- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 November 2025
-
Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 1 December 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what policy it plans to implement to classify battery storage as energy generation.
Answer
As in the Chief Planner letter dated 27 August 2020, the Scottish Government considers that a battery storage installation generates electricity and is therefore to be treated as a generating station for the purposes of deciding whether Section 36 consent is required. This position has not changed. The letter can be accessed at: Battery storage consents: Chief Planner letter August 2020 - gov.scot.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 November 2025
-
Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 1 December 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the level of grant support available for solar thermal installations, with a view to bringing it in line with that for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.
Answer
Our Heat in Buildings Programme offers a wide variety of schemes that provide funding to reduce heat demand and decarbonise heat in our homes and buildings.
The Scottish Government currently offers loan funding of up to £5,000 for solar thermal installations through the Home Energy Scotland (HES) Grant and Loan Scheme. No grant or loan support is available for solar PV installations through the scheme, however, targeted support for this measure is available through our Warmer Homes Scotland and our Area Based Schemes, where scheme specific criteria are met.
Currently, the Scottish Government does not plan to review the level of support available for solar thermal installations through the HES Grant and Loan scheme.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 November 2025
-
Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 27 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how the revised Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) methodology will recognise the contribution of solar thermal installations to energy efficiency.
Answer
Our updated response to the 2023 Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) reform consultation and 2025 technical consultation sets out the timeline for introducing a new calculation methodology called the Home Energy Model (HEM) which is under development by the UK Government.
HEM is a modular EPC methodology which will allow greater flexibility to account for new technologies. The UK Government’s documentation for HEM currently includes reference to solar thermal systems associated with reducing energy use for domestic hot water (document HEM-TP-09). We will continue working with UK Government as they develop the final version of HEM, and expect that contributions from solar thermal systems will be recognised within HEM.
The reformed domestic EPC will contain a new Heating System Rating. We expect solar thermal systems will largely operate as part of a hybrid system with other technologies. This will be reflected in the rating awarded. Our intended Heating System Rating bandings were published in the updated Government Response.
-
Current Status:
Withdrawn
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
-
Date lodged: Monday, 17 November 2025
-
Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 26 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to improve broadband reliability in rural Scotland ahead of the switch-off of the Public Switched Telephone Network, in light of the fact that digital landlines depend on internet connectivity.
Answer
In the past decade, Scottish public sector-led digital infrastructure programmes have enabled over one million faster broadband connections. Through the Reaching 100% (R100) and Project Gigabit in Scotland (PGiS) programmes, we are continuing to accelerate access to future-proofed full fibre broadband for those who need it most, despite Scotland having some of the most challenging terrain in which to deploy digital infrastructure in Europe.
The switch-off of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) in the UK is industry-led, with oversight from the UK Government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), reflecting that telecoms legislation is reserved.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 14 November 2025
-
Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 25 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) scientific and (b) other advice led to the decision to license at least 26 vessels in each of the last five razor clam electro-fishery trial seasons.
Answer
Scientific advice has underpinned the decision to authorise derogations permitting licensed fishing vessels to catch, land and sell razor clams while participating in the trial.
The biological and ecological goals describe the areas in which the scientific trial has sought to further our knowledge. These are:
1.to gather local level information on razor clam populations and stocks, including collating accurate data gathered by trial participants to supplement stock survey work;
2.to ensure sustainable harvesting levels; and,
3.to gather further information about the impacts of the electrofishing method on target and non-target species.
A summary of this advice for each of the last five trial seasons is provided below.
2021-2022:
- Authorising fishing was necessary to gather data to understand trends in landings per unit effort, work that was planned for the previous season but was hampered by the COVID pandemic.
2022-2023:
- To gather data to understand size at maturity and time of spawning.
- To allow scoping development of stock assessments.
- To understand the benefits of REMand to inform applicability to other fisheries.
2023-2024:
- The trial was extended for a two-year period from 1 February 2022 and the advice for 2022-23 applied to 2023-24.
2024-2025:
- To gather data and publish stock assessments. These were published in the Progress Report on the Biological and Ecological Goals of the Trial in September 2024.
- To study the effect of introducing a seasonal closure during the spawning period.
2025-2026:
- To gather data to refine published stock assessments and to publish further assessments for other trial areas.
A range of factors were considered when assessing the merits of all options for the trial. This included the socioeconomic impact of these options, as well as the impact on The Scottish Government and our public sector partners as regulators.
Ultimately however, these decisions rest on the scientific advice.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 November 2025
-
Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 25 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Oceana UK's recently published research into the impact of offshore oil and gas projects on marine life, whether it plans to oppose any proposed new oil and gas developments in Scotland's seas.
Answer
The regulatory regimes for offshore oil and gas licensing and consenting are matters currently reserved to the UK Government. The Scottish Government continues to call on the UK Government to approach decisions for North Sea oil and gas projects on a rigorously evidence-led, case by case, basis – with climate compatibility and energy security as key considerations.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 November 2025
-
Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 25 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Oceana UK's recently published research into the impact of offshore oil and gas projects on marine life, what steps it is undertaking to ensure that Scotland's Marine Protected Areas network is protected from any future disturbances by new oil and gas developments.
Answer
The regulatory regimes for offshore oil and gas licensing and consenting are matters currently reserved to the UK Government. As part of these arrangements, the UK Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (OPRED) has responsibility for regulating environmental activity for offshore oil and gas operations on the UK continental shelf.
All public bodies have an obligation to consider the conservation objectives of MPAs within their decision making and ensure these are furthered.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 November 2025
-
Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 25 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistics for 2024, which showed an increasing trend of job losses across the fishing industry, and in light of reports of collapsing stocks of Northern Shelf cod and mackerel, how it will ensure that money coming into the sector through the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund will return the sector to sustainable growth and deliver tangible benefits to all fishing communities, not just major fishing ports.
Answer
I refer the member to the answers to the related questions S6W-41798 on 24 November 2025 and S6W-41726 on 13 November 2025.
The Scottish Government will make funding decisions for 2026-27 and future years in the upcoming Scottish Budget and Spending Review. When that process concludes we will be able to provide more detail on future years of marine funding in Scotland.
However, the allocation of just 7.78% to Scotland of the £360 million Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund is nothing short of an insult to our fishing industry and coastal communities. With a fair share of the Fund, we would be able to go further in supporting our vital industry and communities to ensure a sustainable and thriving future for Scotland’s fisheries.
Meanwhile, our Marine Fund Scotland (MFS) has been supporting tangible benefits for marine industries and coastal communities across Scotland since its launch in 2021, awarding to date £70 million to 390 projects, enabling over £150 million of investment. The MFS supports a range of projects across Scotland, including activities at major fishing ports as well as within wider fishing communities.
All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
-
Date lodged: Monday, 24 November 2025
-
Current Status:
Answer expected on 9 December 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S6W-41434 and S6W-41435 by Mairi McAllan on 18 November 2025 and S6W-41436 on 19 November 2025, whether it plans to introduce the bespoke statutory accommodation standards for all seasonal workers in the current parliamentary session; if so, by what date it needs to complete its consultation for this to take place; whether the consultation needs to conclude before, or is separate to, the publication of the bespoke statutory accommodation standards, and whether it (a) has undertaken and (b) plans to undertake any work to assess whether it is fulfilling its responsibilities under section 315(6) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987, including when local authorities do not have byelaws in effect pursuant to section 315(1) of the Act.
Answer
Answer expected on 9 December 2025
