A second reading was given to a Bill to abolish the Strategic Rail Authority and transfer its strategic responsibilities and financial obligations to the government. It would also increase the role of devolved administrations and city transport executives, and reform passenger representation through changes to the Rail Passengers Council. Trade unions said they would be campaigning for amendments to the Bill that would establish a commitment to re-nationalization, creating an integrated, publicly owned and publicly accountable railway.
Source: Railways Bill, Department of Trade and Industry, TSO (0870 600 5522) | House of Commons Hansard, Debate 6 December 2004, columns 919-1009, TSO | Press release 6 December 2004, Trades Union Congress (020 7467 1294)
Links: Text of Bill | Explanatory notes | HOC Library research paper (pdf) | Hansard | DT press release | TUC press release | Transport 2000 press release | SE press release
Date: 2004-Dec
Analyses were published of three consultations on Scotland's planning system.
Source: Mark Poustie, Modernising Public Local Inquiries: Analysis of consultation responses, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283) | Making Development Plans Deliver: Analysis of consultation responses, Scottish Executive | Craigforth, Rights of Appeal in Planning: Analysis of consultation responses, Scottish Executive
Links: Report (1) | Report (2) | Report (3) | SE press release
Date: 2004-Dec
A Bill was published to abolish the Strategic Rail Authority and transfer its strategic responsibilities and financial obligations to the government. It would also increase the role of devolved administrations and city transport executives, and reform passenger representation through changes to the Rail Passengers Council.
Source: Railways Bill, Department of Trade and Industry, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Text of Bill | Explanatory notes | DT press release | Transport 2000 press release | SE press release | HOC Library research paper (pdf)
Date: 2004-Nov
Following consultation, the Scottish Executive announced that it would introduce regulations banning the use of bed and breakfast accommodation for homeless families and pregnant women - except in tightly defined, exceptional circumstances. Accommodation which did not meet minimum standards could only be used in emergency circumstances, such as when a family presented out of hours or where there was simply no other accommodation available in the area; and this could only be used for a maximum period of 14 days.
Source: Press release 11 November 2004, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: SE press release | Consultation responses | Shelter Scotland press release
Date: 2004-Nov
The Scottish Executive announced proposals to build 21,500 new affordable homes, as part of a 1.17 billion plan to give everyone a decent home and support growth in the economy. The plan represented a one-third increase in housing approval rates over existing levels, rising from around 6,000 homes per year in 2005-06 to 8,000 in 2007-08. But housing professionals said the Executive had missed an opportunity to address the lack of affordable housing, and was not even going to deliver on existing targets. Homelessness campaigners said that the housing budget was actually being cut.
Source: Press release 30 September 2004, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400) | Press release 30 September 2004, Chartered Institute of Housing in Scotland (0131 225 4544) | Press release 30 September 2004, Shelter Scotland (0131 473 7170)
Links: SE press release | CIH press release | COSLA press release | Shelter press release
Date: 2004-Sep
Campaigners warned that Scottish councils were struggling to meet new duties (since September 2002) to house single homeless people. (Prior to September 2002, a homeless applicant had to be in priority need to get accommodation, usually because there were children in the family.)
Source: Press release 10 September 2004, Shelter Scotland (0131 473 7170)
Links: Shelter press release
Date: 2004-Sep
The Scottish Executive announced (following consultation) that local authorities would be able to raise the council tax rate for second homes and long-term empty properties, in an attempt to increase the supply of affordable housing.
Source: Council Tax on Second and Long-term Empty Homes: Analysis of consultation responses, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: Report (pdf) | Shelter Scotland press release | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Aug
Researchers examined the effectiveness of the green belt policy in Scotland. They said that the policy was in need of review: local authorities were not always using it as a tool of strategic long-term settlement. An encircling green belt might not always be necessary or desirable.
Source: Glen Bramley et al., Review of Green Belt Policy in Scotland, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: Report
Date: 2004-Aug
The Scottish Executive began consultation on options for action to improve the quality of private sector housing, and give local authorities powers to intervene to stop properties falling into disrepair. Local authorities would get the power to step in against negligent owners, repairing their property and billing them for the work; while area-based powers would mean action could be taken to improve entire neighbourhoods where standards had fallen below acceptable levels.
Source: Maintaining Houses, Preserving Homes, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Consultation document (pdf) | Consultation document Maintaining Houses - Preserving Homes Consultation: contents page | SE press release | Shelter Scotland press release | CIH press release
Date: 2004-Jul
Three linked reports examined housing needs in Scotland. Housebuilding was outstripping household growth, with the result that Scotland had not experienced the same house price inflation as England. But there were problems around local house price 'hot spots', and continuing issues of homelessness.
