Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24055 on 17 January 2024. 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 recent ClimateXChange Report shows potential for businesses in the sector, the proposed Heat in Buildings Bill will underpin increasing demand in sector giving more confidence to businesses to invest which will be supported by other action such as that set out in Supply Chain Delivery Plan.

This proposal is contained within the current public consultation Delivering net zero for Scotland's buildings - Heat in Buildings Bill: consultation - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) . A draft business and regulatory impact assessment has been published to support this consultation Heat in Buildings Bill consultation: business and regulatory impact assessment (partial) - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

This draft impact assessment and a range of other relevant impact assessments will be developed and then finalised based on the outcome of the consultation. Further development of proposals will then occur and will be the subject of detailed final impact assessments.

Colleges and universities are responsible for setting their own provision based on regional and national demand, however Energy Skills Partnership, the college sector agency in Scotland for energy transition, zero carbon transport, engineering, construction and STEM, lead a low carbon heat training network across Scotland’s colleges to share best practice.

The scope of the research was commissioned to understand current and future workforce capabilities required to meet projected installation targets only. This was in line with the targets initially set out within the Heat in Buildings Strategy.

The Scottish Government acknowledges the profound impacts and hardships inflicted by the October storms on local communities. The Government has been working closely with affected local authorities on a package of support to help people whose homes and businesses were flooded. This package includes extending the Bellwin scheme’s application window to help all Councils, including Argyll and Bute, cover eligible expenditure for urgent repairs.

The Scottish Welfare Fund also provides emergency support to those on low incomes in Scotland, including in Argyll and Bute. Support may be provided through the provision of Crisis Grants and Community Care Grants, including to those who have experienced a disaster situation, such as a flood. Residents can apply to the Scottish Welfare Fund through their Council.

A Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment was completed for the provisions contained within The Building (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2023 (which introduce the New Build Heat Standard from 1 April 2024). This contains an assessment of how the Standard may impact costs associated with new homes across Scotland. The affordability of buying a home is impacted by multiple factors, including the sale price of a new building (which is determined by individual developers and takes into account a range of variables related to building construction costs and local housing markets), location and access to personal finance for buyers.

The scenarios were developed to understand the potential workforce requirements in Scotland to meet projected clean heat and energy efficiency targets. These were indicative forecast scenarios and are not expectations/projections of future demand and for this reason are not currently tracked.

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 insulation work (water, heat, sound). The most recent data was published on 25 October 2023.

The Additional Support for Learning Act 2004 sets out clear timescales for post school transition planning. In the accompanying statutory guidance , schools are encouraged to plan for transitions well ahead of the statutory timescales, which apply from the date a young person is expected to leave school.

We recognise that not all young people are currently getting the transitions support they need. We are working closely with local government partners to improve the experience of children and young people with additional support needs at school, through the implementation of the recommendations set out in the 2020 review of additional support for learning. This includes work to encourage best practice in this area and improve the implementation of existing transition duties. A further update on this work is due to be published in May 2024.

Through the development of the National Transitions to Adulthood Strategy, we are also considering what additional support disabled young people may need. As set out in the published Statement of Intent for the strategy, one of the proposed overarching ambitions is to further embed the Association for Real Change Scotland’s widely-endorsed seven Principles of Good Transitions , and the similar characteristics of good transitions outlined in our published literature review , in the policy, planning and practice of organisations that provide support for disabled young people.