Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-02269 on 12 September 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

The provisions in the Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016 (the 2016 Act) will enable a tenant to refer a rent increase to a rent officer for adjudication if he or she considers that a proposed rent increase is unreasonable. A local authority can also apply to Scottish Ministers to have rent increases in a particular area capped if rents in that area are causing undue hardship to tenants and having a detrimental effect on the authority's broader housing system. The 2016 Act is expected to commence in December 2017.

We are currently consulting on proposals for regulations and policy to support the 2016 Act. You can view the consultation on the Scottish Government's consultation web pages.

The Scottish Government has not received any specific representations from businesses on slow broadband service in Glasgow. However, we do recognise that some businesses across Scotland are affected by slow speeds and poor quality of service from broadband suppliers. This was highlighted during my recent meeting with CBI Scotland on 29 September 2016.

We continue to press telecoms providers, as well as Ofcom, on the need for improvements to broadband speeds and quality of service. I made this point in meetings with BT representatives on 6 September 2016 and with Sharon White, Ofcom’s Chief Executive, on 24 August 2016.

Help to Adapt provides various levels and types of support from initial advice and information about the scheme, through to specialist advice, recommendations and support leading to the installation of an adaptation. Where the homeowner is not eligible for the scheme they are given advice on alternative sources of help such as Care and Repair, Housing Options Scotland, local authority, welfare rights and various third sector organisations.

The Scottish Government has engaged closely with the higher education sector on the impact of the EU Referendum on universities in Scotland.

We have already provided reassurance through two joint statements with Universities Scotland on the tuition fee status of EU students and on EU research collaborations (published 1 and 21 July 2016 respectively).

http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Reassurance-for-EU-students-25e2.aspx

http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Research-excellence-in-Scotland-continues-2754.aspx

Scottish Ministers have met or discussed EU Referendum issues with University Principals. We will continue to discuss any issues raised by universities and students on the impact of the referendum result and how we can all ensure Scotland’s universities continue to thrive; remain attractive and enhance their competitiveness.

The university sector is also represented on the Scottish Government’s Standing Council on Europe which is chaired by the Principal of University of Glasgow, Professor Anton Muscatelli.

The information requested is not held centrally.

However, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) publish quarterly information on regional variations in payment methods for domestic energy which is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/quarterly-domestic-energy-price-stastics.

As at March 2016, BEIS figures show that 20 per cent of Scottish standard electricity customers were paying through prepayment meters, compared to the GB average of 15 per cent. Similarly, 17 per cent of Scottish gas customers paid through prepayment meters, compared to a GB average of 15 per cent.

The Scottish Government is committed to improving the energy efficiency of our homes making them warmer and cheaper to heat, allocating almost £650 million since 2009.

We also recognise the importance of innovative energy models in the market and last year we backed the launch of ‘Our Power’ with £2.5 million Scottish Government investment. Our funding has enabled over 30 Registered Social Landlords to come together to establish an energy supply company. We are committed to further promoting this social enterprise energy model for councils and housing associations, to help keep costs down for households.

Later this year we will convene a summit of utility companies to challenge them to do more to provide the best rates available for low income households and reduce the need for prepayment meters which result in the poorest in society paying the most for their energy.

The Scottish Government funds the Home Energy Scotland (HES) advice centres and helpline which provides free and impartial advice on energy saving to all householders. This includes information about specific energy efficiency measures, as well as checking eligibility for government schemes and programmes. Through this service we are also helping consumers to engage with the retail energy market. We recently launched a new partnership for impartial advice on energy supplier switching delivered by the social enterprise Citrus Energy. This pilot is helping HES clients who require additional help and support to explore the option of switching. HES can be contacted on 0808 808 2282 or further information can be found at: www.greenerscotland.org/warm-homes.

Switching energy tariff or supplier can provide significant savings for consumers. The Scottish Government is examining collective switching and group buying of energy to better understand the potential to increase Scottish consumer engagement in the energy market, and in particular, how to reach the most vulnerable in line with the Scottish Government’s call for a fair deal for all Scottish energy consumers.

During 2015-16 there were 1,073 new apprenticeships starts on the Engineering Framework. At the end of the March 2016 there were a total of 4,207 MAs in training on this framework.

The Scottish Government has allocated almost £650 million since 2009 and we will make available 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.

This record investment is reflected in the big improvements in the energy efficiency of Scotland’s housing. The share of homes in the top three energy efficiency ratings has increased by 71% since 2010, and 11% in the last year (EPC Band C or better); and we now have proportionately 35% more homes with the top three EPC ratings (A-C) than England.

To improve the energy efficiency in social rented houses in Scotland, the Scottish Government launched the Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing (EESSH) in March 2014. Achievement by the first milestone set for 2020 will mean that in the main, no social property will be lower than a ‘C’ or ‘D’ energy efficiency rating and social landlords are already making good progress. Compliance with EESSH is monitored by the Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) who reports that 68.6% of social housing already met the EESSH in 2015/16. A review of the operation of EESSH is scheduled to take place in 2017 and, will also allow for consideration of options for a new standard beyond 2020. We have made available £10 million in grant and loan funding over the last two years to help social landlords meet EESSH.

The Programme for Government sets out our intention alongside consultation on a new Energy Strategy to consult this winter on the regulation of private rented sector housing to increase energy efficiency standards. We will also, in due course, consult on phased regulation of other existing buildings to improve their energy efficiency as well as looking at what financial incentives may be appropriate. Further detail on the scope and timing of regulations and standards as part of the development of Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme (the cornerstone of our commitment to designate Energy Efficiency as a National Infrastructure Priority) will be set out in the draft energy strategy.

The number of women studying full-time college courses is up by 16% since 2006-07, and women account for the majority of the college population – 52% in 2014-15.

As part of implementing Developing the Young Workforce, our youth employment strategy, the Scottish Funding Council has published a Gender Action Plan setting out actions they will undertake in collaboration with colleges, universities and other partners to address gender imbalances and significantly reduce gender gaps in college and undergraduate courses.