Questions and answers

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.

Question reference: S6W-25721

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 26 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 11 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with Unite the Union to discuss its Heat in Buildings proposals.

We have not been approached by Unite the Union for discussions on our proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill. However, we would be happy to have such a discussion at any time - building on the wide-ranging engagement with stakeholders across Scotland that we have undertaken since our consultation was published.

Our consultation is currently open until 8 March ( Proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill: Consultation - Scottish Government consultations - Citizen Space ) and we encourage all organisations and households to respond.

Question reference: S6W-25722

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 26 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 11 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with the GMB trade union to discuss its Heat in Buildings proposals.

We have not been approached by GMB Union for discussions on our proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill. However, we would be happy to have such a discussion at any time - building on the wide-ranging engagement with stakeholders across Scotland that we have undertaken since our consultation was published.

Our consultation is currently open until 8 March ( Proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill: Consultation - Scottish Government consultations - Citizen Space ) and we encourage all organisations and households to respond.

Question reference: S6W-25838

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 11 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported gaps in the delivery of traditional building skills training and concerns regarding the importance of these skills in maintaining the built environment, whether it will commit to a review of traditional building skills training delivery programming across Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-25712

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 23 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 8 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many properties it expects would be required to meet the minimum energy efficiency standards by 2033, as proposed in its Delivering Net Zero for Scotland's Buildings consultation.

The consultation on proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill includes a proposal to introduce a minimum energy efficiency standard. Privately owned housing would be required to meet this standard by the end of 2033.

A significant proportion of the housing stock will already meet the standard ahead of this date, with new homes built between now and 2033 already meeting or exceeding the standard and private rented homes being required to meet the standard by the end of 2028. In addition, we are proposing that owner occupied homes which have installed clean heating systems before 2033 won’t be required to meet the standard.

It is the intention to set a minimum energy efficiency standard at a level that is broadly equivalent to EPC C. The Scottish House Condition Survey 2022 shows that 48% of owner-occupied dwellings (around 788,000 dwellings) are already in EPC band C or better. It is likely that for many homes which do not yet meet the proposed standard, the amount of work needed to be carried out is modest.

We are also seeking views in our consultation on whether to introduce flexibility to the standard for specific groups or personal circumstances. These mechanisms may reduce the number of homes which need to meet the standard.

Question reference: S6W-25711

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 23 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 8 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many properties it expects would be required to meet the minimum energy efficiency standards by 2028, as proposed in its Delivering Net Zero for Scotland's Buildings consultation.

The consultation on proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill includes a proposal to introduce a minimum energy efficiency standard. Landlords of private rented housing would be required to meet this standard by the end of 2028.

The intention is to set a minimum energy efficiency standard at a level that is broadly equivalent to EPC C. The Scottish House Condition Survey 2022 estimates that around 50% of privately rented homes are already in EPC band C or better. It is likely that for many homes which do not yet meet the proposed standard, the amount of work needed to be carried out is modest.

We are also seeking views in our consultation on whether to introduce further flexibility to the standard for specific groups or personal circumstances. These mechanisms may reduce the number of homes which need to meet the standard.

Chamber and committees