Brian Whittle

1 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the suitability of (a) whole-house renewable heating systems and (b) other renewable solutions for retrofitting on existing housing stock, and how many existing homes it estimates there currently are that are not suitable for retrofitting these systems.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: On behalf of the Scottish Government, Element Energy conducted analysis of the technical suitability of low-carbon heating technologies in Scottish domestic buildings. A copy of this report is available here: Scottish Government (2020). Technical Feasibility …

1 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of existing sectoral skills within recycling services for heat pumps, and what steps it is taking to ensure that the sector is prepared for future demand.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: All the current means of heating homes and buildings require replacement and recycling of units and component parts, and this will continue to be the case.

1 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the number of registered energy efficiency businesses in Scotland, and how many qualify as SMEs, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: There is no requirement for energy efficiency businesses to be registered. Businesses may become TrustMark registered and information on these businesses is available on the TrustMark website.

1 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that sufficient numbers of qualified insulation contractors are available to meet demand.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: Our Heat in Buildings Supply Chains Delivery Plan sets out practical steps that we will take to support the growth of the green heat sector. We continue to work in partnership with the sector to ensure that the appropriate support and training provision are a…

1 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-21208 by Patrick Harvie on 26 September 2023, how many households have received the rural uplift within the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme in each month since September 2022.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The following table sets out the total number of applications approved and paid for the rural uplift in each month from September 2022 to October 2023. The rural uplift has only been included as part of the HES Grant and Loan Scheme since the launch of the S…

1 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many students who have completed energy efficiency qualifications have remained in Scotland and are currently employed within the energy efficiency sector.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government does not hold or have access to information on how many students have completed specific energy efficiency qualifications or where they are currently working. As energy efficiency would typically form part of a wider course syllabus fo…

1 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) certified installers are employed within Scotland, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Renewables Installer Finder tool, funded by Scottish Government, provides information on Microgeneration Certification Scheme certified installers who operate in Scotland and wish to list their information on the tool. The tool can be found at: Renewable…

1 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether regular maintenance and servicing are included as terms in the contracts for the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: Funding agreements issued for the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme are between applicants and Energy Savings Trust, who administer the scheme on behalf of the Scottish Government. Funding provided is for the installation of approved measures only. …

1 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of existing recycling services for gas boilers, and what steps it is taking to ensure that the sector is prepared for future demand.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: All the current means of heating homes and buildings require replacement and recycling of units and component parts, and this will continue to be the case.

1 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase awareness of Home Energy Scotland schemes among people aged over 55.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-22629 on 16 November 2023 for information on the full range of the ongoing actions we are taking to raise awareness of our schemes. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament…

31 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it considers the definition of invasive non-native species to be, and whether this aligns with the definition given by the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.

Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government considers the definition of invasive non-native species to be that provided in the GB Invasive Non-Native Species Strategy and that this does indeed align with the definition given by the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. The Stra…

31 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of any non-native tree species seeding from commercial plantations into adjacent or nearby habitats, including any significant adverse impacts on (a) biodiversity, (b) other environmental interests and (c) social or economic interests.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Assessments are made at local level of the potential impacts of non-native species on adjacent or nearby habitats, through implementation of the Forestry Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations (EIA), and the implementation of the UK Forestry Standard (UK…

31 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of any seeding of non-native tree species from commercial plantations on peatland restoration measures and associated carbon sequestration and peatland restoration targets.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Assessments are made at local level of the potential impacts of non-native species on peatland sites and other priority habitats, through implementation of the Forestry Environmental Impact Assessment regulations, and the implementation of the UK Forestry Sta…

25 Oct 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on plans to develop transport infrastructure in the South Scotland region, including in relation to an upgrade of the A75 and rail links from Ayr to Stranraer and Cairnryan.

18 Sep 2023 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to reported comments from COSLA and council leaders questioning the achievability of net zero targets without a detailed plan and adequate funding.

