Chamber and committees

Electric storage heaters are being investigated, amongst a range of other low carbon heating measures. The Scottish government will work with each household to analyse which heating solution would be best placed for them.

The Scottish Government currently fund electric heating systems through a number of our Energy Efficient Scotland Schemes.

Under Warmer Homes Scotland Electric Storage Heaters will be installed where they are the most appropriate measure for the property. Under the scheme, priority would be given to the install of an Air Source Heat Pump, as they are much cheaper to run. However this is not always feasible due to funding constraints and the need for the property to be well insulated.

The Warmer Homes Scotland Scheme also makes available a number of low-carbon technologies where these are technically appropriate for the property. These include Air Source Heat Pumps, Ground Source Heat Pumps, Micro-hydro, Micro-wind and Micro-CHP systems. These measures may be of particular benefit to households living in rural and island areas that are not served by the gas grid.

The installation of energy efficient Storage Heaters is also eligible for an interest free loan under the Scottish Government’s HES loan Scheme . This requires that the storage heating system is listed on the property’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) as an energy saving measure.

In 2018-19 energy storage was introduced as an additional eligible measure under the HES loan scheme. This is illustrative of the way in which financial support schemes in Scotland embrace innovation and can act as test-beds for future mainstream technologies.

The global climate emergency is a key consideration of shaping future investment in Scotland’s infrastructure.

In January 2020 the Infrastructure Commission for Scotland published its first report “Phase 1: key findings report, A blueprint for Scotland” which considers strategic drivers including the transitions to a more resource efficient, lower carbon economy. The Commission’s advice will help to shape our future investment in Scotland’s infrastructure recognising the long term objectives of this Government to deliver an inclusive and net zero emissions economy.

Scottish Government will set out an approach that responds to the Infrastructure Commission’s recommendations in our next Infrastructure Investment Plan due later this year – focussing on three, core, long-term outcomes of inclusive economic growth, tackling the global climate emergency, and building sustainable places.

This information is not held centrally.

The current Establishment for General Practice is 1184. During 2019 recruitment, 325 General Practice Specialty Training (GPST) posts filled out of a possible 340, achieving the most successful fill rate in five years of 96% .

GPST entails high quality education and training which enables trainees to fulfil and pass all requirements specified within the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) curriculum, which is approved and overseen by the GMC. The curriculum refers to management of the menopause through a range of evidence-based treatments and support for those who require it.

Following completion of GPST, GPs have a professional obligation to undertake continuous professional development to ensure they remain up-to-date and meet GMC requirements in order to retain their license to practice. NHS Education for Scotland (NES) offer a Practice Based Small Group Learning (PBSGL) module on postmenopausal symptoms which covers Hormone Replacement Therapy.

We have no plans to increase the number of gender identity clinics beyond the existing four.

Any proposal to construct or operate a power generation scheme with a capacity under the threshold of 50 megawatts are made to the relevant local planning authority and require planning permission under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997. Proposed developments over 50 megawatts are dealt with under the Electricity Act and the final decision is made by Scottish Ministers. An examination by a reporter from DPEA will normally take place only when the local planning authority object to the proposed development.

Where an application for a proposal under 50 megawatts has been made to the council but the person who made the application doesn't agree with the decision, or the council hasn't made a decision, an appeal can be made to Scottish Ministers in certain instances.

In keeping with the vast majority of appeals a Scottish Government Reporter is appointed to make a determination on Ministers behalf. The Town and Country Planning Scotland Act 1997 sets out that the appointed reporter must make their decision in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. The reporter will consider the status of the plan, any emerging policies that may be relevant, and all the evidence submitted by parties involved in an appeal, and make their decision on the planning merits of the case. The reporter will decide what information they require to decide the appeal and whether this can be obtained by way of written submissions or whether a hearing or inquiry session is necessary. In all cases of this type the reporter will carry out an inspection of the site.

