable to their electorate.

However, we recognise the desirability of the best practice in council tax collection being adopted by all local authorities. I therefore raised the issue of Council Tax Debt and Recovery, including highlighting the recommendations of the Improvement Service and Stepchange Scotland’s May 2022 report on Collaborative Council Tax Collection, with the COSLA President, Vice President and Resources Spokesperson at a meeting of the ‘Joint Working Group on Sourcing of Local Government Funding and Council Tax Reform’, on 22 March 2023.

Question reference: S6W-16815

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 25 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to remove the threshold for full administration bankruptcy.

Question reference: S6W-16816

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 25 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to reduce the period that a person must wait before reapplying for a Minimal Asset Process bankruptcy.

The Scottish Government has no plans to reduce the period that a person must wait before reapplying for a Minimal Asset Process (MAP) bankruptcy. We have made significant changes to MAP eligibility criteria recently, removing the application fee, removing the minimum debt threshold, and increasing the maximum debt level to £25,000. It is important to assess the impact of these changes before considering further reform.