Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-26037

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 21 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered introducing targets for public sector organisations to make their buildings energy efficient.

Our consultation on proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill, which closed on 8 March, asked how we can help our public sector buildings to lead the way on heat decarbonisation, by requiring all public sector buildings to be using clean heating systems by 2038. We will now analyse the responses to determine the best course of action.

Any energy efficiency standard for non-domestic buildings, including public buildings, would need to carefully consider how to take account of the wide variety in size, construction and functionality.

Question reference: S6W-26014

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 08 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 18 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with the UK Government regarding electricity grid development in Scotland, and what was discussed.

The Scottish Government meets regularly with the UK Government regarding electricity networks in Scotland. The Scottish Government is represented on the Electricity Networks Delivery Forum, which has been established to oversee the implementation and delivery of the UK’s Transmission Acceleration Action Plan (TAAP) and the Connections Action Plan (CAP). The first meeting of the Electricity Networks Delivery Forum was on 30 January, and it is expected it will meet on a quarterly basis. We are continuing to use this forum, and our wider engagement with all relevant stakeholders, to continue to push for reform and ensure that the proposals in the TAAP and the CAP are robust, fit for purpose and work for Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-26016

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 08 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 18 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the level of investment in (a) electricity and (b) gas grid investment in Scotland that is funded through energy standing charges.

Legislation and regulations relating to electricity and gas networks are reserved to the UK Government, with the Electricity System Operator (ESO) responsible for the strategic approach to transmission investment, working with Transmission Owners across Great Britain. Regulation of the electricity and gas networks including approval of investment on infrastructure is carried out by the independent energy regulator Ofgem. Ofgem conducts analysis on the impact of standing charges on consumer bills across Great Britain and sets the framework for investment in the electricity and gas networks through the RIIO price controls. The Scottish Government has no role in networks regulation, apart from our statutory consenting process, however we work closely with the networks companies to promote consideration of Scottish Government policies and ambitions in their business plans and wider activities.

Question reference: S6W-26035

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 14 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Ofgem, and what was discussed.

I met with Ofgem CEO Jonathan Brearley and Chair Mark McAllister on 8 February to discuss Ofgem’s work to review standing charges for consumers, protections for prepayment meter (PPM) customers and opportunities for data sharing to facilitate better targeting of support to those that need it the most.

My officials regularly engage with Ofgem to influence policymaking and advocate the interests of Scottish energy consumers.

Question reference: S6W-26015

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 08 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 14 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with the UK Government regarding (a) electricity and (b) gas standing charges in Scotland, and what was discussed.

Question reference: S6W-26013

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 08 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 14 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with the UK Government regarding electricity pricing in Scotland, and what was discussed.

I met with the UK Government Minister for Affordability and Skills, Amanda Solloway MP, on 25 January in Holyrood. During that engagement, I reiterated the Scottish Government’s call for the introduction of a social tariff mechanism as a safety net for consumers in greatest need and highlighted the impacts of high electricity and gas standing prices on Scottish consumers. It was agreed that collaborative work between both governments and other stakeholders is required to help identify those most in need of help, as well as to futureproof the support system and protect consumers from any future price shocks.

Question reference: S6O-03217

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 March 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to support the development of cultural cinema.

Question reference: S6W-25475

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 13 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what the potential impact of the reduction to the Green Jobs Fund contained in its draft Budget 2024-25 will be on job creation in Scotland.

Published forecast figures on green job numbers are derived from projects where funding from the Green Jobs Fund has already been agreed and, in financial year 2024-25, support will continue for projects where commitments have been contractually agreed.

It is important to recognise that the Green Jobs Fund forms a relatively small part of the Scottish Government’s broader investment in the transition to net zero. This includes many institutions, funding packages and investment vehicles which provide advice, support and financial assistance for businesses at the forefront to building Scotland’s green economy. The forthcoming Green Industrial Strategy will provide further strategic direction on how such investment should be directed in future.

Question reference: S6W-25864

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 12 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-20099 by Richard Lochhead on 18 August 2023, whether it will provide a further update on projects that have been funded by the Green Growth Accelerator.

As shown through the Budget process, the challenging fiscal landscape has necessitated some difficult choices across government. This, alongside the need to strengthen the pipeline of investment, has resulted in the Scottish Government (SG) having to take the very difficult decision to pause the Green Growth Accelerator (GGA) programme.

The SG provided £720k to six local authorities (LAs) in 2021-22 to develop business cases for low carbon projects to test the GGA model and the six projects supported are at varying stages of development. Officials are working with the LAs impacted to explore what alternative funding sources may be available to progress projects where funding exists; including through Scotland’s Public Sector Heat Decarbonisation Fund and the Scottish Heat Network Fund.

Additionally, we are building on existing work across Government and recent collaborative efforts across the Government and public sector partners to identify and align investment behind key projects; strengthening relationships at the strategic and operational level to expedite the delivery of major public sector funded infrastructure projects.

Question reference: S6W-25865

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 12 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the return on investment as a result of the six pathfinder projects supported through the Green Growth Accelerator.

As shown through the Budget process, the challenging fiscal landscape has necessitated some difficult choices across government. This, alongside the need to strengthen the pipeline of investment, has resulted in the Scottish Government (SG) having to take the very difficult decision to pause the Green Growth Accelerator (GGA) programme.

It takes time to develop infrastructure projects and the six pathfinder projects supported through the GGA were at varying stages of development when the decision to pause the programme was taken. None were at the stage of investment and project delivery and consequently no assessment on return for investment has been undertaken.

Officials are working with the LAs impacted to explore what alternative funding sources may be available to progress projects where funding exists; including through Scotland’s Public Sector Heat Decarbonisation Fund and the Scottish Heat Network Fund.

Additionally, we are building on existing work across Government and recent collaborative efforts across the Government and public sector partners to identify and align investment behind key projects; strengthening relationships at the strategic and operational level to expedite the delivery of major public sector funded infrastructure projects.

Chamber and committees