- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 20 September 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 4 October 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what the projected budget is for active travel in the financial year 2022-23, and whether it will provide a breakdown of how this will be spent.
Answer
The 2020-21 Programme for Government (PfG) stated that over £500 million will be invested in active travel over the next 5 years. The 2021-22 PfG states that by 2024-25 at least £320 million or 10% of the total transport budget will be spent on active travel.
Budget allocations for 2022-23 have yet to be set.
- Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 20 September 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Kate Forbes on 4 October 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to publish the conclusions and recommendations of its City Centre Recovery taskforce.
Answer
We will publish the conclusions and recommendations of the City Centre Recovery Task Force this autumn.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 20 September 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 4 October 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether the further analysis to fully understand the role of secondary technologies with a role in heat decarbonisation, which was referred to in the Draft Heat in Buildings Strategy in February 2021, has begun, and, if so, when the findings of this analysis will be published.
Answer
In the Draft Heat in Buildings Strategy, published in February 2021, we committed to undertaking 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 in conjuncture with microgeneration technologies such as solar PV and solar thermal. We expect to publish this research in early 2022.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 20 September 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 4 October 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether a review was carried out of post-diagnosis dementia services in the first four months of 2021, as mentioned in the Dementia and COVID-19 national action plan.
Answer
The Scottish Government has been working with partners including Integration Joint Boards, COSLA and Alzheimer Scotland through the first four months of 2021 and subsequently to review the provision of dementia post-diagnostic services.
This year’s Programme for Government confirmed that we would provide extra resources to help ensure that everyone who is entitled to the service has the option for referral. We will be allocating the annual equivalent of £3.5m for this purpose on a recurring basis.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 20 September 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 4 October 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether an individual travelling to Scotland who has received two COVID-19 vaccinations, but has received a different vaccine for each dose, will still count as fully vaccinated with regards to travel and isolation guidance.
Answer
Inbound international travel restrictions were eased across the four nations on 4 October. These changes mean that people who have received two doses of different vaccines are regarded as having completed a full course of the vaccine and therefore are treated as ‘fully vaccinated’ for travel purposes. This applies to people who have been vaccinated by accepted vaccines in countries that are already eligible under the vaccinated traveller policy.
Travellers from non-red list countries who have been fully vaccinated in a country that meets recognised standards of certifications will no longer be required to provide evidence of a negative test result before they can travel to Scotland, and will not be required to self-isolate or take a day 8 test. They must still currently take a day 2 PCR test, though we have announced that we intend to align with the UK post-arrival testing regime later in October, with further details to be announced in due course.
Those who are not considered eligible fully vaccinated travellers must continue to take a pre-departure test, self-isolate for 10 days upon arrival and take day 2 and 8 tests. All arrivals from red list countries must continue to book and stay for 10 days in a managed isolation hotel.
Travel restrictions are in place to prevent cases of COVID-19 being imported to Scotland. Travel restrictions will be in place as long as they are required and Scottish Government will continue to liaise with affected groups and stakeholders over any restrictions and exemptions that may apply.
Further guidance for international arrivals can be read at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-international-travel-quarantine/pages/red-amber-and-green-list-countries/
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 20 September 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 4 October 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the actions set out in Annex A of the Draft Heat in Buildings Strategy from February 2021, what the (a) timescale for delivery, (b) current status and (c) expenditure to date is for each of the actions.
Answer
Annex A of the draft Heat in Buildings Strategy contains over one hundred actions. Not all actions represent separate budget items or specific deliverables. Accordingly, the information below sets out timescales, status and expenditure across broad groups of actions and specific programmes. Further detail will be published in our finalised Heat in Buildings Strategy.
Delivery schemes
- We have allocated a record £50 million for Warmer Homes Scotland and £64 million for our local authority-led Area Based Schemes this year.
- We have increased the cashback available to home and building owners on measures to improve efficiency and install zero emissions heating, and will replace the cashback with a grant scheme in 2022/23.
- We have announced at least £95 million of capital funding for our Scottish Green Public Sector Estate scheme, this year investing at least £10 million.
- We have launched a second £30 million call through the ‘Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund’, and committed to keep the fund open with up to £100m available over the course of this Parliament.
- We will invest at least £400 million over this parliamentary session in large scale heat and energy efficiency projects, including providing support for zero carbon local and district heat networks, and large scale heat pumps. This scheme will provide both capital and project development support.
- Through our CARES programme, up to £5.25 million has been made available for this financial year to support community and locally owned energy. A further £3 million has also been made available to support the upgrade of fragile grids, recognising the distinct challenges faced by island, rural and remote communities.
Working with the energy sector
- In partnership with Ofgem and Scotland’s gas and electricity network companies we have published the Principles for the Development of Scotland’s Gas and Electricity Networks.
- We continue to work with electricity network operators through our Heat Electrification Strategic Partnership, and to work with gas network operators to develop the evidence base on gas decarbonisation.
- The Scottish Government provided £6.9 million support to the H100 project, helping to evidence the role that hydrogen can play in decarbonising heat.
