- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Monday, 12 September 2016
-
Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 September 2016
To ask the Scottish Government on what date it will publish the code of conduct for stop and search.
Answer
The Scottish Government will lay the Code of Practice before Parliament no later than 12 January 2017, as required by Part 2 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016.
A public consultation seeking views on a draft Code of Practice closed on 15 July 2016 and responses to the consultation were published on 15 September 2016. The Scottish Government will continue to work closely with the independent Stop and Search Advisory Group to revise the Code of Practice in light of consultation responses.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 September 2016
-
Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 21 September 2016
To ask the Scottish Government when the next update to the report, Equality and Diversity in Police Scotland 2013 will be published.
Answer
Equality and diversity within Police Scotland is a matter for the Chief Constable. We understand, that in line with the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2012, Police Scotland will publish their next report into Equality and Diversity in 2017. This report follows the publication of their Equality and Diversity Update in 2014 and their Equality and Diversity Mainstreaming Progress Report in 2015. Police Scotland's equality and diversity publications can be found at the following link: .
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 September 2016
-
Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 21 September 2016
To ask the Scottish Government what support it has provided in each of the last five years to women’s aid services that support victims of domestic abuse.
Answer
The Scottish Government is investing record levels of funding to tackle all forms of violence against women and girls and to ensure that victims receive the support which they need. This includes funding for Scottish Women’s Aid and the Women’s Aid network who provide vital services for women, girls and children who have experienced or who are experiencing domestic abuse. Over the last 5 years, the total funding allocation from the Equality Budget to these organisations is as follows:
2012-13: £5,124,150
2013-14: £5,516,740
2014-15: £5,577,567
2015-16: £5,433,956
2016-17: £6,039,116
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 August 2016
-
Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 20 September 2016
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of correspondence each (a) minister and (b) cabinet secretary received (i) since May 2016 and (ii) from January to April 2016 (A) has not been answered, (B) received a holding response only and (C) received an initial holding response before being responded to in full.
Answer
Cabinet Secretary/ Minister
|
Correspondence Received between 1 May and 31 August 2016
|
Total added to MACCS
|
Reply not yet issued (%)
|
Interim Reply – no final reply issued (%)
|
Interim Reply – Final reply issued (%)
|
|
First Minister
|
2439
|
23.0
|
0.4
|
1.0
|
DFM and Education and Skills
|
674
|
26.7
|
3.3
|
1.2
|
Finance and Constitution
|
129
|
45.7
|
1.5
|
1.5
|
Economy, Jobs and Fair Work
|
266
|
29.7
|
0.4
|
1.9
|
Rural Economy and Connectivity
|
351
|
39.6
|
1.1
|
2.3
|
Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform
|
326
|
28.5
|
0.3
|
1.5
|
Health and Sport
|
879
|
23.0
|
0.1
|
1.9
|
Justice
|
298
|
34.6
|
0.3
|
2.3
|
Culture, Tourism and External Affairs
|
264
|
31.4
|
0.4
|
0.7
|
Communities, Social Security and Equalities
|
294
|
20.7
|
0.3
|
0.3
|
Childcare and Early Years
|
99
|
31.0
|
2.0
|
1.0
|
Further and Higher Education and Science
|
81
|
27.1
|
0.0
|
2.5
|
Parliamentary Business
|
61
|
8.2
|
0.0
|
1.6
|
Business Innovation and Energy
|
196
|
47.4
|
0.5
|
1.5
|
Employability and Training
|
89
|
28.4
|
0.0
|
1.1
|
Transport and Islands
|
611
|
19.9
|
0.0
|
0.8
|
Mental Health
|
121
|
28.1
|
0.0
|
0.8
|
Public Health and Sport
|
179
|
35.8
|
0.0
|
2.5
|
Community Safety and Legal Affairs
|
33
|
39.4
|
3.0
|
0.0
|
International Development and Europe
|
90
|
20.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
Local Government and Housing
|
272
|
29.0
|
0.0
|
1.1
|
Social Security
|
34
|
64.7
|
0.0
|
2.9
|
Scottish Ministers (general)
|
1723
|
12.5
|
0.3
|
0.6
|
All
|
9509
|
24.2
|
0.6
|
1.1
|
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 September 2016
-
Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 20 September 2016
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the call on 30 August 2016 from the Existing Homes Alliance for it to publish a delayed consultation on the regulation of energy efficiency in private sector.
