Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-25057

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 22 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider implementing any of the recommendations in the Climate Emergency Response Group report, Committing to delivery: Certainty and leadership for a just transition to a net zero, climate resilient future for Scotland.

The Scottish Government welcomed the Climate Emergency Response Group’s (CERG) annual report, which set out their four key areas of proposed action.

We are already taking action to address many of the issues highlighted by CERG, including: undertaking a pilot this year to introduce a net zero assessment of Scottish Government policies; publishing the final route map to reduce car kilometres; and through our commitment of £1.8 billion of funding over this Parliament towards heat and energy efficiency measures.

The Scottish Government looks forward to continuing our engagement with the CERG on tackling the climate crisis.

Question reference: S6W-25362

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 22 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has compared the Scottish National Standardised Assessments Curriculum for Excellence assessment level results with the equivalent teacher-derived Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence Levels for each year since 2017.

The Scottish Government does not compare or analyse outcomes data from the National Standardised Assessments for Scotland against Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence Levels data, as these each have a distinct purpose and should not be compared directly.

The National Standardised Assessments for Scotland have been designed to provide diagnostic information to teachers, schools and local authorities on children’s progress in aspects of literacy and numeracy, and to inform next steps in learning and teaching. They provide teachers with a valuable additional source of nationally standardised information to add to their existing understanding of children’s progress. NSA data can be used as a part of a range of evidence when assessing children’s achievement of the relevant Curriculum for Excellence levels. However, they do not assess whether learners have or have not achieved a level within the Curriculum for Excellence.

Question reference: S6W-25418

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 09 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 22 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what fire safety documentation applicants are required to provide when seeking consent for a development from its Energy and Climate Change Directorate.

Applicants are not required to submit any supporting fire safety documentation when seeking consent for a development. This is because fire precautions and matters relating to health and safety are not relevant to planning, as they are covered by other legislation.

The Electricity (Applications for Consent) Regulations 1990 apply to all applications to construct and operate electricity generating stations under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. There is no legal requirement for fire safety documentation to be included with applications made under these regulations.

Matters relating to fire risk are regulated by the Health and Safety Executive, Britain’s Health and Safety regulator. Their remit includes health and safety in the workplace as well as public assurance on safety matters. Health and Safety is a reserved matter, with applicable UK legislation including the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002, the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. HSE considers there to be a robust regulatory regime covering the fire risks associated with battery energy storage systems.

As a matter of routine, the Scottish Government will consult the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Health and Safety Executive on any new battery storage applications received and take into account any responses received.

Question reference: S6W-25416

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 09 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 22 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any fire safety documentation related to the development of the proposed battery storage facility at Hunterston, North Ayrshire.

An application was made to Scottish Ministers under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 by FlexibleGridPower2 Ltd for the electricity generating station known as Hunterston Grid Services Complex at Campbelton Farm on 17 August 2021.

With reference to the application in question, Scottish Government does not hold this information.

The Electricity (Applications for Consent) Regulations 1990 apply to all applications to construct and operate electricity generating stations under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. There is no legal requirement for fire safety documentation to be included with applications made under these regulations.

All documents submitted by the developer in support of the application are published on the Scottish Government Energy Consents website at https://www.energyconsents.scot/ApplicationDetails.aspx?cr=ECU00003319 .

Question reference: S6W-25341

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 22 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the contribution of the nuclear industry to Scotland's economy.

Independent analysis procured by the Scottish Government for the draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan estimated that in 2021 there were 5,338 jobs (direct and indirect) and £918m GVA (direct and indirect) in the nuclear power electricity generation and decommission sectors. While Hunterston B power station has been retired (as of 7 January 2022), decommissioning jobs are assumed to remain at the level of power generation jobs within the initial six years of the decommissioning phase of de-fuelling.

Question reference: S6W-25300

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 22 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what objectives it set for any funding that it provided to Alternatives West Dunbartonshire CDS since 2019.

Alternatives West Dunbartonshire CDS has received funding from the Scottish Government’s Prison to Rehab Protocol since 2022. The pathway supports individuals leaving prison who would benefit from accessing abstinence based treatment on release, based on an individual needs based assessment.

Alternatives West Dunbartonshire CDS is a recipient of the National Drugs Mission fund. Whilst Scottish Government do not directly set the objectives, the Corra Foundation has administered the National Drugs Mission Funds on our behalf, since 2021, to third sector and grassroots organisations and details of the projects are available at : Grant holder data - Corra Foundation .

Question reference: S6W-25262

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 22 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it anticipates that all of the Class 43 High Speed Trains (HSTs) will be replaced.

Question reference: S6W-24996

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 02 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 22 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Review of the 2019 Food Waste Reduction Action Plan, whether it will provide an update on what its position is regarding the feasibility of its target of reducing food waste by 33% by 2025.

As noted in the recently published Draft Circular Economy and Waste Route Map , Scotland is highly unlikely to meet its target to reduce food waste by 33% by 2025. To accelerate our rate of progress, the Scottish Government has committed to reset its approach to tackle food waste, and is engaging with key partners across the food and drink sector to identify effective food waste reduction actions.

Question reference: S6W-24988

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 02 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 22 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how much food waste has been produced by its operations in Scotland in each year since 2016.

Question reference: S6O-03147

Asked by: Jackie Dunbar, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 February 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recent ONS data, what assessment it has made of the impact on Scotland’s public finances of the UK entering a recession in 2023.

Seòmar agus comataidhean