Questions and answers

Question reference: S4W-14817

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 10 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Burgess on 28 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how much (a) specialist housing for older people or (b) housing built to wheelchair standard will be provided as part of the 2012-13 to 2014-15 Affordable Housing Supply Programme.

In May 2012, we introduced a new three year resource planning system to enable councils to plan the delivery of affordable housing more efficiently and effectively. This new approach has enabled each council to bring forward strategic local programmes of social and affordable housing based on local needs, identified through the Housing Needs and Demand Assessment and Local Housing Strategy. Councils will therefore decide upon the size and type of housing required to help satisfy these local needs.

For the period 1 April 2012 to 31 December 2012, a total of 309 specialist housing units for older people were provided. During the same period, a total of 61 wheelchair units were provided. Housing statistics covering the whole of 2012-13 are not due to be published until 4June 2013.

Question reference: S4W-14823

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 10 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 23 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the report, Impact of the Removal of RET from Commercial Vehicles on the Western Isles, Coll and Tiree.

Question reference: S4O-02174

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 May 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth had with his ministerial colleagues prior to allocating the most recent round of Barnet consequentials.

Question reference: S4O-02161

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 May 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether private landlords had lodged all eligible deposits with tenant deposit schemes by the deadline of 15 May 2013.

Question reference: S4W-14501

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 14 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on employment in the companies based in Scotland supplying the offshore oil and gas industry, when it was first informed by the UK Government of the intention to restructure the Health and Safety Executive and what its assessment is of the impact on the safety regime protecting the workforce based in Scotland.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) created a new Energy Division on 1 April 2013. This is an internal reorganisation and the Scottish Government was not notified in advance. HSE has stated that it is its intention to increase its offshore inspectorate and is seeking to recruit staff. The Scottish Government is assured that the current offshore inspectorate regime is not compromised by the recent reorganisation in HSE.

The regulation of workplace health and safety is currently reserved to the UK Government.

Question reference: S4W-14498

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 14 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on employment in the companies based in Scotland supplying the offshore oil and gas industry, what discussions it has had with UK Government ministers and officials regarding the implications for the safety inspection regime of the planned restructuring of the Health and Safety Executive and whether it has a policy on safety in the oil and gas sector.

The recent reorganisation of the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) Energy Division is an internal issue for the HSE. The Scottish Government has not had discussions with UK Ministers and officials in respect of this. The Scottish Government is assured that the current offshore inspectorate regime is not compromised by the recent reorganisation in HSE.

The regulation of workplace health and safety is currently reserved to the UK Government.

Question reference: S4W-14504

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 8 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on employment in the companies based in Scotland supplying the offshore oil and gas industry, what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the publication of a draft EU directive on safety in the offshore oil and gas sector.

Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government believes that the UK already has a robust, proven national regime already in place and does not believe that there would be added value from another layer of regulation. We shared the UK Government’s concern that a proposal in the form of a Regulation may require significant amendment of existing national legislation which mirrors any provisions of the Regulation. The Scottish Government has worked closely with the UK Government on this important issue to ensure that there is a resolution that enhances the North Sea already high safety standards and benefits the UK industry.

Question reference: S4W-14499

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 8 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on employment in the companies based in Scotland supplying the offshore oil and gas industry, what discussions it has had with UK Government ministers and officials regarding the implications for the safety inspection regime of the Health and Safety Executive’s planned closure of its Offshore Safety Division.

Health and safety legislation is reserved to the UK Parliament. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the UK Department for Work and Pensions.

The recent reorganisation of the HSE’s Energy Division is an internal issue for that organisation. The Scottish Government has not had discussions with UK Ministers and officials on the planned closure of its Offshore Safety Division. The Scottish Government is assured that the current offshore inspectorate regime is not compromised by the recent reorganisation in HSE.

Question reference: S4W-14500

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 8 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on employment in the companies based in Scotland supplying the offshore oil and gas industry, what discussions it has had with UK Government ministers and officials regarding the implications for the safety inspection regime of the Health and Safety Executive’s plan to transfer specialist offshore safety inspectors to a new energy division overseeing the safety regime in mines, gas and pipeline industries in addition to the offshore industry.

Health and safety legislation is reserved to the UK Parliament. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the UK Department for Work and Pensions.

The recent reorganisation of the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) Energy Division is an internal issue for that organisation. The Scottish Government has not had discussions with UK Ministers and officials on the HSE’s internal restructuring plans. The Scottish Government is assured that there will be no effect to the safety regimes in mines, gas and pipeline industries in addition to the offshore oil and gas industry.

Question reference: S4W-14503

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 8 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on employment in the companies based in Scotland supplying the offshore oil and gas industry, whether it can take steps to ensure that the offshore safety regime takes account of the recommendations in Lord Cullen's report, The Public Inquiry into the Piper Alpha Disaster.

Health and safety legislation is reserved to the UK Parliament. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the UK Department for Work and Pensions.

Lord Cullen’s Inquiry into the Piper Alpha disaster led to the establishment of the HSE as the new regulatory authority for the industry through the creation of its Offshore Safety Division. This regime is a world-class regulatory regime, with its approach now being adopted in Europe. In addition to membership of industry groups the HSE are also embedded as consultees in the processes, operation and planning of offshore oil and gas industry and in the energy sector.

Contact between Scottish Ministers and the HSE is maintained through the membership of different industry groups.

Chamber and committees