Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government has no plans to introduce a moratorium on windfarm development.

To achieve a net zero, nature-positive Scotland, our planning system must be rebalanced so that climate change and nature recovery are the primary guiding principles for all our plans and all our decisions. Draft National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) sets out new Universal Policies that should apply to all planning decisions to help us tackle the climate and nature crises and ensure Scotland adapts to thrive within the planet’s sustainable limits. It also includes green energy policies which support renewable energy development other than in National Parks and National Scenic Areas, subject to an assessment of their impacts on a case by case basis.

Our draft NPF4 was laid in the Scottish Parliament on 10 November, and at the same time published for consultation which closed on 31 March 2022. We are pleased with the very wide interest shown in NPF4 from across society, befitting a document of its importance to our future. The Scottish Government is now taking some time to carefully consider the broad range of views shared with us before finalising NPF4 for Scottish Parliament approval.

Additionally, the Onshore Wind Policy Statement consultation was launched on 28 October 2021, which includes our ambition that an additional 8-12 GW of onshore wind be installed by 2030, in line with the Climate Change Committees' recommendations. The consultation considered other key themes such as barriers to deployment, positive environmental impacts, community benefits and shared ownership, circular economy and supply chain opportunities. The consultation closed on 31 January 2022, and a full policy statement is expected to be published during later this year with consultation analysis also to be published in due course.

However, the Scottish Government recognises the need to strike a balance between maximising deployment to reach net-zero targets, while considering concerns over factors such as peatland, landscape impacts, local economy and tourism, and ‘capacity saturation’. Support for maximising onshore wind deployment does not come at any cost, and the planning system exists to ensure that development sites are optimised and offer net benefit wherever possible.

The Scottish Government is providing a £150 cost of living award to all those receiving a reduction under the Council Tax Reduction scheme, regardless of their council tax band, as well as to all households living in properties in Bands A - D, which means this help will reach 1.85 million households.

Local authorities have also been provided with funds from which to make the £150 award payment to the estimated 38,000 low income households which are exempt from council tax, including those accessing housing support services or living in temporary accommodation.

In addition to the £150 cost of living award, £10 million is being allocated to continue the Fuel Insecurity Fund, which supports people struggling with their energy bills to the point that they are at risk of self-rationing their energy use, or self-disconnecting entirely. The Fuel Insecurity Fund is delivered through third sector partner organisations, particularly the Fuel Bank Foundation and Advice Direct Scotland. It includes provision for households on any tariff type and using any type of fuel.

The Scottish Government do not have information on the total number of single parents that have accessed further education courses at Scottish colleges.

Shipping safety is a matter that is reserved to the UK Government. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is responsible for maritime safety regulation and implementation. In October 2021, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency conducted a consultation on Electric Vehicles Onboard Passenger Ro-Ro Ferries. The results of this consultation were published in March 2022, along with Marine Guidance Note 653, covering aspects relating to fire safety elements, electrical hazard risks, the increased risk from carriage of damaged electric vehicles (accident recovery) and the safe charging of electric vehicles aboard Ro-Pax vessels.

The Scottish Government has no current plans to fund seafarers’ training or the purchase and retrofit of equipment in relation to the possibility of lithium-ion battery fires on board ferries.

Anyone with no digital or internet access can benefit from ScotRail’s half price ticket offer by phone via 0344 811 0153.

The number to call has been publicised by ScotRail from 9 May to enable customers to book their discounted Off-Peak tickets between 9 and 15 May 2022 inclusive, with outward travel valid Monday to Friday between 9 and 31 May 2022 inclusive. All open return travel must be complete by 30 June 2022.

Public Health Scotland (PHS) uses the national waiting times warehouse to collect electronic patient records covering the waits that patients experience waiting for a new outpatient appointment. This data source can be used routinely to identify the specialty of treatment, such as whether the patient was waiting for an appointment in ophthalmology or orthopaedics. However, it is not possible to ascertain whether the appointment involved an assessment of whether the patient is suitable for a particular procedure. This level of information may be held locally by NHS Boards.

Statistics relating to the waits patients experience for new outpatient appointments, at specialty and NHS Board level, are published up to 31 December 2021 and can be found using the following link:

https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/media/11694/newop_feb22.xlsx .

Before we made the decision to lift remaining legal measures and close the Highest Risk list, we and our clinical advisers carefully considered the impact on people who are immunosuppressed or immunocompromised. There is strong evidence to show that the vaccine is offering significant protection and preventing the majority of people whose immune systems are suppressed or compromised from becoming severely ill if they are infected with COVID-19.

We know that the degree of protection offered by the vaccines wanes over time, which is why booster vaccinations are needed to maintain the best protection against COVID-19 for those at highest risk of the severe effects of the virus. Second booster appointments for people with suppressed immune systems have already started.

However, we are also aware that for some of this group, it is not possible to mount a full immune response due to their medication, treatment or health condition.

Many immunosuppressed or immunocompromised individuals lived with and managed the risk posed by other diseases and infections before the COVID-19 pandemic, and will continue to be advised by their GP and specialist clinical team, who best know their individual circumstances, on how to reduce their risk of infection from both COVID-19 and other viruses. We’ve also made new treatments available to those who are eligible for them who will benefit the most – including some people who are immunocompromised or immunosuppressed .

Progress continues to be made by officials carrying out this request. The information will be placed on the Parliament’s Reference Centre as soon as this is available.

I can confirm that the development and assessment of the route corridor options for the A82 Tarbet to Inverarnan scheme, including the option passing above the West Highland line, was undertaken by Transport Scotland in alignment with the principles of the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) and the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB).

The Scottish Government has not conducted research in this area.