Chamber and committees

 A number of impact assessments which consider socioeconomic factors are undertaken for new Scottish Government policies and strategies, where appropriate. This includes the Fairer Scotland Duty, Equalities Impact Assessments and Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessments.

In particular, the Fairer Scotland Duty places a legal responsibility on the Scottish Government and other public bodies in Scotland to actively consider how they can reduce inequalities of outcome caused by socioeconomic disadvantage, when making strategic decisions.

The Scottish Government is committed to tackling the global climate emergency and reaching net-zero emissions in a way which is fair and just for all.

Scotland’s response to the global climate emergency must be a truly national endeavour. There is a significant role for the whole of Scottish society in supporting transformational change. For this reason, constructive dialogue with the Scottish public must be a central pillar of our approach.

Last summer, the Scottish Government ran a series of public engagement events called the Big Climate Conversation. Over 2,500 people across Scotland in rural, island, and urban areas participated. These events were an opportunity for people to voice their opinions and concerns about climate change, Scotland’s net-zero target, and the Scottish Government’s response to the global climate emergency. All the findings have been summarised in the Big Climate Conversation Report that was published on 30 January and is available on the gov.scot website.

The findings from the report will be used to inform the revision of our new climate change public engagement strategy, which is due to be published in Spring 2020. This strategy will set out our approach to engaging the Scottish public on climate change and encouraging public participation in the transition to net-zero emissions.

As we update our Climate Change Plan, three cross-cutting engagement events are being held this month in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen. Several hundred stakeholders, including a mix of public, private and third sector organisations, as well as community groups are invited to join the national dialogue. These events have been designed to gather views on Scottish Government policy proposals, and invite further constructive proposals, as well as offer advice and support for businesses, communities and the public sector on the collective action that’s required to end Scotland’s contribution to climate change.

Later this year a Climate Citizens’ Assembly for Scotland will meet. The Assembly will play an important role in informing decision making as we consider the far reaching changes across society that will be required to meet our ambitious targets.

COP 26 in Glasgow will be focused on addressing the global climate crisis and setting the world on course to transition to a net-zero world in a way that is fair and just for everyone. Our approach to tackling climate change is supported by the Just Transition principles, to help ensure that no one is left behind as we move to a net-zero economy. We established an independent Just Transition Commission which is conducting a wide range of engagement to ensure its recommendations will reflect the concerns and aspirations of people across the country.

The Scottish Government currently funds a number of schemes to support the uptake of renewable and low carbon heat, including support for heat networks and for individual households and businesses to install low carbon heating. Where we currently provide funding for fossil fuel heating systems we have already increased support for renewable and low carbon heating, for example via Warmer Homes Scotland.

We recognise the need to phase out support for fossil fuel heating, which we will do between now and 2024, where it is appropriate and does not adversely affect achieving our statutory fuel poverty targets. We are also committed to working with industry to introduce a requirement for new homes to have low carbon heating from 2024, i.e. for all new build properties to no longer use fossil fuel boilers from this date.

The Draft 2020-21 Budget allocates £120 million for a Heat Transition Deal to accelerate the deployment of low carbon heating sources. Later this year, we will publish a Heat Decarbonisation Policy Statement which will include a programme of actions to scale up deployment of low carbon heating and taking into account the need to scale up capacity within the supply chain.

Addressing fuel poverty, climate change and tackling energy efficiency have been long term priorities for the Scottish Government.

Improving the energy efficiency of homes in the PRS sector is part of an overall framework of standards and support across all tenures and buildings through our Energy Efficient Scotland programme. This is early action, going ahead of the owner occupation sector in recognition of the existing levels of poor energy efficiency within this tenure, and following the progress of the social sector. The higher levels of Fuel Poverty in the PRS supports the need to press ahead with this early action in the PRS.

For these reasons, there is a further commitment that all PRS properties should be at EPC C by 2030, where technically feasible and cost effective – bringing these homes up to the same standard as owner occupiers.

Our Warmer Homes Scotland Scheme helps homeowners and private rented sector tenants who are on a low income and are struggling to heat their home. The scheme is designed to make their homes warmer through installing a range of energy efficiency measures, who meet the qualifying criteria. Further information and qualifying criteria is available on the Home Energy Scotland https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/scotland/grants-loans/heeps/heeps-warmer-homes-scotland-scheme or by contacting Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282.

Sitting tenants should not generally be required to vacate their homes for the installation of energy efficiency measures.

The landlord must initially meet the standard when there is a change of tenancy – so for the first two years there will be no need for any tenant decanting. On average, around 60% of PRS tenants live in their home for two years or less, and improvements can be made between tenancies. The backstop date of 31 March 2022 provides landlords with plenty of time to plan and make suitable arrangements where there is no change of tenancy.

