- Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 22 December 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 17 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22664 by Patrick Harvie on 16 November 2023, what its position is on how the proposal that "Owner occupied homes that have ended their use of polluting heating by 2033 will not be required to meet the minimum energy efficiency standard", as set out in its consultation on proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill, promotes a "fabric first approach".
Answer
Owner occupied homes which no longer use polluting heating by 2033 will have already, as a result of this change, removed all direct emissions associated with the heating of those homes.
This means that there would be no need for a legal requirement to meet an energy efficiency standard; however, there will still be strong incentives for homeowners to invest in energy efficiency and improvements to the fabric of those homes in order to reduce their energy bills.
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Submitting member has a registered interest.
-
Date lodged: Friday, 22 December 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 17 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether the forthcoming Regional Marine Plans will be required to identify locations where seaweed cultivation is to be supported.
Answer
The development of the marine planning framework will build on the existing consenting regime for aquaculture developments. Planning permission for finfish and shellfish farms are determined in accordance with National Planning Framework 4 and Scotland’s National Marine Plan. Seaweed farming is subject to the requirements set out under section 15 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 regarding decisions of public authorities affected by marine plans, including the National Marine Plan and any Regional Marine Plan, once adopted.
We will seek to ensure that National Planning Framework 4 and National Marine Plan 2 are aligned and consider any updates which are required to Planning Circular 1/2015: relationship between the statutory land use planning system and marine planning and licencing - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .
Regional marine plans are developed by Marine Planning Partnerships, and must conform with the National Marine Plan currently in effect. The content of the regional marine plan is for these partnerships to determine based on local priorities.
In 2017 The Scottish Government published a Seaweed Cultivation Policy Statement to help facilitate the growth of the sector by setting out policy on the suitability of seaweed cultivation in different scenarios. This provides those wanting to operate in this sector with a better understanding of the type of development that may be given approval.
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 22 December 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 17 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether there will be a chapter on seaweed aquaculture in the National Marine Plan 2 (NMP2) to reflect the value of this activity within the Scottish marine area.
Answer
We are committed to the sustainable development of our seas and are working with stakeholders on our updated National Marine Plan (NMP2), a key delivery mechanism for Scotland’s Blue Economy Vision. NMP2 will provide the guiding planning framework to support our future licencing and consenting decisions.
We will work with stakeholders from across the marine sectors on the development of NMP2 planning policies to support management of our marine space, and reflecting our latest policy developments, including our recently published Vision for Sustainable Aquaculture which sets out our long-term ambitions for the sustainable development of the finfish, shellfish and seaweed sectors.
- Asked by: Kaukab Stewart, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 December 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Paul McLennan on 17 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to addressing potentially dangerous wooden cladding on residential buildings, including balcony structures that use wooden materials.
Answer
The Scottish Government is committed to remediating cladding that poses a fire risk in buildings across Scotland. The Cladding Remediation Programme considers that wooden cladding, including on balcony structures, will be within scope and included as part of the building assessment process. Consideration to wooden balconies is referred to in the Scottish Advice Note (version 2.0), which advises the following: Balconies
The design and construction of balconies should not facilitate fire spread over the external wall to an extent that would pose a risk to life. There are indications that fires on balconies are becoming more common (see following link). The most common causes of such fires are deliberate ignition, careless disposal of smoking material and misuse of barbeques. The severity of a balcony fire can be increased by combustible materials, such as furnishings or discarded materials stored, or used, on the balcony.
Further information can be found in Annex 1 in the following guidance External wall systems in existing multi-storey residential buildings - fire risk: advice note - version 2 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
- Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 December 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 17 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to reviewing the effectiveness of current funding allocations for energy efficiency and low-carbon heating courses.
Answer
Our Heat in Buildings Supply Chains Delivery Plan sets out practical steps that we will take to support the growth of the green heat sector. We continue to work in partnership with the sector to ensure that the appropriate support and training provision are aligned at a local level with business needs and future local demands.
- Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 December 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 17 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to gathering data on double glazing and draught-proofing measures fitted in Scotland's buildings.
Answer
The Scottish Government collects data on double glazing and draught proofing of loft hatches within occupied homes through the annual Scottish House Condition Survey.
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 December 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by George Adam on 17 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how many ministerial visits were made in Scotland in 2023, broken down by parliamentary (a) constituency and (b) region.
Answer
Information on Ministerial engagements is routinely published on the Scottish Government website and can be found at: www.gov.scot/collections/ministerial-engagements-travel-and-gifts/ .
Visits are not recorded by parliamentary or constituency region.
- Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 December 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 17 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many (a) insulation engineers, (b) thermal insulation engineers, (c) glaziers, (d) heating and ventilation engineers, (e) plumbing and heating engineers, (f) electricians and (g) Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) assessors are currently working in Scotland, broken down by local authority area.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold this information. The Office for National Statistics, Broad Industry Group Region by broad industry group (Standard Industrial Classification) – Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES): Table 4 - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk) , provides annual data for employee and employment estimates working in construction areas in Scotland including, but not limited to; plumbing, installation of heating and air-conditioning systems, electrical work and insulation work (water, heat, sound). The most recent data was published on 25 October 2023.
- Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 December 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 17 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-07053 by Mairi McAllan on 18 March 2022, whether it will provide an update on its policy regarding unexploded ordnance disposal at sea.
Answer
The current licensing regime already encourages developers to use unexploded ordnance clearance methods which will produce the least underwater noise. The UK Government's Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs is in the process of updating the existing Joint Interim Position Statement on UXO clearance which sets out an expectation that low noise methods will be prioritised by developers. The current statement is co-signed by the Scottish Government, other UK regulators, and Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies. Following updated advice to be received from NatureScot, we will determine whether Scotland will remain a co-signatory to any updated position statement, or produce our own unilateral statement.
Protecting Scotland's marine environment is of paramount importance to the Scottish Government. We are moving towards low order techniques being the default method for unexploded ordnance removal in Scottish waters, unless there are extenuating circumstances in which low order cannot be used.
- Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 December 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 17 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish a list of public procurement projects within the low-carbon heating and energy efficiency sectors that it anticipates undertaking in the next (a) five, (b) 10 and (c) 15 years.
Answer
The information requested is not available. The Scottish Government does not currently plan to directly procure any specific low-carbon heating or energy efficiency projects on behalf of the sector over the time periods specified. Scottish public authorities can access funding and project development support for clean heating and energy efficiency proposals through our Non-Domestic Public Sector Energy Efficiency Framework and Project Support Unit. This framework is designed to provide value for money and a standardised approach for public bodies undertaking improvements to their estate.