- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 16 November 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 23 November 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on including a self-assessment questionnaire regarding incontinence when issuing invites to attend a mammogram.
Answer
The Scottish Government would not support the inclusion of self-assessment questionnaires into the invitation issued by NHS Scotland’s Breast Screening programme. The programme has tailored invitations, offering key information to support individuals in making an informed decision about participating in screening. The inclusion of additional, non-related requests, could detract and deter invitee’s from participating in screening.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 November 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 22 November 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-19297 by Kevin Stewart on 24 October 2018, how the repayment of the loan to Hearthstone affected the quantity of housing stock due to be delivered by Edinvar Castle Rock.
Answer
Hearthstone provided initial private finance loan investment to Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association (CRE) to enable delivery of social rent homes through this scheme. CRE subsequently repaid the loan to Hearthstone but continue to work with the local authority partners to develop the originally planned social rent homes. The repayment of the loan to Hearthstone did not have a direct effect on the quantity of housing stock to be delivered.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 November 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 22 November 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-19297 by Kevin Stewart on 24 October 2018, for what reason it did not answer the question that was asked, and whether it will now confirm the time period of the loan.
Answer
The loan arrangement between Hearthstone and Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association was a commercial arrangement which Scottish Government was not party to. We are unable to provide information on the terms of the loan.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 November 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 22 November 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-18230 by Kevin Stewart on 4 September 2018, which body initially received the £6 million investment it made that was referred to in its news release of 8 June 2015.
Answer
The Scottish Government investment referred to in the news release of 8 June 2015 has been made available to the Hearthstone Investment delivery partner, Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 November 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 22 November 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-19300 by Kevin Stewart on 24 October 2018, what it considers to be the period in which the loan was repaid to Hearthstone.
Answer
The loan arrangement between Hearthstone and Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association was a commercial arrangement which Scottish Government was not party to. We are unable to provide information on the terms of the loan.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 November 2018
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 28 November 2018
To ask the Scottish Government how it supports communities in achieving fair trade accreditation.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 28 November 2018
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 19 November 2018
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 22 November 2018
To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government is promoting a vibrant newspaper industry.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 22 November 2018
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 November 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 15 November 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the regulations governing the factoring of residential properties by private companies.
Answer
Scottish Ministers have a duty under the Property Factors (Scotland) Act 2011 (the Act) to prepare, from time to time, a code of conduct setting out minimum standards of practice for registered property factors. The Code was introduced in October 2012 and is currently under review.
In accordance with the Act, Scottish Ministers have consulted on proposals to strengthen the Code. In addition, the consultation asked about the impact the Act had on improving the regulation of property factors. The findings of the consultation are published at: https://consult.gov.scot/housing-regeneration-and-welfare/code-of-conduct-for-registered-property-factors/ .
The findings are currently being used alongside other available evidence to inform whether changes to the Code and/or the Act should be brought forward to the Parliament for its consideration.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 November 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 15 November 2018
To ask the Scottish Government how the conduct of private companies that factor residential properties is regulated.
Answer
The Property Factors (Scotland) Act 2011 provides for the conduct of factors to be regulated by requiring anyone acting as a factor to be registered and to comply with a code of conduct which sets out minimum standards of practice in the delivery of services to homeowners.
This process provides a route of appeal to the Housing and Property Chamber which, among other things, enables owners to have their concerns about their factor adjudicated by an independent judicial body.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 November 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 15 November 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what research it has conducted regarding the public's view on its plans to ban price offers and restrict the display of discretionary foods that are high in fat, salt or sugar in retail and food service outlets.
Answer
Food Standards Scotland’s Food in Scotland Consumer Tracking Survey measures changes in Scotland’s attitudes, behaviours and knowledge in relation to food over time.
Consumer views relevant to the Government’s consultation on restricting the promotion and marketing of targeted categories of food and drink high in fat, sugar or salt where they are sold to the public are contained in:
Food in Scotland: Consumer Tracking Survey Wave 2: Summary Report (July 2017) which is at https://www.foodstandards.gov.scot/publications-and-research/publications/wave-2-food-in-scotland-consumer-tracking-report2
Food in Scotland: Consumer Tracking Survey Wave 4: Summary Report (October 2017), which is at http://www.foodstandards.gov.scot/publications-and-research/fss-consumer-trends-report-wave-4
Food in Scotland: Consumer Tracking Survey Wave 6: Summary Report (October 2018), which is at https://www.foodstandards.gov.scot/publications-and-research/publications/food-in-scotland-consumer-tracking-survey-wave-6 .
Public attitudes relevant to the Government’s proposals are also contained in an NHS Health Scotland report Public attitudes to reducing overweight and obesity in Scotland (January 2018), which is at http://www.healthscotland.scot/publications/public-attitudes-to-reducing-overweight-and-obesity-in-scotland .