Sarah Boyack

27 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide further details of the £30 million capital funding from the Energy Industries budget line that has been reprofiled to future years.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government budget for 2024 to 2025 will be publicly confirmed on 19 December 2023.  

21 Nov 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what plans it has to review property factor legislation.

15 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22380 by Gillian Martin on 30 October 2023, what the outcomes were of each of the working group meetings chaired by the Minister for Energy and the Environment.

Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-23022 on 28 November 2023. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-commit…

15 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22380 by Gillian Martin on 30 October 2023, what the (a) name, (b) remit and (c) membership is of each working group that the Minister for Energy and the Environment chaired.

Answer · Gillian Martin: I recently chaired the short-lived Rural Energy Consumers Working Group, Non-domestic Energy Consumers Working Group and Priority (previously known as Vulnerable) Energy Consumers Working Group. Information on each of these groups can be found on the Scottish…

15 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22369 by Lorna Slater on 1 November 2023, what information it received on the due diligence carried out by Circularity Scotland as part of the tender process.

Answer · Lorna Slater: As set out in the answer to S6W-22369 on 1 November 2023, it would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to be involved in a commercial arrangement between two private businesses.

15 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22357 by Gillian Martin on 2 November 2023, whether it will provide a breakdown of how the funding will be allocated.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Our recent announcement of up to £500 million in commercial and grant investment will support market certainty, helping to create a highly productive, competitive economy, providing thousands of new jobs, embedding innovation and boosting skills. We are worki…

15 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22381 by Paul McLennan on 7 November 2023, what action it is taking to receive up-to-date data on the number of households with prepayment meters.

Answer · Paul McLennan: The Scottish House Condition Survey provides a snapshot of the Scottish housing stock in each survey year including the construction age and built form of Scottish domestic buildings. Within this it provides estimates of the number of dwellings with a prepaym…

15 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22334 by Neil Gray on 7 November 2023, on what date is expects to publish the outcomes.

Answer · Neil Gray: The first phase of the review of the carbon calculator will assess its current operation and use and recommend any updates or improvements that may be required in a future phase. This first phase is currently being tendered through ClimateXChange, and the in…

15 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22338 by Neil Gray on 7 November 2023, what specific guidance the Energy Consents Unit uses when completing a data check.

Answer · Neil Gray: Officials in the Energy Consents Unit (“ECU”) use internal process guidance to check that the data input by developers into the carbon calculator accords with the relevant information referenced in the application documentation and its environmental impact as…

15 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22527 by Gillian Martin on 9 November 2023, what the energy output would be of the current live applications, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Gillian Martin: With reference to the answer supplied to question reference S6W-22527, the 311 organisations being supported by CARES with an ‘Active’ project status are in varying stages of development. Some are undertaking early scoping and feasibility exercises, while oth…

8 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Auditor General’s reported observation that the Scottish Government will no longer be able to deliver all of its planned infrastructure investment or double its maintenance budget, what assessment it has made of any impact that this will have on the Lothians region.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government welcomed the briefing from Audit Scotland and remains firmly committed to infrastructure investment as a key factor in securing inclusive economic growth and delivering high-quality public services. The UK Government did not inflation-…

1 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what criteria it applies when prioritising the capital funding allocation for the building of new health infrastructure.

Answer · Michael Matheson: NHS Boards are allocated approximately £150 million of formula capital funding which is used to maintain their estate and refresh and replace their equipment base. The remainder of the portfolio’s capital allocation is mainly directed towards delivering the …

1 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many (a) public sector buildings, (b) privately-owned homes and (c) housing association homes have double glazing that was installed before 2002.

Answer · Paul McLennan: The Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS) provides a snapshot of the Scottish housing stock in each survey year including the construction age and built form of Scottish domestic buildings. The SHCS records double glazing for occupied dwellings, however th…

30 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the potential impact of the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill on the Scottish Government's international development work.

Answer · Lorna Slater: I have not had any discussions with ministerial colleagues regarding the potential impact of the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill on the Scottish Government's international development work.

30 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill on developing countries.

Answer · Lorna Slater: We have undertaken the full suite of assessments required for the introduction of the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill and these were published on the Scottish Government website on 14 June 2023. There is no requirement to assess the potential impact of Bills…

30 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) which ministers have been issued a ministerial mobile phone since the ministerial reshuffle in March 2023.

