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We are working closely with local authorities as part of the Strategic Housing Investment Plan process to identify strategically important projects that could be supported by the fund. The definition of what infrastructure can be supported is intentionally wide and could include on site and off site elements.

The Scottish Government is commissioning research to explore options for the introduction of an infrastructure charging mechanism within Scotland. This research project will inform a white paper, which we intend to fully consult on in winter 2016.

Earlier in 2016 the Scottish Government announced the introduction of a five year Housing Infrastructure Fund, to enable the delivery of housing on strategically important sites. More information on the operation of the fund is available at:

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The Scottish Government does not gather data on the nature or levels of contributions secured through section 75 agreements.

The Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Act 2012 prescribes the information that the Keeper is required and empowered to include in the map-based Land Register of Scotland. We have no plans to prescribe the inclusion of information about brownfield land.

We continue to support development on brownfield sites though our £7.835m Vacant and Derelict Land Fund provided to local authorities through the Local Government settlement.

We have no plans to require public bodies, or local authorities, to produce registers of brownfield land. A register of each urban vacant and derelict site surveyed by local authorities in the 2015 Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey is available on the Scottish Government website at

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The Scottish Government has committed to consider measures to tackle poverty across all ethnicities, reflecting our approach to social justice and our response to the report from the Independent Adviser on Poverty and Inequality. In the Race Equality Framework, we committed to filling evidence gaps on how and to what extent people from minority ethnic groups are accessing the benefits they are entitled to and to ensuring that all relevant policy and programme areas – such as benefits take-up policy and access to advice services (including financial advice) - are fully impact-assessed for equality, as is our legal duty.Our starting point is that services must be accessible and work for all. However, in some instances, there may be a need for targeted action that focuses specifically on minority ethnic communities. For example, we are aware that people from minority ethnic groups may be under-represented as applicants of the Scottish Welfare Fund: we are therefore looking to work with relevant organisations and to target publicity for these communities, so as to improve their access to the fund across Scotland. We will continue to look for opportunities to support people from minority ethnic groups, particularly those on low incomes, in all our work going forward.

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The Scottish Government offers “unconscious bias” training for all its staff. This is part of comprehensive range of measures implemented to help us provide a fair and inclusive workplace and complement our fair and open approach to resourcing.

We have listened to what registered social landlords need to increase the pace and momentum of housing delivery and are continuing to work closely with them and with all of our partners from across the housing sector to ensure the stable supply of more affordable homes.

We are committed to investing over £3 billion over the next five years to deliver at least 50,000 affordable homes and in January grant subsidies for housing associations were increased by up to £14,000 for each home.

The Joint Housing Policy and Delivery Group (JHPDG) brings together stakeholders from across housing, including the Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations (GWSF), the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations SFHA) and the Council of Mortgage lenders. This group is working together to ensure that we make the best use of all our resources and expertise to deliver more homes and to collectively agree what delivery actions are vital at this time.

The independent planning review panel recommended that a national infrastructure agency or working group with statutory powers should be established. In our response to the review, which we published on 11 July 2016, we committed to looking at the detail of this, and the other recommendations, in more detail over the coming months.

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