Parliamentary questions
Sarah Boyack
2,373 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
24 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many businesses have indicated to Circularity Scotland that they have not joined the Deposit Return Scheme due to the UK Government's position on the scheme.
Answer · Lorna Slater: Circularity Scotland has not provided the Scottish Government with specific data on reasons why businesses have not joined the Deposit Return Scheme. The Scottish Government and delivery partners such as Circularity Scotland, SEPA and Zero Waste Scotland con…
24 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many businesses have indicated directly to the Scottish Government that they have not joined the Deposit Return Scheme due to the UK Government's position on the scheme.
Answer · Lorna Slater: Officials and Ministers are in regular contact with business, including some of the biggest producers, and sector organisations in relation the delivery of the Deposit Return Scheme. The lack of clarity around an Internal Market Act exclusion has regularly be…
24 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many new roles will be required to successfully operate the Deposit Return Scheme and, of those, how many have already been filled.
Answer · Lorna Slater: The Deposit Return Scheme has already delivered hundreds of millions of pounds of investment across Scotland, and is creating over 500 new green jobs which includes those via third party operators. While some of these jobs may be filled already the majority w…
24 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the statement by the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity on 20 April 2023, how many of the 200 new green jobs are located in (a) Aberdeen and (b) Motherwell.
Answer · Lorna Slater: Circularity Scotland is developing and constructing the logistical network that will support the effective operation of the scheme when it launches on 1 March 2024. It has secured a number of sites across Scotland to deliver the scheme and Circularity Scotla…
24 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what impact the Fuel Insecurity Fund has had in reducing fuel poverty.
Answer · Gillian Martin: As part of the tripling of the Fuel Insecurity Fund, announced by the First Minister this year, an assessment of impact to date on Fuel Poverty Act 2019 statutory targets is being considered by officials to inform next steps and advice to Ministers. This is p…
24 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the additional £10 million funding for the Fuel Insecurity Fund will be allocated.
Answer · Gillian Martin: As the First Minister recently announced, the Fuel Insecurity Fund’s budget for 2023/24 has increased from £20 million to £30 million. The Fund has been allocated as follows:£9 million to enable Advice Direct Scotland to administer Home Heating Support Fund g…
24 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15113 by Michael Matheson on 7 March 2023, whether it has any plans to improve the data collection required so that the information requested can be collected and published.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The information on number of households supported by our delivery partners through the Fuel Insecurity Fund (FIF) for 2023-24, has been built into our grant offer letters and will be monitored and captured through regular engagement and dialogue with partners…
24 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-13913 by Michael Matheson on 25 January 2023, whether it has considered requiring this data to be collected in future years.
Answer · Gillian Martin: We do not require our Fuel Insecurity Fund (FIF) delivery partners to collect data regarding the physical condition of dwellings, unless this is considered relevant to an individual’s application. This is because, as in previous years, the overarching goal th…
24 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15907 by Lorna Slater on 24 March 2023, in light of the delay to the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme, whether it will provide an update on what impact this will have on the proposed Circular Economy Bill.
Answer · Lorna Slater: In keeping with the commitment to bring forwar d a Bill this parliamentary year, the Circular Economy Bill will be introduced ahead of summer recess.
20 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the minutes of any meeting(s) that the First Minister and Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity had with stakeholders regarding the proposed Deposit Return Scheme on 20 April 2023.
Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government understands that details of the Deposit Return Scheme are matters of public interest and should be properly scrutinised and debated in parliament. We are committed to transparency and openness in our administration of the Deposit Retur…
19 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has set any targets in relation to its commitment to maximise the economic, supply chain, and employment opportunities of renewable hydrogen projects, and onshore and offshore wind, as set out in its publication, Equality, opportunity, community: New leadership – A fresh start.
Answer · Gillian Martin: As a government, we are convinced that hydrogen, alongside renewable electricity, will play an extremely important part in our energy system going forward. We are scaling up renewable energy and taking action to transform and expand Scotland’s energy generati…
19 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has set any targets in relation to its commitment to lay the foundations for delivering five gigawatts of hydrogen production by 2030 and the development of a hydrogen supply chain in Scotland, as set out in its publication, Equality, opportunity, community: New leadership – A…
Answer · Gillian Martin: In December 2022, we published our Hydrogen Action Plan setting out the actions necessary to support the development of the hydrogen economy in Scotland. These actions, include providing funding through the Scottish Government's £180m Emerging Energy Technolo…
19 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its publication, Equality, opportunity, community: New leadership - A fresh start, whether the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition has set a target for the commitment to drive down carbon emissions further by 2026.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: Scotland's ambitious emissions reduction targets, including targets for reducing emissions every year until reaching net zero by 2045, are set under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009. The level of these targets are kept under regular review to ensure the…
19 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the First Minister received advice from Circularity Scotland prior to his announcement regarding the delay to the launch of the Deposit Return Scheme.
