Parliamentary questions
Liam Kerr
2,171 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
4 Apr 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many meetings it had with trade unions, staff representatives and passenger or transport groups between December 2019 and March 2022 in relation to the nationalisation of Scotland’s railways.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Between December 2019 to March 2022 Transport Scotland undertook regular meetings with trade unions, staff representatives and passenger/transport groups at which the subject of ScotRail services moving to a Scottish Government owned operator i.e. ScotRail Tr…
4 Apr 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which other countries its ministers or officials visited between December 2019 and March 2022 in order to see first-hand how publicly-owned railways operate, and whether the results of these visits will be published.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Opportunities for international travel between December 2019 and March 2022 were very much restricted by the pandemic. Accordingly there were no official visits made to countries outside the UK by Scottish Ministers and/or officials in this period.
4 Apr 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what studies or analysis it undertook of publicly-owned railways in other countries between December 2019 and March 2022, and whether the results of these will be published.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Transport Scotland officials maintain awareness of developments in railways in other countries, including those which are in public ownership – for example in England. This appreciation is used to inform analysis of options for the development of Scotland’s R…
4 Apr 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings its ministers or officials had with management representatives at Glasgow Prestwick Airport between December 2019 and March 2022 in relation to the nationalisation of Scotland’s railways, and whether any conclusions or lessons from these meetings will be published.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Prestwick Airport Station is owned by Prestwick Airport therefore it is not operated by ScotRail albeit passenger services do call there. Therefore, while Ministers and aviation officials routinely engage with representatives of Glasgow Prestwick Airport, dis…
4 Apr 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-07409 by Michael Matheson on 31 March 2022, whether it will provide the information requested, regarding when it expects projects from the ScotWind offshore wind leasing round to start generating electricity, and what generating capacity, in GW, it …
Answer · Michael Matheson: Over the next few years each project will go through project development and consenting processes, respond to geographical and technological requirements, and find a route to market. There are several variables to be considered across these processes, includi…
30 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the "green jobs" that it expects oil and gas workers to transition to will attract the same or similar salary and benefits as the jobs undertaken as oil and gas workers.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: We are working to deliver our Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan (ESJTP) in the context of a fast-moving energy landscape, and will publish a draft ESJTP in autumn 2022. As our first Just Transition Plan, the ESJTP will set out what is needed to deliver…
30 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the technology neutral stance of Home Energy Scotland takes account of research that reportedly suggests that homeowner decision making can be delayed and often aborted in relation to renewable products where the buyer has insufficient understanding of the product and there is a lack…
Answer · Patrick Harvie: Home Energy Scotland exists to provide homeowners with impartial and bespoke information about their home energy and renewables options to encourage action to reduce energy use, fuel bills and carbon emissions and increase comfort. The advice services are des…
30 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what monitoring is undertaken of energy advisory bodies to ensure homogeneity of advice across Scotland.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: Energy Saving Trust operates the suite of energy advice services for home owners, SMEs and community groups on behalf of the Scottish Government. To deliver this across Scotland the services are delivered by advice centre contractors through 5 regional advic…
30 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what training is given to Scottish energy assessors to ensure they are up to date with the range of low carbon heating technologies to ensure that the optimum capex and opex units are continually promoted.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) provide an assessment of the theoretical energy performance of existing and new buildings. They are generated by accredited EPC Assessors, belonging to Assessor Organisations approved by the Scottish Government. EPC asse…
30 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what monitoring is undertaken of energy advisory bodies to ensure the best advice for capex and opex improvements is given to homeowners.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: Home Energy Scotland (HES) is the main advice and referral mechanism to all Scottish Government energy efficiency schemes for homeowners. Energy Saving Trust (EST) manages the HES Service on behalf of the Scottish Government. Home Energy Scotland provide regu…
30 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what ongoing research is being undertaken to keep abreast of emerging low carbon heating technologies for off-gas-grid homes that would improve opex and capex performance compared to existing solutions.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government’s approach to zero emissions heat technologies is based on a wide range of evidence, including modelling of the suitability of different technologies across the whole Scottish housing stock, and consideration of wider energy system int…
30 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-07145 by Lorna Slater on 23 March 2022, whether it will now provide the information requested on whether Circularity Scotland has entered into signed contracts with partners to deliver the Deposit Return Scheme's logistics, operations and IT systems…
Answer · Lorna Slater: Circularity Scotland has identified preferred bidders to deliver IT, operations and logistics work and is in intensive discussions with them to finalise the contracts. We expect this to conclude shortly.
30 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide its revised estimate of the entire cost of the Haudagain Improvement project, in light of the reported delayed completion.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: There is no change to the estimated total project cost.
