Chamber and committees

Scotland’s own electricity supply is secure, with our abundant generation of electricity via wind meaning that Scotland has long been a net exporter of electricity. In 2019, Scotland exported almost 17.1 TWh, equivalent to powering every household in Scotland for 21 months. In the first nine months of 2020, Scotland's net electricity exports were 13.4 TWh, up on 10.8 TWh in the first three quarters of 2019. This is thanks to the record renewable generation so far in 2020, as recorded by the Scottish Energy Statistics Hub .

We expect generation capacity in Scotland to continue to increase to a greater degree than electricity demand, which means that we also anticipate exports, and Scotland’s export capability, to increase over time. This is consistent with the forecasts from National Grid’s Electricity Ten Year Statement and recently published Network Options Assessment .

As set out in our own Hydrogen Policy Statement, which I published in December 2020, Scotland’s abundance of renewable electricity supply offers us a source of competitive advantage regarding the opportunity to utilise that electricity for the production of green hydrogen, via the use of electrolysers. In the longer term, to meet Scotland’s own decarbonisation needs across power, heat and transport, it is estimated that a further 11-16GW of renewable electricity will be required.

This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise who have confirmed that no funding for this project was ever released.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-35649 on 16 March 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

The Scottish Government has not given guidance to local authorities as The Water Intended for Human Consumption (Private Supplies)(Scotland) Regulations 2017 makes clear the Duty of Care that must be exercised in respect of preserving the quality of an existing regulated supply.

Currently, indoor sport and leisure facilities, including swimming pools, are to remain closed. Therefore activities such as swimming lessons cannot currently take place. On 16 March, the First Minister will set out a firmer timetable for the easing of restrictions and publish a revised Strategic Framework document.

Forest Research publishes National Statistics on the area of new woodland creation, which can be found at the following website: Forestry Statistics and Forestry Facts & Figures - Forest Research

In Scotland in (a) 2018-19, 11,210 hectares and (b) 2019-20, 11,050 hectares of new woodland were created. Provisional National Statistics which will include figures on woodland creation in Scotland for 2020-21 are scheduled to be published on 17 June 2021.

The process to recruit a new Chief Executive for Scottish Enterprise is underway. The position was advertised on 15 February 2021, with applications requested by 15 March 2021. The advertisement can be viewed on the opportunities pages of the Odgers Berndtson website ( www.odgersberndtson.com ).

Due to the scope and timeframe of the question, the information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost as this data is not available from a single source.

The Scottish Government’s contingent liabilities for the potential recoveries by the European Commission (EC) as a consequence of the suspensions, as reported in the Scottish Government Consolidated Accounts, are as follows:

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-35761 on 12 March 2021. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx