Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government is committed to improving the energy efficiency of all types of buildings as part of Energy Efficient Scotland which sets our 20 year programme to transform all types of buildings in Scotland so that they are warmer, greener and more efficient. https://www.gov.scot/Publications/2018/05/1462 Our aim is that all homes achieve an EPC C by 2040 (where technically feasible and cost effective).

There are a range of improvements that can be made to tenemental properties in conservation areas that can improve the EPC ratings. Householders looking to make improvements can contact the Home Energy Scotland advice line on 0808 808 2282 where they can speak to a trained advisor with knowledge and expertise of tenemental properties including those in conservation areas.

Our Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland: Area Based Schemes (HEEPS: ABS) which are designed and delivered by Local Authorities, in conjunction with utility companies and local delivery partners, target fuel poor areas to provide energy efficiency measures to a large number of Scottish households and help reduce fuel poverty. In Glasgow between 2013-14 and 2017-18 a total of £27,790,820 has been spent through this scheme.

The projects within the Glasgow City Region Deal are for the relevant local partners to develop and deliver. The Glasgow Airport Access Project is being taken forward by Glasgow and Renfrewshire Councils. The identification of projects within the Deal and decisions on whether to proceed are matters for the Glasgow City Region Deal Cabinet to decide, subject to appropriate business case development and normal statutory process. Costing for the options considered to improve access to Glasgow Airport are currently being updated by the project team.

Transport Scotland and Network Rail will continue to work collaboratively with the project team, as key stakeholders for any rail or motorway network based options, to explore surface access improvements at Glasgow Airport and the surrounding development areas. The Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, Michael Matheson MSP, chaired the Executive Steering Group in January, which was a group set up to provide strategic direction with regard to any rail based solution, recognising the challenges and constraints to delivery.

The Scottish Government has committed £500 million of funding to the Glasgow City Region Deal as part of its £1.13 Billion Infrastructure Fund. Therefore the Councils involved in the project are in the fortunate position of being able to fund a range of potential improvements that may facilitate improved access at Glasgow Airport as part of the City Region Deal.

The projects within the Glasgow City Region Deal are for the relevant local partners to develop and deliver. The Glasgow Airport Access Project is being taken forward by Glasgow and Renfrewshire Councils. The latest advice from the Airport Access project team was discussed and accepted at the Airport Access Executive Steering Group which I chaired on 30 January. This was for the Glasgow Airport Access Project team to progress the Outline Business Case for a Personalised Rapid Transit option. The Group, which includes the Leaders of both Councils and representatives from Glasgow Airport, supported this. This was therefore not a decision taken by the Scottish Government.

We recognise that travel demand will change in the future, this is why transport forecasting takes place at the national and regional level. Transport Scotland have worked closely with Network Rail and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) to develop transport demand forecasts for the region which are used to help inform future transport investment decisions. The consultant team working on the Glasgow City Region Deal projects, including the Glasgow Airport Access Project, have been provided with access to this information to inform the business case review and development work. The South Glasgow Capacity Stud, undertaken by Transport Scotland to inform planning of future rail enhancements to the networks using Glasgow Central Station, also accounts for future passenger growth.

Network Rail is currently considering a number of existing capacity issues on the Glasgow Central Station one of these being the South Glasgow Timetable Capacity Study (SGTCS). However, the Scottish Government is aware that Network Rail are also giving consideration to the longer term capacity requirements to ensure all constraints are fully understood.

The South Glasgow Timetable Capacity Study (SGTCS), commissioned by Transport Scotland with support from Network Rail, has been undertaken in order to assess the impact of future rail enhancements required to meet future growth. The study objective is to understand the capacity constraints within the South Glasgow Rail network including those at Glasgow Central station. This has sought to make the best use (capacity utilisation) of the current infrastructure. Network Rail have been fully involved in this process.

The Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland (JABS) provides statistical information on diversity, including gender and ethnicity, in its annual report. The Scottish Government does not carry out separate analysis as JABS undertakes its own analysis of these areas.

JABS has a statutory duty to have regard to the need to encourage diversity in the range of individuals available for selection to be recommended for appointment to a judicial office. This is contained in section 14 of the Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008.

