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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-11868

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 17 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken to identify how many off-gas-grid homes will not be suitable for the installation of an air source heat pump, and how many properties fall into this category.

On behalf of the Scottish Government, Element Energy conducted analysis of the technical suitability of low-carbon heating technologies in Scottish domestic buildings, which included Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs) in off-gas areas. A copy of this report is available below.

Scottish Government (2020). Technical Feasibility of Low Carbon Heating in Domestic Buildings. URL: https://www.gov.scot/publications/technical-feasibility-low-carbon-heating-domestic-buildings-report-scottish-governments-directorate-energy-climate-change/

The research concluded that, where homes were able to adopt the energy efficiency improvements required to reach EPC C, the number technically unsuitable for an ASHP would sit around 39,500 and 40,400. This is out of a total of around 170,000 off-gas-grid homes using high-emissions fuels. The underlying data is not published. For the minority of properties where ASHPs may not be viable, alternative options under current technology include air-to-air heat pumps, other electric heating or bioenergy from sustainable sources. We continue to review which technologies may be considered as zero direct emissions.

Question reference: S6W-11865

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 17 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider a phased approach to the introduction of the New Build Heat Standard for off-gas-grid homes and businesses.

The Scottish Government intends the New Build Heat Standard to apply to all new buildings, applying for a building warrant, from 1 April 2024 onwards.

This is in direct response to the recommendation of the Committee on Climate Change on how to meet the net zero legal obligations legislated for by the Scottish Parliament.

The timescale reflects the need to act to reduce the emissions associated with heating our homes and businesses, and the introduction of the New Build Heat Standard will ensure that these buildings are future-proofed - avoiding any potentially disruptive retrofit works as we progress towards the decarbonisation of our remaining building stock in line with our Heat in Buildings Strategy.

Question reference: S6W-11869

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 17 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what any sanction will be for any (a) home and (b) business owner who fails to comply with the proposed New Build Heat Standard.

It is currently the intention to regulate to prohibit direct emissions heating (DEH) systems being installed in new buildings applying for a building warrant from 1 April 2024 through amendments to the Building Regulations. Therefore, enforcement/penalties would be through the existing legislative framework.

As all new buildings require a building warrant prior to construction, the absence of a direct emission heating system will be demonstrated to the local authority verifier as part of that process and also confirmed on completion of building works.

Enforcement of any subsequent non-compliance with building regulations is the responsibility of the local authority in the area the building is sited.

Question reference: S6W-11870

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 17 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider introducing an exemption to allow off-gas-grid (a) home and (b) business owners to use low carbon direct emissions heating systems after 1 April 2024.

The New Build Heat Standard (NBHS) is our proposed new standard that will prohibit the use of direct emissions heating systems (DEH) in new builds warranted from 1 April 2024.

Independent analysis of the responses received to the recently closed Part II New Build Heat Standard consultation is currently underway.

As part of this consultation process, the Scottish Government sought evidence on whether there any limited, specific situations where the use of direct emissions heating systems would be required in new buildings.

We will publish our report into the consultation prior to bringing forward the regulations.

Question reference: S6W-11953

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 07 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 17 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to provide additional financial support for registered social landlords to reach the second Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing once it has concluded its review of the standard.

The Scottish Government already provides funding to support energy efficiency works which contribute to our net zero target. Between 2018 and 2021, £7 million was made available to Local Authority and registered social landlords through the Energy Efficient Scotland Transition Programme’s Decarbonisation Fund to assist in compliance with the Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing.

The Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund, which launched in August 2020, has been designed to accelerate the delivery of energy efficiency measures and zero emissions heating systems in social housing across Scotland. It will make at least £200 million available to registered social landlords until 2026.

Acknowledging that the public sector alone cannot bear the long-term cost of converting homes, the Green Heat Finance Taskforce has been established to assess and recommend ways the public sector, communities and private finance can collaborate to scale up investment. A dedicated sub-group has been established to consider the best routes to financing and funding the retrofit of the existing social housing stock.

Question reference: S6W-11954

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 07 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 17 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it will conclude its review of the second Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing.

Question reference: S6W-11867

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 15 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that tens of millions of pounds of renewable energy investment in Scotland is being put at risk and that there is a low rate of installation of public electric vehicle (EV) charging points as a result of delays in connecting vehicle charging hubs to power supplies.

Electricity policy, including regulation of Great Britain’s electricity networks, is an area reserved to the UK Government.

In order to meet our net zero targets both increased renewable generation and network investment will be required. We are working to expand our renewable generation capabilities through our continued support for renewable technologies.

The Scottish Government, however, does not have the power to ensure that sufficient network investment will be taken forward. We have repeatedly called on Ofgem and BEIS to ensure that network companies can invest to ready the network for the requirements of transitioning to net zero.

The Scottish Government has also invested over £65 million in ChargePlace Scotland, Scotland’s public charging network, which now has more than 2300 publicly available charge points meaning that, by population, Scotland has the most EV charge points outside of London and the most rapid charge points anywhere in the UK.

Question reference: S6W-11866

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 15 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the timescale required between the point that a decision is made by a local authority to site a public electric vehicle (EV) charger in a certain place and for that charger to become operational.

The time between a decision by a local authority on the location for a public electric vehicle charge point and that charge point then going into operation will be influenced by a number of factors outwith the remit or control of Scottish Ministers. This includes, for example, the location of the site and its accessibility, the ease of connection to the electricity grid, planning permission, environmental considerations, the approach to procurement as well as wayleaves and land rights. The Scottish Government continues to provide advice and support to local authorities to assist with these and other aspects of delivering of electric vehicle infrastructure projects.

Question reference: S6T-00960

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 14 November 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that its claim that Scotland has 25% of Europe’s offshore wind potential lacks evidence and that it knew that there was no basis for it.

Question reference: S6W-11582

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 9 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of any unsuccessful applicants to its Just Transition Fund: year one projects, and whether unsuccessful applicants are permitted to apply for the next round of funding.