Chamber and committees

Latest published data shows the aggregated spend on single building assessments, fire risk measures and remediation is just over £9.0m to the end of quarter one 2024-25; spend is updated quarterly, the next update will be published in October 2024.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information as the cost of tendering for the Small Vessel Replacement Programme is a cost borne by the bidders in the procurement process.

All applications are made to the overall HOSF programme, and are then carefully assessed by my officials to determine suitability for either Mortgage to Shared Equity (MTSE) or Mortgage to Rent (MTR).

Applicants to HOSF receive advice from accredited money advisers. The advisers offer holistic advice and identify which potential solutions will best meet applicants’ needs. They are appropriately qualified to determine when homeowners meet the HOSF eligibility criteria. This ensures all options and potential solutions have been considered before an application to HOSF is made.

Since 20 March 2022, 96 new applications have been made to the Home Owners Support Fund (HOSF), an average of 3 new applications per calendar month.

To date, 47 cases have successfully completed. A further 10 cases have been approved and are in the final stages of conveyancing, due to complete imminently. All successful applications since 20 March 2022 have been Mortgage to Rent cases.

3 cases received during this period did not meet the eligibility criteria and were deemed ineligible. These cases represent a small proportion of overall intake and are the result of unforeseen issues that could not be resolved. For example, where alterations were made to the property without having the correct building consents in place.

As part of the application process for energy infrastructure projects, the Scottish Government undertake a full and thorough consultation with stakeholders, including the relevant Local Planning Authorities, to ensure all aspects of the development are considered.

Where it is necessary to understand the environmental impact of an infrastructure project, a full Environment Impact Assessment is required to be undertaken which takes into account the cumulative impacts of the full development.

The Mixed Tenure Improvement Service is delivered by the City of Edinburgh Council using powers as set out in the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004. Any concerns with the scheme would need to be raised with the Council.

Tackling the climate emergency is one of this Government’s key priorities and we are committed to ensuring that those who may be impacted by the transition to net zero are involved in designing how we manage it.

Our Public Engagement Strategy for Climate Change, published in September 2021, recognises our commitment to a participatory approach where people can actively shape just, fair and inclusive policies that promote mitigation of, and adaptation to, climate change.

Heating our homes and workplaces causes around 20% of our carbon emissions, so we cannot achieve net zero without improving energy efficiency and ending our use of gas boilers. We recently consulted on proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill, receiving over 1600 responses. We will ensure that our proposals are affordable for homes and businesses, and take account of responses to the consultation.

The Scottish Government has discussed with ScotRail and Scottish Rail Holdings its live procurement exercise for a technology partner to deliver an ecommerce solution to ensure it is compatible with our new Smart, Digital, Integrated Ticketing and Payments Delivery Strategy, published on August 21st 2024.

This strategy builds on the work delivered under the 2018 Smart Ticketing Delivery Strategy, setting out Scotland’s vision for smart ticketing. Reflecting on views from the public, local transport authorities, operators and the newly established National Smart Ticketing Advisory Board, it aligns with the National Transport Strategy and supports the delivery of the Fair Fares Review actions.

I welcome the recent pay deal agreed between college employers and EIS-FELA, which brings an end to strike action across the college sector.

I am aware that local agreements are in place, as part of the pay offer, to repay any deductions of pay to staff once outstanding results have been processed.

I welcome this move and hope this now brings this long running period of industrial action to a close.

Questions regarding day-to-day operational matters of Historic Environment Scotland, including information relating to any repair and maintenance works, are best answered directly by Historic Environment Scotland.

I have asked Historic Environment Scotland to respond directly to the member with a full reply to his question in writing.

Questions regarding day-to-day operational matters of Historic Environment Scotland, including information relating to any repair and maintenance works, are best answered directly by Historic Environment Scotland.

I have asked Historic Environment Scotland to respond directly to the member with a full reply to his question in writing.

Successive Scottish budgets have demonstrated Scotland’s commitment to addressing the climate change crisis, using all resources at our disposal to accelerate the just transition to a net zero, climate-resilient and biodiverse Scotland. The 2024-25 Budget committed £4.7 billion for activities with a positive impact on our climate change goals.

Use of ScotWind revenue is an action we would rather not take but must carefully consider given the fiscal challenges faced, given the limited options available under existing fiscal framework arrangements. We will seek to minimise usage of ScotWind in 2024-25 – just as we did in 2023-24.