Parliamentary questions
Liam Kerr
2,171 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
20 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what options appraisal has been carried out of a range of low and zero carbon space and water heating technologies suitable for off-gas-grid homes.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government published an analysis of the suitability of low and zero emissions heating systems across the whole housing stock, including off-gas-grid homes. The report can be found at https://www.gov.scot/publications/technical-feasibility-low-ca…
20 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what low and zero carbon space and water heating technologies are promoted by Home Energy Scotland for off-gas-grid homes.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: Home Energy Scotland (HES) deliver the Home Energy Scotland Loan Schemes on behalf of Scottish Government. Home Energy Scotland does not recommend measures to customers, but instead offers funding for measures recommended on an EPC or renewables report. A nu…
20 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what cost benefit analysis has been carried out of central/ducted air-to-air heat pumps as a technology to deliver low and zero carbon space heating and summer cooling, 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…
20 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what cost benefit analysis has been carried out of ductless air-to-air heat pumps as a technology to deliver low and zero carbon space heating 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…
20 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05303 by Richard Lochhead on 18 January 2022, whether a more detailed breakdown exists of what specifically the £49.1 million for the Climate Action and Just Transition Fund is allocated toward, beyond the information contained in the NZ, E & T tab …
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Of the £49.1 million allocated toward the Climate Action and Just Transition Fund, £20 million has been allocated toward the Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray. The remaining £29.1 million is split across a wide range of policies and programmes…
20 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05226 by Richard Lochhead on 18 January 2022, when it expects to set 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, and when the referenced "programme of…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: There is no distinction between objectives and deliverables of the £500 million Just Transition Fund for year one, and the £20 million allocation for year one. Detailed policy design work and implementation planning, supplemented by a programme of engagement…
19 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether reintroducing LPG into the Warmer Homes Scotland scheme, in the form of bio-LPG, would provide a route to low-carbon heating for off-grid properties.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: Our homes and workplaces account for around a fifth of Scotland’s total greenhouse gas emissions. We can and must make very significant progress towards eliminating these emissions over the next decade and reduce them to zero by 2045. As set out in the Heat …
19 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it made of the financial implications for rural householders of its domestic heat decarbonisation policies, which are included in its Heat in Buildings Strategy.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: Alongside the Heat in Buildings Strategy we published a Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment which sets out the evidence relating to capital and running costs of converting to zero emissions heat. We recognise that the costs of conversion for island a…
19 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, ahead of the publication of its Heat in Buildings Strategy, whether it (a) consulted any bodies, organisations or individuals representing rural and remote communities and (b) surveyed, or consulted by other means, rural householders.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: We consulted on a draft of the Heat in Buildings Strategy in February 2021. 178 individuals and organisations responded. This consultation asked for views on the impact of the strategy on island and other remote communities. We have published the analysis of…
19 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how often the Bioenergy Working Group has met since the Bioenergy Update was published in March 2021.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Bioenergy Policy Working Group have met six times since the Bioenergy Update was published in March 2021.
15 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to its announcement of £80 million funding for the Scottish Cluster, (a) as a result of this funding, which projects, if any, will not receive or be eligible to receive, support from the Emerging Energies Technology Fund, (b) for which aspect(s) or part(s) of the Scottish Cl…
Answer · Michael Matheson: As confirmed on 14 January 2022, the Scottish Government has offered financial backing of up to £80 million from the Emerging Energy Technologies Fund (EETF) to help the Scottish Cluster project accelerate its development. As set out in our Climate Change Pl…
12 Jan 2022 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Scottish Wholesale Food and Drink Resilience Fund.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The First Minister announced on 17 December that funding will be made available to businesses in the food and drink chain supply chain, including food and drink wholesalers, who were affected by hospitality cancellations as a result of the additional public h…
11 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will (a) provide details of any formal meetings that have taken place between ministers and (i) trade unions, (ii) oil and gas companies, (iii) colleges, academia and education providers and (iv) oil and gas industry bodies in the North East Scotland region and Moray regarding…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government are currently collating this information for an Environmental Information Regulation (EIR) request which will then be published for the public by its deadline of 8 February 2022.
11 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will (a) provide details of any formal meetings that have taken place between ministers and local authorities in the North East Scotland region and Moray regarding the proposed Just Transition Plan and Fund and (b) publish the minutes of any such meetings.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government are currently collating this information for an Environmental Information Regulation (EIR) request which will then be published for the public by its deadline of 8 February 2022.