The cumulative impact of a proposed development is one of a number of factors taken into account when determining appeals and also in the examination of proposals over 50 megawatts which are dealt with under the Electricity Act. In relation to planning appeals the Town and Country Planning Scotland Act 1997 sets out that the reporter must make their decision in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. The reporter will consider the status of the plan, any emerging policies that may be relevant, any environmental report submitted with the application and views expressed by consultees and other third parties with an interest in the proposal.

Each case is considered on its individual merits.

The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission ( SLCC) is a non-departmental public body responsible for providing the single point of contact with unresolved complaints against lawyers operating in Scotland. It was established under the Legal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 2007 and came into operation on 1 October 2008, replacing the Scottish Legal Services Ombudsman.

The complaints handling process is set out in the SLCC website and can be accessed at the following link https://www.scottishlegalcomplaints.org.uk/ .

Decisions made by the SLCC about service complaints are subject to appeal to the Court of Session on certain grounds. These include:

• Where a complainant believes that the SLCC decision was based on an error of law
• Where a complainant believes that SLCC did something wrong in the way they conducted the complaints procedure
• Where a complainant believes that SLCC exercised their discretion irrationally
• Where a complainant believes that SLCC’s decision was not supported by the facts.

There is a time limit in which appeals are to be made. Appeals must be made within 28 days of a decision by the SLCC unless the Court considers otherwise.

Complaints about the quality of the service provided by SLCC as an organisation are handled separately. These are detailed on the SLCC website at the following link https://www.scottishlegalcomplaints.org.uk/contact-us/complain-about-our-service/ .

These may include:

• Where the complainer believes that the SLCC has treated the complainer unfairly or rudely.
• Where the complainer believes that the SLCC failed to explain things clearly or listened to their concerns properly.
• Where the complainer believes that the SLCC caused unreasonable delays.

Through the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 (Tolerable Standard) (Extension of Criterion) Order 2019, the Tolerable Standard has been amended to include new elements covering fire and carbon monoxide detection. The new standard for fire and carbon monoxide detection will come into force from 1 February 2021, and extends the standard which currently applies in the Private Rented Sector (PRS) to housing of all tenures.

One element of the new standard is that all smoke and heat alarms are to be interlinked. Further information on the standard, including detailed information on its requirements, is available at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/fire-and-smoke-alarms-in-scottish-homes/ .

In the PRS, private landlords should already be complying with the standard. In the social housing sector, the Fire and Carbon Monoxide Detection Loan Scheme helps registered social landlords cover the cost of meeting the new standard. Loan funding is interest-free, and, to date, over £7 million has been provided.

For owner occupiers, as a general principle, home owners are responsible for the costs of on-going work needed to protect and preserve their own property. As with other housing standards, it will be the responsibility of the homeowner, to meet the new standard. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has been provided with £870,000 to enable the installation of alarms which meet the new standard during their home fire safety visits with vulnerable homeowners.

Local authorities also have broad discretionary powers to provide advice and assistance to home owners with work needed to look after their homes.

The Report of the Independent Review of Legal Services Regulation in Scotland considered what changes may be required to the statutory framework for the regulation of legal services to protect consumer interests and promote a flourishing legal sector.

The Scottish Government response to the Review recognised the differing views with regard to some of the review’s main recommendations. We are now working collaboratively with those in the current regulatory framework, and consumer organisations, to construct a consultation paper which will provide the opportunity to develop a new statutory framework for a modern, forward-looking legal service regulatory and complaint system for Scotland. That consultation will be published in the coming months.

The Scottish Government is also working with the Law Society of Scotland, the Faculty of Advocates and the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission to identify and consider improvements that may be made to the legal complaints system using existing legislative powers. These may require Regulations and we would expect to consult on any proposals to make changes to the legal complaints system with key stakeholders and other interested parties.

Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) sets out that planning authorities, in considering proposals for energy infrastructure developments should take account of a range of development management considerations including likely cumulative impacts. SPP recognises that in some areas the cumulative impact of existing and consented energy development may limit the capacity for further development.