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In April 2022, the Scottish Government published the First National Assessment of Potential Heat Network Zones which identified and characterised potential heat network opportunities across Scotland.

This independent analysis found that up to 340,000 homes and up to 74,000 non-domestic premises may be located in areas with the potential for future heat network developments. The analysis sets out a range of characteristics that these properties have, including whether they are in rural areas which are more likely to be off the gas grid.

However, urban properties such as high-rise flats may also be off the gas grid. Due to this, and as the First National Assessment sought to identify potential areas for district heat networks operating at around 65°C, this analysis is likely to be an underestimate of the number of off-gas grid properties that may connect to a heat network in future.

The First National Assessment can be accessed at: Potential heat network zones: first national assessment - gov.scot (www.gov.scot).

The Scottish Government is supporting local authorities to publish Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies, which will provide a clearer picture of heat network opportunities across Scotland, including identifying the main heating fuels currently being used within these areas and mapping them at a strategic level.

The purpose of our proposals, as set out in our consultation for a Heat in Buildings Bill, is to regulate greenhouse gas emissions associated with heating buildings. We focus on direct emissions to ensure responsibility for eliminating emissions is allocated to those with the ability to act (at the point of use). This approach would place a duty on the building owner to meet the Heat in Buildings Standard.

However in the consultation, we recognise that as a renewable, and potentially net zero, energy source bioenergy may represent the best option to help decarbonise some homes for which clean heating systems are not suitable. We also want to ensure that owners who have taken the proactive step of installing renewable bioenergy systems are fairly treated. This is why, in addition to permitting extra time for those currently using bioenergy to meet the clean heat element of the Standard, we are seeking views on whether a more flexible approach to the use of bioenergy under future regulations is needed. We would need to balance this flexibility with the need to protect and ensure the supply of bioenergy in other sectors of the economy that also rely on bioenergy to remove emissions.

In 2020 we commissioned Element Energy to assess the technical feasibility of Scotland's housing stock for low carbon heating. It produced a comprehensive set of housing archetypes considering characteristics such as property type, size, age, levels of insulation and existing heating fuel. The methodology used is set out in the final report, available here: Technical Feasibility of Low Carbon Heating in Domestic Buildings : Report for Scottish Government’s Directorate for Energy & Climate Change (www.gov.scot) . This assessment was made for two time periods: 2017 (assuming current housing characteristics) and 2040 (assuming properties undergo energy efficiency upgrades to achieve the equivalent of EPC C).

The underlying data was published in 2023 and is available here: Low carbon heating in domestic buildings – technical feasibility: archetype appendix - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) . These data show that there are around 170,000 off-gas grid properties using high emissions fuels, of which around 40,000 are not suitable for low temperature air-source heat pumps in the 2040 scenario. The technical suitability was assessed using the criteria summarised in the publication. Note that all modelling is subject to uncertainty, particularly future projections. This includes, for example, potential improvements in heat pump technology.

This is a matter for Local Authorities. The information requested is not held centrally. The Scottish Government published updated National Child Protection Guidance in 2023 which includes practitioner guidance on fabricated or induced illness.

This is a matter for the NHS. The information requested is not held centrally. The Scottish Government published updated National Child Protection Guidance in 2023 which includes practitioner guidance on fabricated or induced illness.

The Scottish Government is not intending to make a further extension to the transitional period.

Police Scotland’s 2019 Estate Strategy outlined plans to replace outdated, underinvested and underused properties with a modern, fit-for-purpose estate. This will help develop modern premises, capable of delivering effective and efficient public services to meet the needs of people and the staff who use them.

For example, co-locations make the best use of the public sector estate and offer the opportunity for increased visibility, closer working and increased collaboration between partners. Police Scotland has over 60 examples of successful co-location, including at Marischal College with Aberdeen City Council.

It should also be noted that, under a single Scottish police service, police operate over three tiers – local, regional and national. This ensures that there is a core complement of officers dedicated to community and response policing. Local Area Commanders can also draw on specialist resources to further support local policing whenever they are needed.

Police Scotland is currently undertaking a national consultation on its estate plans. This forms part of its wider engagement activity to listen to feedback and views about the proposed estate change. I encourage anyone with an interest to engage with this conversation which is available on the Police Scotland National Conversation About Our Estate - Police Scotland - Citizen Space .

Matters concerning the police estate are operational issues for the Chief Constable, who is accountable to the Scottish Police Authority. I also have regular meetings with the Chief Constable, where a range of issues are discussed, including the police estate.

The Scottish Government fully supports rail freight and modal shift, thus this is outlined in the 2016 rail freight strategy https://www.transport.gov.scot/media/5362/ts-rail-freight-strategy-a4-aw3.pdf

In 2019 Network Rail, and the industry, developed a comprehensive Industry Growth Plan for Rail Freight and an updated Plan for longer-term growth is being developed.

Our priority for supporting Rail freight remains in facilitating more efficient operation - through investment in capacity, adjustment of passenger services and encouraging and requiring Network Rail to support rail freight. We want rail freight to be competitive without the need for subsidy.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on the local economic impact of road closures. The impact of closing a road due to a collision depends on the specific circumstances such as the collision location, the time of day, the duration of the closure and any diversion route.

At a more general level, the Department for Transport has estimated the values assigned to the cost of road casualties and collisions in Great Britain, for use in cost-benefit analysis of the prevention of road casualties and collisions in road schemes. This information is used in the assessment of road schemes in Scotland via Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) and is published in Transport Scotland’s annual Reported Road Casualties publication: https://www.transport.gov.scot/publication/reported-road-casualties-scotland-2022/table-9a-b/

The Scottish Government welcomes the publication of the Sands Listening Project: Learning from the experiences of Black and Asian bereaved parents report as an important addition to the landscape of confidential enquiries, audits and other reports that inform the work already underway to address racialised inequalities in maternity. I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24319 on 29 January 2024 which outlines this programme of work. 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 .