Chamber and committees

Across the four quarters of 2022 the average capacity factors of onshore and offshore wind were as follows:

1. Onshore wind: 28.2%

2. Offshore wind: 36.0%

For reference this information is published on the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero website, in Energy trends 6.1: Renewables - Energy Trends: UK renewables - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) .

The Contracts for Difference scheme is a UK Government mechanism.

Information about all Contracts for Difference strike prices is available in the public domain here: Contracts for Difference - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) .

The New Deal for Business Group membership is now published on the Scottish Government Website ( Business: New Deal for Business Group - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) . Representation is across a range of business sectors, sizes and locations in both the Group’s membership as well as members and contributors to the five subgroup’s led by Scottish Government and Business. After June, the membership and frequency of the Group will be reviewed as we move to the implementation phase.

The draft budget for this year is still under consideration while we respond to wider Health and Social Care budget pressures. The proposed allocation for the Technology Enabled Care programme in 2023-24 is circa £8m.

The Scottish Government has seen a substantive reduction in new outpatient, as well as inpatient and day case waits over two years since the targets were announced last year.

As of 31 March 2023, for outpatient appointments, 33 out of 41 specialties (80%) have fewer than 10 waits over 2 years, while 20 specialties have none. We also continue to see a reduction in waits over 18 months for new outpatients, which have reduced by 48.5% at 31 March 2023 compared to June 2022 (from 8,804 to 4,534). 41% of specialties also now have fewer than 10 patients waiting over 52 weeks. The number of patients waiting longer than 2 years for inpatient or day case treatment was reduced by 27% since targets were announced (from 9,572 to 6,985). 18 of 30 specialties have fewer than 10 patients waiting more than two years, and 13 specialties having no-one waiting more than 2 years.

The Scottish Government uses a range of evidence in its assessment of the future energy system. The whole-system modelling produced by Energy Systems Catapult and which underpins the draft Energy Strategy was completed before the publication of the UNECE report, and was therefore not informed by the UNECE findings.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) study considers the potential contribution nuclear can make as a dispatchable low-carbon technology.

The report states: “The fundamental problem is cost. Other generation technologies have become cheaper in recent decades, while new nuclear plants have only become costlier.”

As set out in our draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan, rather than new nuclear, it is significant growth in renewables, such as wind power, as well as investment in storage, hydrogen and carbon capture which will provide the best pathway for Scotland to achieve net zero by 2045.

In response to part (a), the Scottish Government will update Parliament on the review of NHS Scotland properties suspected to contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) when appropriate.

In response to part (b), the Scottish Government will liaise with NHS Scotland Assure and relevant Health Boards affected by RAAC about communications to members of the public.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5O-04795 on 26 November 2020, the official report can be viewed at Meeting of the Parliament: 26/11/2020 | Scottish Parliament Website

As previously confirmed in the Chamber, a review of the arrangements in place for provision of financial support for patient travel will be undertaken. The review will consider the scope and arrangements for provision of financial support for patient travel across Scotland, where such travel is necessary.

Regrettably, the review has been delayed due to ongoing prioritisation of the recovery of services. It will be taken forward as soon as possible, taking full account of the matters raised by Members.

Business continuity plans cannot be prepared until completion of the discovery surveys of NHS Scotland properties suspected to contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete. The outcomes of the discovery surveys will be used to inform business continuity plans by any affected Health Boards.