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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-12576

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 8 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to introducing a Net-Zero Ports and Infrastructure Programme fund, which has been identified by Scottish Renewables as key for supporting strategic port infrastructure and developing offshore renewable projects.

We recognise the importance of strong port infrastructure to support our offshore renewable ambitions. One of the primary recommendations of the Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council’s (SOWEC) Strategic Infrastructure Assessment (SIA) for Offshore Wind was the creation of a Scottish Floating Offshore Wind Port Cluster. The SIA made clear that the sector must work collaboratively to help focus activity and investment in Scottish ports.

New ScotWind leaseholders have joined existing Scottish offshore wind developers in signing up to a Collaborative Framework Charter, agreeing to work jointly together to build a pipeline of supply chain work. 24 developers have agreed to work together in the development and delivery of this Collaborative Framework. Through this grouping, i ndustry, enterprise agencies, and Scottish Government are working together to develop a Strategic Investment Model (SIM) which will support the recommendations of the SIA.

Question reference: S6W-12655

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 8 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, following the announcement that the MV Glen Sannox will initially operate using a single diesel fuel system, as opposed to the planned dual-fuel LNG system, how much is expected to be saved as a result in (a) design, (b) manufacture and build and (c) ongoing fuelling costs, and how will any money saved now be spent.

On 28 October 2022, Ferguson Marine wrote to the Net Zero, Energy & Transport Committee to inform them of a technical design issue with the Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) system on MV Glen Sannox.

In the letter Ferguson Marine set out their proposed approach to rectify this issue with the caveat that this will require agreement from Scottish Government, CMAL and CalMac. When an agreement is reached Ferguson Marine will update Parliament.

Question reference: S6W-12355

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 25 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 8 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6T-00960 by Lorna Slater on 15 November 2022, in relation to the Minister’s statement on the figure relating to Scotland having 25% of Europe’s offshore wind potential that "Ministers became aware of the issue on Tuesday 8 November [2022]", and in light of correspondence indicating that Scottish Government officials were aware of an issue with the 25% figure in October 2020, what investigations it has carried out to understand for what reasons officials were aware that the 25% figure was inaccurate prior to 8 November 2022 and did not alert Ministers, and what the outcomes were of any such investigations.

We have accepted that the 25% figure for offshore wind potential is dated. The figure has been used widely and was included in a UK Government report in 2013. In relation to the Freedom of Information requests associated with the These Islands report, we recognise that there was correspondence between officials about the use of the statistic in late 2020, and we are now undertaking a further examination of our records, alongside work to provide an updated estimate.

Question reference: S6W-12354

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 25 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 8 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6T-00960 by Lorna Slater on 15 November 2022, and the Minister’s comment that the figure relating to Scotland having 25% of Europe’s offshore wind potential was "outdated", what it has done to (a) review previous data and announcements regarding net zero policies to validate and ensure their accuracy and (b) assess and make any changes to its processes to ensure that such claims are based on evidenced data in the future.

Question reference: S6W-12356

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 25 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 8 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6T-00960 by Lorna Slater on 15 November 2022, and the Minister’s statement that the figure relating to Scotland having 25% of Europe’s offshore wind potential "was first set out in a 2010 publication, and it is now outdated", what its response is to the suggestion that the 25% figure was also inaccurate in 2010.

Question reference: S6W-12640

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 8 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12081 by Mairi McAllan on 24 November 2022, when it will issue the release on its attendance and expenses incurred at COP27.

Question reference: S6W-12893

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 8 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-10006 by Michael Matheson on 23 August 2022, whether it is the case that it has now assessed the cost of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045, and, if it is not the case, when the full costing is expected to be completed.

As stated in answer to PQ S6W-10006, the next Climate Change Plan, a draft of which will be published next year, will include costs of delivering emissions reductions to meet the statutory targets between 2024 and 2040. The Scottish Government has published the updated Climate Change Plan for the period up to 2032 but has not yet set out a pathway for the other years to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 and hence does not yet have a basis for a cost assessment of achieving that goal. That will be covered as part of subsequent Climate Change Plans.

Question reference: S6O-01692

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 December 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers hydrogen as an alternative to natural gas to be a viable solution to decarbonising heat in homes.

Question reference: S6W-12572

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 7 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12086 by Jenny Gilruth on 22 November 2022, whether it will provide the information requested regarding when it originally planned to begin fully dualling the A96, and what impact its consultation has had on that start date.

Question reference: S6W-12357

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 25 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 6 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the proposed Land Reform Bill, whom it has identified as the "key stakeholders" for the purpose of policy development, and what engagement is taking place with those stakeholders.

Land reform is a matter of longstanding public concern and there are a number of established stakeholders in this area. They cover a variety of interests, and include landowners, tenants, and community groups and their respective representative organisations, charities and third sector groups, academics, as well as solicitors and other professionals concerned with property law and taxation.

Engagement with stakeholders has so far taken place primarily through the formal consultation process. The consultation, Land Reform in a Net Zero Nation , was published on 4 July 2022, setting out our proposals for the next Land Reform Bill. During the consultation period a programme of Ministerial public meetings took place, with five in-person meetings (in Langholm, Invermoriston, Helmsdale, Stornoway, and Ballater) and an online meeting, which attracted over 100 participants from across Scotland.

Approximately 540 responses to the consultation have been received and these are currently being analysed. We remain committed to continuing to engage with stakeholders throughout the Bill process.