- The Heat Networks (Scotland) Act was unanimously agreed by the Scottish Parliament, and we are developing the secondary legislation provided for by the Act. We have introduced a 90% relief from non-domestic rates for new heat networks run from renewable sources, and extended the existing 50% relief for heat networks to 2032.
- We will refresh the Energy Strategy in Spring 2022.
- We are partnering with Scottish Renewables to undertake a ‘Heat in Buildings Workforce Assessment Project’.
- We will respond to the forthcoming Heat Pump Sector Deal Advisory Group’s recommendations once they are finalised.
Regulation
- We have committed to phasing out the need to install new or replacement fossil fuel boilers, in off gas from 2025 and in on gas areas from 2030, subject to technological developments and decisions by the UK Government in reserved areas.
- We have made a commitment that where technically and legally feasible and cost-effective, by 2030 a large majority of buildings should achieve a good level of energy efficiency, which for homes is at least equivalent to an EPC Band C, with all homes meeting at least this standard by 2033.
- We will introduce primary legislation, subject to consultation and to limits on devolved competence, that provides the regulatory framework for zero emissions heating and energy efficiency, and underpinning powers to support this transition and ambitious programme
Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies
- We have developed a methodology and guidance for the production of Local Heat & Energy Efficiency Strategies and Delivery Plans.
- The LHEES pilots programme completed in April 2021 and an evaluation is underway, synthesising learning across three phases. We have commissioned a National Assessment to create a central resource that local authorities can draw on.
Consultations
In addition to the consultation on the draft Heat in Buildings Strategy we have consulted on:
- Scottish skills requirements for energy efficiency, zero emissions and low carbon heating systems, microgeneration and heat networks for homes
- New Build Heat Standard (scoping consultation)
- Home energy efficiency: equity loan pilot
- Domestic Energy Performance Certificates reform
- Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme (LCITP): call for evidence
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 20 September 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Clare Haughey on 4 October 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £500 million for the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund announced in the Programme for Government will be allocated (a) to each local authority and (b) in each year.
Answer
The commitment to investing at least £500m over the life of this Parliament to create a Whole Family Wellbeing Fund is significant. This will enable transformational change which will enable the building of universal, holistic support services available in communities across Scotland giving families access to help when and where they need it, and help Scotland #keepthepromise.
We will work closely with The Promise Scotland and partners across local government, social justice, health, the third sector, and with children and families to design and deliver the Fund. Further details will be provided in due course.
- Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 20 September 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 4 October 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to a University of Aberdeen study that suggested that there was evidence of potential for an opioid problem associated with the influence of COVID-19 on elective orthopaedic services to emerge.
Answer
The decision about which treatment to prescribe is a clinical decision made by the prescriber in discussion with the patient, taking into account the individual’s condition and medical history.
Guidance is available to assist prescribers and Scottish Government is in the process of reviewing its “Quality Prescribing for Chronic Pain – A Guide for Improvement” which will include information on addressing the issue of over-treatment with a focus on self-management and non-pharmaceutical treatment of long-term conditions, highlighting the issue of high strength opioid medicines misuse and encouraging clinicians to discuss concerns openly with patients.
Over the period covered by the University of Aberdeen study, steroid injections (a commonly used therapeutic option for Osteoarthritis awaiting surgery) were reduced on advice from Royal College of Rheumatology due to the risk of activation of latent Covid 19 and risk of immunosuppression and susceptibility to the virus, this could have led to an increase in opioid pain medication prescriptions to compensate. Analysis from Public Health Scotland (PHS) shows a marked reduction in the number of corticosteroid injections between March 2020 and April 2021 before returning to previous levels. Analysis from PHS, however, does not indicate an overall increase in opioid pain medication prescriptions over the same period.
- Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 20 September 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Kate Forbes on 4 October 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to run a government-funded retail advertising campaign to enhance footfall in city centres in advance of the Christmas period.
Answer
The Scottish Government is aware of the issues facing city centre retail and related sectors as a result of the pandemic. The City Centre Recovery Task Force has engaged with external stakeholders, including those from the retail sector, to inform its recommendations. The work of the City Centre Recovery Task Force has been taken forward in tandem with development of a Retail Strategy, which focuses on the future needs of the retail sector in Scotland.
We will provide more information on all of our plans for action to help our city centres recover when we publish the recommendations of the Task Force this autumn.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 20 September 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Kate Forbes on 4 October 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what obligations there are on employers in relation to their workforce if a member of their staff returns a positive COVID-19 test result.
Answer
We expect businesses to take appropriate action to minimise the risk of transmission (to other employees and to customers) where a member of staff tests positive. Employers should also take appropriate steps and work with Test & Protect to identify any potential close contacts. We expect employers to support staff to self-isolate for the full period required, acknowledging that working from home may be an option.
The Scottish Government, along with public, private and third sector partners and the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) issued a joint statement outlining fair work expectations in July to support the transition out of lockdown. Among its provisions were that no worker should be financially penalised for following medical advice, that any absence relating to COVID-19 should not affect future sick pay entitlement or other entitlements like holiday or accrued time, and that any absence related to COVID-19 should not result in formal attendance related warnings or be accumulated with non-COVID related absences in future absence management figures.