Parliamentary questions
Sarah Boyack
2,373 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
11 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the timescale is for ministerial decisions to be made after being provided with a report or recommendation from the Energy Consents Unit.
Answer · Gillian Martin: There is no set timescale for ministerial decisions on energy consents. The consideration to be undertaken by ministers before reaching a determination will depend on the particulars of each application.
11 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what timescale the Scottish Ministers follow for the consideration of all planning applications that they receive.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Scottish Ministers have an initial 28-day period from when an application is notified to them to consider whether to call it in or clear it back to the authority. This can be extended should Ministers require more time to consider the matter. Ministers can al…
27 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how it plans to achieve the goal of a 20% reduction in car kilometres travelled by 2030.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government confirmed to the Scottish Parliament on 18 April 2024 that we will publish, by autumn, the updated route map for reduction in car use by 20%, including a timeline for demand management.We have always been clear that reaching our target…
27 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how it plans to increase peatland restoration in order to achieve net zero by 2045.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: Caring for our peatlands, and reducing peatland emissions, through protection, management and restoration is critical to achieving net zero by 2045.Through the Peatland ACTION partnership we are funding the restoration of our peatlands. We are also working ha…
27 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how it plans to reduce industrial emissions in order to achieve net zero by 2045.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: Scottish industry has made good progress in reducing emissions but there is more to do. Reducing industrial emissions is central to Scotland’s net zero commitment and our economic ambitions as outlined in our Green Industrial Strategy.Realising the envi…
18 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to build resilience in communities across the country in response to the reported increasing amounts of extreme weather events that are being experienced.
Answer · Angela Constance: Supporting communities to build resilience to emergency events is an established and integral part of the Scottish Government's approach to resilience and will remain so going forward. Scottish Government promotes community-led action, based on local prioriti…
18 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has identified any new sites for flood protection schemes outwith those that were identified for work between 2016 and 2021, and, if so, at what locations.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The responsibility for development and delivery of flood protection schemes rests with individual local authorities, who are best placed to respond to local resilience needs.Proposals to improve flood resilience in potentially vulnerable areas, including floo…
18 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the timescale is for ministers to consider reports from the Reporters Unit following public inquiries and planning appeals for renewables applications.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: There are no statutory deadlines or timescales for Scottish Ministers to consider reports from the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division.
18 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which of the 42 prioritised flood protection schemes that were planned between 2016 and 2021 have yet to be completed, and when the expected completion date is for each.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The responsibility for development and delivery of flood protection schemes rests with individual local authorities, who are best placed to respond to local resilience needs.The Scottish Government provides funding to local authorities to enable delivery of t…
18 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with delivering the Offshore Skills Passport.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Offshore Energy Skills Passport is an initiative led and driven by industry.The most recent statement from the key industry delivery bodies, Renewable UK and Offshore Energies UK, indicates that an initial version of the Passport will be available for wor…
16 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last discussed the supply chain development statements required under the ScotWind process with trade unions representing offshore energy workers in Scotland.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The supply chain development statement process has been carefully designed and is managed by Crown Estate Scotland to ensure focus is maintained on supply chain capacity and capability to develop and deliver offshore wind projects in Scotland.Since the ScotWi…
16 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the allocation of funds from the Just Transition Fund in each year since 2021-22, including 2024-25 to date.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Just Transition Fund has allocated £75 million to date, supporting projects and communities across the North East and Moray to create jobs, support innovation, and secure the highly skilled workforce of the future.The following table provides a brea…
16 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will list the recipients of payments made through the Just Transition Fund to develop a digital offshore training passport.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government has provided £3.7 million for the development of the Offshore Energy Skills Passport, which is an initiative led and driven by industry.The following table provides information of the recipients and their allocated funding in rel…
16 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-28126 by Jenni Minto on 26 June 2024, when it anticipates that the Review of NHS Hyperbaric Medicine Services in Scotland will conclude, and what steps it has taken to ensure that commercial divers have been included in the review.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Review of NHS Hyperbaric Medicine Services in Scotland is due to conclude in July 2025.It is imperative adequate time is taken to review, due to the specialist nature of the facilities and services provided, to engage subject matter experts and consultants to…
16 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan, and what public funding it will make available to deliver this in (a) 2024-25, (b) 2025-26 and (c) 2026-27.
Answer · Gillian Martin: As confirmed in the Programme for Government, we will shortly publish the Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan to support Scotland’s just transition to a green economy.Scottish Government capital investment is primarily focussed on the demand sector…
16 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the effectiveness of the ScotWind process to increase employment in offshore supply chain jobs in Scotland over the next decade.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Scotland has a current reported potential pipeline of over 40 GW of offshore wind projects. ScotWind reflects very significant market ambition for offshore wind in Scottish waters – around 28 GW across 20 projects.The Scottish Government engages regular…
16 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the legislative requirement for Crown Estate Scotland to obtain market value in its transactions.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government has not made a recent assessment of the legislative requirement for Crown Estate Scotland to obtain market value in its transactions. An assessment is not required under the Scottish Crown Estate Act 2019.
