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The Heat in Buildings Strategy, published October 2021, outlined an ambitious policy package to significantly accelerate the decarbonisation of Scotland’s homes and buildings. It highlighted tried and tested technologies that can be deployed today, highlighting as strategic priorities energy efficiency, heat pumps in off-gas buildings and some on-gas settings, and heat networks in suitable areas. Over the longer term, additional technologies such as hydrogen may become available.

We continue to support people converting their heating systems to zero emissions ones, targeting that help at those least able to pay. Our delivery schemes which target households in fuel poverty already take a “zero emissions heat first” approach.

Scottish Government-funded domestic energy efficiency schemes recommend low-carbon measures first to increase the energy efficiency of the property and decrease carbon emissions. On 6 September 2021, we ended public subsidy for oil and LPG boilers, the most polluting technologies, in favour of offering zero emissions alternatives.

Our national fuel poverty scheme, Warmer Homes Scotland, designed to help those living in, or at risk of, fuel poverty through installing insulation and heating measures to individual homes recommends low-carbon measures first, alongside a package of insulation measures. In addition, since April 2021, our Area Based Schemes have included additional funding to provide low carbon and micro-generation measures as part of a whole house approach.

Home Energy Scotland Loans are also available to homeowners who live in the property they own and to self-builders. Loans for both energy efficiency measures and renewables measures are available with up to 40% and 75% cashback grants respectively.

We also continue to fund Home Energy Scotland to provide free and impartial advice on how to reduce bills and make homes warmer and cheaper to heat.

The Heat in Buildings Strategy confirms our intention to introduce – subject to consultation – regulations from 2023-2025 requiring Scotland’s homes and other buildings to meet EPC Band C equivalent by 2033, where that is technically feasible and cost effective. We have set out proposals for regulations to come into effect during major refurbishment, change of tenancy and point of sale and are currently working on developing the details of those trigger points.

We have also set out in our Heat in Buildings Strategy plans to reform Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) so they can effectively be used as a basis for regulation and drive and prioritise the energy efficiency and zero-emissions heating systems needed to reach net zero.

We will consult on proposals for regulations, trigger points and EPC reform later this year.

The total number of households that have received energy saving and efficiency improvements delivered through the Scottish Government’s energy efficiency programmes between 2016-17 and 2020-21* in this region** are:

Warmer Homes Scotland – 251

Area Based Schemes – 1337

Home Energy Scotland Loans – 522 (316 of which received cashback)

*As Area Based projects for financial year 2020/21 have just concluded, final installation figures are currently unavailable until late January 2022. Home Energy Scotland loans scheme began April 2017, so there is no data for 2016/17.

**Figures for Area Based schemes and Home Energy Scotland Loans are only available on a Local Authority basis not a Parliamentary Constituency basis.

(a) In terms of Scottish Government support, we have set out our commitment to people with a learning disability, including those with Down’s Syndrome, and their families through the Keys to Life Learning Disability strategy and the Towards Transformation Learning Disability and Autism Plan . Both plans focus on outcomes intended to ensure people with a learning disability live healthier lives, enjoy choice and control over the services they use, and are supported to be independent and active citizens.

To this end, we have committed to introducing a Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodiversity Bill as part of the Programme for Government. This Bill will ensure that the rights of people with Down’s Syndrome, among others, are respected and protected. Additionally, we will create a Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodiversity Commissioner to champion the new law.

The Scottish Government works closely with a range of third sector partners and funds Down’s Syndrome Scotland as delivery partners in achieving the Keys to Life Learning Disability strategy and the Towards Transformation Learning Disability and Autism Plan as well as to allow them to provide direct support to people with Down’s Syndrome and their families.

Additional funding was also awarded to develop changes in Down’s Syndrome Scotland’s programme of work during COVID-19 and supporting families through the pandemic and the recovery phase, including their vital helpline.

(b) Whilst the Scottish Government has overall responsibility for health and social care policy in Scotland, it is for the regional health & social care partnerships to determine the level of services that are required to meet local needs and to arrange an appropriate and suitable range of services to meet these local needs, as mandated under statute in the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act. The Scottish Government expects that the needs of people with Down’s Syndrome are identified, acknowledged and met, ensuring positive outcomes are achieved.

The Scottish Government wants to improve opportunities, outcomes and support for people with learning disabilities including Down’s Syndrome. To this end, we have committed to introducing a Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodiversity Bill as part of the Programme for Government. This Bill will ensure that the rights of people with Down’s Syndrome, among others, are respected and protected.

To help make sure that the new legislation is championed when it is implemented, we will create a Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodiversity Commissioner through the new law.

Additionally, we have set out our commitment to people with a learning disability, including those with Down’s Syndrome, and their families through the Keys to Life Learning Disability strategy and the Towards Transformation Learning Disability and Autism Plan . Both strategies focus on outcomes intended to ensure people with a learning disability live healthier lives, enjoy choice and control over the services they use, and are supported to be independent and active citizens.

The Scottish Government provides the most generous and comprehensive non-domestic rates relief package for renewable energy producers in the UK, including a number of existing policies aimed at incentivising investment in low carbon technologies, such as heat networks and renewable electricity generation. As part of this package we deliver a non-domestic rates exemption for renewables with a capacity of up to 50kW, which supports microgeneration producers, and businesses that retrofit micro renewable schemes to reduce their carbon foot print. This exemption is not time-limited, unlike other parts of the UK, making it the most generous exemption for renewable microgeneration in the UK.

All our non-domestic rates policies are kept under review. Decisions on any non-domestic rates policies will be set out in the Scottish budget alongside other government priorities in light of affordability.

Scottish businesses are currently able to access an interest free loan for solar PV through the SME Loan scheme, managed by the Energy Saving Trust. Eligible organisations are able to access free advice and an energy audit of their premises through the Energy Efficient Business Support service, which provides small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with information on energy efficiency and/or renewables installations that are most suited to their premises.

The Scottish Government provides the most generous non-domestic rates relief package for renewable energy producers in the UK, including a number of incentives for energy efficiency and low carbon heating. This includes the non-domestic rates exemption for renewables with a capacity of up to 50kW.

As with all of our non-domestic rates policies, we will keep these under review. Decisions on any non-domestic rates policies will be set out in the Scottish budget alongside other government priorities in light of affordability.

The mental health and wellbeing of children and young people is an absolute priority for the Scottish Government.

Access to counselling support services through secondary schools are in place across Scotland. As highlighted in the answer to S5W-35805, there is variation in how the counselling service is being delivered across authorities. Twenty four authorities are providing a specific resource in schools and eight authorities are providing an authority wide service according to need across their region.

A summary of information provided by local authorities on the school counselling service in their area is available at: Access to counsellors in secondary schools: summary report - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)