11 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05062 by Patrick Harvie on 6 January 2022, when in 2022 it expects the consultation on detailed proposals for introducing regulations on minimum standards of energy efficiency for all private housing to begin; what the duration of the consultation p…
Answer · Patrick Harvie: We expect the consultation on proposals for introducing regulations on minimum standards of energy efficiency for private housing will take place during 2022. I will work closely with officials to ensure an optimum and effective launch date. In line with con…
10 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government to what degree and in what ways the Scottish Green Party and the Cooperation Agreement influenced the decision to reduce funding for capital works on motorways and trunk roads from £155.7 million to £136.9 million.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Capital Land and Works budget for Motorways and Trunk Roads in the 2022-23 Capital Spending Review reflects the current expenditure profile of road construction schemes. That review and the general availability of budget for all the Motorway and Trunk Roa…
10 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government (a) for what reason and (b) on what date it made the decision to reduce NatureScot's budget from £2.5 million to £1.8 million; what aspects of NatureScot's operations it anticipates may not proceed as a result of this reduction; what its position is on whether NatureScot will still be ab…
Answer · Lorna Slater: NatureScot’s budget allocation for 2022-23 is £49.561 million. This year’s budget settlement represents the best possible outcome against the backdrop of significant pressures on public finances and the level of resources required to deliver statutory functio…
10 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason its draft Budget reduces funding to support the costs of maintenance, safe operation and renewal of the Scottish rail network from £501 million to £427 million; what aspects of maintenance, safe operation and renewal will either be reduced or not go ahead as a result of t…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The independent Office of Rail and Road has determined that the five year settlement in Control Period 6 (2019 – 2024) will be £2,245m; this represents a 16% increase compared to £1,925m in Control Period 5 (2014 to 2019). This determination is based on the w…
10 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what date it made the decision to reduce SEPA's budget from £43.4 million to £41.4 million in its draft Budget; what aspects of SEPA's operations it anticipates may not proceed as a result of this reduction; what its position is on whether SEPA will still be able to deliver all operat…
Answer · Mairi McAllan: SEPA’s draft budget allocation for 2022-23 is £41.406 million. This year’s budget settlement represents the best possible outcome against the backdrop of significant pressures on public finances, including a 10% reduction in cash terms compared with 2021-22, …
10 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason funding for Northern Isles Ferry Services dropped from £56.7 million to £51.3 million in the draft budget 2022-23.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The decrease in financial support required for the Northern Isles Ferry Services reflects a forecast recovery in fare box revenue, a reduction in the forecast fuel consumption costs and the exclusion of year one contract mobilisation costs that will not recur…
10 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact it expects its decision to cut funding for the Travel Strategy and Innovation stream from £39.9 million to £21.6 million in the draft Budget 2022-23 will have on deliverables under that stream.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Travel Innovation and Strategy budget stream funds a range of transport interventions. The change in budget from financial year 2021-22 of £39.9 million to £21.6 million in 2022-23 reflects a reduction in the capital grant support required for the Glasgow…
10 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the cost has been to it in each of the last 10 years to process, decide upon or administer planning appeals in relation to onshore wind farms, including section 36 wind farm appeals that have been decided upon by the Scottish Government in the first instance, also broken down by the…
Answer · Tom Arthur: Parties involved in planning cases are expected to meet their own costs. The Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) of the Scottish Government will meet the costs of the reporter and administrative staff; advertisement of the case and the cost of …
10 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many, (b) what percentage and (c) which of the buildings that it owns have solar panels installed.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Core Scottish Government has 18 owned buildings. Solar panels are installed at 4 buildings; Victoria Quay Edinburgh, Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) Edinburgh, St Andrews House Edinburgh and Cameron House Oban. 22% of owned buildings ha…
10 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on purchasing brand-new furniture in each of the last five years, broken down by each of its departments.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Spend obtained from the Scottish Procurement Information Hub under the Business Subsector Category of Furniture by each department has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 63098) as a table. It is not possible to determine f…
10 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, since announcing a climate emergency in April 2019, on how many occasions ministers have met local authorities specifically to discuss plans to respond to the climate emergency, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is committed to working closely with all 32 of Scotland’s local authorities to address the climate emergency. Scottish Ministers frequently meet with local authorities to discuss a wide variety of topics encompassing the climate emerge…
10 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much money it has spent on campaigns that are advertised on public electronic advertising boards and how many times such a board has been used, broken down by the category of campaign, in the last five years.
Answer · Kate Forbes: Over the last five years the Scottish Government has spent £4,122,329 on public outdoor digital advertising in Scotland with public health campaigns and Covid-19 activity utilising the majority of this space. There has been a total of 181 weeks of advertising…
10 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on (a) installing and (b) removing projects related to Spaces for People, broken down by (i) year and (ii) local authority.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The following table gives spend to date for the 30 local authorities who have received Spaces for People funding; other statutory bodies have also received funding. Many local authorities have yet to claim their full agreed grant. We do not have details of t…
10 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many incidents of hate crime have been recorded on public transport in each of the last five years, broken down by category of hate crime.
Answer · Shona Robison: Incidents of hate crime on public transport will be recorded by either Police Scotland or, if they occur on the railways (on trains or at stations), the British Transport Police. Table 1 presents information provided by the British Transport Police on hate c…
10 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it defines as (a) "where technically feasible" and (b) "cost effective" as set out on page 23 of TacklingFuel Poverty Strategy in Scotland: Strategic Approach.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Heat in Buildings Strategy confirms our intention to introduce – subject to consultation later this year – regulations requiring Scotland’s homes and other buildings to meet EPC Band C equivalent by 2033, where that is technically feasible and cost effect…
10 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-02823 by Kate Forbes on 24 September 2021, when "option selection" is scheduled to conclude in relation to the "rail improvement project"; what the current status is of the Laurencekirk Junction Improvement Scheme, and when the "statutory authorisat…
Answer · Kate Forbes: These projects are all being funded from the Scottish Government’s £254 million investment in the North East, which is in addition to the £125 million committed to the Aberdeen City Region Deal in 2016. Option selection for rail improvements, towards which £…