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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S6W-41426

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 18 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the barriers young people face in accessing construction apprenticeships, including in South Scotland.

The Construction Accord is a collaborative approach between the public sector and the construction industry to identify the challenges within the sector and the changes needed to improve access for young people, particularly at entry level.

To address these challenges, the Construction Accord Transformation Board has launched the Construction Workforce Mission, a strategic initiative aimed at transforming recruitment and skills development across Scotland’s construction industry, including how to attract new talent into the sector.

Question reference: S6W-41427

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 18 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage an uptake in construction apprenticeships, including in South Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-41429

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 18 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the (a) accessibility and (b) affordability of scaffolding training, including in South Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-41747

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 18 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-36723 by Fiona Hyslop on 6 May 2025, whether it will provide an update on Scottish Enterprise’s engagement with companies in the electric vehicle and battery processing industries.

Question reference: S6W-41659

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 18 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason no applications for funding from Scotland's Heat Network Fund were successful in 2024.

Scotland’s Heat Network Fund (SHNF) is a demand-led capital grant scheme designed to support the deployment and expansion of zero-emission heat networks across Scotland. All applications are assessed against mandatory criteria to ensure alignment with the Fund objectives, including reducing carbon emissions, tackling fuel poverty, and demonstrating value for money.

In 2024, no new grant awards were made as no applications progressed through the full assessment process to a successful outcome during that period. Heat network development is a complex, multi-stage process, and projects can take considerable time to reach the point where they are ready to apply for, and secure, capital funding. The Fund launched in 2022 with an initial grant drawdown deadline of March 2026.

The Fund has recently been extended, with a grant claim deadline now set for March 2030. This extension will help maintain momentum in the heat network project pipeline, provide confidence to investors and developers, and support continued growth in the skills and supply chains needed to deliver heat networks in Scotland. As a result, the Fund has seen an increase in the number of successful applications in 2025. To date, Scotland’s Heat Network Fund has awarded approximately £14.6 million to seven heat network projects in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-41658

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 18 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the increase in domestic heat pump installations slowed from 27% between 2022-23 to 17% between 2023-24.

Data for the last full calendar year (2024)indicate that 7,355 heat pumps were installed in Scotland, 1061 more than for the last full calendar year. Over 2,500 heat pumps were funded by the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme in 2024.

Numerous factors will affect heat pump installation rates, including consumer demand, installer availability, and electricity load upgrades by district network operators.

We have allocated £1.67bn of funding through our Heat in Buildings schemes this Parliamentary Session, including committed spend of over £840m for energy efficiency and clean heat projects.

The latest delay to UK Government’s Warm Homes Plan means that we lack essential information on its plans to use its reserved powers to make clean heat systems more affordable– we continue to urge the UK Government to provide this clarity as soon as possible.

Question reference: S6W-41652

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 18 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-41468 by Gillian Martin on 27 October 2025, for what reason the Community Asset Transfer Scheme (CATS) is being used for an asset to be transferred to the community, and what consideration it has given to setting a rent to be paid, similar to commercial developers.

This new pilot scheme is a unique chance for communities to take ownership of renewable energy projects which need upgrading and extend their operational life, bringing long-term benefits to the local area.

The Community Asset Transfer Scheme (CATS) is well-established, utilising an existing legislative framework that provides consistency of approach, a structured time bound route, and a defined appeals mechanism, if required.

Community bodies applying through FLS’ CAT Scheme will not be subject to a competitive tender. However, communities will still be required to pay rent, just as any business or community body would need to if operating a commercial wind farm on public land. FLS is responsible for undertaking due diligence and evaluation of the community proposal before agreeing a long-term lease of public land and a commercial rent.

FLS will engage with communities at an early stage on the criteria and options available to them, and signpost them to support available from the Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) managed by Local Energy Scotland. Further information on the CATS notification, evaluation and decision process for repowering will be available by Spring 2026, before the first sites are notified.

Question reference: S6W-41650

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 18 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-41468 by Gillian Martin on 27 October 2025, for what reason the 50 megawatt cap was set, and what the processes are for reconsidering this cap, including how the cap could be removed.

Repowering involves a new windfarm being developed following the decommissioning and removal of the existing operational site. This new pilot scheme is a unique chance for communities to take ownership of a second phase of generation, bringing long-term benefits to the local area.

The 50-megawatt cap reflects the current size of community energy projects in Scotland – offering significant scope for larger-scale projects to be developed on the FLS sites. This cap will be kept under review throughout the pilot, as part of ensuring successful delivery.

The sites in the pilot scheme, including which local authority they are located in, are the following table. This list can also be found on the Scottish Government website: Sharing the gains of clean energy - gov.scot.

Scheme Name	Indicative Repowering year	Local Authority
Black Law	2032	South Lanarkshire
An Suidhe	2033	Argyll & Bute
Camster	2035	Highland
Myres Hill	2036	East Renfrewshire
Stroupster	2038	Highland
Burn of Whilk	2038	Highland
Clashindarroch	2041	Aberdeenshire
A' Chruach	2043	Argyll & Bute
Beinn An Tuirc 3	2047	Argyll & Bute
West Benhar	2048	North Lanarkshire

Question reference: S6W-41651

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 18 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-41468 by Gillian Martin on 27 October 2025, what the locations are of the 10 Forestry and Land Scotland onshore wind sites under 50 megawatts that have been identified as pilot sites.

Question reference: S6T-02762

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that its core operating costs have increased by £53 million between 2023-24 and 2024-25.