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-08487

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 23 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether its reform of EPC ratings for fabric efficiency standard will use an energy demand metric in kWh/m2/yr, based on the energy demand for space heating and cooling only.

Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) provide an assessment of the modelled energy performance of buildings. The Scottish Government recognises that the information presented on EPCs needs to be reformed in line with the recommendations of the Climate Change Committee. We consulted last year on reforming EPCs to introduce a new metric for energy efficiency. This is intended to ensure that the EPC metrics align with our net zero target.

Following our consultation, we are commissioning research to understand the implications of several options for the new energy efficiency metric. These options include an energy demand metric which would be based on the dwelling’s space heating and cooling demand. As set out in our consultation, we intend that EPCs will present the new energy efficiency metric alongside the current running cost and carbon emissions metrics.

Question reference: S6W-08488

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 23 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether new minimum energy efficiency standards will be set at the level of fabric efficiency necessary in conjunction with heat distribution system.

The Heat in Buildings Strategy (7 October 2021), committed to introducing primary legislation in the current session of the Scottish Parliament that would set a regulatory framework for heat and energy efficiency, as a key action to meeting Scotland’s statutory climate change targets.

This year, the Scottish Government will commission independent research which will specify what fabric energy efficiency levels are necessary in existing homes for the cost effective installation of different zero direct emission heating sources, in different archetypes of domestic properties. The outcomes from this research will inform our proposals for energy efficiency regulations, ahead of a public consultation in the coming year.

Improvements to Building Regulations from October this year, (which apply to new buildings and new building work), will improve fabric standards to reduce space heating demand. They will also deliver new heating systems which operate at lower temperatures, compatible with the efficient operation of zero direct emissions heating sources.

Question reference: S6W-08297

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 29 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 12 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-07060 by Shona Robison on 17 March 2022, what the key stages are of assessment, and how many properties are at each stage of assessment.

Single Building Assessment applicants are supported through the process to complete the application form and commission professional services ahead of receiving the final survey report. 15 pilot blocks are within the Application Phase. 10 pilot blocks are within the Delivery Phase. One additional block is existing within the new approach where we direct commission those professional services on behalf of a building.

Question reference: S6W-08293

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 12 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government who is included on the Single Building Assessment Register of Assessors.

Question reference: S6W-08296

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 29 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 12 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many quotes single building assessment participants are required to obtain and submit to the Scottish Government.

Question reference: S6W-08237

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 11 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03968 by Shona Robison on 5 November 2021, when the information "will be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre" under "Bib number 62811".

Question reference: S6T-00688

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 09 May 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what preparations it is making to support people in Scotland, in light of the reported comments by the chief executive of Scottish Power warning that 10 million UK homes could potentially be in fuel poverty this winter.

Question reference: S6W-08087

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 6 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government (a) which and (b) how many organisations and businesses were involved in the co-production approach of the Fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) consultation development.

The Scottish Government has conducted extensive engagement and consultation involving a wide range of public, private and third sector organisations and individuals throughout its preparation of National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), including three formal public consultation exercises.

Our Call for Ideas in 2020 attracted over 180 stakeholders to participate at our roadshow workshops, plus around 100 at drop in sessions and over 100 at events hosted by the Royal Town Planning Institute in Scotland on our behalf. Separately, we received written responses to the Call for Ideas from nearly 350 consultees. 35 contributors also provided think piece articles, and we held a variety of sessions and meetings with a range of stakeholders including the Scottish Youth Parliament. The Scottish Government’s Position Statement consultation later in 2020 attracted around 250 written responses. We also undertook extensive collaborative work with local authorities to support their preparation of indicative Regional Spatial Strategies, which have formed the basis of the spatial strategy in the draft NPF4.

The recent Draft NPF4 consultation exercise attracted over 750 formal consultation responses, and we also encouraged participation in discussions with a broad range of stakeholders. Our engagement programme included open invitation discussions on policy themes and action areas with around 265 stakeholders participating. We held a roundtable discussion on equalities, and again worked with the Royal Town Planning Institute in Scotland to deliver roundtable discussions where 45 people participated. We also worked with PAS who hosted events for community groups (over 50 participants) and with PlayScotland to gather perspectives from children and young people.

All engagement material, including consultation responses, event overviews and analysis of consultation responses in relation to both the Call for Ideas and the Position Statement are available at www.transformingplanning.scot. Materials for the Draft NPF4 consultation will be published in due course.

Question reference: S6W-08088

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 6 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how the effectiveness of the Third National Planning Framework (NPF3) was monitored and evaluated and whether this was done against the outcomes set out in the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997.

Question reference: S6W-07983

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 08 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 6 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S6O-00767 and S6W-06283 by Tom Arthur on 23 and 25 February 2022 respectively, whether it will provide details of what work will recommence in the spring.