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: S4W-09406

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 20 September 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what action can be taken regarding tracks for agriculture or forestry purposes located outwith designated sites.

Planning permission is required for constructing hill tracks, including all tracks accessed by the public. At present certain private enterprises - such as agricultural and forestry operations - have permitted development rights, which enable hill tracks to be constructed without the need to apply for a formal grant of planning permission.

It is for planning authorities to determine whether or not a particular track is in breach of planning control and to take enforcement action if they consider it necessary.

Question reference: S4W-09407

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 20 September 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what the maximum length and width is for tracks for agriculture or forestry purposes that can be laid without the need for planning consent.

Question reference: S4W-09403

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 20 September 2012

To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce the findings of the Renewables Obligation (Scotland) Banding Review.

Question reference: S4O-01321

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 September 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 September 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce waiting times for people who have been referrred for psychological therapies.

Question reference: S4W-09171

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 August 2012
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 6 September 2012

To ask the Scottish Government whether the standardisation of the equipment used in solar water heating installations could reduce consumer costs.

The Scottish Government supports standards for microgeneration technologies, including solar hot water systems. There are many benefits to standardisation, and solar hot water systems must be registered under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme or Solar Keymark to be eligible for funding through Scottish Government and UK Government schemes. In order to be certified under these schemes they must meet European Standards for solar collectors.

http://www.microgenerationcertification.org/

http://www.solarkeymark.org/

We are not aware of analysis undertaken on the specific impact of standardisation on consumer costs, as costs are affected by a range of factors. Standardisation has the potential to contribute to reduced costs by increasing consumer confidence, growing the market and hence lowering costs through economies of scale. Certification also ensures that consumers can be confident that their equipment will meet minimum standards for efficiency. However, standards may also increase costs in order for manufacturers to meet the requirements of the standards.

In addition, wider market forces may well have a bigger impact on costs, for example the global cost of copper has risen over the past few years which impacts on the costs of solar hot water systems. Delays to the domestic Renewable Heat Incentive have also constrained demand for heat technologies, but once introduced this is likely to have a bigger impact on market growth than standards alone.

Question reference: S4W-09174

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 August 2012
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 6 September 2012

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that requiring solar water heating on every new residential build would make it more affordable.

The most appropriate and cost effective way of reducing emissions from buildings depends on a number of factors, as set out in our planning and building standards systems. Scottish Planning Policy (paragraph 44) places energy generation within a holistic framework and states “The use of energy efficient, microgenerating and decentralised renewable energy systems will be components in the move towards reducing emissions, but energy efficient design of buildings will make a significant contribution to reducing emissions. Location, siting, orientation, design, materials and insulation are important factors in the energy efficiency of buildings.”

The Scottish Government has also set challenging minimum levels for carbon dioxide and energy performance in Scottish building regulations for new buildings. The approach emphasises the importance of improving the building fabric as well as considering low and zero carbon generating technologies to achieve the standards in the most appropriate and cost effective manner possible. Although the use of such technologies is not a requirement, current emissions targets for new building mean that such technologies are becoming more common. We consider that this approach is the best way to support growth of the market for technologies such as solar water heating, ensuring solutions are best designed to meet individual consumer’s needs.

Question reference: S4W-09169

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 August 2012
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 6 September 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is considering to increase the number of companies that can install solar water heating.

Over the last two years, the number of businesses based in Scotland registered to install solar water heating under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme has increased from 46 in January 2010 to 112 as of July 2012. A further 187 UK companies operate in Scotland.

This demonstrates the growth in the market and the Scottish Government’s is supporting continued development, as set out in the Microgeneration Strategy for Scotland published on 22 June 2012. Alongside the Strategy, we announced an increase of £5 million in our Home Renewables Loans scheme targetted at renewable heat, with an increase in the loans available for heat technologies, such as solar water heating, to £10,000. Loans are also available to small and medium sized business to help them with the capital costs of technologies such as solar water heating.

Question reference: S4W-09173

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 August 2012
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 6 September 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of potential benefits to manufacturers of solar water heating systems if demand were to increase by (a) 10%, (b) 20% and (c) 50%.

The Scottish Government has not assessed the potential benefits to manufacturers of solar water heating of increased demand at these rates. The Scottish Government supports continued growth of the market for solar water heating and welcomes the development of manufacturing base in Scotland, with AES Solar in Forres and Sustainable Technologies in Nairn. A total of 22 manufacturers of solar hot water systems are registered in the UK under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme and more across Europe under Solar Keymark. We recognise that development of the market both in Scotland and globally will benefit manufacturers and will continue to work with industry as we take forward the recommendations from the Microgeneration Strategy for Scotland to ensure that we maximise the benefits to Scottish businesses and consumers.

Question reference: S4W-09170

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 August 2012
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 6 September 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is giving to small businesses considering installing solar water heating on their premises.

Our Small Business Loan Scheme, managed by the Energy Saving Trust (EST), provides loans to businesses to install energy efficiency and renewables measures. Since the scheme was introduced in late 2008, 26 loans totalling £256,311 have been paid for solar water heating in business premises.

The Scottish Government also sponsors EST to deliver the Small Business Advice service in Scotland, providing advice and recommendations on energy efficiency and renewables measures. A total of 4,347 businesses have received advice since 2006-07 and the most recent evaluation indicates growing interest in renewables, with two thirds of businesses advised by EST receiving recommendations on renewables in 2010-11, up from 38% in 2008-09.

Question reference: S4W-09172

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 August 2012
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 6 September 2012

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the cost of accreditation is an impediment to companies considering being solar water heating installers.

There has been a significant increase in businesses based in Scotland registered to install solar water heating under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme, from 46 in January 2010 to 112 as of July 2012. We therefore do not consider accreditation is an impediment to companies becoming installers. The Scottish Government wishes to increase uptake of microgeneration across Scotland and we will continue to work with industry, in particular through the Microgeneration Task Group, to take forward recommendations in the Microgeneration Strategy for Scotland.