16 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the current status is of the project to deliver a digital offshore training passport for offshore energy workers, and when it last discussed this project with representatives from the trade unions representing offshore oil and gas workers in Scotland.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Offshore Energy Skills Passport is an initiative led and driven by industry.The most recent statement from the key industry delivery bodies, Renewable UK and Offshore Energies UK, indicates that an initial version of the Passport will be available for wor…
16 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what total power use is provided for in Scotland’s national electricity supply framework arrangements.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The total electricity use provided for in the electricity supply framework is determined by the estimated consumption of all framework customers. This is currently estimated at 2,293, 227MWh (megawatt hours) with a value of £686.7m, which will vary each…
16 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether local authorities are able to procure energy from local community-owned energy providers within Scotland's national electricity supply framework arrangements.
Answer · Ivan McKee: No, the Scottish Government Electricity Framework is a single supplier framework awarded to EDF. Local community owned energy providers cannot be added as a supplier to the framework. However it may be possible for local community owned energy providers to en…
16 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether local authorities are required to participate in Scotland's national electricity supply framework arrangements.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The National Electricity Supply Framework is not mandated however all 32 Local Authorities use the framework and there is local authority representation on the Risk Management Committee who oversee the purchasing strategy.
16 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) local authorities and (b) other public sector organisations generating power must sell that power to the Scottish Government or the appointed contractor under Scotland's national electricity supply framework, or whether they are free to find the best price for their power in …
Answer · Ivan McKee: There is no mandate for (a) local authorities or (b) other public sector organisations that are generating power, to sell that power to Scottish Government or the appointed contractor under the National Electricity Framework.Ofgem administer a Smart Export Gu…
16 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its assessment is of the ability of local community-owned energy providers to retain wealth locally and contribute to community wealth building.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Communities are at the heart of our renewable energy ambitions, and we are committed to working with partners to ensure the delivery of renewable energy comes with benefits for people in Scotland and contributes to community wealth building (CWB).Where commun…
16 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has provided guidance or direction to Procurement Scotland that seeks to ensure that community-owned energy providers and public body self-owned generation within a local authority area are not disadvantaged in any national electricity supply procurement arrangements.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government Procurement and Property Directorate (SPPD) conduct all procurements in accordance with the requirements of procurement law which requires that we treat all providers equally and without discrimination. National Statutory, Policy and B…
16 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether its policy on the procurement of power for the public sector (a) incentivises, (b) facilitates, (c) inhibits and (d) discriminates against community-owned energy providers and public bodies taking self-owned power generating initiatives.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Scottish Government do not (a) incentivise (c)inhibit or (d) discriminate against community owned energy providers. Scottish Government conduct all procurement in accordance with the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 and the Public Procurement Regulation…
16 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much power within Scotland's national electricity supply framework arrangements is currently procured from community-owned energy providers.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Within the National Electricity Supply Framework no power is procured from community – owned energy providers.The framework has been set up to supply electricity to all of the Scottish Public sector. The supplier on the framework is required to purchase…
16 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what monitoring it has undertaken of the extent and range of community owned renewables projects on land owned by public sector agencies.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Energy Saving Trust (EST), on behalf of the Scottish Government, publishes the annual Community and Locally Owned Energy in Scotland (COLO) Report.This reports against six specific ownership categories (Farm & Estate, Local Authority, Local Business, …
16 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which public agencies, other than local authorities, are part of Scotland's national electricity supply framework arrangements, and what share of the procured arrangements any such agencies are estimated to have.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The National Electricity Framework is used by all sectors including, Local Authorities, NHS bodies, Universities and Colleges, Central Government inc NDPBs and agencies, Housing Associations, Charities etc. The split of % usage of the electricity framework is…
16 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many megawatts can currently be generated by wind power installations that have leases within the national forest estate, and how many such installations are community owned.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: FLS has a portfolio of 25 operational windfarms on the national forests and land, amounting to a total of 1217MW installed generation capacity. FLS is not currently aware of any community ownership in this portfolio.
16 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the contract with EDF as part of Scotland's national electricity supply framework arrangements expires, and what provision exists for the terms of the contract to be varied before expiry.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The National Electricity Supply expires on 31 March 2026, the framework has 3 optional 12 month extensions.Variations to the framework can be made, however these must be in accordance with procurement law and be non-material changes and in agreement with the …