Chamber and committees

In April 2019, we published the Waste Markets Study which assessed the treatment options for Scottish biodegradable municipal waste. The study is available here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/waste-markets-study-full-report/

We have also commissioned work to assess the residual waste treatment capacity needs up to 2025, in light of our commitment to end the practice of landfilling biodegradable municipal waste by 2025. This work is ongoing and we will publish it in due course, independent of timelines for the review of incineration.

The review of the role of incineration in the waste hierarchy in Scotland will be led by an independent chair who will determine the detailed scope and process of the review. As such, decisions regarding the process of gathering and selecting evidence that is relevant to the scope of the review will be made by the independent chair.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-03193 on 4 October 2021. 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
‎

The Scottish Government provides grant funding to a wide range of organisations to install electric vehicle charging stations. Grantees who are Local Authorities or public bodies appoint charge point installers through their own procurement process. Grantees in the private sector or members of the public select a local installer from the Energy Saving Trust’s list of approved installers ( Domestic charge point funding - Energy Saving Trust ). There is no cost for a business, including Scottish SMEs, to register to be added to this list, should they be interested in doing so.

We do not hold information on the proportion of electric vehicle charging stations that have been installed by small and medium-sized enterprises based in Scotland.

Installation of an electric vehicle charge point requires a range of skills, including works related to electrical connections, civil engineering and supply and installation of charging units. This range of work provides opportunities for local businesses, including SMEs, to benefit from investment in development of the electric vehicle chargepoint network and subsequent maintenance and repair.

We want to encourage new, innovative, home-grown ideas to aid the decarbonisation of transport in Scotland and ensure Scottish businesses are positioned to deliver competitive solutions and services across the sector. We have provided £780,000 of funding to Scottish SMEs through the Can Do Innovation Challenge framework , supporting businesses to design and to build the commercial case for innovations related to electric vehicle charging.

To support business and economic development across Scotland we are supporting Scottish innovation across Technology Readiness Levels to enable existing and new Scottish companies, including SMEs, to secure a share of the Zero Emission transport market. We are also providing support for the stimulation of the Zero Emission Mobility technology market and stimulating technological innovation which will improve user experience and encourage further uptake of zero emission vehicles.

Restricting high value contracts to participation by suppliers based on their location would not be in keeping with the requirements of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015. However our public procurement policy and legislation has driven high levels of local business participation as well as investment in jobs, skills and subcontracting with Scottish SMEs.

The majority of chargers on the publicly funded ChargePlace Scotland network are owned by local authorities who are responsible for procurement of their charging infrastructure. Scottish ministers do not hold information on these contracts. These contracts are however covered by public procurement policy and legislation, this includes a requirement to consider how procurement processes can facilitate the involvement of SMEs, third sector bodies and supported business and how public procurement can be used to promote innovation.

There are no specific provisions in the Scottish Government Offers of Grant that require contracts to be awarded to one cohort of companies over another.

Grantees in the private sector or members of the public select a local installer from the Energy Saving Trust’s list of approved installers ( Domestic charge point funding - Energy Saving Trust ). There is no cost for a business, including Scottish SMEs, to register to be added to this list, should they be interested in doing so.

Installation of an electric vehicle charge point involves various aspects, including works related to electrical connections, civils and supply and installation of charging units. This range of work provides opportunities for local businesses, including SMEs, to benefit from investment in development of the electric vehicle charge point network.

The Scottish Government launched a consultation for a refreshed Onshore Wind Policy Statement on 28th October 2021 which sets out our ambition for an additional 8-12 gigawatts of installed capacity by 2030. The policy statement also references the potential for refurbishment and recycling of wind turbines, supporting the recent Zero Waste Scotland report 'The Future of Onshore Wind Decommissioning in Scotland'. The Scottish Government are fully supportive of this work and its alignment with our zero waste policies.

The Scottish Government is already working with the UK Government across a number of policies to support delivery of low-carbon alternatives to gas boilers. This includes engagement in relation to the UK Government’s proposed market-based mechanism for low carbon heat. Further details on our work with the UK Government are set out in chapter 10 of our Heat in Buildings Strategy.

Scottish Government Heat in Buildings Strategy – https://www.gov.scot/publications/heat-buildings-strategy-achieving-net-zero-emissions-scotlands-buildings/

The Scottish Government has committed to invest at least £1.8 billion over the course of this parliament to support energy efficiency and zero emissions heat. Final spending to support households replacing gas boilers with heat pumps over this period will depend on various factors, including the balance of demand between households currently using gas boilers or other heating systems, and support for other technologies such as heat networks.

‘A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People: Employment Action Plan’ was published in December 2018, and includes commitments up to and including 2021-22.

We are currently developing a refresh of this action plan, alongside key stakeholders including disabled peoples organisations, which will be published in Spring 2022.