Parliamentary questions

Liam Kerr

2,171 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

21 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made with developing the "rail link between Dyce and Ellon and further north to Peterhead and Fraserburgh" referred to in the co-operation agreement between it and Scottish Green Party, and when it expects to carry out a formal feasibility study.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: An option for new rail line between Aberdeen, Ellon and onwards to Peterhead and Fraserburgh was assessed as part of the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2). The outcome of this was that this option did not form part of the strategic transport …

15 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in the event that a property rented out as a private residential tenancy let is not of an energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of C or better from the required date in 2025, whether it is required to immediately cease being offered as a private residential tenancy let or any othe…

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Heat in Buildings Strategy confirms our intention to introduce, subject to consultation, minimum energy efficiency regulations, equivalent to EPC C where that is technically feasible and cost effective from 2025. These regulations will apply to private-r…

15 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many short-term holiday let properties it estimates will not have achieved a minimum energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of C or better by the required date in 2025, and what financial and commercial impact it estimates removing that number of properties from the market will …

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The information requested is not held centrally. Ahead of the introduction of any legislation on minimum energy performance standards, the Scottish Government will undertake a suite of impact assessments on its proposals, which will have been informed by con…

15 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in the event that a short-term holiday let is not of an energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of C or better by the required date in 2025, whether it is required to immediately cease being offered as a short-term holiday let or any other tenancy, and what penalty will be applied i…

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Heat in Buildings Strategy confirms our intention to introduce, subject to consultation, regulations requiring Scotland’s homes to meet EPC Band C equivalent, where that is technically feasible and cost effective from 2025 onwards, with a range of backsto…

9 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the ministerial statement on ScotRail on 9 February 2022, during which the minister stated that "success for Scotland's rail services...includes ensuring that they...generate increased revenue", by what date the "increased revenue" is required to be delivered; what base level…

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: As we recover from the pandemic ScotRail Trains Limited will adapt its rail services to meet passenger demand and travel patterns, the latter of which is likely to be markedly different to that experienced previously. Though there has not been a specific dat…

9 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the first supplementary to question S6O-00736 by Ben Macpherson on 9 February 2022, during which the minister referred to the "greater provision of renewable energy - which...has had a significant positive impact on the reliability of supply here in Scotland", w…

Answer · Michael Matheson: This is a reserved policy area. Responsibility for security of supply sits with National Grid ESO (the GB electricity system operator). Renewable capacity in Scotland includes onshore and offshore wind, hydro, solar, marine technologies, bioenergy and waste.…

8 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05803 by Patrick Harvie on 1 February 2022, how many of the 156 participants were (a) not representing an organisation and (b) off-grid householders.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The 2021 consultation on the draft Heat in Buildings Strategy included 7 consultation workshops, which were open to all interested participants. Of the 156 attendees, 147 identified themselves as representing an organisation. Workshop attendees were not asked…

8 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05802 by Michael Matheson on 3 February 2022, what the membership is of the (a) Bioenergy Policy Working Group and (b) Bioenergy Expert Panel, and whether it will publish the minutes of the meetings of the Bioenergy Policy Working Group.

Answer · Michael Matheson: a) The Bioenergy Policy Working Group consists Scottish Government officials from a number of policy areas.Agriculture Transformation for Environment and Climate ChangeBioenergyCarbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS)Critical Energy Infrastructure & Comm…

8 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05805 by Patrick Harvie on 3 February 2022, for what reason it has not included biofuels in the list of options that may be of particular benefit to households living in rural and island areas whose homes are not suitable for heat pumps.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: Recent advice from our statutory advisers, the Climate Change Committee (CCC), states that “sustainable bioenergy is essential for reaching net zero”. Given resource supply limitations, it must be used in those applications with the highest greenhouse gas sav…

8 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05508 by Michael Matheson on 4 February 2022, in light of it not being able to detail what impact the closure of Hunterston B and Torness nuclear power stations will have on consumer energy bills, whether it can state what the price of electricity g…

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government does not hold information on the price of energy generated by Hunterston B and Torness nuclear power stations. This information is of a commercial nature and shared only between the contract holders and the customer.

8 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05508 by Michael Matheson on 4 February 2022, whether it will provide its "internal analysis" that led it to conclude "that in 2030 alone Hinkley could add almost £40/year to a consumer bill".

Answer · Michael Matheson: Using Contracts for Difference published strike prices, the electricity being generated from offshore wind is currently priced at £39.65 per megawatt hour – compared to £92.50 per megawatt hour for the energy generated from Hinkley nuclear power plant. Using …

7 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish the results of the consultation, Sectoral Marine Plan - innovation and targeted oil and gas decarbonisation, offshore wind, which closed in October 2021.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government published the Initial Plan Framework, the next step in the Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind for Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas Decarbonisation (INTOG) process on 22 February 2022. This document includes the consultation anal…

7 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is on track to meet the timescales for the milestones set out on page 8 of the document, Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind for Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas Decarbonisation (INTOG) - Planning Specification and Context Report, published in August 2021.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government published the next stage of the Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind for Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas Decarbonisation (INTOG) On 22 February 2022. This document reflects the results of the consultation that was held on the Pla…

