Parliamentary questions
Sarah Boyack
2,373 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
5 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many applications for energy efficiency grants and loans have been received since its schemes were established, and, of those, how many have been successful.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme was launched in December 2022 as an update to the Home Energy Scotland Loan and Cashback scheme. Across these schemes, since May 2017 to August 2023, a total of 8315 applications for energy efficiency funding ha…
5 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how much has been allocated to owner-occupiers as part of its renewable systems loans and cashback schemes, since the schemes were established.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme was launched in December 2022 as an update to the Home Energy Scotland Loan and Cashback scheme. Across these schemes, since May 2017 to August 2023, a total of £135,595,244.31 has been allocated in funding for …
5 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many applications for Private Rented Sector Landlord Loans have been received by Home Energy Scotland since the scheme was established, and, of those, how many have been successful.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan Scheme received 404 applications between April 2020 and August 2023. Of those, 282 applications were successful.
5 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how much of the £1.8 billion of funding for energy efficiency and renewable systems schemes, which it has committed to provide in the current parliamentary session, has been allocated.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: From April 2021 to the end of July 2023, the Heat in Buildings programme has spent over £315m, with an allocated budget of £333m for the 2023-24 financial year.
5 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how much has been allocated to owner-occupiers as part of its energy efficiency loans and grants schemes, since the schemes were established.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme was launched in December 2022 as an update to the Home Energy Scotland Loan and Cashback scheme. Across these schemes, since May 2017 to August 2023, a total of £32,506,654.69 has been allocated in funding for e…
5 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much of the overall budget for energy efficiency and renewable systems schemes has been allocated for upgrading off-gas-grid properties in rural areas.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: Funding for energy efficiency and renewable schemes is not allocated on this basis. Local schemes to tackle fuel poverty and improve energy efficiency are delivered by councils and funded through our Area Based Schemes programme. Details of the annual grant …
5 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the disclaimer on the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme website stating that “funds will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis”, how many applications have been unsuccessful due to funding being no longer available.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Home Energy Scotland (HES) Grant and Loan Scheme was launched in December 2022 as an update to the HES Loan and Cashback Scheme. Since the scheme was launched, no applications submitted have been unsuccessful due to the unavailability of funding.
5 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many applications to renewable systems loans and cashback schemes have been received since its schemes were established, and, of those, how many have been successful.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme was launched in December 2022 as an update to the Home Energy Scotland Loan and Cashback scheme. Across these schemes, since May 2017 to August 2023, a total of 15822 applications for renewables funding have bee…
5 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how much has been allocated to private landlords as part of the Private Rented Sector Landlord Loans scheme for energy efficiency improvements, since the scheme was established.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government has recently responded to several parliamentary questions relating to the Private Rented Sector (PRS) Landlords Loans Scheme. Recently answered questions relating to funding allocated and provided through the PRS Scheme include: S6W-20…
4 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Green Heat Finance Taskforce will publish its final report.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Green Heat Finance Taskforce final report is expected to be published in early 2024. The Taskforce’s part 1 report, which will be published shortly, will focus on potential finance and funding solutions for individual property owners. It will include con…
4 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Green Heat Finance Taskforce has completed its work.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Green Heat Finance Taskforce will continue to meet over the autumn as it works towards producing its final report in early 2024, as discussed in response to S6W-21001 on 20 September 2023. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on t…
31 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it became aware of the safety concerns regarding reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Somerville: Officials within the Scottish Government were aware of RAAC as a safety topic in recent years, through general engagement with the construction sector and specific organisations such as the Standing Committee on Structural Safety (SCOSS, now CROSS…
31 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to ensure that public buildings that have been built with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete are safe to be used.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: I would refer initially to the statement I made on this topic to Parliament on 7 September. Where the presence of RAAC is confirmed in a public building, we expect the owner to take appropriate measures to assess and manage any risk identified, following the…
31 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many public buildings in Scotland have been built with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: We have previously noted that it is for organisations responsible for buildings to make information on this issue available for affected buildings. Survey work is underway across public buildings and is at various stages of discovery in different sectors. W…
29 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the next bidding rounds for the Just Transition Fund will be announced.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-17566 on 17 May 2023. Due to the annual budget cycle, Scottish Government cannot yet confirm dates or capital budgets for future bidding rounds. However, we continue to engage with regional stakeholders on plan…
22 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it was made aware of the reported use of potentially dangerous building materials at eight NHS Lothian sites, including the Lauriston Building and the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The results of the initial Desktop survey of NHS Scotland buildings was shared with the Scottish Government on 9 June 2023.
