Chamber and committees

This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who reply in writing within 20 days.

This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who reply in writing within 20 days.

The detailed information requested is currently being collated and will be provided as soon as it is available. A copy will be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib number 64328).

During the period of 2016 - 2022, 4.93% of Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS) claims have been subject to an on-farm inspection. During these inspections 2187 business have been found to be in breach of the terms of the scheme rules.

As the cost of living crisis continues, the emergency Act aims to give important support to tenants, and to provide them with much-needed stability in their housing costs and additional eviction protections. It has gone further than anywhere else in the UK in helping protect tenants across the rental sector.

Since devolution, there has been significant overall growth in the privately-rented sector, through a period of increasing regulation and market intervention, and we consider that healthy markets, responsible landlords and public sector intervention can co-exist.

As last year’s Cross Party Group on Housing report on Rent Control acknowledged, regulated markets can be attractive to institutional investors. We also note that in the publication by the British Property Federation, assessing the impact of the emergency Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022, it is recognised that rent control is not seen as a reason not to invest if part of a stable policy environment.

We take a close interest in the way policy in Scotland interacts with the rest of the UK, noting the Royal Institution Of Chartered Surveyors comments of 8 June 2023 that “interest rate rises are also impacting the rental sector and combined with looming reforms proposed in the [UK] government’s Renters (Reform) Bill, landlords are increasingly deciding to leave the sector and sell up property, causing further constraints to lettings supply.” We also note the intention of the Welsh Government to consider forms of rent regulation.

By its nature, the emergency Cost of Living Act is time-limited and the rent cap and eviction protections cannot be extended beyond March 2024. The temporary rent cap provisions apply only to in-tenancy rent increases, with rent setting for new housing supply continuing to be set by the market.

We will continue to listen to feedback and engage with stakeholders, monitor the data and consider whether the legislation remains proportionate and necessary.

While entries have been increasing, rising from 88 in 2017-18 to 172 in 2022-23, no specific targets have been set for the uptake of this qualification.

The National Progression Award (NPA) in Rural Skills is one of a wide range of qualifications related to the land-based sector. Skills for Work and other National Certificate courses in related areas are also available.

With the support of Skills Development Scotland (SDS), the Scottish Government funds a pre-apprenticeship programme through Ringlink Scotland - providing work experience linked to jobs in the local economy particularly relevant in rural areas.

The Commission for the Land-based Learning Review published its report in January 2023 including 22 recommendations on how to improve learning pathways to equip more people with the skills and knowledge needed to work in Scotland’s land-based and aquaculture sectors. Scottish Government is currently considering its response.

The Scottish Government do not hold any information on domestic chargepoints that are (a) currently reported as faulty and (b) no longer in use.

Domestic chargepoints for private use, are not publicly available and are the sole responsibility of the home owner.

The Scottish Government provide annual funding to Energy Saving Trust (EST) who are an independent organisation working to address the climate emergency. EST then deliver the EV infrastructure fund on behalf of Scottish Ministers.

EST publish stats on their website which cover the number of chargepoints installed in Local Authority areas across Scotland and the total amount of funding paid per financial year, the link can be found here - Domestic chargepoint funding - Energy Saving Trust .

The specific information you have requested can be found in the following tables:

Domestic Chargepoints funded in Island locations based on postcode data:

The Marine Directorate - Licensing Operations Team of the Scottish Government has not granted any seal licences for imperative reasons of overriding public interest, including those of a social or economic nature under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010. No seals have been killed or taken under this licensable purpose.

Local authorities were responsible for the administration of the Tenant Grant Fund given their knowledge of local need. Each local authority provided the Scottish Government with quarterly returns showing spend against their funding allocation. Data on full versus partial mitigation of arrears was not provided routinely by all local authorities.

The quarterly information collected was published on the Scottish Government website here: Tenant Grant Fund monitoring report - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) and is summarised below.