- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 May 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 21 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the potential impact on its (a) Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan and (b) renewable energy targets, what its position is on the proposal for the introduction of Sustainable Industry Rewards in Auction Round 7 of the Contracts for Difference process.
Answer
We welcome the UK Government’s plans to introduce a Sustainable Industry Reward into the Contracts for Difference scheme.
The Scottish Government responded to the initial consultation in January 2024, welcoming the UK Government’s work to introduce these reforms and raising key issues on the definition of deprived areas in Scotland as well as implementation timescales and flexibility.
Throughout our engagement with UK Government on this, we have been clear that any reward mechanism should encourage early investment in manufacturing and infrastructure rather delaying it, creating certainty and allowing the supply chain to ready itself to support the delivery of our tremendous offshore wind ambitions.
We will continue to work with the UK Government to ensure Scottish interests are represented.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 29 April 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 13 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government who the member in charge is of the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill.
Answer
Gillian Martin MSP, Minister for Climate Action, is leading on the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill for the portfolio. As Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, I remain the member with oversight.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 May 2024
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 15 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the culture secretary has had with the finance secretary regarding future funding for culture, in light of its commitment to invest an additional £100 million in the sector.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 15 May 2024
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 April 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 8 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what the current status is of the Climate Emergency Economic and Investment Leadership Group that was announced in the Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan.
Answer
The Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan (CESAP) provided an important springboard for net zero skills planning and significant progress has been made since its publication, notably in strengthening the evidence base through the CESAP Pathfinders, which provides a better understanding of the skills requirements in the transition to net zero, focusing on investment, demand, and provision across the CESAP sectors.
A separate Economic and Investment Leadership Group has not been established however, an Implementation Steering Group (ISG) was established in 2021 to bring together senior experts from across industry, academia, and public-sector agencies. The group has fostered collaboration and promoted innovative approaches in priority sectors for building a fair, green and growing economy.
Significant work has also started on the commitment for Scottish Government to take responsibility for skills planning at a national level and to strengthen regional skills planning. This commitment will be a key mechanism for supporting the transition to net zero.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 April 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 8 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on plans to establish a Green Jobs Skills Hub, as outlined in the Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan.
Answer
The Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan (CESAP) provided an important springboard for net zero skills planning and we have made good progress since its publication, notably in strengthening the evidence base through the CESAP Pathfinders , which provides a better understanding of the skill requirements in the transition to net zero, focusing on investment, demand, and provision across the CESAP sectors.
While a standalone Green Jobs Skills Hub has not yet been established, Skills Development Scotland continue to engage with employers across Scotland to disseminate evidence and insights to support them in the transition to net zero.
Skills Development Scotland also established additional online capacity through My World of Work to enable individuals to search for green skills and green job opportunities.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 05 April 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 29 April 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for electricity generators under 50MW were submitted to planning authorities under the Electricity Act 1989 in (a) 2015, (b) 2019, (c) 2022 and (d) 2023.
Answer
Applications for electricity generating stations with a capacity of 50MW or less submitted to planning authorities are determined in accordance with procedures set out under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997. Consent under the Electricity Act 1989 is exclusively required for electricity generating stations with a capacity greater than 50MW.
The Scottish Government does not hold information on the number of applications for electricity generating stations with a capacity of 50MW or less submitted to planning authorities under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997. However, this information could be obtained from individual planning authorities.
The Scottish Government does publish information on the total number of planning applications for electricity generation determined by planning authorities. The number of applications determined in each year is recorded from 1 April to 31 March.
Number of planning applications for electricity generation |
Year | Major | Local |
2014-15 | 21 | 626 |
2015-16 | 17 | 561 |
2016-17 | 10 | 178 |
2017-18 | 9 | 123 |
2018-19 | 9 | 180 |
2019-20 | 12 | 94 |
2020-21 | 26 | 123 |
2021-22 | 31 | 106 |
2022-23 | 42 | 177 |
1 The figures provided for 2014-15 to 2019-20 do not include applications which were determined using a processing agreement.
2 Major applications are any development where the generating capacity exceeds 20MW but does not exceed 50MW.
Further information on planning applications determined by Planning Authorities can be found at: The Scottish Government - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 April 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 25 April 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of patients with diabetes it anticipates will be offered the option to transfer to a hybrid closed loop system as part of their insulin management during the financial year 2024-25, broken down by NHS board.
Answer
It is for each individual NHS Board to determine how they plan to meet the needs and priorities of their local populations. The Scottish Government is committed to increasing access to diabetes technologies. We are continuing to work with key stakeholders to determine the best way to do this and how to fund it.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 April 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 25 April 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how many new overflow monitors have been installed by Scottish Water since its Improving Urban Waters Routemap was published in 2021, broken down by year.
Answer
As this is an operational matter for Scottish Water I have asked them to respond. Their reply is as follows:
I refer the member to the answers to S6W-15158 on 3 March 2023 and S6F-02135 on 19 May 2023 for information on Scottish Water’s approach to installing CSO monitors at priority locations. As confirmed in these answers, no new event duration monitors (EDMs) were installed in 2021 or 2022.
Scottish Water’s annual update to the improving urban waters routemap, published on its website at Scottish Water (readymag.website) , confirms that 230 new EDMs were installed in 2023. In addition, Scottish Water installed a further 229 sensors as part of its wastewater intelligent network (WWIN) transformation programme, of which 53 are EDMs.
In 2024 to date, Scottish Water has installed a further 633 new EDMs. Plans have also been approved for 450 new EDMs in 12 further WWIN catchments.
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 , and https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/search-what-was-said-in-parliament .
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 April 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 25 April 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on achieving priority 8 of its Diabetes Improvement Plan "to accelerate the development and roll-out of innovative solutions to improve treatment, care and quality of life of people living with diabetes".
Answer
The implementation of the Diabetes Improvement Plan is underway and supported by the Scottish Diabetes Group.
Regarding Priority 8, the Scottish Government has provided £19 million of additional funding to NHS Boards to support the roll out of technologies since 2021. The Scottish Diabetes Technologies & Innovation Group also has a significant programme of work which aims to find new solutions, or scale up existing, and ensures dedicated focus on the delivery of Priority 8.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 April 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 25 April 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is putting in place for any patients with diabetes who have taken part in a hybrid closed loop system study and have recently been informed that they must revert to their previous care once the study has completed, due to a lack of funding.
Answer
The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that everyone living with diabetes is able to access the care that they need to live their lives well. This includes increasing access to diabetes technologies.
Between 2016 and 2022, we invested £29.6 million specifically to support the increased provision of diabetes technologies. It is important to note that this funding is in addition to baseline funding for NHS Boards.
We continue to work closely with Diabetes Managed Clinical Networks, including NHS Lothian, to identify and resolve any issues raised by NHS Boards regarding accessing diabetes technologies.
