Question reference: S6W-20268
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 28 July 2023
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Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 25 August 2023
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether its reported proposals to require households to improve their energy efficiency rating, including potentially penalising the use of gas boilers, is compliant with human rights legislation.
Answer
The Heat in Buildings Strategy, published in October 2021, set out a pathway to decarbonise Scotland’s buildings by 2045. The Scottish Government’s ambition, as part of a phased approach, is to see homes reach a minimum energy efficiency standard equivalent to EPC C by 2033 and transition away from the use of direct emission heating systems by 2045.
We are seeking to achieve this through a combination of clear regulations and financial support. These proposals, and any measures which accompany them, will be both fair and proportionate.
In Scotland, civil and political rights are protected by the Human Rights Act 1998, alongside provisions in the Scotland Act 1998. These rights derive from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). There is an overarching duty on Ministers to comply with the law, including international law and treaty obligations. Any legislation introduced by the Scottish Parliament will be compliant with these Acts.