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-06175

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 9 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in cases of restrictions of the use of general licences on certain land-holdings, where “the regulator has lost trust or confidence”, as stated by NatureScot, what its position is on how the regulator can regain enough trust and confidence to issue individual licences to employees of that same land-holding to undertake the same activities prohibited by the restriction.

Individual Licences can be issued on land-holdings where General Licences have been restricted due to the level of control held by the licensing authority in the case of the former. General Licences by their nature require a higher degree of trust on the part of the licensing authority as the user of the licence is not required to provide details of the activities being undertaken under the licence. When an application is made for an Individual Licence details such as number of a species to be controlled, time and place are specified on the licence. The licence will also usually require the applicant to report on the activities carried out.

Question reference: S6W-06176

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 9 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether individual licences to carry out control of certain generalist predator species should be issued to employees of landholdings, when the general licence allowing this same activity has been suspended by NatureScot.

Decisions on licence applications are taken by NatureScot on a case-by-case basis taking into account all relevant information. The arrangements for restricting the use of General Licences are set out in detail on the NatureScot website. We consider these arrangements to be a fair and proportionate response where there is evidence of wildlife crime. We do not think an automatic restriction on all other licence applications is necessary or justified.

An individual licence may be issued, where a general licence restriction has been imposed, where there is evidence that the licence is required to deliver legitimate land management or other work. Applicants must provide detail as to the requirement for an individual licence, therefore, individual licences allow more control by the licensing authority. Details such as number of a species to be controlled, time and place can be specified on the licence. The licence will also usually require the applicant to report on the activities carried out.

For example, NatureScot has previously issued individual licences to employees of landholdings where general licenses restriction are in place, for the prevention of serious damage to livestock. In this case for example the licence was for heavily restricted use only in specified locations.

Question reference: S6W-06053

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 2 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether the new ScotRail operator, ScotRail Trains Ltd, will honour the commitment to staff, reportedly offered under the existing franchise agreement, to no compulsory redundancies until at least 2025.

We absolutely remain committed to our policy position, which remains that public bodies should work with their staff representatives to negotiate no compulsory agreements for 2022-23 where it is practical to do so.

For a new body like ScotRail Trains Ltd, which does not have an existing agreement on no compulsory redundancies, I would expect there to be negotiations on this as part of the Public Sector Pay Policy discussions, which are crucial to the change that is needed as ScotRail comes under Scottish Government control on 1 April 2022.

Question reference: S6W-06290

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 24 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what the total energy generation capacity is in Scotland of (a) domestic rooftop solar installation, (b) commercial rooftop solar installation and (c) ground mounted solar PV schemes.

There is approximately 400MW of solar PV operational in Scotland, equating to 3% of total operational capacity.

As of 2020, there are at least 60,000 domestic level solar PV installations in Scotland with a capacity of just over 200MW, and around 8000 solar thermal installations.

Of the remaining operational Solar PV, approximately 12,000 of these are community and locally owned PV installations. With around 3500 community and locally owned solar thermal projects, these are typically found across housing associations, public sector, communities and other charitable organisations.

The Scottish Government does not hold this data on commercial or ground mounted only solar PV schemes.

There is approximately 350 MW of solar capacity in pipeline in Scotland, including 32MW in planning, 44MW under construction and 281 awaiting construction, representing 2.25% of the overall renewables pipeline in Scotland. This will take the total capacity of both installed and pipeline of solar in Scotland to in the region of 750MW.

Question reference: S6O-00788

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 February 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how it is ensuring that the COVID-19 certification scheme records the vaccination status of people who received their vaccine outwith Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-06548

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 11 February 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 23 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how it apportions and spends the revenue raised in Scotland from Vehicle Excise Duty.

Question reference: S6W-06080

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 22 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to whether it would be appropriate for consequences to be imposed on employers who have been proven to have contravened the Fair Work Convention Framework.

The Fair Work Convention’s Framework defines fair work and underpins our Fair Work policy, but it is not designed to be enforceable. Moreover, employment law is currently reserved to the UK Government, and in the absence of employment powers we continue to deliver our Fair Work Action Plan to embed work practices in workplaces across Scotland.

Through our Fair Work First approach, fair work criteria is being applied to public sector grants, other funding and contracts where it is relevant and proportionate to do so. This approach encourages employers to adopt fair work practices, rather than penalising those who cannot and provides the best opportunity to engage and support employers.

As part of the Bute House Agreement , and subject to limits on devolved competence, by Summer 2022, we will make it a requirement for the recipients of public sector grants to pay at least the real Living Wage and provide appropriate channels for effective workers’ voice, such as trade union recognition. We continue to work with the Fair Work Convention and other key stakeholders to strengthen conditionality and ensure it is proportionate and effective in delivering real benefits.

Question reference: S6W-06288

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on limiting permitted development rights for rooftop solar PV at 50kW.

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.

Question reference: S6W-06228

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 04 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 22 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has assessed the impact of energy-efficient storage systems, including thermal storage cylinders, electric batteries and thermal batteries, on the widespread deployment of low-carbon heating.

In the Heat in Buildings Strategy, we committed to carry out research to understand the extent to which the deployment of secondary technologies alongside zero emissions heating systems could help to optimise operational performance, minimise energy consumption and reduce end user fuel costs. This research is underway, and seeks to understand the technical feasibility and cost effectiveness of heat batteries, electric batteries, and thermal storage cylinders when installed alongside a range of zero emissions primary heating technologies; both independently of and combined with microgeneration technologies such as solar PV and solar thermal. We expect to publish this research this year.

Question reference: S6W-06229

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 04 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the role of rooftop solar and storage in local electrical distribution networks, to support the electrification of heat and transport.

There has been no specific evaluation of the role of rooftop solar and storage in local electrical distribution networks to date. However, in the Bute House Agreement, the Scottish Government committed to set out a vision for the future of solar in Scotland, in consultation with the sector. As we develop this vision over the coming months, we will consider the role of solar in the delivery of a just transition to net zero, including exploring the role that solar technology could play in supporting the decarbonisation of heat and transport, as well as any impacts on local distribution networks.

Also to note, in the Heat in Buildings Strategy, we committed to carry out research to understand the extent to which the deployment of secondary technologies alongside zero emissions heating systems could help to optimise operational performance, minimise energy consumption and reduce end user fuel costs. This research is underway, and seeks to understand the technical feasibility and cost effectiveness of heat batteries, electric batteries, and thermal storage cylinders when installed alongside a range of zero emissions primary heating technologies; both independently of and combined with microgeneration technologies such as solar PV and solar thermal. We expect to publish this research this year.