Chamber and committees

The Heat in Buildings Strategy confirms our intention to introduce – subject to consultation later this year – regulations requiring Scotland’s homes and other buildings to meet EPC Band C equivalent by 2033, where that is technically feasible and cost effective.

We have previously consulted, in December 2019, on proposals to introduce minimum energy efficiency standards in owner occupied housing, which included potential options for defining cost effectiveness and technical feasibility. We are further developing these definitions ahead of the planned consultation later this year, and in light of comments received to the 2019 consultation, the findings of which were published in February 2021.

The Scottish Government is keen to support businesses in ways we can and since the start of the pandemic have provided support of more than £4.4bn including COVID-19 non-domestic rates reliefs which have saved businesses around £1.6bn in reduced rates bills since 1 April 2020. To date we have spent almost half a billion pounds more in support of Scottish businesses than the funding we received from the UK Government for that purpose.

Additionally, the Scottish Government has worked in partnership with NHS 24 to develop a long COVID information resource on NHS inform, in order to provide people living with long COVID with clear and accessible guidance about self-management. This resource includes specific advice on navigating a return to work and signposts to information developed by the Society of Occupational Medicine and Acas, the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.

The National Wellbeing Hub has also produced guidance for employers and managers. This platform also features interviews with people affected by long COVID sharing first hand experiences of how a supportive and successful return to work can be achieved.

Policy relating to mobile telecommunications is currently reserved to the UK Government and is regulated by Ofcom.

However the Scottish Government recognises the vital importance of mobile connectivity for rural, remote and island communities and businesses. Through our Scottish 4G Infill Programme, we are investing £28.75M to deliver up to 55 4G masts in selected mobile ‘notspots’ around Scotland.

The Scottish Government continue work closely with the UK government and operators to ensure that resilience of the telecoms network in Scotland is a priority.

The Scottish Government is aware of the impact the necessary public health restrictions have had on businesses, including the outbound travel industry. Since the start of the pandemic, businesses have benefitted from more than £4.4bn in support from the Scottish Government. Eligible travel agents benefited from sectoral grants of up to £25,000 per premises in addition to other support including Strategic Framework Business Fund grants, Restart Grants, Non-Domestic Rates relief and furlough payments for staff.

We recently announced £3.5m for outbound travel agents as part of our support for businesses impacted by the measures introduced to control the spread of Omicron. Details of the eligibility, and how and when to apply will be published on the Scottish Government website and on the Find Business Support website as soon as they are available.

The Scottish Government is aware of the impact the necessary public health restrictions have had on businesses. We announced £375m of support for businesses impacted by measures introduced to control the spread of Omicron and this includes £19m for close contact businesses. This close contact fund is targeted at those who have been the most affected by the updated public health guidance introduced from 9 December 2021 to 24 January 2022, for example beauty services, hairdressers and wellness services. Driving instructors are not in scope at this stage.

We have not assessed the impact that on-site solar generation can have on reducing household energy bills. However, we are currently undertaking research (due to published this year) to examine the extent to which building level storage technologies could help to reduce householder energy costs, when installed alongside zero emission heat technologies. The research, although not specific to solar PV or the savings made by solar PV installations, does take into account pairing solar PV with storage.

We also continue to support microgeneration measures as part of our Heat in Buildings Delivery schemes such as Area Based Schemes, Home Energy Scotland, Warmer Homes Scotland, the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) and the Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme (LCITP).

We recognise the importance of energy generated from solar PV in contributing to the decarbonisation of Scotland’s energy supply and contributing to the just transition to a net zero emissions society by 2045.
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‎The Scottish Government is currently carrying out a substantial review of permitted development rights (PDR) in Scotland. Through this phased programme, we are taking forward new and extended PDR for a wide range of development types - including solar panels.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-05679 on 27 January 2022. 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/written-questions-and-answers

We do not have the information requested as we are still in the test phase of this programme. In this government’s first 100 days, we established ten pilot schemes to test how best to provide free bikes for school age children who cannot afford one. These pilots will run for up to 12 months, testing different approaches and delivery models, which will then be independently evaluated, to help inform a national rollout. Of the mentioned council areas, Shetland is currently covered by one of the ten pilots. They have recently received a stock of 25 bikes and are waiting on a delivery of adaptive bikes. The pilot team are currently working to identify any eligible children in the council area and begin issuing bikes to them as soon as possible.

We will consult on the draft Islands Energy Strategy during the summer of 2022.

The Strategy will set out an approach to supporting island residents and communities to decarbonise, and to develop renewable energy solutions that can promote resilience, enhance sustainability, and meet their energy needs.

In developing the draft Strategy, we will engage with our island stakeholders, to ensure we reflect their differing needs and priorities and work alongside the Carbon Neutral Islands initiative to maximise impact and shared learning.