- Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 June 2014
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 17 June 2014
To ask the Scottish Government what contingencies will be put in place to ensure that the new Caledonian sleeper rail franchise will continue for the full duration of its contract.
Answer
It is the firm intention of Scottish Ministers to ensure that the contract will continue for its full duration. As with other contracts of this nature, there are mechanisms in the contract to ensure the viable and effective delivery of the contract for the full contract term, as long as the franchisee maintains their commitments and obligations under the contract.
- Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 June 2014
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 17 June 2014
To ask the Scottish Government how much private profit is expected to arise from the new Caledonian sleeper rail franchise.
Answer
Private sector profit under the Caledonian sleeper franchise is subject to a cap and sharing mechanism. The public subsidy levels have been bid as part of the procurement.
Any profits above 7% of revenue will be shared 50:50 between Transport Scotland and the franchisee. 100% of any profits above 15% would be allocated to Transport Scotland.
- Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 June 2014
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 19 June 2014
To ask the Scottish Government how many private educational establishments are entitled to 80% mandatory rates relief and how many are given relief of up to 100%.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 19 June 2014
- Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
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Date lodged: Monday, 02 June 2014
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 10 June 2014
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on what the procedure is for a harbour to be re-registered as a working harbour.
Answer
There is no procedure for the registration of working harbours.
Statutory harbours around our coasts operate under a variety of models either as harbour trusts, private or local authority operated. Each harbour is enabled and governed by its own unique legislation, which may be in the form of Acts of Parliament or orders made under the Harbours Act 1964.
Some harbours operate without having any statutory powers and may be owned by an operator or other body, such as a boat club or an individual or company. All harbours are expected to comply with the Port Marine Safety Code and may be asked to confirm compliance to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency but this does not involve a registration process.
- Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
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Date lodged: Thursday, 29 May 2014
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 9 June 2014
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that chapter 2 of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 should be amended to give the public interest equal weight to the public benefit.
Answer
There is no intention to amend Section 2 of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 with regards to giving ‘public interest’ equal weight to ‘public benefit’.
Section 7 of Chapter 2 sets out the charity test that must be satisfied by every body on the Scottish Charity Register. The test consists of two parts: the purposes of the body must be exclusively charitable and it must provide public benefit, either in Scotland or elsewhere.
Charities in Scotland are regulated by The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR). OSCR is responsible for determining charitable status in Scotland in accordance with the 2005 Act. OSCR will make their assessment of public benefit on the basis of a body’s (intended) activities and will look at whether in practice a body provides (or is likely to provide) public benefit as a result of the activities carried out in furtherance of its charitable purposes
‘Public benefit’ has far more relevance than ‘public interest’ as this demonstrates that the body is delivering benefit to the public. Therefore there is no intention make any amendment.
- Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 May 2014
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Burgess on 6 June 2014
To ask the Scottish Government how many homeless people in cases where the main applicant was aged 24 or under at time of application, had (a) spent time in a B&B at any point during the application process and (b) previously been looked after for a period, in each local authority area in each of the last five years.
Answer
Table A shows the number of homelessness applications to local authorities where the main applicant was aged 24 or under at time of application and had spent time in a BandB at some point during the application process.
Table A:
| Financial Year of Application |
| 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 |
Scotland | 2,940 | 2,820 | 2,640 | 2,050 | 1,515 |
Aberdeen City | 110 | 90 | 55 | 50 | 50 |
Aberdeenshire | 305 | 310 | 340 | 275 | 220 |
Angus | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Argyll and Bute | 110 | 90 | 45 | 10 | 5 |
Clackmannanshire | 85 | 105 | 125 | 110 | 75 |
Dumfries and Galloway | 110 | 115 | 90 | 65 | 70 |
Dundee City | 30 | 10 | 15 | 0 | 0 |
East Ayrshire | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
East Dunbartonshire | 45 | 50 | 60 | 30 | 20 |
East Lothian | 140 | 155 | 160 | 145 | 85 |
East Renfrewshire | 35 | 30 | 25 | 25 | 20 |
Edinburgh | 450 | 420 | 425 | 425 | 320 |
Eilean Siar | 20 | 15 | 15 | 20 | 10 |
Falkirk | 210 | 155 | 135 | 30 | 5 |
Fife | 145 | 220 | 235 | 235 | 240 |
Glasgow City | 45 | 40 | 125 | 120 | 75 |
Highland | 315 | 260 | 225 | 135 | 70 |
Inverclyde | 30 | 15 | 30 | 10 | 0 |
Midlothian | 45 | 50 | 40 | 50 | 35 |
Moray | 130 | 140 | 110 | 5 | 0 |
North Ayrshire | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
North Lanarkshire | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Orkney | 10 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Perth and Kinross | 120 | 100 | 45 | 5 | 0 |
Renfrewshire | 65 | 60 | 20 | 45 | 35 |
Scottish Borders | 40 | 30 | 15 | 10 | 5 |
Shetland | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
South Ayrshire | 130 | 165 | 145 | 135 | 110 |
South Lanarkshire | 60 | 45 | 20 | 15 | 10 |
Stirling | 135 | 140 | 120 | 50 | 35 |
West Dunbartonshire | 0 | 5 | 20 | 35 | 25 |
West Lothian | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Note: Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5 applications for disclosure control. The table includes all applications, regardless of their subsequent homelessness assessment decision.
Table B shows the number of homelessness applications to local authorities where the main applicant was aged 24 or under at time of application and had been previously looked after.
