Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-06300

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 8 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that the Fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) delivers the levels of renewable energy deployment required to achieve net zero.

Our draft NPF4 sets out how our approach to planning and development will achieve a net zero, sustainable Scotland by 2045.

Draft NPF4 includes green energy policies which support renewable energy development other than in National Parks and National Scenic Areas, subject to an assessment of their impacts on a case by case basis. Through the draft NPF4, we are also proposing to designate a national development which would establish the need for a large increase in renewable energy generation and substantial reinforcement and expansion of grid infrastructure throughout Scotland.

We laid the draft NPF4 in the Scottish Parliament on 10 November 2021. Alongside Parliamentary scrutiny of the draft, we are running a public consultation, supported by an extensive engagement programme, and comments are invited by 31 March 2022. Following this period, we will consider the responses received and any appropriate amendments to the draft NPF4 before presenting a final draft to the Scottish Parliament for its approval, in advance of adoption by the Scottish Ministers.

Question reference: S6T-00562

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 07 March 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review its position on North Sea oil and gas exploration and production in relation to the security of Scotland's energy supply.

Question reference: S6W-06301

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 7 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what ministerial discussions have taken place with representatives of Scotland’s renewable energy industry regarding the Fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4).

Question reference: S6W-06302

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 7 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that the Onshore Wind Policy Statement is reflected in the Fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) reforms.

Our draft NPF4 gives spatial expression to a wide range of Scottish Government plans, programmes and strategies. It sets out a vision for how our places will change in the future and reflects priorities across Scottish Government portfolios, including how our approach to planning and development will achieve a net zero, sustainable Scotland by 2045.

Draft NPF4 includes green energy policies which support renewable energy development other than in National Parks and National Scenic Areas, subject to an assessment of their impacts on a case by case basis. Through the draft NPF4, we are also proposing to designate a national development which would establish the need for a large increase in renewable energy generation and substantial reinforcement and expansion of grid infrastructure throughout Scotland.

We laid the draft NPF4 in the Scottish Parliament on 10 November 2021. Alongside Parliamentary scrutiny of the draft, we are running a public consultation, supported by an extensive engagement programme, and comments are invited by 31 March 2022. Following this period, we will consider the responses received and any appropriate amendments to the draft NPF4 before presenting a final draft to the Scottish Parliament for its approval, in advance of adoption by the Scottish Ministers.

Question reference: S6W-06303

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 7 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that climate change and nature recovery will be the primary priorities of the Fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4).

Meeting greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets and securing positive effects for biodiversity are two of six high level outcomes for the National Planning Framework set out in The Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997.

The draft National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) currently subject to Scottish Parliament scrutiny, alongside public consultation, is clear that we must rebalance our planning system so that climate change and nature recovery are the primary guiding principles for all our plans and decisions. Its four overarching themes work together towards net-zero, adaptable places and addressing the nature crisis.

Our radically improved and new policies contained in draft NPF4 include new universal policies addressing the climate emergency and nature crisis, to be applied to all planning decisions. These policies create a requirement to give significant weight to the global climate emergency in plans and decisions. They also aim to deliver positive outcomes for biodiversity from development without the need for overly complex metrics.

Question reference: S6W-06461

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 11 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 3 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05802 by Michael Matheson on 3 February 2022, what the membership is of the (a) Bioenergy Policy Working Group and (b) Bioenergy Expert Panel, and whether it will publish the minutes of the meetings of the Bioenergy Policy Working Group.

a) The Bioenergy Policy Working Group consists Scottish Government officials from a number of policy areas.

Agriculture Transformation for Environment and Climate Change
Bioenergy
Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS)
Critical Energy Infrastructure & Commercial Projects
Domestic Climate Change
Environmental Protection - Air Quality
Environmental Quality and Circular Economy
Heat Strategy
Hydrogen
Industrial Decarbonisation
Industrial Strategy and Technologies
Just Transition
Land Use Strategy
Land Use Transformation
Natural Capital and Land Management
Office of the Chief Economic Adviser (OCEA)
Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (RESAS)
Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA)
Scottish Forestry
Sustainable Aviation
Transport -Supply Chains and Alternative Fuels
Whole Energy System

Minutes from the meetings will be published as soon as practical. However the group are still in the process of developing policy and considering options.

b) The Bioenergy Expert panel has still to be assembled.

Question reference: S6O-00833

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 March 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has with local government regarding support that it can provide in order to maintain local authority frontline services.

Question reference: S6W-06413

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish the results of the consultation, Sectoral Marine Plan - innovation and targeted oil and gas decarbonisation, offshore wind, which closed in October 2021.

Question reference: S6W-06412

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is on track to meet the timescales for the milestones set out on page 8 of the document, Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind for Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas Decarbonisation (INTOG) - Planning Specification and Context Report, published in August 2021.

The Scottish Government published the next stage of the Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind for Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas Decarbonisation (INTOG) On 22 February 2022. This document reflects the results of the consultation that was held on the Planning Specification and Context Report last year and now describes the spatial parameters that will be used by Crown Estate Scotland to progress their related leasing round.

Given the proximity to ScotWind, the Initial Plan Framework and timelines were updated to account for the very significant and world leading results of the ScotWind process.

Question reference: S6W-06370

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 07 February 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 1 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in the event that a homeowner cannot, for financial or practical reasons, raise the EPC rating in their property to C or above, by or after the date required to do so, (a) what it anticipates the impact will be on their ability to mortgage the property, (b) whether it anticipates they will be able to sell or rent their property, and what it anticipates the impact will be on its value and (c) whether there will be (i) a penalty for not and (ii) an incentive for complying.

The Heat in Buildings Strategy confirms our intention to introduce, subject to consultation, regulations requiring Scotland’s homes to meet EPC Band C equivalent, where that is technically feasible and cost effective from 2025. We plan to consult during 2022 on our proposals for such regulations, and this will include details of any exemptions including those linked to cost and availability of finance, clarity on the burden of responsibility, and matters relating to compliance and enforcement.

Chamber and committees