22 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what provisions are being made to ensure that patient safety is not compromised, in light of the reported use of potentially dangerous building materials at the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Building safety is an issue the Scottish Government takes very seriously and we are fully aware of significant issues with some Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC). A survey programme across NHS Scotland is underway, to be completed by November, so …
21 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-20273 by Lorna Slater on 17 August 2023, whether it will directly address whether it was ever asked to comment, authorise or provide any other input on any draft company policies developed by Circularity Scotland, including both during the applicati…
Answer · Lorna Slater: CSL engaged with a wide range of stakeholders including the Scottish Government, SEPA and producers on a regular basis. However as a private company their policies and practices were a decision for their management team and their board. The Scottish Governme…
15 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the electricity consumption was of public sector buildings in (a) 2022, (b) 2019 and (c) 2018.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Public Bodies Climate Change Reporting 2021-22 Analysis Report , page 15, shows grid electricity consumed by around 180 public bodies which have reported annually since 2015-16 on compliance with their statutory climate change duties. Reporting years ar…
15 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the total number of public sector buildings and their carbon footprints, broken down by public body responsible for managing the buildings.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government’s Heat in Buildings Strategy, published in October 2021, uses an estimate from the Electronic Property Information Mapping Service (e-PIMS) of 23,000 public sector buildings in Scotland. Since 2015-16, around 180 public bodies have be…
15 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many power purchase agreements have been put in place for the sale of self-generated renewable energy to the grid under the national framework agreement for the supply of electricity for the Scottish public sector.
Answer · Neil Gray: There have been no power purchase agreements put in place so far for the sale of self-generated renewable energy to the grid under the current national framework agreement for the supply of electricity for the Scottish public sector. However, the new framewor…
8 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many jobs have been created as a result of the Energy Transition Fund awards that meet the Office for National Statistics definition of "green jobs", which is “employment in an activity that contributes to protecting or restoring the environment, including those that mitigate or adap…
Answer · Neil Gray: The definition of green jobs as referenced was published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in March in 2023. The ONS are now developing a detailed framework to support this definition, including the identification of appropriate activities and categ…
8 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the next bidding rounds for the Energy Transition Fund will be announced.
Answer · Neil Gray: There are no further funding rounds for the Energy Transition Fund scheduled. All funds are allocated to the projects identified when the fund was launched in 2020.
26 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it was ever asked to comment on any draft company policies by Circularity Scotland, and, if so, on what (a) policies and (b) date(s) were any such comments shared.
Answer · Lorna Slater: I refer the member to the answer to S6W-20272 on 17 August 2023. In addition, the EIR response referenced alludes to comments made by the Scottish Government regarding the logistics and infrastructure sections within the application documentation. All answer…
26 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it was ever informed by Circularity Scotland of "any material change in the information provided", under regulation 16(1)(c) of the Deposit and Return Scheme for Scotland Regulations 2020, and, if so, what changes it was informed of.
Answer · Lorna Slater: In July 2023, in accordance with Regulation 17(1)(c) of the Deposit and Return Scheme Regulations 2020, Scottish Ministers decided to withdraw scheme administrator approval for Circularity Scotland Ltd (CSL) following notification that they had entered admini…
26 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Circularity Scotland shared any draft company policies with it, and, if so, what draft policies were shared and on what date.
Answer · Lorna Slater: A range of policy documents were shared with the Scottish Government by Circularity Scotland (CSL) during the application process for the scheme administrator role for the Deposit Return Scheme. Documents which supported the scheme administrator application b…
25 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19621 by Lorna Slater on 21 July 2023, whether it has made any assessment of how many businesses may be affected by Circularity Scotland going into administration.
Answer · Lorna Slater: The UK Government’s 11th hour decision to undermine DRS in Scotland will have affected businesses across Scotland that were preparing for the launch of the Scottish scheme. We wrote to the UK Government on 16 May, 19 May and 23 May 2023 to inform them of the …
25 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19623 by Lorna Slater on 21 July 2023, which specific organisations and businesses have raised concerns regarding the financial impact of Circularity Scotland going into administration.
Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government does not hold the specific information you have asked for. However, information about Circularity Scotland Limited’s (CSL) creditors is available on Companies House at the following link CIRCULARITY SCOTLAND LIMITED filing history - F…
25 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19781 by Lorna Slater on 21 July 2023, what targets it has set to address any green skills shortages.
Answer · Lorna Slater: The Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan (CESAP) sets out a framework for green skills planning and a clear direction for the changes needed in the skills system, signalling the role that industry, communities and individuals across Scotland will play in achi…
25 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19781 by Lorna Slater on 21 July 2023, on what date it will publish its updated plan.
Answer · Lorna Slater: As noted in S6W-19781, we committed to publish the Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan Update by the end of the year alongside the Climate Change Plan.