7 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has discussed the requirement for properties to meet an EPC rating of C or above with the buildings insurance industry, and what it anticipates the impact will be on insurance premiums and availability for properties that are unable to be made to reach the required C rating by…

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government recognises that the proposals to set minimum energy efficiency and zero emissions targets for domestic properties will affect a range of stakeholders, and will consider relevant impacts during our planned consultation on the regulatory…

7 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether all short-term holiday let properties will be required to have an EPC rating of C or above by 2025; whether any short-term holiday let properties that do not meet an EPC rating of C or above by the deadline will, as a result, no longer be permitted to be let, and, if so, what it …

7 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of housing stock in the private rented sector it anticipates will not be upgraded to at least an EPC rating of C by the required deadline; whether, as a result, such housing stock will be unavailable to rent, and, if so, what advice it will provide to people about where t…

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government expect all stock within the Private Rented Sector to meet any energy efficiency standard set by regulations or to have a valid exemption. The Heat in Buildings Strategy confirms our intention to introduce, subject to consultation, such…

7 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in the event that a homeowner cannot, for financial or practical reasons, raise the EPC rating in their property to C or above, by or after the date required to do so, (a) what it anticipates the impact will be on their ability to mortgage the property, (b) whether it anticipates they w…

4 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to assist the NHS board in staffing the minor injuries unit at Chalmers Hospital, Banff.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Scottish Government officials are continually engaging with NHS Boards and Health and Social Partnerships (HSCPs) to identify particular areas of concern. Aberdeenshire HSCP, which has operational responsibility for delivering services at Chalmers Hospital in…

4 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, when assessing ScotWind applications, what account was taken of the locations of potential carbon storage sites in any future carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) programme.

Answer · Michael Matheson: This is a matter for Crown Estate Scotland (CES) as the assessment and evaluation of the ScotWind applications was undertaken by CES. Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage activity was considered as part of the Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy's Sust…

3 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how people who do not have access to online services and cannot access the NHS Scotland Covid Status app can obtain a paper copy of their vaccine certificate in advance of international travel.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-03956 on 15 November 2021. 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…

2 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how it will ensure that local authorities are resourced and supported to tackle the climate emergency.

Answer · Michael Matheson: As set out in the answer to question S6W-05390 on 25 January 2022, the Scottish Government regularly engages with local authorities and the wider public sector, including through COSLA and the Sustainable Scotland Network (SSN), where current opportunities an…

2 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how it will ensure local authorities are resourced and supported so they can deliver the necessary level of deployment of renewables to achieve net zero.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government is committed to resourcing and supporting local authorities (LAs) through a mix of competitive and other funding programmes, as well as direct resource to support commitments to statutory targets. Specifically, we are committed to prov…

2 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that climate change and nature recovery will be the primary priorities of the Fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4).

Answer · Tom Arthur: Meeting greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets and securing positive effects for biodiversity are two of six high level outcomes for the National Planning Framework set out in The Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997. The draft National Planning…

2 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that the Fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) delivers the levels of renewable energy deployment required to achieve net zero.

Answer · Tom Arthur: Our draft NPF4 sets out how our approach to planning and development will achieve a net zero, sustainable Scotland by 2045. Draft NPF4 includes green energy policies which support renewable energy development other than in National Parks and National Scenic …

2 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that the Onshore Wind Policy Statement is reflected in the Fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) reforms.

Answer · Tom Arthur: Our draft NPF4 gives spatial expression to a wide range of Scottish Government plans, programmes and strategies. It sets out a vision for how our places will change in the future and reflects priorities across Scottish Government portfolios, including how our…

2 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what ministerial discussions have taken place with representatives of Scotland’s renewable energy industry regarding the Fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4).

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth met with representatives from Scottish Renewables on 21 July 2021 to discuss the renewable energy industry’s vision for NPF4.

1 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05501 by Michael Matheson on 31 January 2022, what its position is on the National Grid ESO's analysis in its publication, Future Energy Scenarios, that Scotland will require to use energy generated by nuclear power to achieve net zero.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Scotland has long been a net exporter of electricity. In 2020, Scotland exported 20.4 TWh, equivalent to powering every household in Scotland for 26 months. We expect that we will maintain our position as a net exporter even as demand from electrification…

30 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05499 by Lorna Slater on 26 January 2022, whether it will provide the information requested regarding how a ban on plastic packaging for most fruit and vegetables could potentially operate in Scotland.

Answer · Lorna Slater: We have not undertaken any specific work relating to the French ban introduced on New Year’s Day and its operations. However, as set out in my response to S6W-05499, we are working with the other UK administrations to introduce extended producer responsibilit…

27 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05226 by Richard Lochhead on 18 January 2022, whether it is the case that the objectives and key deliverables for the Just Transition Fund (a) in year 1 (2022) and (b) for the first tranche of £20 million of funding (i) were not set prior to the ann…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The ten-year £500 million Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray is a single initiative. The initial £20 million announced for the 2022-23 is a mixture of Capital and Financial Transactions, but should not be regarded as distinct ‘funding streams’ …

20 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of infrared panels as a low carbon heating technology for new homes and off-gas-grid homes.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government has previously commissioned research which considered the capital and operational costs associated with zero direct emissions heating (ZDEH) technologies within new homes, which encompassed various types of air source heat pumps and di…