Answer · George Adam: Following the appointment of the First Minister and formation of government in March 2023, 12 Ministers accepted a government issued mobile device. Please see the following list. Minister Ministerial Role Angela Constance MSP Cabinet Secretary for Justice…

26 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it first received a copy of the document, Redesign of Eye Services in NHS Lothian including Re Provision of the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion.

Answer · Jenni Minto: NHS Lothian resubmitted the OBC for the Reprovision of the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion in July 2021. The document Redesign of Eye Services in NHS Lothian formed part of that submission.

26 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many overseas trips its ministers and officials have taken to attend Wellbeing Economy Governments (WEGo) meetings since the group was formed on 28 November 2018, and what the total cost of these trips has been.

Answer · Neil Gray: Since the launch of the Wellbeing Economy Governments (WEGo) in December 2018, the group have engaged mainly through online events. Two in-person policy lab events have been held in Scotland with officials attending from WEGo member governments - in Edinburgh…

26 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many groups are currently being supported by the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) supports communities across Scotland to participate in, and benefit from, the energy transition. CARES has advised over 1,000 organisations, offered funding of over £61 million to over 800 projects, and helped…

26 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding was allocated to groups through the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme in (a) 2019, (b) 2020, (c) 2021 and (d) 2022, also broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) supports communities across Scotland to participate in, and benefit from, the energy transition to net zero emissions. Since its inception, CARES has offered funding of over £61 million to over 800 projects an…

26 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much energy is currently generated in Scotland from community and locally owned sources.

Answer · Gillian Martin: There is an estimated 908 MW of community and locally owned renewable energy capacity operational in Scotland, as of the most recent annual update in December 2022. This represents 45% of our target of 2 GW capacity of community and locally owned renewable en…

25 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to ensure that public transport is not disrupted or cancelled because of antisocial behaviour.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Anti-social behaviour is clearly unacceptable on Scotland's public transport, and in wider society, and we are committed to tackling it. The police, local authorities and other agencies are responsible for tackling anti-social behaviour at the local level. Th…

25 Oct 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with COSLA to discuss climate adaptation funding.

23 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consult on proposals to establish a Future Generations Commissioner by the end of 2023.

Answer · Shona Robison: In the 2022-23 Programme for Government, the Scottish Government reaffirmed our commitment to explore a Wellbeing and Sustainable Development Bill to support greater implementation of the National Performance Framework and ensure that the interests of future …

23 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-07586 by Patrick Harvie on 7 April 2022, whether it will set out proposals for a Wellbeing and Sustainable Development Bill by the end of 2023.

Answer · Shona Robison: In the 2022-23 Programme for Government, the Scottish Government reaffirmed our commitment to explore a Wellbeing and Sustainable Development Bill to support greater implementation of the National Performance Framework and ensure that the interests of future …

23 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the Deputy First Minister has had with the Minister for Parliamentary Business regarding the introduction of a Wellbeing and Sustainable Development Bill to the Parliament.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Minister for Parliamentary Business regularly discusses legislative proposals and potential legislative vehicles with his Ministerial colleagues, including the proposed Wellbeing and Sustainable Development Bill. However, introduction of specific primary …

23 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support will be available through its Fuel Insecurity Fund from the £8.5 million allocation to support households with prepayment meters and at risk of disconnection, and what the criteria are for receiving this support.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The First Minister announced in March that the Fuel Insecurity Fund (FIF) would be tripled to £30 million this year. As part of that, £8.5 million from the emergency crisis Fund has been allocated to the Fuel Bank Foundation to deliver support to thousands of…

23 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the number of households at risk of being disconnected from (a) an electricity supply, (b) a gas supply and (c) an alternative heating source over the forthcoming winter period due to debt.

Answer · Gillian Martin: While we do not hold information on the number of households at risk of being disconnected this winter due to debt, we are clear that suppliers must exhaust all possible options to prevent this. The power to take meaningful action to alleviate the effects of…

23 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the number of households in Scotland that currently have a prepayment meter for their (a) electricity and (b) gas supply.

Answer · Paul McLennan: The Scottish House Condition Survey provides a snapshot of the Scottish housing stock in each survey year including the construction age and built form of Scottish domestic buildings. Within this it provides estimates of the number of dwellings with a prepa…

23 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its ministers became concerned about Biffa's role in the Deposit Return Scheme following Biffa's acquisition by Energy Capital Partners on 27 January 2023.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Biffa were contracted by Circularity Scotland Ltd to provide logistics for Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme. This was a commercial arrangement between two private businesses - this is entirely appropriate for a scheme that has industry responsibility at its h…