Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S6W-26642

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 April 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 1 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what security, guarantee or other assurance was provided to Biffa in relation to its obligations under the contract that it entered into with Circularity Scotland, and whether it will publish the full details of these, including any letters or other written documentation.

The contract between Biffa and Circularity Scotland Ltd was a contract between two private companies. The Scottish Government provided no security, guarantee or other assurance to Biffa in relation to its obligations under the contract that it entered into with Circularity Scotland.

The Scottish Government regularly confirmed our continuing commitment to DRS in Parliament, in public statements, and to those businesses and other stakeholders involved in the implementation of DRS. A letter was sent to Biffa in May 2022 confirming the government’s commitment to DRS.

Question reference: S6W-26645

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 April 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 30 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the oral evidence by representatives of the Scottish National Investment Bank (SNIB) to the Economy and Fair Work Committee on 21 June 2023, what information it has on when the loan of £9 million from SNIB to Circularity Scotland was drawn down, including what sums were paid to Circularity Scotland by SNIB and on what dates, and whether it will publish any documents that it has on this matter, including any correspondence that it has had with SNIB regarding any such payments and the loan generally.

The Scottish Government has routine and regular discussions with the Scottish National Investment Bank on a range of matters. However, the Bank makes independent decisions on individual investments and the terms attached to those investments following extensive due diligence and risk assessment in line with other commercial investors and other development banks. Scottish Ministers and officials have no role in those decisions and/or the relationship between the Bank and the businesses in which it invests. The Scottish Government therefore does not hold information on when the loan to CSL was drawn down.

Question reference: S6W-26644

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 April 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 30 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of it stating that the UK Government is responsible for the Deposit Return Scheme in Scotland not proceeding, which will reportedly result in an estimated loss of £9 million of public funding, whether, following the completion of the liquidation of Circularity Scotland, it will attempt to recover any such losses from the UK Government.

Question reference: S6W-26646

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 April 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 30 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the oral evidence by the Chair of the Scottish National Investment Bank (SNIB) to the Economy and Fair Work Committee on 21 June 2023, in which he referred to SNIB's "notes" on its engagement with the UK Government on the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020, whether it will publish any information that it has on these "notes", and whether it will publish any correspondence that it has had with the Scottish National Investment Bank on the Act.

Question reference: S6W-26643

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 April 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 30 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to sue the UK Government in respect of any losses that the (a) Scottish Government and (b) Scottish National Investment Bank incurs as a result of the Deposit Return Scheme not proceeding.

Question reference: S6W-26641

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 April 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 29 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the most recent estimate of the sum available to be distributed to creditors of Circularity Scotland from the liquidators, from the assets held at the time of the liquidation, which were reported to be £2.1 million, and what information it has received on the total level of fees and outlays (a) paid to date and (b) still to be paid to the liquidators.

Question reference: S6W-26748

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 April 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 24 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how much the "hate monster" public information campaign has cost.

The ‘Hate Monster’ is a Police Scotland campaign which ran for 6 weeks in Spring last year. The Scottish Government does not hold this information.

I will assume you are referring to the Scottish Government’s ‘Hate Hurts’ campaign which ran in March. The campaign showed the impact that hate crime has on those affected to help people recognise their experiences, highlighted the forms that hate crime can take and encouraged those who are witnesses to, or victims of hate crime to report it.

The campaign sends a message of reassurance to all communities in Scotland that hate crime will not be tolerated. c£390k was invested in the ‘Hate Hurts’ national campaign which included a broadcast and print.

Question reference: S6W-26677

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 April 2024
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 24 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of the (a) names and (b) occupations or roles of the members of the Zero Emission Social Housing Taskforce.

Question reference: S6W-26487

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 17 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the proposals for minimum energy efficiency standards and deadlines to be imposed from 2028 under the forthcoming Heat in Buildings Bill, what its response is to reports that the proposals could have the effect of forcing existing landlords to withdraw properties from the private rental market, and whether it has carried out any study or research into whether the proposals could have the potential impact of reducing the number of properties available for private let.

We are aware of the important role privately rented homes play as part of Scotland’s housing stock, and the wider pressures on this sector. We will continue to engage with the sector on our proposals, taking account of the wider environment in which it operates.

The recent consultation on a Heat in Buildings Bill included a proposal that a minimum energy efficiency standard could be met by installing a straightforward list of energy efficiency measures. Any homeowner who had installed these measures – or as many of them as are feasible for the type of home they live in – would be considered to meet the new standard. This final list of measures will be developed to prioritise those that have most impact for homes with the lowest amount of cost and disruption. This will provide a simple approach for landlords and other homeowners to follow, and to comply with the standard.

The Scottish Government has commissioned research through ClimateXChange to investigate the potential impact of the proposed Heat in Buildings Bill on the Scottish Housing Market. The scope of this project includes an investigation into the impact on the private rental market. As part of this project, researchers are conducting interviews with stakeholders from the property market, including from the rental sector. This research is currently being carried out, and findings will be published later this year.

Question reference: S6W-26485

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 17 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the proposals included in the forthcoming Heat in Buildings Bill, whether it has received any representations regarding whether (a) they could adversely impact upon the mortgage market, (b) mortgage valuation assessments could have to be changed for Scotland as a result of the proposals requiring homebuyers to commit to upgrading to clean energy systems, (c) they could lead to higher interest rates for mortgage holders in Scotland compared with the rest of the UK, and (d) they could create a reported "material shock to the Scottish housing market that could have a detrimental impact on consumers and the wider economy".

The Scottish Government recently consulted on proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill, this consultation closed on 8 March 2024. We are currently analysing all responses received. This analysis will inform the further design of policy provisions together with any feedback gathered during wider consultation engagement events and workshops. All responses will be published in full, in accordance with Scottish Government guidance.

Ahead of the launch of the consultation and in preparing the proposals, I met with several retail banks to discuss their role in supporting consumers in meeting the costs of the proposed standards. In addition, I attended a Scottish Financial Enterprise hosted roundtable to discuss lenders' role and the potential impacts that the proposals may have on the housing market. As we finalise our proposals we will take this feedback into account.

In addition, the Scottish Government has commissioned research through ClimateXChange to investigate the potential impact of the proposed Heat in Buildings Bill on the Scottish Housing Market. The scope of this project includes an investigation into the impact on the mortgage market. This research is currently being carried out, and findings will be published later this year.