- Asked by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Stephen Gethins on 31 July 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce a statutory obligation or financial incentives to ensure that heat network zone delivery is more effectively driven through Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies, and, if so, what timeline it is working to.
Answer
We have created a clear pathway from LHEES to delivery with respect to heat networks: LHEES identify potential heat network zones, and our HNSU is working with local authorities to delve into these opportunities further to commercialise them, in preparation for any capital funding bid to SHNF.
As noted in the National Planning Framework 4, local development plans should take into account the area’s LHEES. The spatial strategy should take into account areas of heat network potential and any designated heat network zones.
- Asked by: Amanda Lindsay, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Reform UK
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Stephen Flynn on 31 July 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish clear national guidance or minimum standards to ensure that residents wishing to install electric vehicle charging points are treated consistently and fairly across Scotland, rather than facing different requirements depending on their local authority.
Answer
Current legislation does not provide a basis for the Scottish Government to develop national guidance. Decisions on cross-pavement charging installations are the responsibility of Scotland’s local authorities, not Scottish Ministers.
However, the Scottish Government recognises the importance of a fair and consistent approach to EV charging across Scotland and has worked with the Scottish Collaboration of Transport Specialists (SCOTS) to develop national guidance covering legal, safety, accessibility and practical considerations.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 31 July 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential heat island effect associated with large-scale data centre developments, including any implications for human health, biodiversity and agricultural productivity in surrounding areas.
Answer
The Scottish Government has not undertaken a national assessment of the remit the member has specifically outlined on data centres. However, we are currently engaging with industry and partner agencies to better understand the cumulative impacts of data centre developments on the environment.
Planning authorities have a responsibility to consider the environmental implications of all developments which require an application for planning permission.
Scotland’s National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) ensures the potential impacts of proposals, including cumulative impacts, are important considerations in the decision-making process. All applications are subject to site specific assessments.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 31 July 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any cumulative impact of proposed large-scale data centre developments on agricultural land, including the loss of prime quality farmland.
Answer
The Scottish Government has not undertaken a national assessment of the remit the member has specifically outlined on data centres. However, we are currently engaging with industry and partner agencies to better understand the cumulative impacts of data centre developments on the environment.
When new planning applications come forward, Scotland’s National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) ensures the potential impacts of proposals, including cumulative impacts, are important considerations in the decision-making process. NPF4 policy 5 (soils) sets out policy protections for peatland and carbon rich soils, including prime agricultural land.
- Asked by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Stephen Gethins on 31 July 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the contribution that heat networks can make to tackling fuel poverty in Scotland, and how this is reflected in its current and planned policy and funding commitments.
Answer
Heat networks can help to reduce fuel poverty, particularly where they have access to low-cost sources of heat. The Heat Networks(Scotland) Act 2021 includes powers for heat network consents which would scrutinise how proposed new networks are designed and the outcomes that they expect to provide in areas including fuel poverty. Detailed proposals for a heat network consents regime will be bought forward in due course.
Applicants to Scotland’s Heat Network Fund must demonstrate that their project will supply affordable heat, and the impact on fuel poverty is a key consideration within the assessment of a project’s value for money.
- Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 31 July 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that people seeking to use Monifieth Beach do not experience a repeat of the recent health warnings and instructions to stay out of the sea due to high levels of E coli.
Answer
Designated bathing waters are routinely sampled by SEPA during the bathing season and inspections on Scottish Water assets are also carried out pre-bathing and during bathing season (1 June 2026 to 15 September 2026) to ensure compliance.
The Monifieth bathing water is classified as “Excellent”. However, short-term fluctuations in water quality can occur at all bathing waters for a variety of reasons, for example following heavy rain due to a range of pollution sources. Where advice against bathing is issued SEPA investigates to identify and take action to mitigate where possible any sources of pollution.
- Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Stephen Flynn on 31 July 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to Scottish Enterprise regarding the publication of its Human Rights Due Diligence procedure.
Answer
Following a Parliamentary motion (S6M-16571) in February 2025, Scottish Enterprise undertook a review of its human rights due diligence checks. The Scottish Government supported this motion, and therefore supported a review undertaken by Scottish Enterprise.
Scottish Government officials remained in close contact with Scottish Enterprise throughout the review, exchanging and providing relevant advice and views where appropriate, including on transparency.
Decisions regarding the publication and disclosure of information held by Scottish Enterprise, including its updated human rights diligence procedure, are ultimately an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise.
It is my understanding however, that Scottish Enterprise does intend to publish its human rights due diligence policy, at a future date.
- Asked by: Amanda Lindsay, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Reform UK
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Stephen Flynn on 31 July 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its commitment to supporting the transition from fossil-fuelled vehicles to electric vehicles, what steps it has taken to encourage the development of policies that enable the safe use of cross-pavement charging solutions for households across all property types.
Answer
In 2025-26, the Scottish Government supported a pilot funding the installation of cross-pavement charging solutions to test their practical implementation, with the learning from this work helping to inform future policy and guidance.
The Scottish Government has also worked with the Scottish Collaboration of Transport Specialists (SCOTS) to support the development of national guidance for local authorities, covering the legal, safety, accessibility and practical considerations associated with cross-pavement charging.
The Scottish Government also funds a Cross-Pavement Charging Grant Scheme, which provides grants of up to £3,500 towards the purchase and installation of approved cross-pavement charging solutions, subject to local authority approval.
- Asked by: Amanda Lindsay, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Reform UK
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Stephen Flynn on 31 July 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what support is available for residents who wish to switch to an electric vehicle but are unable to do so due to a lack of practical and affordable home charging options.
Answer
To help address this, it provides support through Energy Saving Trust, including grants of up to £400 through the Domestic Charge Point Fund for eligible households installing a home charge point, with support targeting rural and island households facing additional barriers to EV adoption. It also provides grants of up to £3,500 through the Cross-Pavement Charging Grant for approved charging solutions where off-street parking is not available, subject to local authority approval.
These measures support access to lower-cost home charging and a fair and accessible transition to electric vehicles across Scotland.
We also continue to call on the UK Government to address the imbalance in the rates of VAT levied on domestic and public EV chargers and provide equity for consumers.
- Asked by: Helen McDade, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 31 July 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Act 2026 and the Restraint and Seclusion in Schools (Scotland) Act 2026 receiving Royal Assent in May 2026, what its timescale is for implementing the provisions of these Acts and for issuing the statutory guidance required to prohibit face-down prone restraint of children in secure accommodation.
Answer
The wellbeing and safety of children and young people is paramount. The Scottish Government is clear that restraint should only be used in exceptional circumstances, as a last resort, or when it is the only practicable means of securing the welfare or safety of the child or another person. The statutory guidance will reflect this.
Work is ongoing to plan next steps for implementation and timescales in relation to this important work and the Scottish Government will provide an update about this in due course.
The Scottish Government is funding the Centre for Excellence for Children's Care and Protection (CELCIS), in partnership with the University of Strathclyde, to deliver the “Holding Differently – Containing Distress” project to strengthen the evidence base on efforts to reduce the use of physical restraint in residential child care services. Early findings from this project will inform work on the guidance.
