Parliamentary questions

Liam Kerr

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

22 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-01360 by Graeme Dey on 16 August 2021, what the reasons are for 13% of its vehicle fleet, which includes Transport Scotland’s fleet, being comprised of zero-emission vehicles, and what its position is on whether this percentage should be higher.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government’s policy is to replace vehicles when they reach the end of their operational life cycle, with fully electric replacements, wherever possible. During the last 3 years we have procured 63 Ultra Low Emitting vehicles (ULEV’s). 40% of the…

22 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-01360 by Graeme Dey on 16 August 2021, when it expects (a) its and (b) each of its agencies' vehicle fleets to be fully comprised of zero-emission vehicles.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government and all associated agencies, are currently working towards the targets set out in the 2019-20 Programme for Government, where we outlined our commitment to phase out the need for all petrol or diesel cars in the public sector fleet by …

22 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-01360 by Graeme Dey on 16 August 2021, for what reason the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has no zero-emission vehicles in its fleet; whether it has provided COPFS with funding to obtain zero-emission vehicles and, if so, how much fundin…

Answer · Graeme Dey: The 2019-20 Programme for Government outlined our commitment to phase out the need for all petrol or diesel cars in the public sector fleet by 2025 and for all other new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030. Crown office and Procurator Fiscals office (COPFS) i…

19 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) engagement it will have with and (b) assistance it will provide for (i) heat pump manufacturers and (ii) other related stakeholders to ensure that any of its schemes or programmes that are aimed at tackling poverty can benefit from the anticipated increase in heat pump installat…

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government funds the Energy Saving Trust to deliver a sustainable energy supply chain programme to help develop capacity amongst installers. This initiative provides support and training in low and zero emissions heating technology installations,…

19 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it anticipates the Heat Pump Sector Deal Expert Advisory Group will meet its objective to report on its findings and strategy, as set out in the group's interim report published in June 2021.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Heat pumps will be a strategically vital technology to deliver low carbon heat in buildings as part of the Scottish Government’s statutory target to meet net zero emissions by 2045. Following a call from the Climate Emergency Response Group, we have establish…

19 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase consumer awareness of heat pumps, and whether it has a strategy to roll out such a programme.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: In our draft Heat in Buildings Strategy we committed to developing and implementing a bespoke public engagement strategy for heat in buildings. This will have a focus on raising the profile of energy efficiency and zero emissions heating options so that peopl…

19 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding and incentives it will make available to stimulate consumer take-up of heat pump technology.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government, through the Home Energy Scotland (HES) Loan and Cashback scheme, provides interest-free loans with up to 75% cashback grant funding for homeowners to replace fossil-fuel heating systems such as gas with low or zero emissions heating s…

17 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether fully electrifying the East Coast Main Line between Edinburgh Haymarket and Aberdeen is required for it to achieve its ambition to decarbonise Scotland's Railway.

Answer · Graeme Dey: As made clear in the Scottish Government’s Rail Decarbonisation Action Plan published last year, electrification offers clear advantages over other rail decarbonisation technologies for both passenger and freight services on busy main line routes, such as the…

17 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what solutions it proposes to fully decarbonise Scotland's Railway; whether it (a) is able and (b) plans to fully electrify the East Coast Main Line between Edinburgh Haymarket and Aberdeen, and, if so, when it will begin any related procurement process to achieve this.

Answer · Graeme Dey: (a) Transport Scotland is progressing the commitment to deliver the decarbonisation of Scotland’s railway by 2035. (b) As confirmed in answer? S6W-01654 on 16 August 2021, Network Rail is to undertake ground investigation and survey works of the Edinburgh to …

17 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-01654 by Graeme Dey on 16 August 2021, whether it will provide the information requested regarding by what date it currently anticipates the East Coast Main Line between Edinburgh Haymarket and Aberdeen will be fully electrified, and for what reason…

Answer · Graeme Dey: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-02355 on? 13 September 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-comm…

17 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-01513 by Graeme Dey on 6 August 2021, in what areas of the world it is searching for charter vessels, and whether this is limited to Scotland, the UK, Europe or worldwide.

Answer · Graeme Dey: Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) are the Scottish Government's vessel asset owning company. CMAL conduct regular and rigorous worldwide searches across the available vessel charter and sale markets.

9 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-01498 by Graeme Dey on 6 August 2021, whether its response at (b)(ii) means that it no longer plans to meet the commitment, as part of the Aberdeen City Region Deal, to reduce journey times between Aberdeen and the central belt by 20 minutes, or whe…

Answer · Graeme Dey: Transport Scotland remains committed to working with key industry partners to achieve, by 2026, the 20 minutes journey time saving between Aberdeen and Edinburgh (average journey time of 2 hours 10 minutes for express services). This outcome was agreed at the…

9 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-01498 by Graeme Dey on 6 August 2020, whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding how much of any remaining funds it plans to spend on the railway between Aberdeen and Dundee and, if this information is not held centrally at…

Answer · Graeme Dey: Transport Scotland will be in a position to confirm details in Spring 2022, once the option selection phase for the project is completed and the estimated costs and benefits have been determined against each option. Currently there is no option being consid…

2 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work to sell Glasgow Prestwick Airport, and whether it will provide details of any further bids received since February 2021.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The process to return Glasgow Prestwick Airport to the private sector continues and decisions have still to be taken in relation to the prospective sale of the business. We have committed to updating Parliament on the sale process at the appropriate stage and…

2 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its (a) ministers and (b) civil servants have at any stage raised any concerns regarding windfarm payments with TS Prestwick Holdco or any other relevant group company’s management team; if so, (i) when and (ii) in what forum, and whether it will publish the minutes of any such m…

Answer · Kate Forbes: No. Ministers do not intervene in the commercial discussions and agreements between Glasgow Prestwick Airport and any third party. The business is required to operate on a commercial basis and at arm’s length from the Scottish Government in compliance with ou…

2 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it first became aware of the demand for payments by and to TS Prestwick Holdco or any other relevant group company in relation to (a) the proposed Clauchrie Windfarm and (b) any other developments that have resulted in either payment, demand or both.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Glasgow Prestwick Airport is operated on a commercial basis and at arm’s length from the Scottish Government. These discussions are commercial matters for Prestwick Airport’s senior management team. As is common practice with other airports across Scotland, c…

2 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the proposed sale of Glasgow Prestwick Airport in February 2021 did not go through to completion.

Answer · Kate Forbes: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-02055 on 24 August 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-committe…

2 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether all revenue raised by Glasgow Prestwick Airport from windfarm companies was fully and transparently disclosed to potential purchasers and shown to be from those sources, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Discussions between Glasgow Prestwick Airport and parties interested in purchasing the business are commercially confidential. Any interested party will, however, be aware of all the sources of the airport’s revenue through their due diligence process with th…

29 Jul 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to provide governance and direction to local authorities to ensure that they are using the £500 million Bus Partnership Fund to promote bus use and support action on climate change.

Answer · Graeme Dey: Proposals to the Bus Partnership Fund are assessed against criteria which focus on the climate benefits of mode shift from private car to public transport. The criteria and weightings are as follows: • Evidence of congestion and ideas to reduce congestion, t…

29 Jul 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to provide funding for a further Transport Scotland exhaust retrofit scheme to support the bus sector in ensuring existing fleets can meet Low Emission Zone (LEZ) requirements.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Bus Emissions Abatement Retrofit Programme (BEAR) Phases 1, 2 & 3 has made available £12.2 million funding to support the costs of retrofitting of 762 mid-life buses and coaches to Euro 6 standard in Scottish Air Quality Management Areas from 2018 to 2021…

29 Jul 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to provide funding to support bus operators to invest in additional fleets.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government currently provides funding to support the acquisition of zero-emission buses. The Scottish Zero-Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB) is open to bids from any party, including bus operators, acquiring buses to run on registered local b…