The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 1319 contributions
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 7 November 2023
Douglas Lumsden
Yes.
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 7 November 2023
Douglas Lumsden
What are the next steps? Will there be an overall plan? When should we start seeing money in the Government’s capital plan, for example, to assist with heat networks?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 7 November 2023
Douglas Lumsden
I am a big fan of heat networks, but I go back to the convener’s point. Setting a target is one thing, but when will we see a plan for how we are going to achieve it? As you mentioned, minister, it might be easier in places such as Glasgow, but we also have rural areas and rural local authorities. Can you assure us that they will not be penalised for not moving forward as quickly as everyone else? It is obviously a lot harder to do this work in a rural area than it is in Glasgow.
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 7 November 2023
Douglas Lumsden
In relation to the other question that I raised about not meeting targets, will local authorities be set targets as well, or will it simply be an overall target?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 7 November 2023
Douglas Lumsden
What happens if it is not met?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 7 November 2023
Douglas Lumsden
There must be a lot of regulation going on behind the scenes as well. I would imagine that, if you had a heat network, it would be about whether or not you want competition—basically, so that you do not get somebody simply increasing the prices to a huge amount. A huge amount of work must have to go on behind that, in legislation, to make sure that it works for everyone.
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 7 November 2023
Douglas Lumsden
Following up on that point about every two years, when will the first one come back?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 7 November 2023
Douglas Lumsden
As yet, you are open as to whether it is private companies putting in heat networks or local authorities running them. That is still up in the air.
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 7 November 2023
Douglas Lumsden
Yes. Minister, you mentioned gas boilers being used as an emergency back-up, potentially. Do you still feel that there is going to be a market and a demand for gas boilers going forward, even though people may be part of a heat network?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 7 November 2023
Douglas Lumsden
Would the ban on gas boilers be relaxed for emergency back-up purposes, or how would that work?