Question reference: S6W-19241
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 16 June 2023
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Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 3 July 2023
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to increase funding for skills related to retrofitting, in light of its announced policy to ban gas boilers in all new building developments, and, if so, whether it can provide details.
Answer
Ensuring that we have a suitably qualified workforce in place will be imperative for delivering a smooth rollout of energy efficiency and zero emission heating measures which will support us to achieve our net zero ambitions.
We currently offer support to the sector through a number of schemes which includes the Low Carbon Skills Grant which is available to heating and plumbing apprentices to undertake heat pump training as part of their qualification.
To further ensure the quality of works carried out we also provide funding to assist Scottish SMEs installing heat pumps in achieving MCS certification for the first time through the MCS Certification Fund.
We will continue to keep our offers of support under review to ensure that they are aligned at a local level with business needs and future local demands.