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Based on available evidence, we estimate that the cost of achieving the targets is up to £1.4 billion for the 2027 target, a further £3.7 billion for the 2030 target and a further £1.1 billion for the 2035 target.

Much of this cost will need to be met by the private sector and the Scottish Government is working to introduce a strong policy and regulatory framework to underpin that investment. The extent to which individual projects require public subsidy will vary from project to project. To date, through Scotland’s Heat Network Fund and the Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme, Scottish Government has committed approximately £62.7 million in capital funding for the construction of heat networks. SHNF is a demand-led programme meaning future funding requirements will be dependent on projects with viable business cases and committed co-investors progressing to capital readiness – based on the current pipeline, we expect to allocate around £25mn to projects in 24/25.

The Heat Networks (Supply Targets) (Scotland) Regulations 2023 came into force on 24 November 2023, setting a target for the combined supply of thermal energy by heat networks in Scotland to reach at least 7 terawatt hours of output by 2035.

Scottish Government capital support for heat networks is made available through Scotland’s Heat Network Fund (SHNF), following the success of its predecessor the Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme (LCITP). To date, over £62 million in capital grants has been awarded to heat network projects in Scotland.

The Heat Network Support Unit (HNSU) supports the growth of heat networks by providing funding and advice to heat network projects in the pre-capital stages of development. Since October 2022, HNSU has provided £616,044 of pre-capital support. Prior to the formation of the HNSU, approximately £250,000 pre-capital funding was provided for the development of heat network projects through the Heat in Buildings Development Funding Invitation and LCITP development funding calls.

The total estimated number of properties (including domestic homes and non-domestic buildings) that will be connected to heat networks once all capital grant funded projects through SHNF and LCITP are complete is approximately 5200. This figure is set to increase in the future as our funding has helped establish heat networks that have strong potential for future expansion.

Our 2021 Heat in Buildings Strategy set out that several technologies – including heat networks – can play a part to 2030 and beyond in reducing and removing greenhouse gas emissions from our homes and non-domestic buildings. The Heat Networks (Scotland) Act, 2021 sets targets for the amount of heating and cooling to be supplied by heat networks, requiring that this reaches 2.6 Terawatt hours (TWh) by 2027, 6 TWh by 2030 and 7 TWh by 2035. These figures represent approximately 3%, 8% and 9% respectively, of current non-electrical heat consumption in Scotland. How big a role heat networks will have, beyond the heat networks targets in the Heat Networks (Scotland) Act, 2021, will depend on a number of factors including location and viability relative to other zero emission solutions.

Heat networks, specifically district heat networks (or multi-building heat networks), are generally anchored around large heat using buildings – often non-domestic buildings, which account for a significant portion of the heat supplied. As such it is anticipated that the number of homes connecting to achieve the 2027, 2030 and 2035 targets will vary depending on the proportion of connections to non-domestic buildings. Once heat networks are established, with time, the proportion of heat supplied to homes may increase as more homes are connected.

A number of indicative scenarios have been modelled to allow better visualisation of what the statutory targets could mean. These used the data produced in the first national assessment of potential heat network zones. These scenarios show a wide variety in the number of homes connected. The Heat Networks Delivery Plan also set out the number of average gas using homes that is equivalent to 2.6TWh and 6 TWh of heat supplied. The figures of average gas using homes are purely illustrative and are not an expectation of the number of homes that might connect to meet the targets. The modelling outputs for 2027 and 2030 can be viewed in Tables 1 and 2 of the Heat Networks Delivery Plan, published March 2022, available at https://www.gov.scot/publications/heat-networks-delivery-plan/ . The modelling outputs for 2035 can be viewed in Table 3 of Consultation on a 2035 heat network target, published in December 2022, available at https://www.gov.scot/publications/2035-heat-networks-target-government-response/ .

As of 19 December 2023 three local authorities have published final Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies (LHEES):

• Glasgow City Council
• Fife Council
• West Lothian Council

An additional ten local authorities have published draft LHEES for consultation:

• City of Edinburgh Council
• Clackmannanshire Council
• Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar
• East Lothian Council
• Falkirk Council
• Highland Council
• North Ayrshire Council
• North Lanarkshire Council
• Perth and Kinross Council
• Stirling Council

The Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies (Scotland) Order 2022 places a duty on local authorities to publish their first LHEES Strategies and Delivery Plans on or before 31 December 2023. It is for the local authorities to determine how they will discharge this duty, and whilst we are aware that some local authorities may not publish LHEES by the end of 2023, all of them are working hard to put in place long term local strategies that will set out how each segment of the building stock needs to change to reach net zero.

To support local authorities to develop and publish their LHEES, the Scottish Government published guidance in October 2022, setting out what is required in the production and content of Strategies and Delivery Plans. This was accompanied by long term funding for each local authority of £75,000 per year, committed until 2027/28. The Scottish Government is working closely with local authorities, facilitating regular forums and learning events to share knowledge and address key challenges as they develop their first LHEES. In addition, Zero Waste Scotland are providing a series of capacity building workshops and one-to-one support sessions to upskill local authority officers.

Since October 2022, the Heat Network Support Unit (HNSU) has been providing local authorities with funding and/or advice to develop heat network projects in their areas. The Unit is currently supporting 19 local authority led projects at feasibility stage and is providing £551,416 of pre-capital financial support. In addition, approximately £150,000 of pre-capital funding has been provided previously to two local authorities through the Heat in Buildings Development Funding Invitation and LCITP development funding calls.

The estimated total capital costs for local authority led heat networks that are currently being supported by the HNSU is over £203 million.

Local Authorities are also provided capital support through Scotland’s Heat Network Fund (SHNF) and the (now closed) Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme (LCITP). To date through SHNF and LCITP, Scottish Government has committed approximately £50 million to the development and construction of 11 local authority led heat networks in Scotland. This capital support has enabled local authorities to make investments in heat networks which are often predicated on a long term income stream which can be borrowed against. Therefore, Scottish Government capital support would be in addition to this income.

No assessment is required as flexibility is already provided in legislation to allow the direct supply, by the producer, of small quantities of meat from poultry and lagomorphs slaughtered on the farm to the final consumer or to local retail establishments directly supplying such meat to the final consumer, as set out in Regulation (EC) No 853/2004

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

When an individual is allocated a prison cell in any establishment, the cell is equipped with furnishings such as a table/tabletop, seating, a bed and bedding.

The occasion where this may not occur is when an individual is located in a safer cell if it is considered that they are a risk to themselves. These cells are equipped with a bed and bedding, but they may not have a chair or a separate table. Items in use within a safer cell are allocated on an individualised basis.

The following table shows the number of safer cells across the prison estate:

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

As defined in the Prison and Young Offenders Rules (Scotland) 2011, all female prisoners who require sanitary products are provided with them free of charge. There is therefore no need to record instances of products not being provided.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

With the exception of 2 prison cells at HMP Open Estate, Castle Huntly, all other cells across the SPS estate have access to natural light.

All prison cells have access to artificial light sufficient for reading purposes.