Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S6W-06230

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 04 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what the anticipated contribution will be of solar PV and solar thermal in meeting the heat network supply target of 6TWh by 2030.

There has been no specific evaluation of the contribution of solar thermal and solar PV to the heat network targets for 2027 and 2030.

Our Heat in Building Strategy sets out that technologies, such as solar thermal and solar PV, can work well when used in conjunction with primary heating technologies, such as heat pumps.

As set out in our draft Heat Networks Delivery Plan, from the point that the heat networks legislative framework is in place, any new heat network as well as additional plans for heat network extensions will be required to be powered using low and zero emissions sources of heat. The plan also notes that license holders who operate existing networks will be required to prepare and implement a Heat Network Decarbonisation Plan, which will include milestones for making significant reductions in emissions by 2030 and 2035. To support development of these plans, we will commission work to test and develop an approach to preparing them during 2022.

Question reference: S6W-06403

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the identification of Ardeer as a potential site for nuclear energy production.

Question reference: S6W-06257

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 04 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05501 by Michael Matheson on 31 January 2022, what its position is on the National Grid ESO's analysis in its publication, Future Energy Scenarios, that Scotland will require to use energy generated by nuclear power to achieve net zero.

Scotland has long been a net exporter of electricity. In 2020, Scotland exported 20.4 TWh, equivalent to powering every household in Scotland for 26 months.

We expect that we will maintain our position as a net exporter even as demand from electrification of heat and transport increases particularly given the recent announcement by Crown Estate Scotland to offer option agreements to support the development of 25GW of offshore wind power.

This is consistent with the forecasts from National Grid’s Electricity Ten Year Statement as well as the recently published Network Options Assessment.

National Grid ESO has also conducted a study of the effects of the earlier than expected closure of nuclear generation in Scotland which concludes that the system will remain secure.

In order to meet Net-Zero, our priority continues to be to support energy efficiency, develop Scotland’s huge renewable resource and to promote storage and flexibility.

Question reference: S6W-06159

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 22 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government to what extent the (a) work on the forthcoming Scottish Biodiversity Strategy is being influenced by the COP15 process and (b) new strategy will directly tackle the five drivers of biodiversity loss, as identified by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.

We published a high level statement of intent on biodiversity on 14 December 2020 in order to take account of delays in agreeing a new global biodiversity framework at CoP15. We are closely engaged in discussions with the UK Government and the other devolved administrations on negotiation of the new framework.

The Statement of Intent signals our ambitions for biodiversity in Scotland, our international action, and announces our commitment to publish a new biodiversity strategy by October 2022 which will define high level outcomes to address the ongoing decline in biodiversity. This will be supported by a delivery plan published within six months of the new strategy.

The direct and indirect drivers of biodiversity loss identified by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services provide a useful high-level summary framework, and alongside other analyses such as Global Biodiversity Outlook 5 and the State of Nature report for Scotland provide a substantial evidence base around which to design our new strategy. However, it is a thorough and comprehensive understanding of Scotland’s particular needs which will most effectively shape our strategic framework and enable us to deliver improvements in biodiversity in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-06110

Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the announcement of the winners of the ScotWind offshore wind leasing auction by Crown Estate Scotland, what assessment it has made of the timeframe for the consenting process.

The Scottish Government has an objective to determine Electricity Act section 36 applications within nine months, where possible. It is important to clarify that this timeline is dependent on the submission of a complete, fit for purpose application that fully addresses all issues raised by Scottish Ministers and consultees during the pre-application period including the scoping process. That is why we are encouraging applicants to engage early with both the regulator and relevant stakeholders.

Details of the consenting process for offshore wind developments can be found here:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/marine-scotland-consenting-licensing-manual-offshore-wind-wave-tidal-energy-applications/

Question reference: S6W-06093

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 22 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many children living in (a) Argyll and Bute, (b) Highland, (c) Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, (d) Orkney Islands, (e) Shetland Islands, and (f) Moray council areas are eligible to receive a free bicycle and, of those, how many (i) have received a free bicycle, and (ii) are yet to receive a free bicycle.

We do not have the information requested as we are still in the test phase of this programme. In this government’s first 100 days, we established ten pilot schemes to test how best to provide free bikes for school age children who cannot afford one. These pilots will run for up to 12 months, testing different approaches and delivery models, which will then be independently evaluated, to help inform a national rollout. Of the mentioned council areas, Shetland is currently covered by one of the ten pilots. They have recently received a stock of 25 bikes and are waiting on a delivery of adaptive bikes. The pilot team are currently working to identify any eligible children in the council area and begin issuing bikes to them as soon as possible.

Question reference: S6W-06100

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish the Islands Energy Strategy.

We will consult on the draft Islands Energy Strategy during the summer of 2022.

The Strategy will set out an approach to supporting island residents and communities to decarbonise, and to develop renewable energy solutions that can promote resilience, enhance sustainability, and meet their energy needs.

In developing the draft Strategy, we will engage with our island stakeholders, to ensure we reflect their differing needs and priorities and work alongside the Carbon Neutral Islands initiative to maximise impact and shared learning.

Question reference: S6T-00519

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 February 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to the most recent recorded crime statistics showing a rise in violent crime.

Question reference: S6T-00513

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 21 February 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how it is addressing the disruption to ferry services in the West of Scotland that has reportedly resulted in significant supply issues and interruptions to the lifeline service.

Question reference: S6F-00842

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 February 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 February 2022

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the report by Andrew Webster QC into the handling by Scottish Borders Council of school assault allegations, in particular those relating to the abuse of vulnerable children in the Tweeddale Support Unit.