Seòmar agus comataidhean

The Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme is available to all domestic owner occupied households in Scotland, therefore data on household income and council tax band are not collected during the application process. In the following table, the data requested has therefore been supplied for local authority area only.

Funding issued through the scheme often comprises a combination of loan and grant funding.

My officials in Scottish Enterprise remain in regular contact with the Joint Administrators as the administration process continues to progress, and I understand that the Stoneywood site continues to be marketed by Interpath Advisory.

The following table sets out the number of applications approved for energy efficiency measures and clean heating systems for the financial year 2022-23. The figures include data from the Home Energy Scotland Loan and Cashback Scheme, which operated until December 2022, and the Grant and Loan scheme which began in December 2022.

A ‘clean heating system’ refers to a ‘zero direct emissions heating system’.

Hybrid heat pumps and hybrid heat pump systems are not included in the number of clean heating systems, as these usually include a heating source which directly produces carbon emissions, although the Scottish Government only provides funding for the zero emissions element.

Following the necessary consultation , the Scottish Government confirmed in June 2023 that it intends to update the Mobile Homes Act 1983 to change the presumed basis of pitch fee uprating from the Retail Prices Index to the Consumer Prices Index, for both existing and future contracts. We also propose to make a further change so that the statistical basis for uprating pitch fees can be amended by secondary rather than primary legislation in the future. We will bring forward the necessary legislation at the earliest opportunity.

The membership of the Best Start Review Group and the Best Start Sub-Groups is published in Appendix E and Appendix F of the Best Start Report , published in 2017. This includes the members job titles and organisation, and the remits of the sub groups. The remit of the Neonatal Models of Care sub group was agreed by the Best Start Review Group and is published in Appendix F. The role of each member of the sub group was to deliver the remit.

Members were appointed to the Review Group for the duration of the review (October 2015 to January 2017) and the Neonatal Models of Care Sub Group for the duration of that group (February 2016 – August 2016)

The Perinatal Sub Group of the Best Start Implementation Programme Board was convened in 2017 to take forward the Neonatal Intensive Care recommendation, and other Best Start recommendations. The Group continues to meet and the membership has changed over the lifetime of the group. The members at the time that the Options Appraisal Report was sent to Ministers is listed on page four of that report.

We will shortly consult on proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill. This will include proposals to set a minimum energy efficiency standard for homes in Scotland - ensuring they are better insulated and driving down emissions to meet our targets.

We provide a range of funding schemes to provide advice and financial support to help households install energy efficiency upgrades and clean heating. This includes our Warmer Homes Scotland scheme which provides a fully funded, full installation service to those who are least able to afford to take action themselves. We also offer our Home Energy Scotland grant and loan scheme under which households can access up to £15,000 in grants and interest free loans to install clean heating systems and energy efficiency measures. Up to £18,000 is available for those households living in rural areas.

We are promote our schemes our schemes and offer of support in range of different ways. I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-22629 on 16 November 2023 for information on the ongoing actions we are taking to do this. 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 .

The Home Energy Scotland (HES) Grant and Loan Scheme offers homeowners in Scotland a grant, interest free loan or a combination of both to support the installation of energy efficiency measures and zero direct emission heating.

Energy efficiency measures funded through the scheme must be recommended on the property’s EPC, ensuring that funding is being utilised for measures which are suitable for a property and will result in a reduction in carbon emissions.

On behalf of the Scottish Government, Element Energy conducted analysis of the technical suitability of low-carbon heating technologies in Scottish domestic buildings. A copy of this report is available here: Scottish Government (2020). Technical Feasibility of Low Carbon Heating in Domestic Buildings, www.gov.scot/publications/technical-feasibility-low-carbon-heating-domestic-buildings-report-scottish-governments-directorate-energy-climate-change/ .

We have recently published research by ClimateXchange that considers options for a methodology to assess the suitability of whole-building heating systems and we are currently undertaking work to develop options for such a methodology for further consideration.

We will consult during 2023 on proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill to phase out polluting heating systems in Scotland’s homes and buildings and move to clean heating systems. Any regulations introduced will be technology-neutral since different homes and buildings will require different clean heat solutions (including heat pumps, heat networks and direct electric heating systems).

All the current means of heating homes and buildings require replacement and recycling of units and component parts, and this will continue to be the case.