The aim of the Bill is to encourage greater use of heat networks in Scotland. Heat networks are made up of insulated pipes and heat generation systems which make heat. This can be in the form of hot water or steam. This will help reduce emissions from homes and other buildings.
This is a Government bill
The Bill became an Act on 30 March 2021
This Bill was passed and is now an Act of the Scottish Parliament.
The aim of the Bill is to encourage greater use of heat networks in Scotland. Heat networks are made up of insulated pipes and heat generation systems which make heat. This can be in the form of hot water or steam. This will help reduce emissions from homes and other buildings.
The Bill puts in place rules and regulations on heat networks, including:
All public sector building owners will need to assess their buildings to check if they're suitable to connect to a heat network.
The heat network sector is currently not regulated. This Bill will set up these license and regulation arrangements. The Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) Act 2019, was passed by the Scottish Parliament. One of the big challenges to meeting the targets will be reducing the emissions caused by heating. Heat networks are often:
Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill as introduced (576KB, pdf) posted 04 March 2020
Explanatory Notes (256KB, pdf) posted 04 March 2020
Policy Memorandum (315KB, pdf) posted 04 March 2020
Financial Memorandum (813KB, pdf) posted 04 March 2020
Delegated Powers Memorandum (237KB, pdf) posted 12 May 2021
Statements on legislative competence (123KB, pdf) posted 04 March 2020
All Bills introduced in the Parliament must be accompanied by specific documents. For most Bills, this includes:
Explanatory Notes: this document provides an overview of what the Bill does, plus a more detailed explanation of individual provisions.
Policy Memorandum: this sets out the objectives of the Bill. It also lists any alternatives considered, details of consultations, and an assessment of the effects of the Bill on a range of areas.
Financial Memorandum: this sets out estimates of costs, savings, and any changes to revenues expected to result from the Bill.
Delegated Powers Memorandum: this is needed if a Bill gives powers to make subordinate legislation or allows Scottish Ministers to issue directions, guidance or codes of practice.
Statements on legislative competence: two short statements, one by the Presiding Officer and one by the Member introducing the Bill. “Legislative competence” means the powers the Parliament has to make law.
The Presiding Officer has decided under Rule 9.12 of Standing Orders that a financial resolution is required for this Bill.
For each Bill, the Presiding Officer must decide if a 'Financial Resolution' is required. The main reasons a Bill would need a Financial Resolution are that:
If a Bill requires a Financial Resolution:
The Scottish Parliament's Information Centre (SPICe) prepares impartial research and analysis to assist MSPs in their examination of Bills and other parliamentary business.
The Bill was introduced on 2 March 2020
At Stage 1, the Bill is given to a lead committee. This is usually the committee whose remit most closely relates to the subject of the Bill. The lead committee will consider and report on the Bill. Other committees may also examine the Bill and report to the lead committee. Finally, there is a debate and vote by all MSPs on the general principles of the Bill. If the general principles are not agreed to, then the Bill ‘falls’ and can’t become law.
The lead committee for this Bill is the Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee.
The lead committee will usually examine the Bill through evidence sessions. This will involve contributions from individuals and organisations, known as 'witnesses', with knowledge of the subject matter. The committee might also discuss the Bill in private sessions.
The deadline for sharing your views on this Bill has passed.
If a Bill is relevant to more than one committee, 'secondary committees' may consider and report on the general principles of the Bill to the lead committee. Some Bills may also be considered by the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee or the Finance and Public Administration Committee.
A Stage 1 debate took place on 3 December 2020 to consider and decide on the general principles of the Bill.
See further details of the motion
See further details of the motion
The Bill ended Stage 1 on 3 December 2020
At Stage 2, MSPs can propose changes to a Bill. These are called 'amendments'. Any MSP can suggest amendments but only members of the Stage 2 committee can decide on them.
Documents with the amendments considered at the meeting on 26 January 2021:
Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 2 (316KB, pdf) posted 21 January 2021
Groupings of Amendments for Stage 2 (345KB, pdf) posted 21 January 2021
A Stage 2 'Marshalled List' is a list of all the amendments that have been lodged at Stage 2 (or, if the Stage is mid-way through, all those still to be dealt with). They are listed in the order in which they will be called by the convener and then decided on.
A 'Groupings' list shows how the amendments that are listed in the Marshalled List have been grouped together for debate. Each group contains amendments that are related to each other, even if they are at different places in the Marshalled List.
Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill with Stage 2 amendments (820KB, pdf) posted 27 January 2021
Revised Explanatory Notes (342KB, pdf) posted 18 February 2021
Supplementary Financial Memorandum (269KB, pdf) posted 11 February 2021
Supplementary Delegated Powers Memorandum (249KB, pdf) posted 11 February 2021
Sometimes an amendment at Stage 2 makes substantial changes to a bill. If this happens, the Accompanying Documents need to be updated to explain what these changes are.
The Bill ended Stage 2 on 26 January 2021
At Stage 3, MSPs can propose further amendments (changes) to the Bill. These are debated and decided on in the Debating Chamber. At this stage, all MSPs can vote on them. There is then a debate on whether to pass the Bill. If the Bill is not passed, it ‘falls’ and can't become law.
Documents with the amendments to be considered at the meeting on 23 February 2021:
Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 3 (190KB, pdf) posted 17 February 2021
Groupings of Amendments for Stage 3 (182KB, pdf) posted 17 February 2021
A Stage 3 'Marshalled List' is a list of all the amendments that have been proposed at Stage 3 and that have been selected by the Presiding Officer. They are listed in the order in which they will be called by the Presiding Officer and then decided on.
A 'Groupings' list shows how the amendments that are listed in the Marshalled List have been grouped together for debate. Each group contains amendments that are related to each other, even if they are at different places in the Marshalled List.
‘Timed Groupings’ are usually produced at Stage 3 and set out how long Parliament expects to spend debating the groups of amendments.
Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill as passed (697KB, pdf) posted 23 February 2021
Once MSPs have decided on the amendments, they debate whether to pass the Bill.
Result 119 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 10 did not vote Vote Passed
See further details of the motion
The Bill ended Stage 3 on 23 February 2021
If the Bill is passed, it is normally sent for Royal Assent after about 4 weeks. Royal Assent is when the Bill gets formal agreement by the King and becomes an Act of the Scottish Parliament. Some Acts become law straight after Royal Assent. Some only come into force on a later date. Sometimes different bits of the same Act become law on different dates.
The Bill was passed on 23 February 2021 and became an Act on 30 March 2021.