Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-05833 on 4 February 2022. 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 .

Discussions with the Rail Trade Union representatives are underway and I look forward to personally having the opportunity to discuss this topic at my meeting with all Rail Trade Unions on Thursday 10 February.

It is for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), as independent regulator, to regulate facilities like the Mossmorran Complex in order to provide assurance that operators are managing the risks created during their activities. The HSE liaises regularly with SEPA and Fife Council with regards to management of the site. The Scottish Government, as a matter of course, liaises regularly with SEPA, which is one of the public partners, including also NHS Fife and Public Health Scotland, in relation to the management and regulation of the Mossmorran complex.

The Non-Domestic RHI (NDRHI) scheme closed to new applicants on 31 March 2021. The Domestic RHI (DRHI) scheme is set to close on 31 March 2022. The Scottish Government has set out in its Heat in Buildings Strategy a number of grant schemes which will continue to support the deployment of zero emission heating systems post RHI closure.

In total, the Scottish Government has committed £1.8 billion for heat decarbonisation for this parliamentary session, which will be delivered through various delivery schemes. This includes a £400m successor programme to the Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme, which will be launched early this year. It will provide funding to heat projects such as large scale heat pumps and heat networks whilst also prioritising new technologies for decarbonising multi-tenure buildings and retrofitting whole buildings with low carbon heating systems.

Support for homeowners to install zero emissions heating systems and improve energy efficiency is available through the Home Energy Scotland (HES) Loan and Cashback Scheme, which offers interest-free loans with up to 75% cashback. Scottish Ministers have committed to continuing our loans-with-cashback schemes for homeowners and SME businesses to support energy efficiency and zero emissions heat improvements, and will replace the cashback offer with a grant scheme during 2022-23.

We welcome that the unions are sharing their ideas and views. Transport Scotland officials attended the launch of the unions’ publication, and the previous Minister for Transport discussed various subjects covered in that report in his engagements with the unions.

Our focus is currently on the mobilisation of ScotRail Trains Ltd, which will provide passenger services within the public sector, under Scottish Government control, from April. Discussions with rail trade union representatives are underway, ensuring continued engagement, as part of the transition on 1 April 2022 of ScotRail to ScotRail Trains Ltd.

I am keen to meet the unions and advance a constructive dialogue on these matters and, to that end, a meeting is scheduled with all four rail trade unions for 10 February.

It is for SEPA , as the independent regulator, to regulate facilities like the Mossmorran Complex in order to protect the environment. The Scottish Government has regular discussions with SEPA on the progress of both the improvement works at the complex and SEPA’s implementation of the recommendations from the Irish Environmental Protection Agency’s regulatory peer review. Both SEPA and the Scottish Government remain clear that compliance with Scotland’s environmental laws is non-negotiable.

The Programme for Government 2020-21 commits the Scottish Government to consult on proposals to extend the new regulatory framework that came into force on 1 September last year for the licensing of dog, cat and rabbit breeding activities, animal welfare establishments and pet sales to performing animals and animal care services. This latter category may possibly include canine fertility clinics, particularly given the concerns of the veterinary profession about the growth and practices of such clinics across the country.

The Scottish Government regularly engages with COSLA on air quality matters. However there have been no recent discussions on the specific issue of local authority powers to tackle vehicle idling, as the authorities themselves are best placed to make decisions on implementation.

The Road Traffic (Vehicle Emissions) (Fixed Penalty) (Scotland) Regulations 2003 provide local authorities with powers to issue fixed penalty notices to drivers of parked idling vehicles who refuse a reasonable request to switch off their engines. It is for individual local authorities to decide how to make use of their powers. The Scottish Government provides guidance and financial support to assist authorities in undertaking these duties.

The Government's new air quality strategy 'Cleaner Air for Scotland 2 - Towards a Better Place for Everyone', which was published in July 2021, sets out a wide range of measures intended to deliver further air quality improvements over the period to 2026.

This information is not held centrally and is a matter for individual local authorities. Guidance issued by the Scottish Government to assist authorities in undertaking vehicle idling enforcement duties encourages the issuing of fixed penalties only if a reasonable request to switch off a parked idling vehicle is refused.