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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: S5W-30436

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 10 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 27 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-26605 by Michael Matheson on 20 December 2019, whether it remains committed the memorandum of understanding that it signed with Heathrow Airport, and what consideration it has given to withdrawing from it.

Yes, we remain committed to the memorandum of understanding between the Scottish Government and Heathrow. We are clear that expansion of the UK’s only global hub airport should deliver benefits for all the nations of the UK. Routes between Scotland and global hubs like Heathrow and Amsterdam are essential for Scotland’s international connectivity, supporting economic growth in Scotland and helping us deliver our Trade and Investment Strategy. As these reasons remain valid we have not considered withdrawing from the memorandum of understanding.

Question reference: S5W-30364

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 27 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how it will engage the renewable energy industry in developing a green economic recovery to the COVID-19 crisis, and what discussions it has had regarding this.

The renewables sector has a vital role to play in meeting our climate ambitions, as well as creating jobs and contributing to our recovery from Covid-19.

I and fellow Scottish Government ministers have been engaging with the energy industry on a regular basis throughout the pandemic, both via one-to-one meetings with an extensive range of representatives from organisations such as Scottish Renewables, Ofgem, National Grid ESO, SSE, Scottish Power, EDF, EDPR, ADE, Red Rock and with our agencies, Marine Scotland, Crown Estate Scotland, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

The work of the Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council, which I co-chair, has continued to discuss progression of renewable energy in the context of both floating and bottom-fixed offshore wind. We have continued to progress work around tackling barriers to deployment represented by military and civilian radar matters. In addition, we have discussed renewable energy opportunities through forums such as the Strategic Leadership Groups that sit as sub groups of the Scottish Energy Advisory Board (SEAB), upon which I sit, with SEAB being co-chaired by the First Minister and Professor Sir Jim MacDonald of Strathclyde University.

The most recent, virtual meeting of SEAB took place on 16 July where discussion focused on delivery of a green recovery, and steps towards publication of the Climate Change Plan and subsequent update to Scotland’s Energy Strategy. At the meeting, as the Ministerial co-chair of three of the four SLGs, I set out the work of the four Strategic Leadership Groups underpinning SEAB, i.e. those on: Renewable Energy, Networks, Oil and Gas and Energy Transition and the newly established SLG for Consumers. In particular, the Renewable Energy Strategic Leadership group provides advice and recommendations on: the key challenges and opportunities facing the sector; the options for addressing them, and how the sector may go further to support the Scottish Government’s Energy Strategy priorities.

We will continue to engage with a wide range of renewable energy stakeholders in the months ahead as we target a green and just transition of our energy system.

Question reference: S5W-30361

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 27 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on its Local Government and Communities and Energy and Climate Change directorates working together to accelerate the transition to renewable heat, as recommended by Scottish Renewables as part of a green economic recovery to the COVID-19 crisis.

The Scottish Government’s Energy and Climate Change and Local Government and Communities Directorates already work together to deliver energy efficiency and renewable heat measures across a range of programmes and support mechanisms, for example in terms of the joint leadership of the Route Map for Energy Efficient Scotland.

This year the Scottish Government has allocated more than £198 million to its domestic and non-domestic energy efficiency programmes and has increased its support for renewable heat to secure accelerated deployment. The Heat Transition Deal will come online in phases over the coming months to support economic recovery in the energy efficiency, heat and low carbon energy sectors.

The following funding invitations were launched on 17 June:

a £1 million LCITP funding invitation to support projects to develop investment grade business cases and;
a £4.5 million CARES funding invitation for local energy and community projects, administered on our behalf by Local Energy Scotland.

Further capital funding invitations will be launched in the coming months.

This is in addition to the support already available, including grants, interest free and low cost loans for renewable technologies and energy efficiency measures, accessible via Home Energy Scotland and the Energy Efficiency Business Support service.

Later this year the Scottish Government will publish a Heat Decarbonisation Policy Statement and an updated Energy Efficient Scotland Route Map setting out a clear vision and pathway for deploying renewable and low carbon heat and reducing emissions from heating our buildings, in line with the climate change targets. As the member will be aware, earlier this year we introduced the Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill to Parliament which, we aim, will help support renewable heat investment.

Question reference: S5W-30360

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 15 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to Scottish Renewables' call for it to use its trade, export and investment powers to boost skills exports to nations seeking to undertake green recoveries to the COVID-19 crisis.

Scotland is already an experienced exporter of energy and related skills and services with many international companies already benefiting from our long-standing expertise and experience in renewables and other energy related sectors. This government and its trade and investment agency, Scottish Development International, actively seek to promote a business environment which encourages growth through partnership, co-investment, and sharing of experience with other countries. We make it easy for companies to access our experts and talent and know this will stand Scottish companies in good stead internationally, with those countries seeking to make a green recovery to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Question reference: S5W-30363

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 10 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how the declaration of a climate emergency and the need to achieve net-zero targets (a) is currently, and (b) will in future be taken into account by the planning system, and whether this will be a material consideration in applications made in (i) advance of, and (ii) after the National planning Framework 4 comes into force.

Scottish Planning Policy and National Planning Framework 3 were published in 2014. Given when it was published, the current policy does not expressly refer to the Global Climate Emergency, but does aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and includes a vision for Scotland to be a low carbon place.

Since then, the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 sets out six outcomes to which a future National Planning Framework (NPF) should work towards, one of which is meeting greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. We are developing proposals for radical change to our national planning policies and spatial strategy to support a transition to net zero by 2045 and economic recovery, as well as adaptation to the long term impacts of climate change.

The Scottish Government’s Chief Planner and I published a letter on 29 May (available from the Scottish Government’s website: https://www.gov.scot/collections/chief-planner-letters/ ) which set out that the draft NPF4 is anticipated to be laid before the Parliament in autumn 2021. That draft will set out the proposed approach, for discussion and public consultation.

In the meantime we will update stakeholders by publishing a NPF4 Position Statement this autumn. This will highlight potential policy changes and reflect on what planning can do to help societal and economic recovery as well as addressing the climate emergency.

In all cases, it is for decision-makers to identify relevant material planning considerations on a case-by-case basis, and what weight to attach to each material consideration in determining the application.