Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government’s previous response to question S6W-03332 on 26 October 2021 highlights that Transport Scotland is working closely with Scottish Futures Trust to consider the most appropriate structures and approach to growing and developing Scotland’s public electric vehicle charging infrastructure. It also refers to the recent publication of a joint Transport Scotland and Scottish Futures Trust report on future development of Scotland’s public electric vehicle charging infrastructure:

New report on the future of public EV charging infrastructure (transport.gov.scot)

This report notes Climate Change Committee data that implies a potential need for 30,000 public electric vehicle charge points by 2030 in Scotland, but also highlights the challenge of accurately predicting with certainty the actual number of charge points required. This will be influenced by a range of factors, including developments and innovation in battery and charging technologies that will determine when and how often vehicles need charged.

Advancement in technologies including smart charging and the approach to the planning and delivery of electric vehicle charging infrastructure will not only have a bearing on the amount of charge points needed, but also on future electricity demand and its intelligent management. Similarly, decisions on where private and public charge points are located will also be influenced by range of factors including local need. It will also become increasingly important for local authorities, private sector and the electricity Distribution Network Operators to work together to strategically plan and optimise investments. The Scottish Government is continuing to fund the roll-out of electric vehicle charging at this point, and going forward will continue to work with the public sector – government, local authorities and regulators - as well as the private sector – car manufacturers, charging providers and electricity network owners and suppliers to harness efficiencies and opportunities, to build a comprehensive charging network accessible to all where no part of Scotland is left behind and which adds value to the economy.

My statement to Parliament on 23 September 2021 welcomed the findings from independent research that the Scottish Government has commissioned, to help inform its ambitious agenda to decarbonise Scotland’s transport sector, which includes a shift to greater use of public and shared transport and active travel, and also the outcome of there being a 20% reduction in kilometres driven by cars by 2030:

New report on decarbonising transport

This research sets out the scale of the challenge this Parliament is tasked with and provides an illustration of where action in the transport sector will need to be considered as Scotland transitions to net-zero. It also provides insights into the possible future composition of Scotland’s car fleet between now and 2045 under different pathways and their influence on the numbers of electric, petrol and diesel vehicles on Scotland's roads.

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

Our active travel funding is predominantly provided to local authorities through national enabling bodies who have the expertise and manpower to appraise and work with them and other community partners to deliver local projects.

In this financial year two of our largest funds are being delivered by Sustrans, with over £55 million provided through the Places for Everyone programme, and over £6 million through the Spaces for People programme.

In addition to this, £23.9 million is being provided directly to local authorities, on a pro rata basis, through the Cycling Walking and Safer Routes programme.

These three major programmes together account for around 75% of the total
‎ 2020-21 Active Travel budget of £115.5 million. A breakdown of this funding, by local authority and for each of the last three financial years, has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. 62827).

The remaining 25% of the budget is provided through partners who deliver projects across many or all of the local authorities. This funding information broken down by local authority area may be held locally by some of these delivery partners, but it is not centrally collated by the Scottish Government.

The following tables presents the estimated value of Small Business Bonus Scheme (SBBS) relief as at 1 June 2021, awarded to self-catering properties, broken down by assessor and local authority, for properties receiving 100% SBBS, 25% SBBS, and other percentages of SBBS (e.g. when combined with other reliefs). These tables include all self-catering properties in receipt of SBBS relief. The Scottish Government cannot reliably estimate the cumulative rateable value for each ratepayer and can therefore not state the number of self-catering units with a combined rateable value of £35,000 in receipt of the Small Business Bonus Scheme relief. However, ratepayers with a combined rateable value of £35,000 may still be eligible for SBBS relief where the individual property has a rateable value up to £18,000.

Table 1: Value (£ thousands) of SBBS relief awarded to self-catering properties by assessor area and SBBS rate, as at 1 June 2021

Scottish Government officials have been, and continue to be, in daily contact with Police Scotland on recent reports of spiking. Police Scotland are pursuing every single report of spiking through a Gold command established on this issue and led by an Assistant Chief Constable - which is reaching out to universities, licensed premises, Public Health Scotland, and victim support organisations. Police Scotland have also established connections with the Scottish Ambulance Service to ensure that any spiking cases are brought to their attention.

I will be chairing an urgent roundtable with partners and representatives from across the sector on 4 November to discuss how we can achieve the right balance of targeted and universal intervention.

The Electricians Working Group was established in 2017 with a membership reflective of industry, safety, and consumer interests. This group has explored the challenges of ensuring the safety of electrical installation and discussed proposals that aim to protect consumers, protect scrupulous traders, and maintain an environment that allows competition within the provision of electrical services in Scotland.

To date, this work has culminated in the publication of the Regulation of Electricians in Scotland: Research Report (7 June 2019), the Consultation (23 November 2020), and the Consultation Analysis (23 March 2021). Throughout these discussions, the UK Government has been informed of the proposals developed by the Scottish Government. Further detail on these discussions and the outcomes of the consultation are contained within responses to related questions S6W-03566, S6W-03567, and S6W-03568 on 29 October 2021

The Scottish Government continues to hold discussions with key stakeholders in relation to the improvement of the quality and safety of electrical installations in buildings. In addition to the above, officials have maintained robust engagement with Certification Scheme Providers who provide optional certification of electrical installations subject to a building warrant. In June 2021, a certification strategy was approved through the Building Standards Futures Board . Working with delivery partners, including the Electrical Contractors' Association of Scotland (SELECT) and the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC), we will encourage greater uptake in use of certification of construction as a further means of supporting improvement to the quality and safety of electrical installations in Scotland.

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 following tables show estimates of the additional income arising from the Large Business Supplement (up to 2019-20) and the Higher Property Rate (from 2020-21) in the Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Dundee City, and Moray local authority areas. Please note that the Large Business Supplement applied to properties with a rateable value above £51,000, while the Higher Property Rate applies to properties with a rateable value above £95,000.

Table 1: Estimated net income arising from the Large Business Supplement or the Higher Property Rate, in Aberdeen City, 2017-18 to 2021-22, by property class (£ thousands)

There are a total of 2,603 properties in the Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Dundee City, and Moray local authority areas subject to the Higher Property Rate. Please note that this includes the entire local authority areas, as data by parliamentary constituency or region is not available.

Table 1 presents a breakdown of this figure by local authority and property class (data on industry sectors is not available). Property class is a classification used by the Scottish Assessors to describe the type of a property, and may not accurately reflect its use. For example, a property classified as a ‘shop’ may in fact be used to offer financial services. Properties across all classes may be eligible for rates reliefs which may reduce or eliminate their rates liability.

Table 1: Number of properties liable for the Higher Property Rate by property class in Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Dundee City, and Moray

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-03453 on 21 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 has no functions in relation to the use of animals in research and testing.

The use of animals in research and testing is an area of policy reserved to the United Kingdom government, and is overseen by the Home Office.

The Scottish Government has no current plans to change the legislation in this area.

In relation to flatted properties, section 17 of the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004 gives homeowners reasonable access for maintenance and other purposes through the property of other owners. Section 17 may be viewed at:-

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2004/11/contents

There is no equivalent legislation for non-flatted properties. In some cases, title deeds, servitude rights over neighbouring land or the common law may provide the necessary access rights. Access to neighbouring land might also be permitted by way of a private arrangement between individuals. Where parties are in dispute, mediation can sometimes provide assistance.

If however, the member has evidence that a change in the law would be helpful, I would be happy to consider the issue further.