Chamber and committees

Unlocking investment in the supply chain to build skills for zero emissions heating and energy efficiency must start with a clear demand for products and services. Our investment of at least £1.8 billion and the proposed regulatory framework for zero emissions heat and energy efficiency, as outlined in the Heat in Buildings Strategy, will strengthen demand and support an increase in jobs and skilled workers. The Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan (CESAP) is central in defining our ambitions to create a future workforce that can support our transition to a net zero economy and Skills Development Scotland have recently established a new Heat Decarbonisation Subgroup to work with industry to develop new targeted skills support, bolster training capacity and establish new skills pathways for entrants to the sector.

As set out in our recently published "Heat in Buildings - Quality Assurance Policy Statement", we believe in setting a high standard for installers of home energy measures and those providing advice to homeowners. We will adopt the principles of the PAS2030/35 British Standard for retrofit works funded under Scottish Government Programmes, and we are using the Microgeneration Certification Scheme as the standard for any microgeneration technologies.

Both MCS and PAS2030/2035 set requirements in terms of the core competencies and qualifications required to carry out work. We have worked extensively with the Scottish supply chain and sector skills bodies to ensure there is clarity on the minimum Scottish Qualifications required under these schemes and we have published our position in the "Energy efficiency, zero emissions and low carbon heating systems, microgeneration and heat networks - Installer Skills Matrix".

We are also currently considering how to build upon the successful projects delivered through our National Transition Training Fund which has provided over £1.3m in support for relevant zero emissions heat and energy efficiency training since October 2020. We will publish further detail on our plans in the forthcoming Heat in Buildings Supply Chain Delivery Plan.

The number of passenger complaints received by ScotRail, through their official complaints process, is set out in the following table for the period 1 and 31 May 2022. The complaints may involve incidents that occurred before 1 May 2022.

The average recorded number of complaints per period for previous years is as follows:-

2019-2020 - 1,664 complaints

2018-2019 - 2,064 complaints

The figure for 1 April to 30 April 2022 is 1,144. The figure of 2,006 complaints for May 2022 is higher than April 2022 as this May period was when several services were impacted due to driver shortages and the subsequent temporary timetable that was introduced on 23 May 2022. The temporary timetable that was in place until 20 July 2022 aimed to provide the best possible service to as many passengers as possible with the available resources.

ScotRail do not record staff complaints and therefore the information is not available.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-09455 on 27 July 2022 . 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 number of passenger complaints received by ScotRail, through their official complaints process, is set out on the table below for the period 1 and 30 June 2022. The complaints may involve incidents that occurred before 1 June 2022.

The average recorded number of complaints per period for previous years is as follows:-

2019-2020 - 1,664 complaints

2018-2019 - 2,064 complaints

The figure for 1 April to 30 April 2022 is 1,144. The figure of 1,493 complaints for June 2022 is higher than April 2022 as during May and June 2022 several services were impacted due to driver shortages and the subsequent temporary timetable that was introduced on 23 May 2022. The temporary timetable that was in place until 20 July 2022 aimed to provide the best possible service to as many passengers as possible with the available resources.

ScotRail do not record staff complaints and therefore the information is not available.

According to the latest published statistics (April 2022) there were 2953 electric vehicle charge points in Scotland at this time. This figure includes 2257 from ChargePlace Scotland, Scotland’s publicly funded electric vehicle charging network.

The replacement of train fleets in Scotland, including the HSTs, is aligned with the phases of the Decarbonisation Action Plan, a link to which is provided here:- Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan | Transport Scotland

This timescale is of course subject to continuous review in line with delivering the decarbonisation of the rail network in Scotland affordably and practicably and any other relevant developments, including recommendations arising from the Steering Groups considering the recommendations of, and subsequent analysis from the recent RAIB report into the Carmont accident.

The Scottish Government has not allocated any money towards bidding to host the Eurovision song contest in 2023.

Hosting Eurovision 2023 would be a great honour for any country, and we look forward to seeing how plans for next year’s contest develop.

The current guidance for General Practice is Appendix 22 - Community Infection Prevention and Control COVID-19 Pandemic which was first published on 29th June.

The pandemic has been the biggest shock our NHS has ever faced. It has necessitated the imposition of Infection Prevention Control measures in order to contain its spread, particularly prior to the vaccination programme being fully rolled out. These measures, which have recently been deescalated, changed the way GPs see their patients. As Covid has not gone away yet some precautions remain in place.

The Scottish Government wants to see greater availability of face-to-face appointments and is working with the BMA and RCGP to ensure this happens as quickly as possible. We are clear that where clinically necessary face-to-face consultations will always be available to those who need them.

We must continue to move toward a position where choice is being offered routinely, and the Scottish Government welcomes the GMC’s proposed changes to the Good Medical Practice guidance placing a greater emphasis on shared decision-making between GPs and their patients.

Many GP practices did offer patients video or phone consultations as well as in-person face-to-face consultations before the pandemic changed the balance and we expect a number of patients will wish to continue afterwards with video or phone consultations rather than travel to their GP practice. Ultimately, what is most important is that appointments are agreed through shared decision making, balancing patient choice and clinical judgement.

The 2019 Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS) estimates that 56% of social housing is in EPC band C or better. This is the most recent data available from the SHCS.

Following the suspension of face-to-face interviewing in March 2020 to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, there was no SHCS data collection in 2020. The 2021 SHCS was carried out by an external-only inspection, supplemented with alternative sources of data (e.g. from the Energy Performance Certificate) and the householder providing information to surveyors via telephone.

This approach was designed to provide as reliable as possible estimates of key statistics, including on fuel poverty, energy efficiency and external repairs, while maintaining no contact with the household. No data was collected on internal aspects such as room repairs and aspects of housing standards.

It is expected that the key findings from the 2021 SHCS will be published in February 2023.

The 2022 SHCS returned to full in-home surveying in April 2022.

As set out in the Heat in Buildings Strategy, £33 billion is the estimated total gross capital cost of converting our entire building stock, domestic and non-domestic, to zero emissions heat. This estimate is purely indicative and based on a single technology pathway, with cost assumptions derived from the best available evidence including research published by the Climate Change Committee. The Scottish Government continues to keep cost estimates under review, incorporating new evidence as it becomes available.