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The Heat in Buildings Strategy confirms our intention to introduce, subject to consultation, regulations requiring Scotland’s homes to meet EPC Band C equivalent, where that is technically feasible and cost effective from 2025 onwards, with a range of backstop dates from 2028 to 2033. We plan to consult during 2022 on our proposals for such regulations, and this will include details of any exemptions, definitions of properties in scope, and matters relating to compliance.

Adults and children with a learning disability who were coded in their GP systems as such, have now been invited for vaccination as at-risk groups. Criteria from the Green Book (GB) was used to develop queries to run across GP IT systems to identify and extract data on those identified as being eligible based on GB criteria. In addition, the Scottish Government has worked across carers and disability policy areas to cascade information via the third sector to organisations who support people with a learning disability – to further highlight this offer.

It is vital for vaccination programmes to reach everyone and that no one is left behind, both for individual health and our collective community wellbeing. We have increased our efforts to ensure the vaccination programme reaches everyone and is fully inclusive with a range of outreach activities and partnerships to engage with under-served groups.

On 25 February 2021, a letter from the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Nursing Officer offered the expertise of local learning disability nurses in providing reasonable adjustments for the COVID-19 Immunisation programme: Coronavirus (COVID-19): immunisation programme for people with learning disabilities - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

We have ensured our COVID-19 vaccination communications are suitable for everyone in Scotland, with the production of translated information and assets in multiple languages, a range of formats on NHS Inform and the development of a vaccine explainer video, informed by insights from organisations representing various under-served communities. Easy read versions of our leaflets are available from Public Health Scotland: COVID-19 vaccine information in Easy Read (healthscotland.com) . These include accessible social stories explaining the process from arriving at the clinic to leaving. Some of the larger vaccination centres also have access to a quiet area for individuals, including extended appointment times for example at The Event Complex Aberdeen. A number of health boards also have “vaccine clinic walk-through” videos to support people who are anxious about the experience.

We embed inclusion in our approach and ensure that people who may experience barriers, or feel less confident, are able to come forward for vaccination. This includes the provision of quieter spaces, smaller clinics and appropriate staff training to support the needs of people with Learning Disabilities and other conditions. Particular adjustments, such as quiet rooms, can be organised in advance of or at the appointment by contacting the local Health Board.

I refer the member to the answer to the earlier question S6W-06595 on 1 March 2022. In addition, procedures are in place for when the nature of an individual’s condition means they cannot travel, so that a home appointment can be organised. On the first instance, people should contact the number on their appointment letter. Further information on how to request support with interpretation, or get help with travelling to appointments offered by local health boards can be found here: NHS Inform site - https://www.nhsinform.scot/transport-and-interpreter

Local health boards have a list of people currently registered as housebound with their GPs, and are in the process of contacting them all to receive their flu and COVID-19 booster in line with eligibility.

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 Heat in Buildings Strategy sets out the Scottish Government’s approach to different zero emissions heat technologies, drawing on a wide range of evidence, including modelling of the suitability of different technologies across the whole Scottish housing stock, and consideration of wider energy system interactions. We are also working to support households to make decisions that are right for them, through advice provided by Home Energy Scotland, reform of Energy Performance Certificates, and development of Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies.

Research on the suitability of different technologies across the housing stock in Scotland: https://www.gov.scot/publications/technical-feasibility-low-carbon-heating-domestic-buildings-report-scottish-governments-directorate-energy-climate-change/

The Scottish Government is committed to resourcing and supporting local authorities (LAs) through a mix of competitive and other funding programmes, as well as direct resource to support commitments to statutory targets. Specifically, we are committed to providing appropriate resource to all LAs to drive area-based planning and delivery of the heat transition, under our Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies programme. We are also committed to provide appropriate resource to enable them to deliver the provisions of the Heat Networks Act. Over this parliamentary session, £300 million will be available, including to LAs, to support the development and roll out of zero emission heat networks.

The Scottish Green Public Sector Estate Decarbonisation Scheme is designed to support leadership for decarbonisation of public buildings, with the Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund accelerating the delivery of energy efficiency measures and zero emission heating systems to existing homes in the socially rented sector (including LAs). Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) and LAs are also supported by the Social Housing Net Zero Heat Development Fund to develop zero emission heating projects and strategic plans ready for capital funding. We have extended the scope of projects funded through our Area Based Schemes to include delivery of low carbon heating and microgeneration measures (solar PV) as part of a `whole house retrofit’. This includes costs associated with the whole house assessment, design, coordination and evaluation of retrofit measures. Lastly, we have non-competitive funding for investment in electric vehicle charging infrastructure and decarbonisation of public sector fleets available to all LAs, with over £65 million of funding awarded over the last decade.

The Heat in Buildings Strategy confirms our intention to introduce, subject to consultation, regulations requiring Scotland’s homes to meet EPC Band C equivalent, where that is technically feasible and cost effective from 2025 onwards, with a range of backstop dates from 2028 to 2033. We plan to consult during 2022 on our proposals for such regulations, and this will include details of any exemptions, definitions of properties in scope, and matters relating to compliance.

The Heat in Buildings Strategy confirms our intention to introduce, subject to consultation, regulations requiring Scotland’s homes to meet EPC Band C equivalent, where that is technically feasible and cost effective from 2025. We plan to consult during 2022 on our proposals for such regulations, and this will include details of any exemptions including those linked to cost and availability of finance, clarity on the burden of responsibility, and matters relating to compliance and enforcement.

The Scottish Government recognises that the proposals to set minimum energy efficiency and zero emissions targets for domestic properties will affect a range of stakeholders, and will consider relevant impacts during our planned consultation on the regulatory pathway and the setting of standards, as laid out in the Heat in Buildings Strategy. This will include the building insurance industry, mortgage lenders and all those impacted by the proposals.

Under the Deposit and Return Scheme for Scotland Regulations 2020, producers must register with SEPA either directly or via a scheme administrator for their products to be sold legally onto the Scottish market. In line with the full implementation date that I announced in my statement to Parliament on 14 December 2021, the window for producers to make such registrations will run from 1 January-28 February 2023.

SEPA’s digital registration service is currently in development and will be online from 1 January 2023 in accordance with the producer registration window.

We continue to work with the yard to do everything we can to ensure that the new vessels enter service as quickly as possible, to deliver the further service improvements our island communities deserve .

After further analysis has been undertaken regarding the recently discovered legacy cabling issue, the new Ferguson Marine Chief Executive will outline the revised schedule for vessels 801 and 802, in his quarterly update to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee at the end of March 2022.

The total estimated costs to complete the vessels remains the capital spend of £110m-114.3m, this is likely to change with the most recent cabling issue however we are unable to provide an update at this time, as we await the quarterly update. There is no resource funding at this time or loans to any parties regarding the build out of 801/802.