Chamber and committees

There has been no decision to privatise charge points on the ChargePlace Scotland network.

Our draft Vision is clear that the public charging network will need to grow at scale and pace and that it will be impractical for the public sector to deliver this alone. As part of the transition to a public charging network that is largely financed and operated by the private sector, we will continue to engage with a wide range of stakeholder including owners of charge points on the ChargePlace Scotland network.

The majority of ChargePlace Scotland charging assets are owned by Local Authorities. Transport Scotland is supporting Local Authorities to develop public electric vehicle charging strategies and expansion plans. These plans will help to identify future public charging needs, investment requirements and operating models for existing and new local authority owned public charging points.

These figures are for staff directly employed by TS as of 31st May 2023.

Aviation, Maritime, Freight & Canals - 21

Ferries - 45

Bus, Accessibility and Active Travel - 88

Chief Executive Office - 4

Finance and Corporate Services - 67

Low Carbon Economy - 30

Major Projects - 49

Rail - 68

Roads - 102

Transport Strategy and Analysis - 63

The Scottish Government use SEPA’s ‘Waste from All Sources’ data as a baseline for recycling rates in Scotland.

This includes statistical measures to support targets specified in Scottish waste policies. Those most relevant to recycling are:

• Recycled construction and demolition waste
• Recycled waste from all sources

The most recent Scottish ‘Waste from All Sources’ data is from 2021 and was published in March this year.

Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme has been based on successful schemes across Europe. The Minister has been thoroughly briefed by Zero Waste Scotland on relevant research findings throughout the policy’s development.

As stated in question S6W 18000 on 31 May 2023, research was undertaken by Zero Waste Scotland, who designed the scheme, and met with a range of international scheme administrators and operators, including those from Norway, Estonia, Sweden, Lithuania, Germany, Iceland, Denmark and Finland.

This research and briefing has meant that the minister has been fully appraised of the main characteristics of schemes across Europe and has not therefore personally travelled to the countries listed.

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

Charge points on the ChargePlace Scotland network are owned by a range of local authorities, businesses and third sector organisations. These organisations are responsible for procurement, maintenance and commercial decisions relating to their own charge point assets The ChargePlace Scotland contract provides ‘back office’ functions for these chargers, and has the option to run until at least 2025.

Scotland’s public EV charging network will evolve over the coming years to be less focussed on ChargePlace Scotland, while retaining the ability for drivers to seamlessly travel across a more diverse charging network with greater charging opportunities and offering an exemplar driver experience.

Our draft Vision for the future of public charging emphasises the need to attract greater private investment to deliver infrastructure at scale and pace, as the public sector cannot deliver this alone. The organisations who own charge points on ChargePlace Scotland will ultimately determine which future delivery models are most appropriate to them.

Through our Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund we are supporting local authorities to develop public electric vehicle charging strategies and expansion plans. As part of the development of these plans, local authorities are considering the opportunities to roll existing ChargePlace Scotland charge points into alternative models of delivery.

Transport Scotland has made funding available to all local authorities in Scotland to develop public electric vehicle charging strategy and expansion plans. These plans will help to identify future public charging needs (at both a local and regional level), investment requirements and a suitable model for operation of public charge points in the future. The duties of a local authority related to operating public charge points will depend on the operational model they choose to adopt.

Through our Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund, Transport Scotland will continue to provide funding that supports local authorities in establishing partnerships with the private sector that will enable new operating models to be established and continued private sector investment in Scotland’s public electric vehicle charging networks.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-18527 on 15 June 2023. 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

Fares on the Northern Isles Ferry Services network have been frozen until the end of September 2023 to help combat the ongoing cost of living crisis facing communities across Scotland.

I appreciate the need to get bookings released so that businesses and individuals can plan ahead, and aim to confirm all fares and open bookings beyond 30 September as soon as possible.

Planning for the summit is underway. It will focus on practical support at classroom, school and local level to make a difference on this issue and will hear from young people, parents and carers, schools, local authorities and unions to discuss how to tackle the problem. Details will be set out in due course.

We believe that a well-regulated private rented sector is good for landlords and tenants.

Since 2016 we have ended no-fault evictions and expanded access to tribunal services. We strengthened eviction protections, both in the Coronavirus Recovery and Reform Act and the Emergency Cost of Living Act, introducing a rent cap for most in-tenancy rent rises in the private sector. Just this month I announced our intention, subject to Parliamentary approval, to retain that cap until March next year.

Further reform is needed and we have set out our proposals in our draft New Deal for Tenants.