Liam Kerr

8 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the supplementary question by Jackie Dunbar, during First Minister's Questions on 3 June 2021, that it “will implement the recommendations of the Just Transition Commission”, whether it will list what it considers the recommendations to be, and how many have bee…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: We published our response to the recommendations of the Just Transition Commission’s final report on 7 September 2021 which is available here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/transition-fairer-greener-scotland/. This confirms our commitment to implement t…

8 Dec 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of GP numbers and surgery provision in the north east.

6 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to work with local authorities that have historically high fuel poverty rates.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Our Fuel Poverty Strategy, published on 23 December, details how we aim to meet our statutory fuel poverty targets, as set out in the Fuel Poverty (Targets, Definition and Strategy) (Scotland) Act 2019 ("the 2019 Act"). The 2019 Act requires us to meet our 20…

6 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which body will oversee the implementation of the framework set out in the Heat in Buildings Strategy.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Heat in Buildings Strategy sets out an ambitious programme and a wide ranging framework, incorporating funding support, delivery programmes, public engagement, local heat and energy efficiency strategies and regulations among other components. A number of…

6 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce a targeted, rural heat transition package, which would recognise any distinct challenges and opportunities of rural, remote and island communities. 

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government already offer bespoke and targeted advice and support to rural, remote and islands communities through a number of its delivery programmes, and the Heat in Buildings programme will take into account the distinct challenges facing these…

6 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what additional steps it has taken to increase the resilience of power networks, following Storm Arwen.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Throughout Storms Arwen and Barra the Scottish Government’s Resilience Division maintained daily contact with the power companies and close engagement continues. It must be noted that resilience of the electricity networks is reserved and is the responsibili…

3 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much compensation ScotRail has awarded to passengers in each month or four-week recording period since the beginning of 2019, and what the estimated unclaimed compensation has been in each of these months or periods.

Answer · Graeme Dey: ScotRail is required through the Franchise Agreement to provide a delay-repay scheme to passengers, which offers compensation when their journey is delayed by more than 30 minutes. The Delay Repay scheme operates on a railway period reporting basis from Apri…

3 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what cycling projects it has supported in each of the regional transport partnership areas, and how much funding it has provided for these in each year since 2017.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The detailed information requested is currently being collated in consultation with the regional transport partnerships. I will write to the member as soon as the information is available and a copy will be placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib num…

3 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) fatal and (b) serious accidents there have been on each road in the trunk road and motorway network in each year since 2017.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The following table presents the total number of fatal and serious accidents for 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. However, the information on the total number of fatal and serious accidents for 2021 are only available up to the date stated in the table.  Fatal and…

3 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the monthly average sales income has been for fishermen in each of the last three years.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: For the years 2018 to 2020, the average monthly sales income has been calculated for fishers employed on Scottish Vessels. This is given in the following table: Monthly average sales income for fishers on Scottish registered vessels, 2018 - 2020  2018 2019…

3 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the average daily traffic flow volumes have been on the A96 Trunk Road between Aberdeen and Inverness in each year since 2017.

Answer · Graeme Dey: A table containing the average daily traffic flows on the A96 in each year since 2017 has been lodged with SPICe, BIB number 63000.

3 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5O-03945 by Humza Yousaf on 19 December 2019, what the staff (a) recruitment, (b) retention and (c) absence rate has been at each prison and young offenders institution in the last 12 months.

Answer · Keith Brown: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: The SPS can provide the following information in response to the questions asked: (a)Recruitment of prison staff between 1 De…

2 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) strategy and (b) resilience planning was undertaken to account for the possibility of extraordinary events, such as Storm Arwen, occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic and associated measures, such as lockdown.

Answer · John Swinney: Resilience structures in Scotland are designed to be adaptable and responsive to a wide range of risks. Ministers regularly receive briefing on specific risks or emergencies throughout the year and the Scottish Government’s resilience arrangements constantly…

2 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to introducing an emergency alert system for catastrophic and extraordinary events, similar to those in place in other jurisdictions, such as the USA and some European countries.

Answer · John Swinney: Scotland’s resilience response structures involve very well established mechanisms for coordinating clear public communications during emergencies, and organisations involved in the response will work together to ensure swift and accurate advice is provided a…

2 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) planning it has undertaken and (b) action it has taken to ensure that people who experience power cuts are able to contact the emergency services in instances where they cannot make phone calls due to their mobile phone battery expiring or their landline being internet-based.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of mobile and broadband connectivity for almost all aspects of everyday life which is why we work closely with Local Resilience Partnerships, telecoms providers and the UK Government - both in preparing for, a…

23 Nov 2021 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress towards cutting emissions by 75% by 2030.

22 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what quantity of CO2 emissions has each operational gas-fired power station generated in each year of production.

