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The draft Heat in Buildings Strategy sets out that the Scottish Government will legislate to require the installation of zero emissions heating systems in existing buildings, subject to the Scottish Parliament having devolved competence to do so.

The draft Strategy proposes that such legislation would begin to take effect from 2025, with the intention that all building owners are regulated to meet the requirement for zero emissions heating by 2045.

The exact phasing and operation of the proposed regulations is still to be determined, but as set out in the draft Strategy, and where within competence , could include requiring certain buildings to install zero emissions heating systems earlier than 2045. This may include those buildings using high emissions fuels (which are more prevalent in off-gas grid areas), or those buildings which reach a natural trigger point (such as the replacement of an existing fossil fuel heating system).

The Scottish Government plans to consult on detailed proposals on this issue in 2022.

It is for developers and the market to decide whether or not to bring forward proposals for new electricity generating stations in Scotland.

Our 2017 Energy Strategy set out our priority for a whole system approach that promotes renewables and other low carbon alternatives as part of a diverse, well balanced energy supply. The Strategy confirmed that we do not support a new generation of nuclear stations under current technologies. The economics of these stations are prohibitive, especially given the falling costs of renewable and storage technologies.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-01690 on
‎ 16 August 2021. 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

As of 20 July 2021, the First Minister had 3 meetings arranged in the run up to COP26 (31 October 2021), and the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport had 15 meetings planned. It is not currently possible to specify the exact number of meetings all ministers have arranged to take place in the lead up to and during the course of COP26. This is because the number of meetings is continuously rising, as an increasing volume of requests for ministerial involvement are received. Scottish Ministers are committed to maximising the opportunities of COP26, before, during and after the conference.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-01623 on
‎ 16 August 2021. 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 Scottish Government continues to recognise the importance of engaging the performing arts sector, including live-music performers, in the development of guidance, to allow the safe re-opening of venues during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Scottish Government has engaged with a wide range of stakeholders from the performing arts sector, including performers, venues - including pubs and other hospitality settings -, industry bodies and trade unions such as the Musicians’ Union, Federation of Scottish Theatre, and Gilded Balloon, on both an official and ministerial level, to ensure a collaborative approach to provide guidance on this subject. This ongoing engagement has contributed to the development of various pieces of guidance covering live music in various settings to ensure it is accurate, comprehensive and helpful to the sector.

In addition to guidance for the performing arts sector, guidance regarding live entertainment in hospitality settings, such as in pubs, has also been developed in conjunction with and reviewed by performers, trade unions and the hospitality industry to ensure it remains current, clear and practical. This includes regular engagement with the hospitality sector, the Music Venue Trust on the development of guidance relevant to grassroots music venues, as well as with a number of specific venues across the country.

This engagement has ensured that guidance remains relevant as Scotland’s strategic framework has been updated, and has established a shared confidence around the safety of returning to workplaces, protecting public health and supporting Scotland’s economic recovery.

The Scottish Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory shows that forests and woodlands in Scotland currently sequester over 6 MtCO2 per year, net of any emissions from forest management activities. All new woodland creation schemes take into account the requirement to ensure that the cultivation methods used balance the minimisation of soil carbon release with the need to quickly establish the young trees. Levels of woodland creation have been at historically high levels in recent years, and the country’s forests are predicted to remain a carbon sink in the coming decades.

The data currently held on heat networks comes from data collected by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) under the Heat Metering and Billing Regulations. Heat network operators are required to notify every 4 years. The latest data held is for 2018. Figures for 2019 and 2020 are not yet available.

The latest statistics from OPSS indicate that at the end of 2018:

• Almost 30,000 homes were connected to district or communal heating networks in Scotland
• An estimated 1.18 TWh of heat and cooling demand was supplied via heat networks.

The Scottish Government and relevant agencies have, to date, spent £885,000 on transport planning, venue, communications and marketing in preparations for COP26. Scottish Ministers have made clear their expectation that all additional operational costs, such as transport planning, will be borne by the UK Government.

The Scottish Government released new forestry cultivation guidance on 27 July.

The guidance can be found at: https://forestry.gov.scot/publications/1032-cultivation-for-upland-productive-woodland-creation-sites-applicant-s-guidance/viewdocument/1032 .