Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-09593

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 July 2022
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 19 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-00751 by Tom Arthur on 5 July 2021, whether it will provide an update on how many empty commercial properties there have been in each local authority area in the South Scotland parliamentary region, in each year since 2007.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on the number of empty commercial properties. Data is collected on properties eligible for and claiming non-domestic rates reliefs, including reliefs or exemptions for unoccupied properties, on specific snapshot dates.

The following table shows the number of properties receiving a non-domestic rates relief or exemption from rates for unoccupied properties since 2011. Data for years before 2011, as well as for 2014 and 2017, is not available. The figures are as at the snapshot date and may therefore underestimate final numbers of recipients in a given year, and include entire local authority areas as data by parliamentary region is not held.

Data for 2022 is expected to become available in late 2022.

Local Authority	2011	2012	2013	2015	2016	2018	2019	2020	2021
Dumfries & Galloway	400	590	590	560	520	540	490	460	460
East Ayrshire	400	450	440	290	330	190	190	160	160
East Lothian *	290	270	230	230	210	260	260	280	250
Midlothian *	140	260	260	190	190	140	200	120	140
Scottish Borders	650	640	580	560	570	530	510	460	450
South Ayrshire	480	480	430	420	410	350	290	280	320
South Lanarkshire *	1,100	1,070	900	850	600	300	250	10	130

Data: Billing System Snapshots provided to the Scottish Government by local authorities. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

* Some parts of these local authorities are not in the South Scotland parliamentary region.

"Properties" refers to subjects listed as separate entries in the Valuation Roll, and includes shops, offices, warehouses, but also self-catering properties, properties that do not necessarily contain buildings, etc. Figures exclude properties for which the rateable value is zero.

Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

Reliefs and exemptions for empty properties are typically cancelled by local authorities at the beginning of each financial year, with ratepayers required to reapply. Therefore these figures are likely to underestimate the full number of unoccupied properties as at the snapshot dates.

The snapshot dates are: 31 March 2011, 17 May 2012, 1 October 2013, 1 October 2015, 5 October 2016, 1 June 2018, 31 May 2019, 1 July 2020, and 1 June 2021.

Question reference: S6W-09595

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 July 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 19 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-00749 by Shona Robison on 29 June 2021, whether it will provide an update on how many homes in each local authority area in the South Scotland parliamentary region have been returned to use with support from the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, in each year since 2007.

Question reference: S6W-09591

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 July 2022
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 19 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what support it has provided to East Lothian Council to assist with the redevelopment of the former Cockenzie Power Station site.

The site is identified as a national development in the current National Planning Framework 3 (2014). The draft National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) (November 2021) does not propose a national development designation for Cockenzie, however its spatial strategy notes that there are existing assets and infrastructure at coastal former baseload power generation sites that can be repurposed to form the basis of new proposals. At Cockenzie it identifies ongoing work to develop the Climate Evolution Zone.

The comments received through the Parliamentary scrutiny and public consultation processes are being analysed prior to laying a revised NPF4 in the Scottish Parliament in the autumn.

Question reference: S6W-09606

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 July 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 14 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-01695 by Shona Robison on 16 August 2021, whether it will provide an update on how many property factors have been registered, as required by the Property Factors (Scotland) Act 2011, in each year since 2011, broken down by (a) those remaining on the register, (b) those who have been newly admitted to the register, and (c) those who have been removed from the register.

The updated information requested is contained in the following table:

Year (See Note 1)	Number registered	Number remaining on register	Number newly admitted to register	Number removed from register (see Note 2)
2011	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
2012	242	N/A	242	0
2013	326	242	84	0
2014	365	326	39	0
2015	381	365	36	20
2016	384	381	41	38
2017	403	384	38	19
2018	404	403	25	24
2019	387	404	27	44
2020	393	387	22	16
2021	395	393	24	22
2022 (to 30/06/22)	374	395	6	27

Note 1:

The register of property factors opened in October 2012 so no registration data is available for 2011.

Note 2:

The Property Factors (Scotland) Act 2011, allows that a property factor can be removed from the register for the following reasons:

under section 4(7) (a) - where registrations are removed as no further application is received before expiry of the previous registration.

under section 8(1) - for no longer being a fit and proper person or failing to demonstrate compliance with:

o the property factor code of conduct, or

o any property factor enforcement order.

under section 8(1) - for no longer being a fit and proper person as they are no longer a legal entity (technical removal).

Property Factors are required to apply for renewal of their registration every 3 years and a register entry must be removed if the factor does not submit an application to renew.

Question reference: S6W-09607

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 July 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 14 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-01697 by Shona Robison on 16 August 2021, whether it will provide an update on how many property factors have been de-registered in each year since 2011, broken down by whether the factor was de-registered due to (a) no longer being considered to be a fit and proper person to be registered as a property factor, (b) having failed to comply with the obligation to include its registration number in correspondence sent to homeowners and (c) having failed to demonstrate compliance with (i) the property factor Code of Conduct and (ii) any property factor enforcement order made against the property factor by the First-tier Tribunal.

