Parliamentary questions
Brian Whittle
810 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
5 Mar 2024 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that Scotland’s further education sector is aligned with the needs of businesses within the renewables sector and other industries associated with the green economy.
4 Mar 2024 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government can take to help encourage children into sport and cultivate future world class athletes, in light of the recent successes of Josh Kerr and Jemma Reekie at the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Glasgow.
29 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what role Regional Land Use Partnerships will play in its proposed Land Reform Bill.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government recognises land is one of our most valuable assets. That is why the Scottish Land Rights and Responsibilities Statement articulates the Scottish Government’s vision for the ownership, use and management of land, setting out how we see …
29 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether more effective utilisation of Regional Land Use Partnerships could achieve any of the policy outcomes it aims to achieve in its proposed Land Reform Bill.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government recognises land is one of our most valuable assets. That is why the Scottish Land Rights and Responsibilities Statement articulates the Scottish Government’s vision for the ownership, use and management of land, setting out how we see …
29 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to conduct a review into the effectiveness of Regional Land Use Partnerships in relation to their ability to address the climate and biodiversity crises.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Regional Land Use Partnerships (RLUPs) pilots have been asked to adopt a natural capital approach to their work. This allows the pilot regions to explore how regional opportunities and priorities for land use can enhance, protect, mitigate and adapt to areas …
8 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6O-03036 by Angela Constance on 31 January 2024, whether the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs is aware that the Scottish Prison Service reportedly plans to derecognise Community as HMP Kilmarnock’s recognised trade union, and what the Sco…
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government is aware of the Scottish Prison Service’s (SPS) intention to maintain existing trade union arrangements for public sector prisons and the transferring staffing group will be covered by those existing arrangements. It is SPS’s view tha…
8 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6O-03036 by Angela Constance on 31 January 2024, whether the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs is aware of the reported correspondence between the recognised trade union at HMP Kilmarnock, Community, and the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), …
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government is aware of correspondence in which Community has raised concerns regarding aspects of the transition process and trade union recognition. Myself and the Scottish Prison Service have responded.
8 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the total anticipated costs associated with the transfer of HMP Kilmarnock into the public sector.
Answer · Angela Constance: The anticipated spend on the HMP Kilmarnock transition project for 2023-24 is £1.5m. In 2024-25, the total running costs of HMP Kilmarnock are anticipated around £18.6m, to accommodate around 600 people. This figure excludes the uplift for the 2023-24 and 20…
8 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6T-01780 by Angela Constance on 6 February 2024, what evidence was used to support its decision not to retender the contract for HMP Kilmarnock, and whether the current operator's reported offer to construct a new 240-bed wing at no public cost was con…
Answer · Angela Constance: The 25-year contract for HMP Kilmarnock under the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) for a privately constructed and operationally managed prison expires on 16 March 2024. The decision to bring HMP Kilmarnock into public management and ownership and not to tend…
8 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6O-03036 by Angela Constance on 31 January 2024, what assessment it has made of the anticipated (a) safety, (b) security, (c) care and (d) rehabilitation implications of its decision to bring HMP Kilmarnock into public ownership, and whether it will pu…
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) as the sole public sector operator of prisons in Scotland has a strong track record in keeping prisons safe and secure with a focus on care and rehabilitation. They are well placed to deliver quality services at HMP Kilmarnoc…
23 Jan 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what evidence it used as the basis for its decision to bring HMP Kilmarnock into public ownership.
17 Jan 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the announcements made in its Budget, what action it is taking to ensure that well-established community mental health services are appropriately funded.
11 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how long the Energy Consents Unit takes on average to determine applications following referral from local authorities.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Scottish Ministers determine applications for consent made under the Electricity Act 1989. The Scottish Government does not collate data on determination timescales following a planning authority’s response to an application consultation. Progression to deter…
11 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide an update on the planning application currently being considered by the Energy Consents Unit under reference ECU00004523.
Answer · Gillian Martin: In June 2022, Scottish Ministers received an application from Naturalis Energy under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 for the proposed Knockkippen Wind Farm, to be located within East Ayrshire. Currently, discussions are ongoing between the Scottish Gov…
9 Jan 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how its fiscal policies support the development and growth of the rural economy.
