Chamber and committees

In the most recent reporting period, which covered from start October 2023 to end November 2023, under the contract between Scottish Government and Energy Saving Trust, 92% of applicants had their applications processed within 15 working days. Several schemes are delivered through this contract, including the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme, the SME Loan Scheme, and the Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan Scheme.

This figure is only tracked and reported for all applications and cannot be broken down by local authority or between schemes, nor is average processing time tracked and reported on.

CalMac have confirmed they do not distinguish between fuel type when carrying vehicles on vessels.

The following table shows the current, maximum number of cars that each current and planned vessel can carry:

In the most recent reporting period, which covered from start October 2023 to end November 2023, under the contract between Scottish Government and Energy Saving Trust, 85% of customers had their payments issued within 10 working days of submitting of a fully completed claim with all relevant paperwork. Several schemes are delivered through this contract, including the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme, the SME Loan Scheme, and the Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan Scheme.

This figure is only tracked and reported for all applications and cannot be broken down by local authority or between schemes, nor is average processing time tracked and reported on.

The application for a mixed use development consisting of residential and commercial units at a site bounded by Candleriggs, Ingram Street and Albion Street in Glasgow, is currently with a Reporter at the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) of the Scottish Government.

The application was called in by Scottish Ministers on 27 February 2023 in view of the proposal raising issues of importance requiring scrutiny at a national level.

The reporter is currently in the process of finalising their report and recommendations to Ministers and is aiming to submit this by the end of February 2024. It will then be for Scottish Ministers to consider the reporters recommendations and all other submissions made on the application before making their decision. Scottish Ministers will aim to make a decision on this application as quickly as possible following receipt of the report.

Scottish Ministers determine applications for consent made under the Electricity Act 1989. The Scottish Government does not collate data on determination timescales following a planning authority’s response to an application consultation. Progression to determination is not solely dependent on the planning authorities’ consultation responses. Other consultation responses, representations and relevant material information factor into the decision-making process.

Average timescales for determination vary depending on the type of development. Electricity Act windfarm applications, for the last 5 years, where there is no public inquiry, have been determined within an average of 24 months. Windfarm applications, with a public inquiry, have averaged 44 months to determination.

Overall more trainee doctor posts have filled in 2023 than any other year on record, (data correct as at 25 July 2023). Within that overall context there will always be a number of posts which do not fill. Medical Ophthalmology ST3 is a small specialty with only 1 post advertised in 2023, therefore, as this post has not filled, the fill rate appears as 0%. We continue to work closely with our partners in NHS Education for Scotland and Health Boards, to consider ways of improving fill rates across all specialities.

Overall more trainee doctor posts have filled in 2023 than any other year on record, (data correct as at 25 July 2023). Within that overall context there will always be a number of posts which do not fill. Genitourinary Medicine ST4 is a small specialty with only 3 post advertised in 2023, therefore, as these posts have not filled, the fill rate appears as 0%. We continue to work closely with our partners in NHS Education for Scotland and Health Boards, to consider ways of improving fill rates across all specialities.

Overall more trainee doctor posts have filled in 2023 than any other year on record, (data correct as at 25 July 2023).Within that overall context there will always be a number of posts which do not fill. Occupational Medicine ST3 is a small specialty with only 1 post advertised in 2023, therefore, as this post has not filled, the fill rate appears as 0%. We continue to work closely with our partners in NHS Education for Scotland and Health Boards, to consider ways of improving fill rates across all specialities.

The First Minister and I both met with the Climate Ambassador of Denmark, Tomas Anker Christenson at COP28. The Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance is co-chaired by Denmark, meaning that the coalition came up in both meetings.

Similarly, I met with representatives from the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative. Holding such meetings is consistent with our approach of engaging with diverse organisations as part of a wider programme of analysis and engagement with a range of stakeholders.

A range of legislation makes up the regulatory framework for the safety of grid scale battery energy storage systems (BESS). Health and safety is a reserved matter with applicable UK legislation including: the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002; the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989; and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. Relevant regulations are updated as and when deemed necessary, with input from all relevant authorities.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s regulator in this regard, and their remit includes health and safety in the workplace as well as public assurance on safety matters. HSE considers there to be a robust regulatory regime covering the fire risks associated with BESS.