- Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 04 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 22 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle the reported skills mismatch in the labour market, in light of the latest data from the ONS showing that the number of job vacancies is at a record high, and the CIPD survey report, Working Lives Scotland 2021, which states that 28% of employees feel overqualified for their job.
Answer
The Scottish Government’s upskilling and retraining programmes, including Individual Training Accounts, the Flexible Workforce Development Fund and the Green Jobs Workforce Academy, are designed to equip workers with the skills that employers need now and will need in the future. Additionally, the Skills Recognition Scotland project is designed to support workers with qualifications gained outside the UK to overcome unemployment and underemployment.
The Scottish Government remains committed to working with employers on the fair work agenda, including supporting individuals to use their skills to their full extent, which contributes to fulfilling work as set out in the Fair Work Framework. The most recent Scottish Employer Skills Survey, published in 2021, reported that, in total, 8% of employees were under-utilised in their role, which is an improvement from the figures reported in 2017.
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 04 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 22 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has assessed the impact of energy-efficient storage systems, including thermal storage cylinders, electric batteries and thermal batteries, on the widespread deployment of low-carbon heating.
Answer
In the Heat in Buildings Strategy, we committed to carry out research to understand the extent to which the deployment of secondary technologies alongside zero emissions heating systems could help to optimise operational performance, minimise energy consumption and reduce end user fuel costs. This research is underway, and seeks to understand the technical feasibility and cost effectiveness of heat batteries, electric batteries, and thermal storage cylinders when installed alongside a range of zero emissions primary heating technologies; both independently of and combined with microgeneration technologies such as solar PV and solar thermal. We expect to publish this research this year.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 22 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05465 by Patrick Harvie on 24 January 2022, when it will publish its response and any regulations.
Answer
The Building (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2022 are currently being developed and expected to be laid in the Scottish Parliament on 31 March 2022. Supporting guidance contained in the technical handbooks will be published in the Spring.
- Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether the reported £700 million revenue from the ScotWind offshore wind leasing auction will be entirely ringfenced to support the transition to net zero and investment in infrastructure to maximise the supply chain job opportunities in Scotland from the auction.
Answer
As stated in the recent Programme for Government, some of the ScotWind revenues will be utilised for actions which tackle the twin crises of biodiversity and climate change, creating a legacy for the future, and some monies have already been identified to underpin projects in the 2022-23 budget in line with this commitment. Beyond these monies Scottish Ministers will consider carefully how the ScotWind revenues should be invested to maximise the benefits to the people of Scotland.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 04 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05501 by Michael Matheson on 31 January 2022, what its position is on the National Grid ESO's analysis in its publication, Future Energy Scenarios, that Scotland will require to use energy generated by nuclear power to achieve net zero.
Answer
Scotland has long been a net exporter of electricity. In 2020, Scotland exported 20.4 TWh, equivalent to powering every household in Scotland for 26 months.
We expect that we will maintain our position as a net exporter even as demand from electrification of heat and transport increases particularly given the recent announcement by Crown Estate Scotland to offer option agreements to support the development of 25GW of offshore wind power.
This is consistent with the forecasts from National Grid’s Electricity Ten Year Statement as well as the recently published Network Options Assessment.
National Grid ESO has also conducted a study of the effects of the earlier than expected closure of nuclear generation in Scotland which concludes that the system will remain secure.
In order to meet Net-Zero, our priority continues to be to support energy efficiency, develop Scotland’s huge renewable resource and to promote storage and flexibility.
- Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the responses to the consultation on the Draft Hydrogen Action Plan.
Answer
The Scottish Government will publish the responses within 3 months of the consultation closing date of the 26 January 2022. Consultation responses will be analysed and will inform the final Hydrogen Action Plan and the scope of the £100m funding programme, due to be launched this year.
- Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 04 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how it is planning to build on its leadership role in the Under2 Coalition and progress the Glasgow Food and Climate Declaration in the run-up to COP27 in Egypt.
Answer
Scotland will continue to play a leading role in the Under2 Coalition and we will use our position as co-chair to drive climate ambition and delivery from all non-party governments, states and regions towards net zero, which prioritises a just transition and a resilient future.
This includes playing a leadership role within the Coalition to increase support for the Glasgow Food and Climate Declaration, which Scotland was the first government to commit to. We are also progressing its aim within Scotland ahead of COP27 through:
- the Good Food Nation Bill introduced to Parliament in October 2021,
- further development of our local food strategy following public consultation in late 2021, and
- working with the Scotland Food and Drink Partnership to support progress towards the Scottish Food and Drink Sectors Industry Net Zero Commitment launched at COP26.
- Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what the next steps are for the Hydrogen Action Plan, and when it anticipates that they will take place.
Answer
The Draft Hydrogen Action plan public consultation closed on the 26 th January 2022. All responses will be analysed and considered along with any other available evidence and will feed into the final Hydrogen Action Plan due to be published later in 2022.
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has assessed the impact that on-site solar generation can have on reducing household energy bills.
Answer
We have not assessed the impact that on-site solar generation can have on reducing household energy bills. However, we are currently undertaking research (due to published this year) to examine the extent to which building level storage technologies could help to reduce householder energy costs, when installed alongside zero emission heat technologies. The research, although not specific to solar PV or the savings made by solar PV installations, does take into account pairing solar PV with storage.
We also continue to support microgeneration measures as part of our Heat in Buildings Delivery schemes such as Area Based Schemes, Home Energy Scotland, Warmer Homes Scotland, the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) and the Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme (LCITP).
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 04 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what the anticipated contribution will be of solar PV and solar thermal in meeting the heat network supply target of 6TWh by 2030.
Answer
There has been no specific evaluation of the contribution of solar thermal and solar PV to the heat network targets for 2027 and 2030.
Our Heat in Building Strategy sets out that technologies, such as solar thermal and solar PV, can work well when used in conjunction with primary heating technologies, such as heat pumps.
As set out in our draft Heat Networks Delivery Plan, from the point that the heat networks legislative framework is in place, any new heat network as well as additional plans for heat network extensions will be required to be powered using low and zero emissions sources of heat. The plan also notes that license holders who operate existing networks will be required to prepare and implement a Heat Network Decarbonisation Plan, which will include milestones for making significant reductions in emissions by 2030 and 2035. To support development of these plans, we will commission work to test and develop an approach to preparing them during 2022.