Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government released new forestry cultivation guidance on 27 July.

The guidance can be found at: https://forestry.gov.scot/publications/1032-cultivation-for-upland-productive-woodland-creation-sites-applicant-s-guidance/viewdocument/1032 .

Yes, the Scottish Ferry Services Plan (2013-2022) which will be replaced by the Islands Connectivity Plan at the end of 2022.

Scottish Ferry Services: Ferries Plan (2013-2022) (transport.gov.scot)

Scottish Forestry issued new guidance Cultivation for Upland Productive Woodland Creation Sites – an Applicant’s Guide on 27 th July. This guidance ensures that forestry practice is based on the latest research evidence from Forest Research on the impact of forestry ground preparation on soils. The research on which it is based is appended to the guidance.

The Scottish Government, through its agency Scottish Forestry, issued new cultivation guidance on 27 July based on research evidence regarding carbon released as a result of different cultivation techniques.

The guidance can found at: https://forestry.gov.scot/publications/1032-cultivation-for-upland-productive-woodland-creation-sites-applicant-s-guidance/viewdocument/1032 .

The Scottish Government recognises the severe impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had on performing arts and venues, with the necessary restrictions meaning that many activities have had to be suspended. The effects of these restrictions on the performing arts sector has been considered in the various Business and Regulatory Impact Assessments (BRIA) in relation to the impact of the pandemic. These BRIAs have been informed by engagement with relevant businesses.

The latest BRIA , agreed by Ministers on 24 June, considered the available evidence and presented reasonable views of likely costs, benefits and impacts of the measures set out in the regulations and guidance. It was recognised that the limitations on performing arts venues are part of an overall system to balance suppression of the virus while minimising wider harm to Scotland’s health and wellbeing, as well as minimising the wider social and economic harms associated with the measures.

The Scottish Government has recently provided an additional £25 million to businesses in the culture sector, via a second round of the Culture Organisations and Venues Recovery Fund and the Performing Arts Venues Relief Fund, to help mitigate the impact of these necessary restrictions.

The current Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service (CHFS) contract is due to expire in September 2024. Work is underway to consider the appropriate approach to future contracts and tendering. No decisions on the form of tender or timescales have been taken as yet.

We responded to the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee on 11 March 2021 outlining the scope and advising there is nothing ‘off limits’ to the appointed consultants when addressing the issues within the scope of the review. This reflects the desire that the review should be independent, and recommendations not influenced by any pre-conceived views.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-01514 on 6 August 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

The development of the Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan (CESAP) published in December 2020 by Skills Development Scotland and the Scottish Government involved close engagement with Industry Leadership Groups and associated skills groups to identify skills requirements and activity underway in support of the transition to net zero.

The CESAP Implementation Steering Group meets quarterly to drive forward progress and is attended by industry representation bodies such as Scottish Renewables and Scottish Engineering as well as trade unions who feed in their expertise.

As outlined in CESAP and our 100 Day Commitment Manifesto, we will shortly launch the Green Jobs Workforce Academy, a national long term programme to support the retraining and upskilling needed for the transition to net zero.

Sectoral discussions between the Scottish Government and industry regarding training for workers transitioning to net zero is ongoing. Some recent examples include:

• Last year Transport Scotland worked with the Scottish Motor Trade Association, and the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) to research the skills required for mass uptake of Ultra Low Emission Vehicles.
• The Scottish Government has discussed skills required to deliver a just transition to net zero with industry representatives through its manufacturing recovery plan, delivered via a public and private sector partnership.
• In December 2020 the Implementation Steering Group for the Skills Action Plan for Rural Scotland discussed alignment to CESAP. Its membership includes Confor (forestry and timber industry), Seafood Scotland, tourism bodies and business organisations.
• The Energy Skills Alliance, which includes industry membership bodies and government agencies discussed the delivery of a work programme to ensure industry is prepared to meet the future demand for skills in oil and gas, and other related energy industries.

Scotland’s first long-term national housing strategy ‘Housing to 2040’ was published in March 2021. It outlined the Scottish Government's ambition to deliver 100,000 affordable homes by 2032.

We are committed to ensuring that new homes, consented from 2024, must use heating systems which produce zero direct greenhouse gas emissions (at the point of use). While our approach will be technology neutral, it is envisaged that the electrification of heat will increase substantially through the use of technologies such as heat pumps in new homes.

To illustrate this: in 2019, 83% of all electrically fuelled properties were fitted with a heat pump - rising to 89% in 2020. In line with this trend, whilst noting that not all of the 100,000 affordable homes to be delivered by 2032 will be new build, it is anticipated that the majority of the newly-constructed affordable homes consented from 2024 would be served by heat pump technology - with the remainder being served by an alternative zero direct emissions heat source, such as heat networks.

We have commissioned a heat pump sector deal expert advisory group to outline how government and industry will work together to grow the supply chain and scale deployment of the heat pumps to the ambitious levels required. The group provided an interim report in June and are due to publish a final report later this summer. We have committed to responding to their recommendations in our final Heat in Buildings Strategy.