Answer · Michael Matheson: As part of demonstrating compliance with the EU Emissions Trading System relevant installations must submit verified emissions data. The information for CO2 Equivalent (e) emissions from Scottish Installations for the period 2008-2020 is published online. Pet…

22 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what quantity of CO2 emissions has the Hunterston B power plant generated in each year of production.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-04578 on 10 December 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…

21 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-02681 by Richard Lochhead on 22 September 2021, whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding the budget stream(s) from which the 10-year £500 million Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray will be drawn.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The 2022-23 Scottish Budget was published 9 December and is available here: Scottish Budget 2022-23 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) . The Just Transition Fund will be drawn from the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Portfolio. Level 3 information detailing the budge…

19 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to make the installation of heating systems, such as heat pumps, more accessible to groups with less technical literacy.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government wants individuals and organisations to see energy efficiency and low and zero emissions heating as a positive choice, to understand the options available, and know where they can get help and trusted advice. The new National Public Ene…

16 Nov 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to tackle the reported backlog of colorectal cancer screening.

12 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03371 by Patrick Harvie on 27 October 2021, whether "renewable heating systems in off-gas buildings" includes biomass burners.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: As set out in the Heat in Buildings Strategy, published in October 2021, the Scottish Government considers “low and zero emissions heating systems” to be systems that have zero direct greenhouse gas emissions. This includes individual electric heat pumps and …

12 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03371 by Patrick Harvie on 27 October 2021, how it defines "renewable heating systems", and what specifically is (a) included and (b) excluded in this definition.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government has set out the range of technologies that it considers to be low or zero emissions heating systems – and which includes a range of renewable heating systems – at page 16 of the Heat in Buildings Strategy. The Strategy can be accessed…

12 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to enforce the transition of buildings to an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C by 2033, and whether it plans to impose any restrictions or bans on sales of properties that have not achieved an EPC rating of C by 2033.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The recent Heat in Buildings Strategy confirmed our intention to consult upon and deliver regulations by 2025 setting minimum energy efficiency standards equivalent to EPC Band C across private housing, where this is technically feasible and cost effective. W…

8 Nov 2021 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government plans to meet the requirement for electric car charging points by 2030.

21 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered the use of renewable liquid fuel alternatives, such as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), as a solution when replacing gas boilers, and, if so, whether it plans to provide incentives to homeowners who make such a change.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government is considering a number of options as solutions to replacing gas boilers and recognise that that, for a small number of buildings, bioenergy and in particular bio heating oil, bioLPG and biomass may prove to be the only practicable opt…

19 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that Scotland's two nuclear power stations provide approximately 34% of Scotland’s daily electricity needs, from where that electricity will be sourced following their closure.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Scottish electricity supplies are currently considered secure. Security of supply is currently provided by a combination of large scale hydro, gas and nuclear power stations as well as the capacity to import electricity from elsewhere in the UK. Maintaining …

19 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the UK Government's Heat and Buildings Strategy aiming to ensure that heat pumps cost the same as fossil fuel boilers by 2030, whether it plans to set out a similar ambition and route to achievement of equalisation of cost by 2030, and, if so, when it will do so.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: There is a range of projections as to how far heat pump costs can be brought down, set out in various recent publications by BEIS and the Climate Change Committee. The Scottish Government is committed to working with the supply chain to maximise cost reducti…

19 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the UK Government's £60 million innovation fund to make clean heat systems smaller, easier to install and cheaper to run, whether it plans to launch a similar fund for Scotland.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: We understand that the UK Government's Heat Pump Ready funding programme will be open to businesses across the UK and our enterprise agencies have highlighted this funding opportunity to companies based in Scotland. We will carefully consider any further fund…

13 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the statement on page 47 of its draft Heat in Buildings Strategy that, during 2021-22, it will conduct research to "understand the cost effectiveness of thermal, electrical storage and rooftop solar PV to support households to reduce bills", what progress it has made on that…

Answer · Patrick Harvie: In the Heat in Buildings Strategy we committed to undertaking research to understand the extent to which the deployment of secondary technologies alongside zero emissions heating systems could help to optimise operational performance, minimise energy consumpt…