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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-31121

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 08 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 18 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to address any recruitment challenges faced by the energy sector in the north east.

As set out in our Green Industrial Strategy, the Scottish Government is working with partners across the energy sector to plan for a multi-skilled workforce.

This approach includes enabling skilled offshore oil and gas workers to carry their experience and expertise into different roles, including renewables, as the energy transition progresses. We are also committed to the development of Scotland’s CCUS and Hydrogen sectors, which will protect jobs and utilise existing skills within the workforce as well as developing new opportunities.

Funding from the Just Transition Fund has already been allocated to support industry-led development of an Offshore Energy Skills Passport; to create an advanced manufacturing skills hub in Aberdeen and a pilot scheme with the National Energy Skills Accelerator to determine the skills required for an energy transition.

In addition, the Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council is currently taking forward crucial work to map the future skills need for offshore wind development, which will help both industry and the public sector to identify and address future skills and workforce gaps.

Question reference: S6W-31119

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 08 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 18 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is considering to improve (a) awareness and (b) accessibility of grants and funding available to support the energy sector’s transition.

Our Enterprise Agencies deliver a comprehensive programme of activities to engage with companies and raise awareness of opportunities arising from the energy transition, and of the funding and other support available.

Since April, Scottish Enterprise has delivered two marketing campaigns, with over 500 companies directly targeted and a focus on the north east of Scotland. Two more campaigns will be delivered before the end of this financial year.

This includes raising awareness of the range of financial support mechanisms, such as Research and Development grants, Capital grants, and Regional Selective Assistance grants.

Question reference: S6W-31113

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 08 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 18 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the steadily declining value in renewables work over recent Energy Transition surveys, as described in Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce's Energy Transition 40th Survey report.

Question reference: S6W-31110

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 08 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 18 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce's Energy Transition 40th Survey report.

We have noted the latest Energy Transition survey report published by Aberdeen and Grampian Chambers of Commerce. Offshore oil and gas licensing and consenting, as well as the associated fiscal regime, are currently reserved to the UK Government. We continue to call on UK Government to listen carefully to the concerns being expressed by businesses around risks to jobs and investment in the transition.

Question reference: S6W-31120

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 08 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 18 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that the North Sea Transition Taskforce’s recommendations are implemented effectively to safeguard jobs and support the energy transition.

Question reference: S6W-31114

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 08 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 15 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the findings showing the lowest levels of confidence in the UK continental shelf (UKCS) since the Energy Transition survey series began, as set out in Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce's Energy Transition 40th Survey report.

The Scottish Government is committed to working in partnership with business and industry to deliver a just transition for Scotland’s valued oil and gas sector, which recognises the declining nature of the North Sea basin and is in line with our climate change commitments.

We recognise that the oil and gas sector has an important and valued continuing role to play in our economy and energy; and that retention of both a strong workforce and energy supply chain, will be crucial for the success of the transition to net zero and renewables.

Offshore oil and gas licensing and consenting, as well as the associated fiscal regime, are currently reserved to the UK Government. We continue to call on UK Government to listen carefully to the concerns being expressed by businesses around risks to jobs and investment in the transition.

Question reference: S6O-03990

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 November 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it will publish its Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan.

Question reference: S6W-30576

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 13 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has provided to the Net Zero Technology Centre since its foundation in 2017.

The Scottish Government has provided the following funding to the Net Zero Technology Centre from its foundation to the end of the second quarter of financial year 2024-25:

£148,696,581 through the Aberdeen City Region Deal and paid through Aberdeenshire Council as the Deal's Accountable Body (including funding provided on behalf of the UK Government whereby both governments have committed up to £90 million each over 10 years to financial year 2026-27)
£4,521,000 through the Decommissioning Challenge Fund, payments concluding in financial year 2018-19
£15,151,601 through the Energy Transition Fund
£709,126 through the Just Transition Fund.

Question reference: S6W-30577

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 13 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Net Zero Technology Centre about future funding after the Aberdeen City Region Deal funding stream concludes.

Question reference: S6W-30709

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 12 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to improve the nutritional standards of school meals, beyond the 2020 regulatory interventions.

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of all children and young people by giving them the best possible start in life.

We expect all local authorities to meet their statutory duty to comply with their statutory duty to comply with the Nutritional Requirements for Food and Drink in Schools (Scotland) Regulations 2020, which are based on scientific evidence and dietary advice designed to ensure children and young people are provided with food and drink which contains an appropriate amount of energy and nutrients to support their healthy growth and development. They also ensure there is a limit to the amount of salt, sugar, fat and saturated fat contained within food and drink offered at any time of the school day, including at meal times.

We recognise that local authorities, and schools themselves, are best placed to decide upon the content of their school menus at the local level given their understanding of local needs and circumstances. Working in partnership with Education Scotland Health and Nutrition Inspectors, who monitor compliance with the Regulations, we continue to support local authorities as they build upon the work already being done to ensure that school meals meet the highest standards of nutrition, recognising that this is vital to supporting our children and young people’s effective learning.