Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S6W-23687

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 21 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19954 by Patrick Harvie on 9 August 2023, whether it will provide a breakdown of the data included in the table by local authority area.

Question reference: S6W-23683

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 21 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22666 by Patrick Harvie on 16 November 2023, what economic modelling has been completed to understand the ability of the current supply chain for heat pump maintenance to meet future demand.

No economic modelling has been undertaken. As we continue to engage with the sector, if a need for economic modelling emerges then we will consider it. Future demand for heat pump maintenance will be influenced by a range of different factors related to business needs and future local demands, including our recent regulatory proposals. We will continue to work with the sector to understand the impact of our proposals and the wider package of support we currently have in place. A key ask of the supply chain has been clarity about scope and timing of regulation which is central to their planning for investment in capacity and skills needed for manufacture, installation and maintenance. This is why we set out our draft proposals on regulation on 28 November.

Question reference: S6W-23656

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 21 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22629 by Patrick Harvie on 16 November 2023, what criteria it uses to assess whether a household is "able to consider installing a heat pump".

Our Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme is open to all domestic owner occupiers in Scotland. Our Home Energy Scotland Advice Service provide free, tailored advice on the suitability of a heat pump for a property and advise on what support is available.

We run targeted marketing campaigns. As stated in the answer to S6W-22629, we are planning to run a campaign which will target early adopters alongside other strands of awareness raising activity. Evidence shows that this group tend to be owner occupiers, environmentally minded and aged over 40. Advice on the suitability of individual homes for heat pumps will continued to be provided to those responding to the campaign by Home Energy Scotland. We also run an annual campaign targeting those in or at risk of being in fuel poverty to encourage households to contact Home Energy Scotland for support via our Warmer Homes Scotland scheme which continues to provide free heating and energy efficiency upgrades for those most in need.

Question reference: S6W-23576

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 19 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6O-02743 by Neil Gray on 16 November 2023, what consideration it has given to the role of the education system and associated extracurricular activities in its work to mitigate population trends of levels of inactivity, in order to make a targeted, early intervention for young people.

The Scottish Government understand the importance of sport and physical activity and the positive impact that it has, not only on physical, mental, and social health but on wider social outcomes.

We are committed to ensuring that all children in primary schools receive at least two hours of physical education each school week, and all young people in secondaries 1 to 4 receive at least two 50-minute periods of physical education each school week.

Alongside opportunities to be physically active in physical education, sportscotland works in partnership with all 32 local authorities to invest in and support Active Schools. Active Schools is dedicated to developing and supporting the delivery of high quality sport and physical activity opportunities to all children and young people taking an inclusive approach and providing targeted opportunities where there is a need.

Data published by sportscotland shows significantly increased participation levels across the past academic year (2022-23), with 4.6 million visits to Active Schools sessions, a rise of 34% on 2021-22.

We have committed to ensure that sportscotland’s Active Schools programme is free for all children and young people by the end of this Parliament.

In addition we are funding the Active Play Development Project which provides children with the opportunity to develop physical skills in their early years and to encourage a long-term, positive relationship with physical activity. The programme targets areas of disadvantage and will support more children from areas of higher deprivation, to develop the skills and confidence to enjoy being more physically active.

Question reference: S6W-23584

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 13 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it defines the term "just transition" in the context of rural communities.

The Scottish Government defines a just transition as both the outcome – a fairer, greener future for all – and the way we get there by developing action in partnership with those most likely to be negatively impacted by the transition to net zero.

We recognise that rural communities face particular challenges. Our sectoral Just Transition Plans for the Energy, Transport, Land Use and Agriculture and Built Environment and Construction, due to be published next year, will respond to these.

We have committed to developing regional just transition plans during the course of this Parliament and these will be underpinned by extensive co-design and engagement. They will outline challenges and opportunities faced by regions and identify actions to both mitigate and realise these.

Question reference: S6W-23583

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 13 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it defines the term "just transition" in the context of skills development.

The Scottish Government defines a just transition as both the outcome – a fairer, greener future for all – and the way we get there, by developing action in partnership with those most likely to be negatively impacted by the transition to net zero.

In the context of skills development, this means ensuring that workers have the skills they need to adapt to the transition, and that Scotland has the workforce required – both now and in the future – to seize the opportunities of net zero. As the Just Transition Commission has emphasised, a focus on skills development is also vital in addressing inequalities (for example, breaking down barriers faced by women and minority groups) across our economy. This is key to building the workforce of the future, and to ensuring the transition is truly just.

The Scottish Government has committed to developing a range of just transition plans – including plans for each of Scotland’s highest emitting sectors. These plans will be underpinned by extensive co-design and engagement, and will set out a clear approach to delivering a skills offering which can support our priorities for a just transition.

Question reference: S6W-23582

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 13 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it defines the term "just transition" in the context of urban communities.

The Scottish Government defines a just transition as both the outcome – a fairer, greener future for all – and the way we get there by developing action in partnership with those impacted by the transition to net zero.

Extensive co-design and engagement with impacted communities, including those in urban places, is informing the development of our sectoral draft Just Transition Plans for the Energy, Transport, Land Use and Agriculture, and Built Environment and Construction, due to be published next year.

Furthermore, we have committed to developing regional just transition plans during the course of this Parliament. These will aim to outline the challenges and opportunities faced by regions and identify actions to both mitigate and realise these.

Question reference: S6W-23433

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 13 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to local authority planning teams for continuing professional development (CPD) and training in new technologies, such as renewables.

Through the Onshore Wind Sector Deal, the Scottish Government and the onshore wind industry have committed to work together to increase skills and resources and streamline approaches to process the expected pipeline of onshore wind Section 36 applications.

As part of its Planning Skills Programme, the Improvement Service also coordinates events and webinars to support skills development, including in new technologies. The Scottish Government is working with the Improvement Service to host a series of knowledge and information-sharing events to support skills and capacity building.

More broadly, The Royal Town Planning Institute offers continuing professional development and training based on a Core CPD Framework which highlights the skills and knowledge areas that members need. This includes Climate Change and Environmental Planning.

Question reference: S6W-23207

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 11 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of the policy papers that it has published with an associated easy read version since January 2022.

Question reference: S6O-02890

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 December 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that rural populations have convenient and appropriate access to care homes.