Questions and answers

Question reference: S6O-03689

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 September 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to ensure that any future Galloway National Park will work in the best interests of local communities.

Question reference: S6W-27973

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 June 2024
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 11 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it is giving to the provision of support for homeless dog owners who are seeking accommodation, including (a) any lack of provision by local authorities to house people in temporary accommodation with a dog and (b) the length of time that is spent in temporary accommodation that does not allow pets, and the impact that such separation can have on human and dog welfare.

The Scottish Government recognises the physical and mental health benefits that stem from pet ownership.

While there is currently no legal duty on local authorities to house pets, the statutory code of guidance on homelessness and the temporary accommodation standards framework require local authorities to consider housing options which best meet an individual’s needs, including supporting homeless households to maintain relationships with their pets.

Each local authority will need to consider how to achieve this on a case-by-case basis. This may include working with other organisations to help with planning for people’s pets and providing assistance with the kennelling of any pets if an applicant is not able to keep them in their temporary accommodation.

Tenants in the social sector can keep a pet with the written permission of their landlord, as can some private tenants. However, the Scottish Government wishes to enable all tenants where possible to benefit from the experience of pet ownership. There are provisions within the Housing (Scotland) Bill which, if passed, will give private and social housing tenants greater flexibility to have a pet by introducing a right to request to keep a pet, and for tenants’ requests not to be unreasonably refused.

Question reference: S6W-27975

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 June 2024
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 11 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it is giving to the provision of support for dog owners who are fleeing domestic abuse and seeking accommodation, including (a) any lack of provision by local authorities to house people in temporary accommodation with a dog and (b) the length of time that is spent in temporary accommodation that does not allow pets, and the impact that such separation can have on human and dog welfare.

The Scottish Government recognises the physical and mental health benefits that stem from pet ownership.

While there is currently no legal duty on local authorities to house pets, the statutory code of guidance on homelessness and the temporary accommodation standards framework require local authorities to consider housing options which best meet an individual’s needs, including supporting homeless households to maintain relationships with their pets.

Each local authority will need to consider how to achieve this on a case-by-case basis. This may include working with other organisations to help with planning for people’s pets and providing assistance with the kennelling of any pets if an applicant is not able to keep them in their temporary accommodation. There are a number of animal charities that offer a fostering service so that people can leave an abusive partner knowing their pet will also be safely looked after until they can be reunited.

Tenants in the social sector can keep a pet with the written permission of their landlord, as can some private tenants. However, the Scottish Government wishes to enable all tenants where possible to benefit from the experience of pet ownership. There are provisions within the Housing (Scotland) Bill, which if passed, will give private and social housing tenants greater flexibility to have a pet by introducing a right to request to keep a pet, and for tenants’ requests not to be unreasonably refused.

Question reference: S6W-27857

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 June 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 10 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the affordability threshold for connections delivered through the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme, which currently stands at £56 per month.

The affordability threshold for the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (R100 SBVS) aligns with that of the broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO) set by Ofcom, which is currently £56.20 per month. This threshold is increased by CPI (Consumer Price Index – a measure of inflation) each year.

We considered it appropriate to adopt this criteria, given the robust analysis and monitoring that Ofcom undertakes to support their decisions. Ofcom continues to monitor pricing regularly, and we will continue to mirror any changes in our own terms and conditions.

Question reference: S6O-03607

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6W-27972

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 June 2024
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 11 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider strengthening provisions within the Housing (Scotland) Bill to support prospective tenants in addition to those with existing tenancies.

The Bill provides a number of rights for existing tenants and only some would relate to availability of housing which will be the main concern of prospective tenants.

The rights created in the Bill mainly apply to those who have a tenancy and there is a clear difficulty in extending those rights to prospective tenants as those rights could then apply to anyone with an interest in renting a property even if they may never take up a tenancy of the property.

Question reference: S6W-27854

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 7 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the roll-out of the R100 programme in Dumfries and Galloway.

As at 30 April 2024, over 4,900 premises had been connected through the Reaching 100% (R100) South contract in the Dumfries and Galloway local authority area with over 1,400 additional premises connected beyond the contract scope. The R100 South contract remains on track to complete build in 2025.

Through the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (SBVS) 198 connections have been delivered so far across Dumfries and Galloway.

Question reference: S6W-27856

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 7 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme have been (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful across Dumfries and Galloway.

Question reference: S6W-27859

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 7 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many approved providers are available to provide superfast service via the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme in the Mid Galloway and Wigtown West council ward in Dumfries and Galloway.

There are currently 10 suppliers who are registered to deliver services through the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme that may be able to provide a service within the Dumfries and Galloway local authority area, which includes the Mid Galloway and Wigtown West council ward. These are suppliers who have existing commercial customers within Dumfries and Galloway.

Anyone can search for a supplier by local authority or the technology that they offer using the filters available here:

Find a supplier | Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband

Question reference: S6W-27855

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 7 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many properties are still to be connected in Dumfries and Galloway under the R100 programme.

The Scottish Government’s Reaching 100% (R100) programme is being delivered through three key strands of activity – the over £600 million R100 contracts (North, Central and South), the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (R100 SBVS) and continued commercial coverage which includes newly emerging technologies such as Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite connections.

As a result, all homes and businesses in Scotland should now be able to access a minimum of a superfast broadband connection today.

As at 30 April 2024, around 3,890 premises were still expected to be connected through the R100 South contract in the Dumfries and Galloway local authority area. The R100 South contract remains on track to complete build in 2025.

As the R100 SBVS is a demand-led scheme, it is up to eligible property owners or residents to decide whether or not to secure a connection in this way. As a result, it is not possible to say how many properties will ultimately be connected through the R100 SBVS in Dumfries and Galloway.

Chamber and committees