Answer
We recognise that action is needed to stimulate demand for energy efficiency improvements, and the programme for government sets out our intention to consult this winter on the regulation of private rented sector housing to increase energy efficiency standards as part of the development of Scotland’s Energy Efficiency programme. We will also, in due course, consult on phased regulation of other existing buildings to improve their energy efficiency to support the aims of the programme as well as looking at what financial incentives may be appropriate. Further detail on Scotland’s Energy Efficiency programme will be set out in the draft energy strategy in winter 2016.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 September 2016
-
Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 20 September 2016
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the call on 30 August 2016 from the Existing Homes Alliance for the forthcoming programme for government to set an objective for a national infrastructure programme that supports every home to reach at least an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) band C by 2025.
Answer
The programme for government reaffirms our commitment to develop a very significant energy efficiency and low carbon heat generation programme and includes a commitment to make available over half a billion pounds to Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme over the next four years.
A one-size fits all target may not be appropriate for something as diverse as Scotland’s housing stock. We are currently undertaking analysis as part of the development of the Climate Change Plan which will inform the long term objectives of the National Infrastructure Priority. Further details will be set out in the draft Energy Strategy, which will be published for consultation alongside the draft Climate Change Plan winter 2016.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Friday, 09 September 2016
-
Current Status:
Answered by Annabelle Ewing on 20 September 2016
To ask the Scottish Government what information (a) the Scottish Appropriate Adult Network and (b) Police Scotland has provided regarding the financial impact on local authorities of providing services under the Appropriate Adult scheme.
Answer
During the passage of the Criminal Justice Bill (now Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016), evidence was provided by the Scottish Appropriate Adult Network (SAAN), Police Scotland and others on the current operation of appropriate adult services in Scotland.
In response to the evidence presented, the Scottish Government committed to continue working with the local authorities, Police Scotland and other interested parties to take the necessary steps to put in place a sustainable model for the long-term delivery of appropriate adult services in Scotland.
The Scottish Government is engaging extensively with relevant stakeholders, including SAAN and Police Scotland, to develop such a model. Given the differing arrangements for the delivery of appropriate adult services across the local authorities, this includes ongoing work to ascertain accurate costs for the provision of the current service.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Friday, 09 September 2016
-
Current Status:
Answered by Annabelle Ewing on 20 September 2016
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has cost each local authority to provide services under the Appropriate Adult scheme in each year since 2010-11.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold this information. It is a matter for local authorities.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Friday, 09 September 2016
-
Current Status:
Answered by Annabelle Ewing on 20 September 2016
To ask the Scottish Government how many appointments have been made under the Appropriate Adult scheme in each year since 2010-11, broken down by local authority.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold this information, but statistics on the provision of appropriate adults broken down by local authority area can be found on the Scottish Appropriate Adult Network website. This information covers the years 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 September 2016
-
Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 15 September 2016
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the call on 30 August 2016 from the Existing Homes Alliance for the forthcoming budget to significantly increase public investment in home energy efficiency measures.
Answer
This Government has allocated almost £650 million since 2009 and, as announced in the programme for government we will make available, through Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme, a further half a billion pounds over the next four years, meaning over £1 billion will have been committed by 2021 to tackle fuel poverty and improve energy efficiency.
The programme for government also announced a further £10 million for domestic energy efficiency helping make Scotland’s homes cheaper to heat and reducing the costs of energy bills for householders. Including this investment, in 2016 we are making available £113 million to improve the energy efficiency of Scotland’s homes, building on the one million energy efficiency measures delivered to almost one million Scottish households since 2008.