7 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the public inquiry report into the conduct of Glasgow Prestwick Airport, relating to payments demanded by the airport from local windfarm developers, which reportedly brings into question the nature of these demands; whether it was aware of these negotiations and …

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government is aware of commentary provided in the formal reports of the Public Local Inquiries into the Sanquhar II and Clauchrie windfarm planning applications. The Inquiry's focus was not regarding the conduct of Glasgow Prestwick Airport. Gla…

9 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of CodeClan entering liquidation, what assessment it has made of how the loss of the digital skills academy will impact its ambition to establish Scotland as a leading destination for tech companies.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Codebase, the operator of Scotland's Techscaler network, has acquired CodeClan’s training materials and other assets. The Scottish Government has agreed to provide financial support to Codebase for the explicit purpose of allowing students who have paid for c…

9 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total value of its investments in CodeClan were.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Since 2015, CodeClan have received a total of £3.03m from Scottish Government.  

5 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is available to private water suppliers to assess any impacts of developments on the surrounding hydrology, in order to ensure that developments do not introduce any point-source contamination.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: General and technical information on private water supplies is available on the Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland’s website at Technical Guidance and Information (dwqr.scot) and on the Scottish Government's website at Private water supplies (my…

5 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what monitoring processes are in place (a) before and (b) after the development of areas near private water supplies, and who is responsible for any such monitoring.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Dependent on the development, there are processes in place that require consideration to be given to the impact on the surrounding water environment during planning stages. Information about the type and location of private water supplies should be considered…

5 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures the enforcement of private drinking water standards.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The enforcement of drinking water standards for private supplies, as set out in the Water Intended for Human Consumption (Private Supply) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 and The Private Water Supply Regulations (Scotland) 2006, is a matter for local authorities. …

5 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who has responsibility for (a) monitoring the quality of private water supplies and (b) the enforcement of water quality, and how these organisations work collaboratively with each other.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The monitoring of the quality of drinking water from private water supplies is the responsibility of their owners and users. For larger supplies and those used for commercial or public activities, the drinking water must be sampled once every year. This manda…

31 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it will take to ensure that local authorities use the infrastructure levy for blue-green infrastructure as well as traditional grey infrastructure.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The infrastructure levy powers in the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 would, once in force, provide local authorities with an additional mechanism for seeking financial contributions towards the cost of infrastructure. The definition of infrastructure in the Act…

26 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made towards delivering its commitment to invest £500 million in bus priority infrastructure, and whether it anticipates any further projects to convert motorway hard shoulders into bus lanes as part of this investment.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Through the Bus Partnership Fund, Transport Scotland has awarded an initial £26.47m of funding to Bus Partnerships to develop and deliver bus priority measures on both local and trunk roads. The Scottish Government remains committed to providing further fundi…

24 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19064 by Maree Todd on 26 June 2023, what assessment it has made of the (a) availability and (b) impact of existing talking therapy provision to improve the mental health and wellbeing of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and what its posi…

Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to S6W-20201 on 14 August 2023. 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-committees/questi…

24 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19062 by Michael Matheson on 20 June 2023, what steps it will take to ensure that patients with chronic kidney disease are not diagnosed late, in accordance with the guidelines on diagnosis and treatment options for the disease from the National Ins…

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government expects NHS Boards and clinicians to adhere to current guidelines to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment of chronic kidney disease in accordance with authoritative sources such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence…

24 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19062 by Michael Matheson on 20 June 2023, how it will ensure that NHS boards adhere to the guidelines on diagnosis and treatment options for chronic kidney disease from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the UK Kidney …

Answer · Jenni Minto: Clinical guideline implementation is the responsibility of NHS Boards. The ultimate decision about a particular clinical procedure or treatment will always depend on each individual patient’s condition, circumstances and wishes, and the clinical judgement of …

24 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19061 by Maree Todd on 26 June 2023, what assessment it has made of the impact of psychosocial support currently given to patients with chronic kidney disease, and what its position is on whether there is a need for this support to be improved. 

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government expects all NHS Boards in Scotland to adhere to current guidelines and follow best practice when providing psychosocial care for people with chronic kidney disease. We published our new Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy on 29 Jun…

11 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates that its breast cancer screening programme for women over the age of 70 will resume in full.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), an independent advisory group which makes recommendations on all screening programmes in the UK, have never recommended routine breast screening for women over 71 years. The Committee has concluded that there is n…

21 Jun 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the role that the third sector plays in supporting education and developing skills.