30 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the reported delay to the publication of the Just Transition Plan will result in a delay to any aspect of the Just Transition Fund, including in particular the release or application process in connection with the first tranche of £20 million funding, in light of any crossover be…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: There will be no delay to year one of the Just Transition Fund as a result of the revised timetable for publication of the Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan.
17 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many public electric bike charging points there are in Scotland, and where they are located.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government does not hold data on the location or number of public electric bike charging points in Scotland. Individual local authorities may hold this information for their respective areas. Since personal e-bike batteries can be readily remove…
17 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the Complementary Climate Delegated Act, regarding taxonomy, approved by the European Commission on 2 February 2022, and whether this will have any impact on its energy policies.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is supportive of the ambition within the Green Taxonomy and is carefully considering the legislation to ensure it is in line with SG policy, EU alignment and to ensure that any SI's would not negatively impact Scottish economic activit…
17 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how Scotland's reliance on nuclear power to generate its electricity compared with that of the other UK nations in 2020, and (a) whether and (b) by when it plans to replace nuclear-generated energy in Scotland with energy generated by renewables in Scotland.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The information you have requested is publically available at the Scottish Energy Statistics Hub (shinyapps.io) taken originally from National Grid - : https://carbonintensity.org.uk/ . In addition to that, the recent announcement of ScotWind has seen as…
16 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-06967 by Jenny Gilruth on 16 March 2022, whether it will provide an answer to the specific question regarding whether it has taken legal advice on whether it is legally competent to tax the same piece of property under both the business rates scheme…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I can confirm that the legal position has been considered and I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-06967 which sets out that the provisions in the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 were subject to policy and legal scrutiny and that there is no legal i…
15 Mar 2022 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what assessment it has made of GP numbers and surgery provision in the north east.
14 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects projects from the ScotWind offshore wind leasing round to start generating electricity, and what generating capacity, in GW, it anticipates in (a) the first year of operation and (b) each of the following years.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The ScotWind outcome is a great opportunity for Scotland to deliver green energy, bring supply chain benefits and to support our just transition objectives. Over the next few years each project will go through consenting processes, respond to geographical an…
11 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is, regarding the impact on Scotland, on the review by HM Treasury of the Solvency II regime in connection with low-carbon infrastructure investments.
Answer · Ivan McKee: We recognise that, given the long-term investment horizons of insurance firms, reforms to Solvency II could enable the release of more productive investment into the economy which can be utilised to boost low-carbon infrastructure and achieve climate pledges.…
7 Mar 2022 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review its position on North Sea oil and gas exploration and production in relation to the security of Scotland's energy supply.
2 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the supplementary to question S6O-00801 by Jenny Gilruth on 2 March 2022, for what reason the minister did not provide the information requested regarding whether all of the new buses supported by the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund will be built in th…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government’s Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB) is awarding £62 million to support bus operators to acquire 276 new zero emission buses and associated infrastructure. Bus operators are free to choose which manufacturer they purch…
2 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Circularity Scotland has entered into signed contracts with partners to deliver the Deposit Return Scheme's logistics, operations and IT systems, in line with the timescale that it set out in December 2021.
Answer · Lorna Slater: The timescale set out in December 2021 was for such contracts to be signed by the end of March 2022. I am aware that Circularity Scotland Ltd is currently in commercial negotiations and it would be inappropriate for me to comment further at this time.
1 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-06524 by Michael Matheson on 25 February 2022, whether it will provide the information requested regarding whether it will set out in detail what definition of “renewable energy” was used by its minister; what the generation source is of the energy …
Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-06524 on 25 February 2022. 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…
1 Mar 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has with local government regarding support that it can provide in order to maintain local authority frontline services.
1 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that it has only delivered approximately one in 20 of the offshore wind jobs that it forecast.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: We are fully committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2045 and transforming Scotland in to a fairer, greener and more prosperous country, that is why we have committed £2 billion in low carbon funding to invest in new measures to end Scotland’s contributio…
24 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has taken legal advice on whether it is legally competent to tax the same piece of property under both the business rates scheme and the workplace parking levy.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 provides local authorities with a discretionary power to set up workplace parking licensing (WPL) schemes. Under a WPL scheme, a local authority can require a licence to be obtained by employers for each workplace parking pl…
24 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to sign up to the Energy Company Obligation 4 (ECO4) for Scotland; if so, (a) for what reason it has yet to and (b) when it will do so, and, if not, what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The UK Government has not confirmed what the design of the ECO4 scheme will be. Scottish Ministers anticipate that they will be consulted about the new regulations as part of Ministerial write round. The Scottish Government will then assess how effectively th…
22 Feb 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with EU governments regarding the use of gene editing in agriculture.