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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-06288

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on limiting permitted development rights for rooftop solar PV at 50kW.

We recognise the importance of energy generated from solar PV in contributing to the decarbonisation of Scotland’s energy supply and contributing to the just transition to a net zero emissions society by 2045.
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‎The Scottish Government is currently carrying out a substantial review of permitted development rights (PDR) in Scotland. Through this phased programme, we are taking forward new and extended PDR for a wide range of development types - including solar panels.

Question reference: S6W-06270

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 04 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how it is planning to build on its leadership role in the Under2 Coalition and progress the Glasgow Food and Climate Declaration in the run-up to COP27 in Egypt.

Scotland will continue to play a leading role in the Under2 Coalition and we will use our position as co-chair to drive climate ambition and delivery from all non-party governments, states and regions towards net zero, which prioritises a just transition and a resilient future.

This includes playing a leadership role within the Coalition to increase support for the Glasgow Food and Climate Declaration, which Scotland was the first government to commit to. We are also progressing its aim within Scotland ahead of COP27 through:

the Good Food Nation Bill introduced to Parliament in October 2021,
further development of our local food strategy following public consultation in late 2021, and
working with the Scotland Food and Drink Partnership to support progress towards the Scottish Food and Drink Sectors Industry Net Zero Commitment launched at COP26.

Question reference: S6W-06229

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 04 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the role of rooftop solar and storage in local electrical distribution networks, to support the electrification of heat and transport.

There has been no specific evaluation of the role of rooftop solar and storage in local electrical distribution networks to date. However, in the Bute House Agreement, the Scottish Government committed to set out a vision for the future of solar in Scotland, in consultation with the sector. As we develop this vision over the coming months, we will consider the role of solar in the delivery of a just transition to net zero, including exploring the role that solar technology could play in supporting the decarbonisation of heat and transport, as well as any impacts on local distribution networks.

Also to note, in the Heat in Buildings Strategy, we committed to carry out research to understand the extent to which the deployment of secondary technologies alongside zero emissions heating systems could help to optimise operational performance, minimise energy consumption and reduce end user fuel costs. This research is underway, and seeks to understand the technical feasibility and cost effectiveness of heat batteries, electric batteries, and thermal storage cylinders when installed alongside a range of zero emissions primary heating technologies; both independently of and combined with microgeneration technologies such as solar PV and solar thermal. We expect to publish this research this year.

Question reference: S6W-06159

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 22 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government to what extent the (a) work on the forthcoming Scottish Biodiversity Strategy is being influenced by the COP15 process and (b) new strategy will directly tackle the five drivers of biodiversity loss, as identified by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.

We published a high level statement of intent on biodiversity on 14 December 2020 in order to take account of delays in agreeing a new global biodiversity framework at CoP15. We are closely engaged in discussions with the UK Government and the other devolved administrations on negotiation of the new framework.

The Statement of Intent signals our ambitions for biodiversity in Scotland, our international action, and announces our commitment to publish a new biodiversity strategy by October 2022 which will define high level outcomes to address the ongoing decline in biodiversity. This will be supported by a delivery plan published within six months of the new strategy.

The direct and indirect drivers of biodiversity loss identified by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services provide a useful high-level summary framework, and alongside other analyses such as Global Biodiversity Outlook 5 and the State of Nature report for Scotland provide a substantial evidence base around which to design our new strategy. However, it is a thorough and comprehensive understanding of Scotland’s particular needs which will most effectively shape our strategic framework and enable us to deliver improvements in biodiversity in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-06110

Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the announcement of the winners of the ScotWind offshore wind leasing auction by Crown Estate Scotland, what assessment it has made of the timeframe for the consenting process.

The Scottish Government has an objective to determine Electricity Act section 36 applications within nine months, where possible. It is important to clarify that this timeline is dependent on the submission of a complete, fit for purpose application that fully addresses all issues raised by Scottish Ministers and consultees during the pre-application period including the scoping process. That is why we are encouraging applicants to engage early with both the regulator and relevant stakeholders.

Details of the consenting process for offshore wind developments can be found here:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/marine-scotland-consenting-licensing-manual-offshore-wind-wave-tidal-energy-applications/

Question reference: S6W-06530

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 11 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 22 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of its international and European relations spending plans for the next two years.

The International and European Relations budget of £33.3m for 2022-23 will be spent pursuing our engagement at home and internationally to enhance Scotland's reputation and increase economic success, prosperity and wellbeing, and promote Scotland as a great place to live, visit, work, study and do business. The Scottish Budget and supporting documents have been published on the Scottish Government website at https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-budget-2022-23/documents/ and a detailed breakdown of how this has been distributed across the various International and European Relations budget lines can be found in the Scottish Budget 2022-23 - Level 4 Data document (rows 71 to 89 on the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture tab).

Spending in future years will be considered and implemented through the Resource Spending Review and subsequent 2023-24 budget setting process

Question reference: S6W-06545

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 11 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 22 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle any skills mismatches in the labour market in Scotland, in light of reported data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) stating that the number of job vacancies is at a record high, and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) report, Working Lives Scotland, stating that 28% of all employees feel overqualified for their job.

Question reference: S6W-06488

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 11 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 22 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of secondary schools currently have access to a mental health counsellor.

The mental health and wellbeing of children and young people is an absolute priority for the Scottish Government.

The commitment to invest in school counselling ensures that every secondary school has access to counselling services, whilst also improving the ability of local primary and special schools to access counselling. Our local authority partners have confirmed this is now in place across Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-06403

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the identification of Ardeer as a potential site for nuclear energy production.

Question reference: S6T-00519

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 February 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to the most recent recorded crime statistics showing a rise in violent crime.