- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Monday, 20 September 2021
-
Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 1 October 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the short-term let licensing legislation contradicts the provisions relating to property contained in the Human Rights Act 1998 (The First Protocol, Article 1), and The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (Article 17).
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-03027 on 1 October 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Monday, 20 September 2021
-
Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 1 October 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on how the overprovision regimes under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Short-term Lets) Order 2021 and Town and Country Planning (Short-term Let Control Areas) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 interact with each other.
Answer
Draft guidance for local authorities on overprovision is set out in chapter 3 of the . Paragraphs 3.37 to 3.41 explain how overprovision policies interact with control areas.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Monday, 20 September 2021
-
Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 1 October 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the short-term let licensing legislation is in line with the Better Regulation Agenda and the Scottish Regulators’ Strategic Code of Practice (Clauses 2 and 3).
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-03027 on 1 October 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Monday, 20 September 2021
-
Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 1 October 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the overprovision regime in the short-term let licensing legislation is ultra vires in terms of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-03027 on 1 October 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Monday, 20 September 2021
-
Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 1 October 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comment by the Minister for Local Government and Housing on 8 November 2017 in relation to the antisocial behaviour powers available to local authorities, whether it expects local authorities to enforce the Antisocial Behaviour Notices (Houses Used for Holiday Purposes) (Scotland) Order 2011 regarding antisocial behaviour complaints in connection with short-term let accommodation.
Answer
The Scottish Government fully supports the police, local authorities and the court services to take appropriate and proportionate action to tackle antisocial behaviour. We expect all relevant authorities to use the powers available to them to deal with antisocial behaviour.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Monday, 20 September 2021
-
Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 1 October 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comment by the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning on 8 January 2020 in relation to the plans for the short-term let licensing regime, whether ensuring the safety of occupants was the rationale for introducing the policy, and whether that continues to be the case.
Answer
On 8 January 2020, Mr Stewart, the then Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning, emphasised the importance of the safety of visitors, hosts, neighbours and local residents in his statement to the Scottish Parliament. This was the rationale for introducing the policy and that remains the case. It has also always been the intention to give local authorities further powers under the licensing scheme to tackle other issues arising from short-term lets.
Our licensing scheme proposals deliver national consistency on safety standards, and autonomy for local authorities to add further conditions in response to local needs and concerns.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 September 2021
-
Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 30 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had or plans with (a) the chief constable and (b) Police Scotland regarding what action can be taken to address the concerns reportedly expressed by the chief constable that non-emergency calls to the force were abandoned 40% of the time due to delays in answering calls.
Answer
Police Scotland have advised that this has been an exceptionally busy period for the service and particularly for the Contact, Command and Control Division, with an unprecedented call levels to both the 101 non-emergency number and 999 call lines. The COVID pandemic has and continues to place unprecedented pressures on our emergency services. Across Scotland all organisations have had to manage increased leaves of covid-related absence while maintaining service levels.
While delivery of the police 101 service is a matter for Police Scotland, I have sought assurances around its operation and the Chief Constable has outlined a number of improvements, including updated options for callers and system changes to better prioritise calls have been outlined as part of these discussions. Callers to the 101 service are advised if their call is related to an emergency to dial 999. The latest figures show that 999 calls are answered on average within 7 seconds.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 September 2021
-
Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 29 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the observations included in an open letter to crofting commissioners from Donald MacKinnon, on behalf of the Board of the Scottish Crofting Federation, dated 14 September 2021.
Answer
It is for the crofting Commission to respond to the matters addressed to it in the letter from the Scottish Crofting Federation. However, the Scottish Government will also consider the broader issues relating to crofting policy. We are already committed to addressing neglect and absenteeism, and developing crofting to create more active crofts. We have a strong track record of supporting new entrants and this will remain a priority. We will continue to work with the Crofting Commission and others to ensure that key actions within the Crofting Development Plan are progressed.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Monday, 20 September 2021
-
Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 29 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the effectiveness of the Antisocial Behaviour Notices (Houses Used for Holiday Purposes) (Scotland) Order 2011.
Answer
We have no plans to review the Antisocial Behaviour Notices (Houses Used for Holiday Purposes) (Scotland) Order 2011 at this time. However, we are always open to listening to the police, local authorities, the court services and communities to see how we can improve the approach being taken to tackle antisocial behaviour for the benefit of all communities.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 September 2021
-
Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 28 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has not included a crofting reform bill in the Programme for Government 2021-22.
Answer
The Programme for Government is largely a one year delivery programme, and does not include all of the activity planned by Government over the full parliamentary period. Therefore although crofting reform has not been included in this year's PfG, work will be undertaken during this parliamentary term to reform the law as stated in our 2021 Manifesto.