Answer · Lorna Slater: A number of discussions were held with those involved in the scheme in the weeks prior to the announcement including Circularity Scotland and business groups. To reach a decision on the next steps for the Deposit Return Scheme Scottish Government officials al…
19 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the First Minister received legal advice prior to his announcement of the delay to the launch of the Deposit Return Scheme.
Answer · Lorna Slater: As set out at Section 2.38 of the Ministerial code Ministers must not divulge either who provided the advice or its contents (whether it is from the Law Officers or from anyone else). This applies to all forms of legal advice, including advice on a particular…
19 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish its new Climate Change Plan.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government plans to publish a draft of the next Climate Change Plan in November 2023, with a final version due by March 2025.
19 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its publication, Equality, opportunity, community: New leadership - A fresh start, when it plans to set out its plan for building resilience to the impacts that climate change is having.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government is committed to building resilience to the impacts of climate change as part of Scotland's just transition to a net-zero economy and society. Alongside continuing to deliver over 170 policies and proposals in the current Scottish Cli…
19 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will track the progress of commitments made in its publication, Equality, opportunity, community: New leadership - A fresh start.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has promised a laser like focus on delivery, and we will ensure this happens, by directing energy and resources towards achieving the three missions and supporting the outcomes set out in Equality, opportunity, community: New leadershi…
19 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to consult on its new Climate Change Plan.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government will consult on the next Climate Change Plan, a draft of which will be published in November 2023. Plans for consultation are still in development.
19 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will report on the progress of commitments made in its publication, Equality, opportunity, community: New leadership - A fresh start, and, if so, how it will undertake any such reporting.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has promised a laser like focus on delivery, and we will ensure this happens, by directing energy and resources towards achieving the three missions and supporting the outcomes set out in Equality, opportunity, community: New leadershi…
19 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many meetings the First Minister had with Circularity Scotland between 29 March and 19 April 2023.
Answer · Lorna Slater: To enable Ministers to reach a decision on the next steps for the Deposit Return Scheme, a number of discussions were held with those involved in the scheme in the weeks prior to the announcement including Circularity Scotland and business groups. The First M…
19 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many meetings the First Minister had with the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity between 29 March and 19 April 2023, and on what dates these meetings occurred.
Answer · Lorna Slater: The First Minister and I met to discuss the Deposit Return Scheme on one occasion during the time frame specified. The date of that meeting was 13 April 2023. It should also be noted that a further meeting between us on this issue was held on 20 April 2023.
14 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent ministerial appointments, what the membership is of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on the Climate Emergency.
14 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on preparing detailed sectoral transition plans.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government is currently in the process of developing three sectoral Just Transition Plans, on Transport, Buildings and Construction, and Land Use and Agriculture, following our commitment to deliver Just Transition Plans for high-emitting sectors…
14 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met COSLA to discuss the Heat Networks (Scotland) Act 2021.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government is engaged with COSLA regarding the Heat Networks (Scotland) Act 2021 on multiple fronts. A paper on heat networks regulations was presented to the COSLA Environment and Economy policy board on 3 March 2023 to update the board on prog…
14 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15209 by Patrick Harvie on 6 March 2023, for what reason the interim findings were not published in March 2023 as originally planned.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: As stated in response to S6W-15209, the Interim Report of the Green Heat Finance Taskforce is due to be published in spring this year and will complement other publications which are also due, as per commitments in the Heat in Buildings Strategy (2021). This …
14 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on its aim for 50,000 non-domestic properties to have low-carbon heating systems installed by 2030.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: As set out in our Heat in Buildings Strategy (published in October 2021), the equivalent of 50,000 non-domestic buildings must convert to zero emissions heating by 2030 in order to meet our interim climate targets. We will therefore consult during 2023 on a H…
14 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many domestic properties currently have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating lower than C.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The estimated number and percentage of domestic properties by Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) energy efficiency rating band are published in the ‘Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS): Key Findings’ report. The latest published data are available at: …
14 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, as of 13 April 2023, how many homes have low-carbon heating systems installed.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Scottish House Condition Survey, 2019 is the latest year for which we have National Statistics for this. From Table 5 of the latest Scottish House Condition Survey (published 1 December 2020), there were 312,0…
14 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on its aim for 1.2 million homes to have low-carbon heating systems installed by 2030.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: As set out in our Heat in Buildings Strategy (published in October 2021), the vast majority of the 170,000 off-gas homes and at least 1 million homes currently using mains gas, must convert to zero emissions heating by 2030 in order to meet our interim climat…