Source: Review of the Evidence on the Scottish Housing Market, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400) | Glen Bramley, Local Housing Need and Affordability Model for Scotland - Update, Scottish Executive and Communities Scotland | Affordable Housing: Owner occupier and tenant perspectives, TNS Social Research (0131 656 4037)
Links: Review report (pdf) | Bramley report (pdf) | TSN report (pdf) | SE press release | Shelter Scotland press release | CIH press release
Date: 2004-Jul
The Scottish Executive was given greater responsibility for rail powers in Scotland. This would include full responsibility for specifying track and infrastructure improvements, as well as all of ScotRail's services. The changes were subject to agreement on transfer of funding.
Source: The Future of the Railways, White Paper Cm 6233, Department for Transport, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: White Paper (pdf) | Summary | DT press release | SE press release
Date: 2004-Jul
Researchers looked at progress made by policy makers and transport operators since 1998 in providing accessible transport for disabled people in Scotland. Progress had been made on many issues: but there were still some areas of Scotland where provision varied - public transport was generally worse for those living in very rural, sparsely populated, or island areas.
Source: Reid Howie Associates Ltd, Transport Provision for Disabled People in Scotland: Progress since 1998, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report | Summary | SE press release
Date: 2004-Jul
A report explored the extent to which planning decisions in Scotland were based on an accurate assessment of the views of the local people affected. Those who volunteered views to the local authority came from a particular cross section of the community, dominated by the middle-aged and elderly. People under 35 were largely absent from the process. Most people felt disconnected from the planning process. Local authorities and developers were judged to be poor at both providing clear and timely information and consulting about planning applications.
Source: PPS Local and Regional Ltd, Planning and Community Involvement in Scotland, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report
Date: 2004-Jul
A White Paper proposed a radical reform of transport delivery at national and regional levels across Scotland. It said that transport had to be planned strategically, taking account of travel-to-work areas, transport corridors, and the regional dimension. This would be achieved through a national transport strategy along with integrated regional transport strategies, developed by regional transport partnerships, which built on existing voluntary joint working arrangements.
Source: Scotland's Transport Future: The transport White Paper, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: White Paper | SE press release
Date: 2004-Jun
A report called on the Scottish Executive to reform the way housing-related disputes were dealt with. It recommended the creation of a housing tribunal for Scotland to take over a range of responsibilities from the Sheriff Court. The tribunal would be able to deal with other housing disputes for which people had no recourse or which could only be addressed through judicial review, such as disputes about homelessness applications.
Source: Derek O'Carroll and Suzie Scott, A Housing Tribunal for Scotland?, Chartered Institute of Housing in Scotland (0131 225 4544)
Links: CIH press release
Date: 2004-Mar
An expert working group made proposals for streamlining and improving the stock transfer process in Scotland, and recommended arrangements in two new policy areas: the rules for partial stock transfer, and for access to regeneration funding linked to stock transfer.
Source: Community Ownership Review: Report of the Expert Group, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report | SE press release
Date: 2004-Feb
Following consultation, the Scottish Executive announced a new 'housing quality standard' defining what constituted acceptable good quality housing. Local authorities and other registered social landlords would have until 2015 to meet the standard. The standard would apply across all housing tenures, and local authorities would be encouraged to use it to monitor the condition of private housing. A summary of the consultation responses was also published. Campaigners criticised the standard for failing to address the problem of noise.
Source: Letter 4 February 2004, Scottish Executive (0131 244 0768) | Modernising Scotland's Social Housing: Consultation report, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566) | Press release 4 February 2004, Shelter Scotland (0131 473 7170)
Links: Letter (pdf) | Consultation summary | SE press release | CIH Scotland press release | Shelter press release
Date: 2004-Feb
A new book reviewed developments in housing policy in Scotland since devolution.
Source: Duncan Sim (ed.), Housing and Public Policy in Post-Devolution Scotland, Chartered Institute of Housing (024 7685 1700)
Links: Summary
Date: 2004-Feb
The second annual progress report on Scotland s sustainable development indicators was published. The report highlighted positive steps towards long-term improvement with higher employment figures, a rise in the number of households recycling their waste and improved water quality. But continuing increases in electricity consumption and road use were said to present significant challenges.
Source: Indicators of Sustainable Development for Scotland: Progress report 2004, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report | SE press release
Date: 2004-Feb