The updated information requested is contained in the following table:

Year (See Note 1)	Number removed from the register of property factors (See Note 2)	Removed under S4(7) as registration expired after 3 year period without an application for renewal	Removed under 8(1) (not fit and proper - failed to comply with the Code and / or a property factor enforcement order(s) (See Note 3)	Removed under 8(1) (dissolved / no longer a legal entity)
2011	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
2012	0	0	0	0
2013	0	0	0	0
2014	0	0	0	0
2015	20	19	1	0
2016	38	37	1	0
2017	19	15	0	4
2018	24	20	0	4
2019	44	42	1	1
2020	16	16	0	0
2021	22	22	0	0
2022 (to 30/06/22)	27	27	0	0

Note 1:

The register of property factors opened in October 2012 so no data is available for 2011.

Note 2:

The Property Factors (Scotland) Act 2011, allows that a property factor can be removed from the register for the following reasons:

under section 4(7) (a) - where registrations are removed as no further application is received before expiry of the previous registration.

under section 8(1) for no longer being a fit and proper person or failing to demonstrate compliance with:

o the property factor code of conduct, or

o any property factor enforcement order.

under section 8(1) for no longer being a fit and proper person as they are no longer a legal entity (technical removal).

No Property Factor has been removed for failing to comply with their obligations around use of their property factor registered number.

Note 3:

Any non-voluntary removal of registration would be expected to be on the basis of a range of issues and not related to a single issue such as not complying with the requirements around the use of a property factor registered number.

Question reference: S6W-09051

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 10 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 23 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to (a) the Institute of Economic Affairs report, The Hangover: The cost of minimum alcohol pricing in Scotland, and (b) the report's conclusions that minimum unit pricing has cost consumers in Scotland £270 million since its introduction and “that there is little evidence of health and social benefits to offset this cost”.

The Institute of Economic Affairs report is one independent report and should not be used to draw conclusions on the effect of the policy.

Public Health Scotland are leading a comprehensive evaluation of the impact of Minimum Unit Pricing, details of which can be found on their website. The evaluation is over a five year period and a final report will be produced in 2023. The evaluation will consider a wide range of evidence and reports regarding Minimum Unit Price (MUP).

We will review the final evaluation report from Public Health Scotland before drawing overall conclusions, this will include the impact MUP has had on health and social benefits.

Question reference: S6W-08856

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 15 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many journeys have been taken using and (b) what the cost has been of the Government Car Service in each year since 2011, including 2021, also broken down by minister, including the First Minister.

The following table details the total cost of operation and number of journeys completed by the Government Car Service since 2011.

Year	Total cost (1)	Total number of journeys completed (2)
2010 - 11	£974,678	8,159
2011 - 12	£1,074,714	9,201
2012 - 13	£1,204,864	10,389
2013 - 14	£1,156,208	9,543
2014 - 15	£1,184,851	10,039
2015 - 16	£1,145,521	10,619
2016 - 17	£1,092,375	9,527
2017 - 18	£1,177,398	10,050
2018 - 19	£1,323,131	10,755
2019 - 20	£1,344,978	8,604
2020 - 21	£903,002	1,448
2021 - 22	£1,044,967	3,353

Notes

1. Total costs include staff salaries, employer’s contributions, fuel, vehicle maintenance, private hire and travel and subsistence . Excludes Police Scotland costs associated in transporting First Minister.

2. Does not include First Ministers journeys completed by Police Scotland.

A full breakdown of journeys, excluding First Ministers journeys after April 2017, can be accessed via the following links.

Ministerial Car Journeys - 2007-2016 (webarchive.org.uk)

Ministerial engagements, travel and gifts - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Question reference: S6W-08855

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 14 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to The Promise Oversight Board’s first report into the progress that Scotland is making to implement the conclusions of the Independent Care Review and keep The Promise, and what it will do to meet the recommendations in the report.

The Scottish Government welcomes the Promise Scotland’s Oversight Board report and the continued focus and momentum across all stakeholders to Keep The Promise.

The Scottish Government remains committed to Keeping The Promise by 2030, working in partnership with Local Authorities, The Promise Scotland, third sector, health boards and importantly the care community.

On 30 March 2022 the Scottish Government published the Keeping The Promise Implementation Plan , setting out how it will Keep The Promise by 2030. The Plan contains over 80 actions which span over a range of areas including education, health, justice and child poverty.

Question reference: S6F-01214

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 June 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 June 2022

To ask the First Minister whether she will provide an update on the Scottish Government's policy regarding investment in nuclear fusion technology.

Question reference: S6O-01230

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 June 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met COSLA.

Year	Number of homes brought back into use
2011-12	4
2012-13	76
2013-14	278
2014-15	560
2015-16	697
2016-17	859
2017-18	742
2018-19	1,128
2019-20	1,412
2020-21	851
2021-22	1,152
Total	7,759

Chamber and committees