Parliamentary questions
Sarah Boyack
2,373 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
6 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements Crown Estate Scotland has in place with community-owned providers for wind, hydro and solar electricity generation on land in its ownership or management; what the current capacity in megawatts is of any generation installed; what the most recently recorded annual incom…
Answer · Gillian Martin: Crown Estate Scotland has no current leases with community-owned providers for wind, hydro and solar electricity generation on land in its ownership or management.
6 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements it has in place with community-owned providers for wind, hydro and solar electricity generation on land in its direct ownership or management; what the current capacity in megawatts is of any generation installed; what the most recently recorded annual income was for it…
Answer · Gillian Martin: Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) manages the majority of land owned by Scottish Ministers, in the form of Scotland's national forests and land. Currently FLS has 10 land agreements in place with 100% community owned or part community owned organisations cover…
6 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements Scottish Water has in place with community-owned providers for wind, hydro and solar electricity generation on land in its ownership or management; what the current capacity in megawatts is of any generation installed; what the most recently recorded annual income …
Answer · Gillian Martin: As this is an operational matter for Scottish Water, and the Scottish Government does not hold the information, I have asked them to respond. Their reply is as follows:Scottish Water does not currently have any arrangements in place with community-owned provi…
6 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements the national forest estate has in place with private sector providers for wind, hydro and solar electricity generation on land in its ownership or management; what the current capacity in megawatts is of any generation installed; what the most recently recorded annual i…
Answer · Gillian Martin: Scotland's national forests and land, managed by Forestry and Land Scotland has 76 land agreements in place with private companies covering renewable energy schemes which are currently operational. There are 25 windfarms and 51 hydro schemes. There are no sol…
14 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the UK Government’s Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, published in December 2024; what its position is on what the plan means for Scotland’s offshore wind industry, and how much of the UK Government’s plan for 43-50 GW of installed offshore wi…
Answer · Gillian Martin: Scotland’s strong pipeline of renewables projects and growing supply chain will be vital to achieving a secure, affordable and clean power system, and we welcome the measures in the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan to make progress towards this.In particula…
14 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to households still using the Radio Teleswitch Service for their energy meter.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government has no powers over the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS).Ofgem and Energy UK are leading a cross-industry response to the RTS switch-off, which includes a public awareness campaign, which we welcome. However, with under five months till t…
14 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will speed up the processing of Home Energy Scotland grants for heat pumps.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: Since January 2024, Energy Saving Trust (EST) as the scheme administrators have processed 97% of applications and 98% of payments across grant and loan schemes within the required 10 working days from receipt of complete documentation.Outwith this timeframe i…
14 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to the heat pump industry, in light of reported concerns that it is experiencing financial uncertainty as a result of delays to the proposed Heat in Buildings Bill.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: Our 2025-26 budget includes funding of over £300 million for heat and energy efficiency measures. This includes for the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme which is a significant driver of heat pump installations. Since April 2023, the scheme has…
14 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to drive an increase in the uptake of heat pumps, in light of a reported reduction in field agents at Home Energy Scotland.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government delivers a broad range of programmes to provide advice and support for property owners related to energy efficiency and clean heating, including the Home Energy Scotland (HES) Grant and Loan Scheme.There is no such role as field agent …
29 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the current uptake in Scotland is of the Railway Guardian app, and how it is being publicised (a) in general and (b) on the ScotRail network.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested.The British Transport Police managed the Railway Guardian app, which was closed in January 2025.We understand that British Transport Police will now focus on its text 61016 service, which is now …
29 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the information on the new dedicated webpage on the Transport Scotland website, promoting information about the work underway to better support women and girls using public transport, is being shared and promoted.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: During the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence for 2024, a webpage was launched on the Transport Scotland website that brings together information on the research undertaken by Transport Scotland's programme on women and girls’ safety on p…
29 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what distance of rail electrification has been delivered since the publication of the Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan in 2020.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Since 2020 the Barrhead Line has been electrified (23 single track kilometres) and electrification and enhancement of the line to East Kilbride is underway with a planned completion of December 2025.
29 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-32849 by Paul McLennan on 6 January 2025, how many registered social landlords have approached it for financial support for assessment and remediation.
Answer · Paul McLennan: We are aware that two registered social landlords have approached the Scottish Government for financial support for the assessment and if needed remediation of potentially unsafe cladding.