Table B:
| Financial Year of Application |
| 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 |
Scotland | 2,040 | 1,955 | 1,880 | 1,535 | 1,225 |
Aberdeen City | 95 | 80 | 85 | 55 | 50 |
Aberdeenshire | 85 | 65 | 80 | 100 | 85 |
Angus | 35 | 35 | 50 | 30 | 20 |
Argyll and Bute | 55 | 50 | 50 | 35 | 30 |
Clackmannanshire | 35 | 40 | 40 | 30 | 25 |
Dumfries and Galloway | 95 | 125 | 100 | 70 | 60 |
Dundee City | 10 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
East Ayrshire | 50 | 70 | 50 | 45 | 40 |
East Dunbartonshire | 5 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
East Lothian | 35 | 35 | 30 | 20 | 15 |
East Renfrewshire | 10 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 10 |
Edinburgh | 200 | 185 | 175 | 170 | 145 |
Eilean Siar | 10 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 5 |
Falkirk | 90 | 70 | 110 | 55 | 50 |
Fife | 160 | 135 | 130 | 95 | 70 |
Glasgow City | 255 | 230 | 225 | 165 | 105 |
Highland | 135 | 140 | 115 | 90 | 45 |
Inverclyde | 20 | 35 | 25 | 20 | 15 |
Midlothian | 35 | 25 | 25 | 30 | 15 |
Moray | 30 | 30 | 35 | 40 | 30 |
North Ayrshire | 90 | 85 | 40 | 40 | 20 |
North Lanarkshire | 80 | 70 | 80 | 85 | 70 |
Orkney | 10 | 5 | 15 | 10 | 5 |
Perth and Kinross | 50 | 55 | 50 | 40 | 30 |
Renfrewshire | 35 | 55 | 50 | 50 | 55 |
Scottish Borders | 35 | 35 | 40 | 35 | 40 |
Shetland | 10 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
South Ayrshire | 50 | 55 | 35 | 45 | 40 |
South Lanarkshire | 70 | 70 | 55 | 55 | 50 |
Stirling | 55 | 55 | 35 | 30 | 10 |
West Dunbartonshire | 60 | 60 | 55 | 50 | 50 |
West Lothian | 45 | 35 | 60 | 35 | 30 |
Note: Figures have been rounded to the nearest five applications for disclosure control. The table includes all applications, regardless of their subsequent homelessness assessment decision.
Further information on Scottish Government homelessness statistics can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/homelessstats.
- Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 May 2014
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Burgess on 6 June 2014
To ask the Scottish Government how many homeless people, in cases where the main applicant was aged 24 or under at the time of application, who had previously been looked after for a period, had spent time in a B&B at any point during the application process, in each local authority area in each of the last five years.
Answer
Table A shows the number of homelessness applications to local authorities where:
The main applicant was aged 24 or under at time of application, the household had spent time in a BandB at some point during the application process and a household member had been previously looked after.
Table A:
| Financial Year of Application |
| 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 |
Scotland | 455 | 455 | 405 | 295 | 220 |
Aberdeen City | 10 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
Aberdeenshire | 60 | 50 | 55 | 55 | 55 |
Angus | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Argyll and Bute | 25 | 15 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
Clackmannanshire | 10 | 20 | 20 | 10 | 15 |
Dumfries and Galloway | 25 | 40 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
Dundee City | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
East Ayrshire | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
East Dunbartonshire | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
East Lothian | 10 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 10 |
East Renfrewshire | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Edinburgh | 75 | 70 | 70 | 65 | 40 |
Eilean Siar | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
Falkirk | 25 | 20 | 35 | 5 | 0 |
Fife | 30 | 30 | 20 | 20 | 25 |
Glasgow City | 5 | 10 | 20 | 10 | 5 |
Highland | 55 | 50 | 45 | 25 | 5 |
Inverclyde | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Midlothian | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
Moray | 15 | 15 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
North Ayrshire | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
North Lanarkshire | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Orkney | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Perth and Kinross | 15 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Renfrewshire | 5 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 15 |
Scottish Borders | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Shetland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
South Ayrshire | 30 | 25 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
South Lanarkshire | 10 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
Stirling | 30 | 35 | 20 | 10 | 0 |
West Dunbartonshire | 0 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 5 |
West Lothian | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Note: Figures have been rounded to the nearest five applications for disclosure control. The table includes all applications, regardless of their subsequent homelessness assessment decision.
Further information on Scottish Government homelessness statistics can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/homelessstats.
- Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 March 2014
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 23 April 2014
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on communities in Scotland, what discussions it has had with the UK Government about Home Office immigration compliance and enforcement teams that operate in Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Government has not had specific discussions with the Home Office about the immigration and compliance teams that operate in Scotland. However, Scottish Ministers and Scottish Government officials regularly communicate with the Home Office, and raise issues of concern to communities in Scotland through these communications, including discussions on the issue of immigration.
- Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 March 2014
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 22 April 2014
To ask the Scottish Government whether Home Office immigration compliance and enforcement teams that operate in Scotland can access the (a) staffing and (b) other resources of Police Scotland.
Answer
There is joint working between Home Office immigration enforcement and the Border Policing Command within Police Scotland’s Specialist Crime Division, the focus of which has been to protect vulnerable people and identify those foreign national offenders who are causing harm to communities. At present Police Scotland have one officer seconded to Home Office immigration enforcement. There is one Home Office immigration enforcement officer embedded within Specialist Crime Division and two officers embedded within key custody suites to ensure the appropriate checks on detainees are being carried out.
- Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 March 2014
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 22 April 2014
To ask the Scottish Government whether it provides funding to (a) local authorities and (b) third sector organisations in relation to the work of Home Office immigration compliance and enforcement teams that operate in Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not provide specific funding to local authorities or third sector organisations in relation to the work of Home Office immigration compliance and enforcement teams.