Chamber and committees

STPR2 did not recommend further work on the business case development of this proposed fixed link after being considered at the detailed appraisal stage.

An engineering assessment of the shortest possible road tunnel and alternate bridge option, which measured 15kms and 12kms respectively, concluded that both options were currently impractical to construct. The tunnel on the grounds of fire safety and the bridge due to the potential length of span required over the deepest section of water.

Furthermore, while the STPR2 Case for Change for the Highlands and Islands Region highlighted issues relating to the resilience of island connections, no analysis undertaken through the STPR2 process supported a conclusion that a fixed link connection between the Orkney Islands and Scottish mainland would address this strategic problem. Instead, STPR2 recommendation 24, recommends the renewal and replacement of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services and Northern Isles Ferry Services vessels including progressive decarbonisation by 2045.

The Heat in Buildings Strategy confirms our intention to introduce, subject to consultation, regulations requiring Scotland’s homes to meet EPC Band C equivalent, where that is technically feasible and cost effective from 2025. We plan to consult during 2022 on our proposals for such regulations, and this will include details of any exemptions including those linked to cost and availability of finance, clarity on the burden of responsibility, and matters relating to compliance and enforcement.

Adults and children with a learning disability who were coded in their GP systems, have now been invited for vaccination as at-risk groups. Criteria from the Green Book (GB) was used to develop queries to run across GP IT systems to identify and extract data on those identified as being eligible based on GB criteria. In addition, the Scottish Government has worked across carers and disability policy areas to cascade information via the third sector to organisations who support people with a learning disability – to further highlight this offer.

Under the Deposit and Return Scheme for Scotland Regulations 2020, producers must register with SEPA either directly or via a scheme administrator for their products to be sold legally onto the Scottish market. In line with the full implementation date that I announced in my statement to Parliament on 14 December 2021, the window for producers to make such registrations will run from 1 January-28 February 2023.

SEPA’s digital registration service is currently in development and will be online from 1 January 2023 in accordance with the producer registration window.

The 2021 consultation on the draft Heat in Buildings Strategy included 7 consultation workshops, which were open to all interested participants. Of the 156 attendees, 147 identified themselves as representing an organisation. Workshop attendees were not asked to register their personal circumstances, so information on how many were off-grid householders was not recorded.

The Scottish Biometrics Commissioner was created through legislation introduced by the Scottish Government to the Scottish Parliament in 2019. The first Commissioner, Dr Brian Plastow, was appointed by Parliament and took up post in April 2021. The Commissioner’s main function is to support and promote the adoption of lawful, effective and ethical practices in relation to the collection, retention, use and destruction of biometric data for criminal justice and police purposes.

The scope of the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner Act 2020 allows for the Commissioner’s oversight role to be extended to cover other bodies that have criminal justice or policing functions. Therefore, additional legislation would be required in order to broaden the Commissioner’s remit to include the use of facial recognition technology used in schools, shops, supermarkets and other public places. Consultation with the bodies affected and proper reflection would be required before any such legislation could be considered.

The decision to use any technology with facial recognition capability is an operational matter for Police Scotland, whilst having regard to the relevant laws. The Scottish Government understands from Police Scotland that they have no plans to use live facial recognition technology at this time.

In line with Scottish Government's commitment to the legal, ethical and proportionate use of technologies in policing, an Independent Advisory Group on Emerging Technologies, whose membership includes policing, human rights and data protection stakeholders, is currently developing recommendations and is due to report to Ministers later this year.

The Scottish Government has noted the 2021 open letter by Amnesty International and its concerns around the use of mass surveillance biometric technology in public spaces.

The Scottish Government recognises that assurances are required in order to secure public trust and support for any future use of the technology. We also note that legal and regulatory provisions must be sufficient to ensure accountability and transparency.

These matters are not solely for the Scottish Government, and we stand ready to work with Police Scotland, local authorities, the UK Information Commissioner’s Office and others with regard to the use of mass surveillance biometric technology, to ensure an approach which is lawful, effective, proportionate and ethical.

The Scottish Government is committed to resourcing and supporting local authorities (LAs) through a mix of competitive and other funding programmes, as well as direct resource to support commitments to statutory targets. Specifically, we are committed to providing appropriate resource to all LAs to drive area-based planning and delivery of the heat transition, under our Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies programme. We are also committed to provide appropriate resource to enable them to deliver the provisions of the Heat Networks Act. Over this parliamentary session, £300 million will be available, including to LAs, to support the development and roll out of zero emission heat networks.

The Scottish Green Public Sector Estate Decarbonisation Scheme is designed to support leadership for decarbonisation of public buildings, with the Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund accelerating the delivery of energy efficiency measures and zero emission heating systems to existing homes in the socially rented sector (including LAs). Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) and LAs are also supported by the Social Housing Net Zero Heat Development Fund to develop zero emission heating projects and strategic plans ready for capital funding. We have extended the scope of projects funded through our Area Based Schemes to include delivery of low carbon heating and microgeneration measures (solar PV) as part of a `whole house retrofit’. This includes costs associated with the whole house assessment, design, coordination and evaluation of retrofit measures. Lastly, we have non-competitive funding for investment in electric vehicle charging infrastructure and decarbonisation of public sector fleets available to all LAs, with over £65 million of funding awarded over the last decade.

I refer the member to the answer to the earlier question S6W-06595 on 1 March 2022. In addition, procedures are in place for when the nature of an individual’s condition means they cannot travel, so that a home appointment can be organised. On the first instance, people should contact the number on their appointment letter. Further information on how to request support with interpretation, or get help with travelling to appointments offered by local health boards can be found here: NHS Inform site - https://www.nhsinform.scot/transport-and-interpreter

Local health boards have a list of people currently registered as housebound with their GPs, and are in the process of contacting them all to receive their flu and COVID-19 booster in line with eligibility.

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