29 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how any problems on the ScotRail network that are reported via the Railway Guardian app are followed up.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-34375 on 13 February 2025. 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-a…
29 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Railway Guardian app users in Scotland can be identified by protected characteristics such as sex, race and age.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-34375 on 13 February 2025. 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-a…
29 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-32849 by Paul McLennan on 6 January 2025, whether registered social landlords will be eligible to apply for the open call for further properties that may require government-led assessment and remediation.
Answer · Paul McLennan: The 'open call’ process referred to in the answer to question S6W-32849 remains under development. Further information will be set out in the renewed plan of action to be published in March.All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on…
29 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what concerns have been reported by women and girls in Scotland through the Railway Guardian app in the last year.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-34375 on 13 February 2025. 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-a…
29 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that social tenants are not required to meet any costs associated with cladding remediation.
Answer · Paul McLennan: Further information on the approach to social housing will be set out in in the renewed plan of action for cladding remediation to be published in March.
29 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what distance of rail electrification will need to be delivered by 2035 as part of the Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-32419 on 17 December 2024. 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-a…
29 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it anticipates that it will deliver the Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan by 2035, and whether it will propose a ministerial statement on this issue.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-32419 on 17 December 2024. 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-a…
29 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Railway Guardian app is contributing to increasing travel by rail in Scotland and, if so, how, and how any impact is being evidenced.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-34375 on 13 February 2025. 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-a…
20 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has provided to PetroIneos toward Project Willow at the Grangemouth refinery site, and whether all material in relation to the project will be made publicly available.
Answer · Gillian Martin: As set out in our Draft Just Transition Plan, the Scottish Government is committed to supporting a long term and sustainable future for the Grangemouth industrial cluster.Alongside the UK Government, we have jointly funded £1.5m to support the developme…
20 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-29942 by Gillian Martin on 27 September 2024, in light of the minister's comment that "where communities have an ownership stake in energy production, we are seeing surpluses being used to support local employment and other initiatives", whethe…
Answer · Tom Arthur: The 2024-25 Programme for Government confirmed the intention to introduce Community Wealth Building legislation in this parliamentary year.Parliament will have the opportunity to scrutinise a Bill following introduction, and I look forward to engaging with co…
15 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish the next Scottish House Condition Survey.
Answer · Paul McLennan: The results and key findings report from the 2023 Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS) were published at 9:30am on Tuesday 28 January 2025 and will be available on the SHCS homepage at: Scottish House Condition Survey - gov.scot.A 12 month calendar of forth…
8 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much any delays to the construction of a new eye hospital in Edinburgh, since 2018, have added to the cost of completing the project.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government have confirmed that the replacement of the Eye Pavilion is a strategic priority and the 2025-26 Draft Budget has provided the necessary funding to allow the development of the business case to restart.NHS Lothian’s Eye Pavilion r…
13 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to spend the £11.4 million allocated in its draft Budget 2025-26 towards the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) to support an increase in community owned energy projects.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The CARES allocation of £11.7 million for 2025-26 announced in the draft budget represents an increase on the budget allocated to CARES in 2024-25. Plans for CARES in 2025-26 will be informed by lessons learnt from the Community Energy Generation Growth…
13 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to achieve its ambition to spend £500 million on the Just Transition Fund over 10 years, in light of only £15.9 million being allocated towards the fund in its draft Budget 2025-26.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The proposed allocation of £15.9 million capital to the Just Transition Fund for 2025-26 announced in the draft Budget demonstrates our ongoing commitment to supporting a just transition in the North East and Moray and will enable us to build upon what&…
4 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-30029 by Gillian Martin on 30 September 2024, whether any of the listed flood prevention schemes have since been completed.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Local authorities are responsible for the development and delivery of flood protection schemes.Five flood protection schemes were due to complete in 2024 and the relevant local authorities have advised that Millport Coastal, Upper Garnock and Stranraer are co…
3 Dec 2024 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will review restrictions on using recorded footage from the Chamber for social media purposes.
Answer · Christine Grahame (on behalf of the SPCB): Members and the public are encouraged to use clips from Parliament TV on social media. This is an effective mechanism for sharing information about the work of Members and reaching new audiences. This material should not be used for party politic…
28 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S6W-20007 and S6W-20008 by Fiona Hyslop on 14 August 2023, how many meetings have taken place between (a) ScotRail, (b) the Scottish Ministers and (c) Scottish Government officials and Stena Line since 1 April 2022, and whether any such meetings invol…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Rail and Sail service is managed by Stena Line who makes decisions regarding the provision of the service on a commercial basis. There have been no meetings, since 1 April 2022, including all parties mentioned by the Member in their question.