Chamber and committees

This is a reserved policy area. Responsibility for security of supply sits with National Grid ESO (the GB electricity system operator), which works closely with generators and network operators across Scotland to ensure that there is always enough electricity to meet demand.

This includes preparing for the closure of individual generators several years in advance, to ensure that closures do not impact electricity supplies. National Grid ESO has worked closely with EDF, owners of Hunterston and Torness, and with Scotland’s electricity network owners, to ensure that the network is able to respond to and support the closure of these nuclear power stations in the coming years.

National Grid ESO is currently overseeing a “Stability Pathfinder”, the second phase of which is looking at network and commercial options to replace the various network stability requirements currently provided by existing generation. This is designed to ensure that the networks are ready for the greater share that Scotland’s renewable resources will constitute in the future.

It is for developers and the market to decide whether or not to bring forward proposals for new electricity generating stations in Scotland.

Our 2017 Energy Strategy set out our priority for a whole system approach that promotes renewables and other low carbon alternatives as part of a diverse, well balanced energy supply. The Strategy confirmed that we do not support a new generation of nuclear stations under current technologies. The economics of these stations are prohibitive, especially given the falling costs of renewable and storage technologies.

The most recent data published by the Scottish Government show that the forestry estate in Scotland currently removes over 6MtCO ₂ annually. These removals are net of any CO ₂ emissions from forestry operations and forest soils.

Scottish Forestry has commissioned further research to provide the latest quantitative evidence on these impacts for different types of woodland. This research will be released later in 2021. Preliminary results show that emissions from forest operations are very low compared to removals as trees grow.

For all woodland creation proposals, applicants are required to undertake land surveys as part of their due diligence. This due diligence includes surveying for peat soils, including deep peat. Where peat soils are found, further more intensive surveys are required, to produce a detailed soil survey map which is submitted to Scottish Forestry for approval. Depending upon the distribution of peat and peat depths across the proposal area, further peat surveys may be required before a contract for woodland creation is approved and a final detailed peat and soil survey map is accepted. At this time, a species and constraints map is also agreed and areas of deep peat are excluded from the agreed contract. We have released new cultivation guidance on 26 July and this will prevent the use of high impact cultivation techniques on peat and organo-mineral soils over 10cm.

Applicants and agents use existing soil survey maps for Scotland as a baseline ahead of beginning on site land surveys. Subsequently areas of deep peat are demarcated on site and cultivation contractors are provided with soil and species maps to ensure cultivation is undertaken in line with the agreed contract.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-01623 on
‎ 16 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

Network Rail is due to undertake ground investigation and survey works of the Edinburgh to Aberdeen route during autumn 2021. The outputs from this will inform the next stage of development and planning to determine the appropriate electrification programme.

As of 20 July 2021, the First Minister had 3 meetings arranged in the run up to COP26 (31 October 2021), and the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport had 15 meetings planned. It is not currently possible to specify the exact number of meetings all ministers have arranged to take place in the lead up to and during the course of COP26. This is because the number of meetings is continuously rising, as an increasing volume of requests for ministerial involvement are received. Scottish Ministers are committed to maximising the opportunities of COP26, before, during and after the conference.

The Scottish Government continues to recognise the importance of engaging the performing arts sector, including live-music performers, in the development of guidance, to allow the safe re-opening of venues during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Scottish Government has engaged with a wide range of stakeholders from the performing arts sector, including performers, venues - including pubs and other hospitality settings -, industry bodies and trade unions such as the Musicians’ Union, Federation of Scottish Theatre, and Gilded Balloon, on both an official and ministerial level, to ensure a collaborative approach to provide guidance on this subject. This ongoing engagement has contributed to the development of various pieces of guidance covering live music in various settings to ensure it is accurate, comprehensive and helpful to the sector.

In addition to guidance for the performing arts sector, guidance regarding live entertainment in hospitality settings, such as in pubs, has also been developed in conjunction with and reviewed by performers, trade unions and the hospitality industry to ensure it remains current, clear and practical. This includes regular engagement with the hospitality sector, the Music Venue Trust on the development of guidance relevant to grassroots music venues, as well as with a number of specific venues across the country.

This engagement has ensured that guidance remains relevant as Scotland’s strategic framework has been updated, and has established a shared confidence around the safety of returning to workplaces, protecting public health and supporting Scotland’s economic recovery.

The Scottish Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory shows that forests and woodlands in Scotland currently sequester over 6 MtCO2 per year, net of any emissions from forest management activities. All new woodland creation schemes take into account the requirement to ensure that the cultivation methods used balance the minimisation of soil carbon release with the need to quickly establish the young trees. Levels of woodland creation have been at historically high levels in recent years, and the country’s forests are predicted to remain a carbon sink in the coming decades.

The Scottish Government and relevant agencies have, to date, spent £885,000 on transport planning, venue, communications and marketing in preparations for COP26. Scottish Ministers have made clear their expectation that all additional operational costs, such as transport planning, will be borne by the UK Government.