Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-08706

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 24 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made implementing the Islands Housing Fund, and which stakeholders, including local authorities and housing associations, has it consulted regarding its plans.

The Islands Housing Fund recognises the unique needs of our island communities. It sits alongside the Rural Housing Fund and was launched in September 2016 using the same guidance which had been developed with the external stakeholder group which helped shape the Rural Housing Fund. The £5 million Islands Housing Fund allocation are specifically for the islands as proposed. Stakeholders including Local Authorities and Housing Associations have been kept up to date with the policy on both the Rural and the Islands Housing Funds. Presentations have been made by the Scottish Government at relevant Rural Housing conferences including the RIHAF conference in October 2016 and Rural Housing Scotland in February 2017. The Stakeholder Group for the development of our Rural Housing Fund consist of a wide range of stakeholders representing the housing sector.

Question reference: S5W-08372

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 21 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what areas of Scotland will be included or excluded from the new round of funding from the Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme targeted at remote and rural areas.

Question reference: S5W-08371

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 21 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that projects are informed about the new round of funding from the Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme, and how applications will be judged.

I launched the low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme's (LCITP) Innovative Local Energy Systems funding invitation in a speech to key stakeholders at the Scottish Renewables Annual Conference in Edinburgh on 21 March 2017.

LCITP itself is a collaborative partnership led by the Scottish Government, working with Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Futures Trust and Resource Efficient Scotland.

The Programme focuses on supporting the acceleration of low carbon infrastructure projects across the public, private and community sectors to develop investment grade business cases to help projects secure public and private capital finance. LCITP has a budget of £76million, of which £33million comes from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under the 2014-20 European Structural Funds (ESF) programme.

In total £10 million will be made available in total under the Innovative Local Energy Systems funding invitation for applications which focus on innovative energy systems in more rural, remote parts of Scotland.

There are two distinct funding stages as part of this this funding round. Stage 1 will help support the development of project proposals to become investment-ready – up to £100,000 will be available for each project, with projects match funding the support given. Stage two where capital support in order to make projects fully operational – again, projects must match fund the amount awarded. Projects already at an advanced stage can apply for Stage two immediately by contacting the Scottish Government’s LCITP team on a case-by-case basis.

In order to further raise awareness of this funding invitation, a series of workshops to discuss eligibility and share case studies will take place across Scotland in late April and May 2017. Full details of the workshops, including the workshop booking form, can be accessed at: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Business-Industry/Energy/Action/lowcarbon/LCITP/ILES/ILES-Workshops

Full information relating to the Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme's Innovative Local Energy Systems Funding Invitation, including detailed guidance on eligibility, can be found on the Scottish Government's website at: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/business-Industry/Energy/Action/lowcarbon/LCITP/ILES/about-the-call

Question reference: S5T-00516

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to recent comments by the Children's Commissioner on protecting children from physical punishment.

Question reference: S5W-08463

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 18 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what response it has given to the UK Climate Change Committee proposal published in its report, Advice on the new Scottish Climate Change Bill, that Scotland's shares of international aviation and international shipping emissions be included within Scottish targets, and what impact this would have on its current policy.

The Scottish Government welcomes the recently published advice from the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) on the levels, forms and mechanisms of greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for the forthcoming Climate Change Bill. The Scottish Government is committed to maintaining an evidence-based approach to climate targets, of which the CCC’s independent, expert advice forms an important part.

A Scottish share of emissions from international aviation and shipping is already included in statutory climate targets under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009. The Scottish Government is carefully considering the CCC’s recommendations on how such emissions should be accounted for under future legislation.

Question reference: S5W-08462

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 18 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of the UK Climate Change Committee report, Advice on the new Scottish Climate Change Bill, and whether it supports a greenhouse gas reduction target of 80% or 90% by 2050.

The Scottish Government welcomes the recently published advice from the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) on the levels, forms and mechanisms of greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for the forthcoming Climate Change Bill. The Scottish Government is committed to maintaining an evidence-based approach to climate targets, of which the CCC’s independent, expert advice forms an important part.

The Scottish Government is carefully considering the CCC’s report and recommendations, including through a programme of engagement with key stakeholders.

Question reference: S5W-08464

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 18 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether its forthcoming climate change bill will express targets relative to emissions in 1990 as percentage reductions, and whether the bill will make provision for annual targets.

The Scottish Government welcomes the recently published advice from the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) on the levels, forms and mechanisms of greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for the forthcoming Climate Change Bill. The Scottish Government is committed to maintaining an evidence-based approach to climate targets, of which the CCC’s independent, expert advice forms an important part.

The Scottish Government is carefully considering the CCC’s report and recommendations, including through a programme of engagement with key stakeholders.

Question reference: S5W-08461

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 18 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it supports the UK Climate Change Committee proposal published in its report, Advice on the new Scottish Climate Change Bill, to shift the overall accounting framework on emissions to one based on actual emissions, and whether it considers that this would be more transparent than the existing framework.

The Scottish Government welcomes the recently published advice from the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) on the levels, forms and mechanisms of greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for the forthcoming Climate Change Bill. The Scottish Government is committed to maintaining an evidence-based approach to climate targets, of which the CCC’s independent, expert advice forms an important part.

The Scottish Government has committed to setting targets in the Climate Change Bill on the basis of reductions in actual Scottish emissions, which it considers will increase transparency. The Scottish Government is carefully considering the CCC’s recommendations on implementing a move to actual emissions accounting.

Question reference: S5W-08370

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 18 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how the delivery of the new food and drink strategy, Ambition 2030, and £10 million funding package will promote island produce, and how it will ensure that organisations, businesses and charities can access this support.

The industry leadership body, Scotland Food and Drink, facilitated an extensive engagement exercise with businesses across Scotland to help inform the development of Ambition 2030 - as part of that, ideas were sought on actions to further promote island and regional produce.

As result of this consultation, the new strategy includes a specific programme of work dedicated to regional and islands food development. This programme, in conjunction with the work of the wider strategy, will consist of a range of actions that will help support the promotion of island and regional produce, develop business capabilities and attract the skills required to help facilitate growth.

Further details will be defined over the coming months by the Scotland Food and Drink Partnership that will outline how support can be accessed.

Question reference: S5W-08565

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 13 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on research by Cardiff University that suggests that charging for disposable cups could cut their use by up to 300 million a year in the UK, and whether it supports the introduction of a charge on disposable cups.

Chamber and committees