21 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S6W-23685 and S6W-23686 by Graeme Dey on 21 December 2023, in light of the budgets for the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) and Skills Development Scotland (SDS) being reduced in the Scottish Budget 2024-25, what its position is on how the Scottish Budg…
Answer · Graeme Dey: In 2024-25 the Scottish Government is investing over £2.4 billion to support our colleges, universities and skills system, this includes funding for Skills Development Scotland and the Scottish Funding Council. As set out in the answers to previous questions…
20 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average time is that it takes for a Home Energy Scotland (a) grant and (b) loan to release funds to customers from the point of installation, (i) nationally and (ii) broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: In the most recent reporting period, which covered from start October 2023 to end November 2023, under the contract between Scottish Government and Energy Saving Trust, 85% of customers had their payments issued within 10 working days of submitting of a fully…
20 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average processing time is for a Home Energy Scotland (a) grant and (b) loan application, (i) nationally and (ii) broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: In the most recent reporting period, which covered from start October 2023 to end November 2023, under the contract between Scottish Government and Energy Saving Trust, 92% of applicants had their applications processed within 15 working days. Several schemes…
18 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the ClimateXChange report, Clean heat and energy efficiency workforce assessment, finding that "Most small businesses interviewed had a low awareness of current funding available for training and upskilling/reskilling, only mentioning the Flexible Workforce Development Fund …
Answer · Graeme Dey: Information on public sector support available to businesses in Scotland can be found on FindBusinessSupport.gov.scot. Skills Development Scotland (SDS) frequently refer businesses to this resource to identify the funding and training that is available to …
18 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that low-carbon heating systems and energy efficiency measures are installed to a high quality level.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24055 on 17 January 2024. 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-committ…
18 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many (a) insulation engineers, (b) thermal insulation engineers, (c) glaziers, (d) heating and ventilation engineers, (e) plumbing and heating engineers, (f) electricians and (g) Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) assessors are currently working in Scotla…
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. The Office for National Statistics, Broad Industry Group Region by broad industry group (Standard Industrial Classification) – Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES): Table 4 - Office for Nation…
18 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to make Scotland an attractive place to open businesses within the low-carbon heat and energy efficiency sector.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The recent ClimateXChange Report shows potential for businesses in the sector, the proposed Heat in Buildings Bill will underpin increasing demand in sector giving more confidence to businesses to invest which will be supported by other action such as that se…
18 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken regarding any impact of an aging ferry fleet on the levels of freight weight capacity on each route.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Carrying capacities and route requirements are kept under periodic review by operators and CMAL as the vessels’ owner.
18 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many people are (a) directly and (b) indirectly employed within the thermal insulation sector.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. The Office for National Statistics, Broad Industry Group Region by broad industry group (Standard Industrial Classification) – Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES): Table 4 - Office for Nation…
18 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the 2022 ClimateXChange report, Clean Heat and Energy Efficiency Workforce Assessment, which scenario the Scottish economy is currently tracking in terms of uptake of thermal insulation measures.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The scenarios were developed to understand the potential workforce requirements in Scotland to meet projected clean heat and energy efficiency targets. These were indicative forecast scenarios and are not expectations/projections of future demand and for this…
18 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to gathering data on double glazing and draught-proofing measures fitted in Scotland's buildings.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government collects data on double glazing and draught proofing of loft hatches within occupied homes through the annual Scottish House Condition Survey.
18 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding currently exists for energy efficiency SMEs to upskill or re-skill their current workforce.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: Information on public sector support available to businesses in Scotland can be found on FindBusinessSupport.gov.scot.
18 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the 2022 ClimateXChange report, Clean Heat and Energy Efficiency Workforce Assessment, which scenario the Scottish economy is currently tracking in terms of uptake of heat networks and heat pumps.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The scenarios were developed to understand the potential workforce requirements in Scotland to meet projected clean heat and energy efficiency targets. These were indicative forecast scenarios and are not expectations/projections of future demand and for this…
18 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the report that it commissioned from ClimateXChange, Clean Heat and Energy Efficiency Workforce Assessment, published in 2022, did not include an assessment of workforce capability to support all aspects of installation and maintenance of low-carbon heat and energy effici…
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The scope of the research was commissioned to understand current and future workforce capabilities required to meet projected installation targets only. This was in line with the targets initially set out within the Heat in Buildings Strategy.
18 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of rural homes it anticipates have the potential to access district heating networks under the current proposals within its consultation on a Heat in Buildings Bill.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The First National Assessment of Potential Heat Network Zones (2022) found that up to 340,000 homes may be located in areas suitable for heat networks in future. This included over 11,000 homes in rural areas, and more information can be found in the First Na…