- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 January 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 February 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what commitments were made during the Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy’s recent meetings with German energy companies to support Scotland’s just transition to renewable energy.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-34080 on 13 February 2025. 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
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 January 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 February 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is considering to align public energy policy with the reported findings of the True North survey on domestic energy production and import dependence.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-33259 on 11 February 2025. 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
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 January 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 February 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what international partnerships the Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy sought to establish or enhance during her recent trip to Berlin.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-34080 on 13 February 2025. 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
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 February 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what the size is of Scottish Water’s financial reserve.
Answer
Cash balances are published in Scottish Water’s annual and interim accounts which are laid before Parliament. The latest figure is available in Scottish Water’s interim report and accounts for 2024-25, published on 18 December 2024 and available at https://www.scottishwater.co.uk/-/media/ScottishWater/Document-Hub/Key-Publications/Annual-Reports/Interim-Reports/SCW2701-Interim-report-2024-NOT-SIGNED.pdf.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 February 2025
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason water charges are being increased by a reported 9.9%, in light of them increasing by 8.8% in 2024, which was above the inflation rate.
Answer
As published in the Water Industry Commission for Scotland’s (WICS) Final Determination of charges for 2021-27, the maximum amount of charges that Scottish Water can levy on its customers is CPI+2% on average for each year of the regulatory period (equivalent to CPI+12.6% over the 6 year period). Charge increases in the first half of the regulatory period were significantly less than the charge cap, reflecting the financial impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and cost of living crisis on households.
Water charges are set by Scottish Water’s Board, with approval from the independent economic regulator WICS. The Board must balance affordability with funding critical investment needs to protect our drinking water quality and the environment. As recognised in Scottish Water’s Draft Long Term Strategy published on 4 February 2025, charges need to increase to fund the impacts of the climate emergency, the replacement of ageing assets and a growing population.
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 30 January 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 13 February 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication of the Subsidy Advice Unit Report on the proposed subsidy to CalMac Ferries Limited on 17 December 2024 by the Competition and Markets Authority, whether Transport Scotland will undertake a route by route assessment explaining whether any level of service could be commercially provided.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-33834 on 13 February 2025. 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
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 January 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 13 February 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what the annual cost is of maintaining cat’s eyes on (a) the A90 in the (i) section north of Dundee and (ii) other sections and (b) other trunk roads.
Answer
Maintenance/replacement costs for road studs on the A90 from August 2022 can be seen in table A.
Table A
Route | 2022-23 (16th August onwards | 2023-2024 | 2024-25 |
A90 North of Dundee | £48,069 | £85,721 | £29,746 |
A90 South of Dundee | £19,696 | £14,240 | £7,053 |
The above figures exclude expenditure on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route / Balmedie to Tipperty section of the A90. The contract with the DBFO Company, Aberdeen Roads Limited (ARL) requires it to fulfil the contractual obligations in respect of maintenance at ARL’s own cost. These associated costs are not shared with Transport Scotland.
The total cost of road stud maintenance/replacement for all trunk roads within the North East Unit (including the A90 but excluding the AWPR/B-T Project) from August 2022 is as follows:
Table B
Unit | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 |
NE | £109,906 | £171,719 | £316,325 |
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 January 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 February 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions the Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy had with international energy firms in Berlin regarding investment opportunities in Scotland’s offshore wind, green hydrogen, and carbon capture sectors.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-34080 on 13 February 2025. 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
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 January 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 February 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to follow up on the Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy’s recent discussions in Berlin with German energy firms to facilitate joint projects in offshore wind and carbon capture.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-34080 on 13 February 2025. 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
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 January 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 February 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions took place during the Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy’s recent visit to Berlin regarding collaboration between Scotland and Germany on achieving net zero targets.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-34080 on 13 February 2025. 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