Chamber and committees

In order to obtain accurate data from projects funded through Scotland’s Heat Network Fund and the Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme we need to gather information for a reasonable time period post commissioning of the project to ensure accurate data is collated. As we do not have a full data set, we are unable to provide a reliable figure at this time.

In addition, due to heat supply agreements currently being developed by a number of projects, Scottish Government is unable to provide accurate estimates of heat supply for pre-capital projects as figures supplied by projects are estimates only and could change in the future.

The Scottish Government aims to publish our new palliative and end of life care strategy for consultation in spring 2024.

Data covering the period 2020-23 is available via the published National Statistics on the Scottish Prison Population.

Over this period, under 18s were held on remand in the following establishments: HMP YOI Cornton Vale, HMP YOI Grampian, HMP YOI Polmont, HMP YOI Stirling, HMP Edinburgh and HMP Inverness.

Section 20 of the 1989 Act permits SPS to hold young offenders (YOs) in a prison whilst arrangements are made to transfer them to a young offenders institution (YOI). A direction made under section 20A(2) of the 1989 Act may also allow a prisoner under 18 years to be detained in a prison but only for a “temporary purpose?. There is no definition of “temporary purpose? in the 1989 Act but an example would be for a young person to attend court.

The following table provides the number of individuals spending any time in each establishment or group of establishments in the course of each year covered by the National Statistics.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

SPS does not record this information.

Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

SPS does not record this information.

Data covering the period 2020-23 is available via the published National Statistics on the Scottish Prison Population.

Data covering the period 2020-23 is available via the published National Statistics on the Scottish Prison Population.

The Heat Networks (Supply Targets) (Scotland) Regulations 2023 came into force on 24 November 2023, setting a target for the combined supply of thermal energy by heat networks in Scotland to reach at least 7 terawatt hours of output by 2035.

Scottish Government capital support for heat networks is made available through Scotland’s Heat Network Fund (SHNF), following the success of its predecessor the Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme (LCITP). To date, over £62 million in capital grants has been awarded to heat network projects in Scotland.

The Heat Network Support Unit (HNSU) supports the growth of heat networks by providing funding and advice to heat network projects in the pre-capital stages of development. Since October 2022, HNSU has provided £616,044 of pre-capital support. Prior to the formation of the HNSU, approximately £250,000 pre-capital funding was provided for the development of heat network projects through the Heat in Buildings Development Funding Invitation and LCITP development funding calls.

The total estimated number of properties (including domestic homes and non-domestic buildings) that will be connected to heat networks once all capital grant funded projects through SHNF and LCITP are complete is approximately 5200. This figure is set to increase in the future as our funding has helped establish heat networks that have strong potential for future expansion.

Based on available evidence, we estimate that the cost of achieving the targets is up to £1.4 billion for the 2027 target, a further £3.7 billion for the 2030 target and a further £1.1 billion for the 2035 target.

Much of this cost will need to be met by the private sector and the Scottish Government is working to introduce a strong policy and regulatory framework to underpin that investment. The extent to which individual projects require public subsidy will vary from project to project. To date, through Scotland’s Heat Network Fund and the Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme, Scottish Government has committed approximately £62.7 million in capital funding for the construction of heat networks. SHNF is a demand-led programme meaning future funding requirements will be dependent on projects with viable business cases and committed co-investors progressing to capital readiness – based on the current pipeline, we expect to allocate around £25mn to projects in 24/25.