Since 2015 JABS has recommended 108 individuals for judicial office. 52 were women, 50 were men and 6 preferred not to say. Of those recommended, 1 was of Asian background, 2 of mixed, 1 was unknown and 104 identified as white British or white other.

In 2010 the Diversity Steering Group (DSG) was set up, which is chaired by Lady Wise. This is a collaborative group which has in mind JABS’s obligations under section 14 of the 2008 Act. The DSG’s aims include identification of ways in which increased diversity of applicants applying for judicial office can be achieved and advice on removal of perceived obstacles to diversity. A Scottish Government official is a member of the steering group as an observer.

JABS has a statutory duty to prepare and publish an annual report on the carrying out of its functions during the previous year. This report must be sent to the Scottish Ministers and is then laid before the Scottish Parliament. The reporting provided on diversity covers both the DSG’s work and statistical reporting on applicants for all appointments within JABS remit.

In addition to its annual reporting, last year JABS published a 5 Year Strategic Plan for 2018-2022 which sets out how they intend to contribute to the creation of a more diverse judiciary in Scotland - one which ‘reflects the growing diversity in our communities and which helps to build public trust and confidence.

The progress to date is good and I recognise JABS’ continued commitment to strive for better by encouraging diversity in the range of individuals available for selection.

Whilst the safety of nuclear installations is a reserved matter to the UK Government, public safety is the Scottish Government’s absolute priority and it therefore takes all safety issues relating to the entire Scottish civil nuclear estate very seriously indeed.

Scottish Government officials therefore are, and will continue to be, in regular contact with UK Government officials in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), in respect of safety & security matters at Hunterston B.

The office for Nuclear Regulator (ONR) regulates EDF through on-site inspections which ensure that EDF controls its hazards effectively and maintains the highest nuclear safety and security standards. The ONR has a team of specialist inspectors from ONR's assessment units, whom site inspectors can draw upon for in-depth specialist expert advice.

EDF are required to produce safety cases to justify a return to service of the reactors at Hunterston B. This is a standard regulatory requirement in such circumstances. Once the ONR has received the safety cases, it will fully assess them and permission will only be granted for the reactor to return to service if the ONR is satisfied that it is safe to do so.

Scottish Government officials in the Resilient Essential Services Team are receiving regular updates from the ONR in respect of the on-going safety assessments and any potential return to service of the reactors.

In respect of security of supply of the UK electricity network, the reactors at Hunterston, in total, provide a potential 965 Megawatts to the National Grid.

Scottish Government officials are and will continue to be in regular contact with both UK Government officials in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the nuclear safety and security regulator, the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), in respect of safety & security matters at Hunterston B and all other Scottish Civil Nuclear sites.

Whilst the safety of nuclear installations is a reserved matter to UK Government, public safety is the Scottish Government’s absolute priority and it therefore takes all safety issues relating to the entire Scottish civil nuclear estate very seriously indeed.

(a) In respect of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Scottish Government Officials arranged a meeting for senior BEIS officials at Hunterston B on 5 November 2018, where briefings and a station tour were provided by EDF. There has also been regular contact by telephone and e-mail between officials, the latest of which was on 21 st January 2019.

(b) Whilst there have been no specific scheduled meetings, telephone and written contact has been regular, with ONR providing their latest updates to officials. During the latest communications on 28 November 2018, 19 December 2018 and 21 st January 2019, ONR outlined their extensive involvement in this issue, namely:

ONR regulates EDF through on-site inspections which ensure that EDF controls its hazards effectively and maintains the highest nuclear safety and security standards. Site inspectors also provide advice on how to comply with legal requirements. ONR also assesses the adequacy of safety cases to ensure that the hazards are properly controlled. ONR holds regular meetings with EDF to discuss graphite cracking.

Supporting front line site inspectors is a team of specialist inspectors from ONR's assessment units, whom the site inspectors can draw upon for in-depth specialist expert advice.

Permission will only be granted for the reactors 3 and 4 to return to service at Hunterston B if the ONR is satisfied that it is safe to do so.

I will next meet the ONR on 21 February 2019.

The Scottish Government does not hold statistical information on what proportion of serving QCs are female. The process of selection for appointment of QCs is a matter for the Rt Hon Lord Carloway, Lord President and Lord Justice General. The Scottish Government is not involved in the selection process as this would be inappropriate.