If the sitting tenant refused consent to any relevant energy efficiency improvements being made, as the “back stop” date approaches, this is a valid exemption. The ability to refuse consent is similar to that of the Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing (EESSH).

Further, to ensure that a landlord’s expenditure on energy efficiency measures is proportionate, a cost cap of £5,000 will apply to get to the EPC E standard, and a further £5,000 to get to the EPC D. This means that low cost measures such as loft insulation and low energy light bulbs, are likely to be installed first, and involve no disruption. If external wall insulation or cavity wall insulation was to be installed, tenants will not need to leave their homes. The only measure which is likely to cause major disruption would be internal wall insulation, though the landlord may qualify for a cost cap exemption.

At backstop dates, or if landlord chooses to upgrade at another time, it is the landlord’s responsibility to adhere to any requirements relating to the tenancy agreement and agree with tenant, as to how the landlord wishes to proceed. We will also continue to work with Citizens’ Advice Scotland, Shelter Scotland and local authorities to ensure that they can support tenants.

The “ Energy efficiency and condition standards in private rented housing: A Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme Consultation : Analysis of responses to the public consultation exercise ” was published on 14 November 2017.

The report can be accessed at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/energy-efficiency-condition-standards-private-rented-housing-analysis-responses-public/ .

The draft regulations require that new tenancies in the private rented sector (PRS) must meet an EPC rating of E from 1 October 2020.

The Scottish Government set up a working group to develop these proposals, and membership included the Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL) and Scottish Land & Estates (SLE), both representing private sector interests. The proposals were consulted upon in 2017, and a final consultation on draft regulations and guidance took place in the summer 2019, which sought to raise awareness of the proposed regulations. Responses informed the development of the draft regulations.

The Scottish Government has continued to engage with SAL and Scottish Land & Estates, to ensure that their members are aware of the forthcoming changes. This includes officials attending area focused meetings held by landlord groups.

The Scottish Government continues to fund free and impartial advice through Home Energy Scotland (HES), including tailored advice for landlords. HES has also promoted these forthcoming regulatory changes to enquirers and on its website, including a short information video.

The Scottish Government will publish draft guidance for landlords in April and will use this to continue engagement with landlords and key stakeholders.

The regulations require that new tenancies must meet an EPC rating of E from 1 October 2020.

The modelled average cost of upgrading stock with an EPC rating of F or G to meet an EPC E is around £1,140. There is a broad range of support and incentives to help landlords improve the energy efficiency of their properties, including low cost loans which can be accessed via Home Energy Scotland.

The Scottish Government believes that the prospect of a civil penalty of up to £5,000 will be sufficient to encourage landlords to improve the energy efficiency of their properties.

The draft regulations require that new tenancies in the private rented sector (PRS) must meet an EPC rating of E from 1 October 2020.

Citizens’ Advice Scotland (CAS) was part of the working group to develop the proposals, alongside the Existing Homes Alliance, representing tenants’ interests. We have also engaged separately with Shelter Scotland to develop the proposals and raise awareness.

We will continue to engage with CAS and Shelter Scotland, so that new and existing tenants coming to their bureaux or offices, can get relevant advice and support, as well as ensuring that tenants are aware of the regulations coming into effect.

We have also attended, and will continue to attend, area based forum meetings organised by local authorities, which enables direct engagement with locally based housing advice and advocacy groups.

Scottish Government continues to fund free and impartial advice through Home Energy Scotland (HES), to anyone, including private tenants. Our Warmer Homes Scotland Scheme already helps those on low incomes. This is an ideal opportunity to raise their awareness of the forthcoming regulations, as we install energy efficiency measures to make tenants’ homes warmer. For more information and qualifying criteria, contact Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282 or https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/scotland/grants-loans/heeps/heeps-warmer-homes-scotland-scheme .

Home Energy Scotland (HES) are currently running a campaign to raise awareness of the available financial assistance, through a combination of social media, radio adverts and direct mail to highlight the support that is available to improve the energy efficiency of people’s homes.

HES loans, launched in May 2017, offer owner occupiers and some private sector landlords interest free loans for energy efficient measures. Over the past three financial years, a total of over £70 million has been made available under Scottish Government Energy Efficiency loan schemes. We are currently offering cashback on some energy efficiency and renewable energy measures to help people meet part of the costs of improving energy efficiency of their homes.

We have also recently amended the qualifying rdSAP (Reduced data Standard Assessment Procedure) rating for Warmer Homes Scotland, the Scottish Government’s national fuel poverty scheme, from 64 to 67 enabling more households who are struggling to pay their energy bills to qualify for support.

We also currently offer cashback on some energy efficiency and renewable energy measures to help people meet part of the costs of improving energy efficiency of their homes.