Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-07791

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 04 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 3 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-07145 by Lorna Slater on 23 March 2022, whether it will now provide the information requested on whether Circularity Scotland has entered into signed contracts with partners to deliver the Deposit Return Scheme's logistics, operations and IT systems, in line with the timescale that it set out in December 2021.

Question reference: S6W-07937

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 08 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 29 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-07409 by Michael Matheson on 31 March 2022, whether it will provide the information requested, regarding when it expects projects from the ScotWind offshore wind leasing round to start generating electricity, and what generating capacity, in GW, it anticipates in (a) the first year of operation and (b) each of the following years; for what reason it did not provide this information in its previous response, and what its position is on whether sufficiently detailed planning has been carried out regarding when Scotwind projects are expected to start generating electricity, and what the anticipated generating capacity will be in the first, and each of the following, years.

Over the next few years each project will go through project development and consenting processes, respond to geographical and technological requirements, and find a route to market. There are several variables to be considered across these processes, including aspects such as grid connection and the impact of offshore wind developments on various environmental receptors.

To add to my response of 31 March 2022, it is not possible at this stage to predict how long each of the 17 ScotWind projects awarded lease options will take to pass through the project development and consenting process, achieve connections to the onshore grid network and subsequently to undergo construction. For each project this is a complex and multi-faceted process involving a number of variables, including the iterative review of offshore wind planning assumptions, impacts arising from environmental assessments, consultative processes, investment decisions with regard to supporting supply chain activity, success in securing power supply agreements though the Contracts for Difference regime, and potential challenges to be addressed in design and construction with regard to physical conditions and the application of innovative floating wind technologies being pioneered at GW scale in a number of projects. These variables are dynamic and are capable of affecting the size and nature of projects as well as the speed at which they will progress. Their impact cannot be predicted with accuracy at this stage.

Forward planning with regard to potential generating capacity, which may be expected from ScotWind and other offshore renewables developments, informs our thinking and is continually reviewed. This type of forward planning will next be reflected in the Government’s Draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan due to be published for consultation this autumn.

Question reference: S6W-07521

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 28 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the Complementary Climate Delegated Act, regarding taxonomy, approved by the European Commission on 2 February 2022, and whether this will have any impact on its energy policies.

Question reference: S6W-07789

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 04 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 28 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether the reported delay to the publication of the Just Transition Plan will result in a delay to any aspect of the Just Transition Fund, including in particular the release or application process in connection with the first tranche of £20 million funding, in light of any crossover between individuals who are involved in both the Plan and the Fund.

Question reference: S6W-08119

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 28 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-02823 by Kate Forbes on 24 September 2021, how much of the "up to £10 million" that was committed to help extend digital infrastructure across the City Deal region and the City Network Extension project has been spent; what precisely has been achieved with this funding; what precisely it projects will be delivered from the remaining funding, and, in light of the Aberdeen project being "expected to complete later" in 2021, whether it did so, and whether the Full Fibre Project in Aberdeenshire that is expected to complete in 2022 will do so.

The Memorandum of Understanding for additional investment in the Aberdeen City Region allows for up to £10 million of funding to help extend digital infrastructure across the region. To date £5 million of this funding has been spent.

£2 million was invested in the City Network Extension project which connected 57 council sites to full fibre with build completing in 2021. This investment successfully stimulated around £40 million of commercial investment across the region by CityFibre and Vodafone who are utilising this infrastructure to help extend the reach of full fibre broadband across the region. In January 2022 CityFibre announced a further £19 million of investment in Aberdeen.

£3 million was invested in the Full Fibre Infrastructure project which will connect 192 public sector and NHS sites across Aberdeenshire. To date, 190 sites have been connected with one site expected to be completed in the coming months, and the final site – an additional site made possible by cost savings – to be connected once construction is completed in summer 2023.

We continue to work closely with the Aberdeen City Region Deal team as they develop options for the remaining funding.

Question reference: S6O-01051

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 April 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the A96 dualling project.

Question reference: S6W-07827

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 27 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how the technology neutral stance of Home Energy Scotland takes account of research that reportedly suggests that homeowner decision making can be delayed and often aborted in relation to renewable products where the buyer has insufficient understanding of the product and there is a lack of unbiased information support to aid the decision-making process.

Home Energy Scotland exists to provide homeowners with impartial and bespoke information about their home energy and renewables options to encourage action to reduce energy use, fuel bills and carbon emissions and increase comfort. The advice services are designed to address well-known barriers to action including costs, lack of confidence and information about options and installers, and potential disruption.

It is important that homeowners are given impartial information about all of their options, including for example, replacement of existing fossil fuel heating systems, to ensure they are as informed as possible and make the right choice for them. Home Energy Scotland also has a role to encourage the uptake of low and zero emission heating systems to meet climate change targets and this is one of the reasons as to why the specialist renewables support services exist. In this regard, Home Energy Scotland does not have a technology neutral stance with regards to which heating systems it is actively raising awareness of.

Within Home Energy Scotland there are specialist renewables advisors with training on home renewables systems, home energy efficiency and solutions for historic buildings. These specialists provide an in-depth service to Scottish homeowners, including on-site visits to assess their home and talk through recommendations in person. Reports and fact sheets are issued to homeowners explaining how best to improve the energy efficiency of their home and which renewables systems may be suitable, alongside fuel bill and carbon saving estimates.

Homeowners are given bespoke information on the next steps to take and other support services accessed via Home Energy Scotland. This includes, for example, how to find renewables installers, where they can read customer reviews of installers, and the Green Homes Network, where they can find case studies of other homeowners who have already made improvements to their home. Members on this network are also willing to speak directly to other homeowners, or host them for a visit, to further share their experiences. Homeowners are also given information about the various financial support routes which are open to them including the Scottish Government’s Home Energy Scotland loan and cashback that helps homeowners with the costs of home energy improvements and renewables systems.

Question reference: S6W-07982

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 08 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 26 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to commission a sector capacity assessment of the estimated net cost of the energy transition in the social housing sector, in line with the recommendation by the Zero Emissions Social Housing Taskforce, and if it does, by when it will do so.

As covered in the response to S6W-07980, the Scottish Government’s response to the Zero Emissions Social Housing Taskforce report will be published after the Scottish local government elections. The response will address the recommendation of commissioning a sector capacity assessment of the estimated net cost of the energy transition in the social housing sector.

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

Question reference: S6W-07979

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 08 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 26 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to establish a Housing Net Zero Technical Steering Group, in line with the recommendation by the Zero Emissions Social Housing Taskforce (ZEST).

As covered in the response to S6W-07980 on 26 April 2022, the Scottish Government’s response to the Zero Emissions Social Housing Taskforce report will be published after the Scottish Local government elections. The response will address the recommendation of establishing a Housing Net Zero Technical Steering Group.

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

Question reference: S6W-07981

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 08 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 26 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will announce its review of the second Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing, in light of the reported need for certainty for social landlords to be able to plan for the required transition to net zero emissions.

As covered in the response to S6W-07980 on 26 April 2022, the Scottish Government’s response to the Zero Emissions Social Housing Taskforce report will be published after the Scottish Local government elections. The response will address the review of Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing.

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

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