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Our view is that an amendment to the Equality Act 2010 is required to give certainty on protection for individual celebrants taking a different view from a religious body that does agree to conduct same sex marriage. We will work with the UK Government to secure agreement to such an amendment before the formal introduction of a bill to the Scottish Parliament, with a view to it being in place before the legislation comes into force.

Paragraph 3.43 of the last consultation noted that “If Scotland should introduce same sex marriage, some existing civil partners may wish to convert their partnership into a marriage”. Paragraph 3.44 noted that the detail “will be included in the consultation on any draft Bill”. That remains our position.

Paragraph 3.42 of the consultation on the registration of civil partnerships and same sex marriage said: “If Scotland should move to introduce same sex marriage, then, in future, there would be no need in law for transgender people to divorce before obtaining the full gender recognition certificate. The marriage could just continue. Transgender people and their spouses would still be able to divorce, if they wished to do so, and the issue of an interim certificate under the Gender Recognition Act would still be a ground for divorce”.

The government appreciates that similar issues also arise in relation to people in a civil partnership who are acquiring a new gender under the Gender Recognition Act. We will include details on these points in the next consultation on same sex marriage, due to issue later this year.

Enhanced oil recovery is compatible with the Scottish Climate Change Act and its targets if it does not give rise to any net increase in Scotland's greenhouse gas emissions.

As Enhanced Oil Recovery is not new to the North Sea Oil and Gas industry and has been carried out routinely for many years we do not see this activity give rise to any net increase in Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions. The technique also maximises the efficiency with which resources are extracted and minimises the potential for unrecoverable deposits. This is good environmental practice as it is good husbandry of valuable natural resources.

Emissions in the offshore oil and gas production sector are included in the EU Emissions Trading System, when qualifying installations undertaking certain activities emit listed greenhouse gases, as detailed in Schedule 1 of the ETS Regulations 2005. Most offshore emissions are CO₂ emissions and are within the net UK carbon account. This sector falls under reserved competence and is dealt with by DECC and BiS.

Enhanced oil recovery is compatible with the Scottish Climate Change Act and its targets if it does not give rise to any net increase in Scotland's greenhouse gas emissions.

As Enhanced Oil Recovery is not new to the North Sea Oil and Gas industry and has been carried out routinely for many years we do not see this activity give rise to any net increase in Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions. The technique also maximises the efficiency with which resources are extracted and minimises the potential for unrecoverable deposits. This is good environmental practice as it is good husbandry of valuable natural resources.

Emissions in the offshore oil and gas production sector are included in the EU Emissions Trading System, when qualifying installations undertaking certain activities emit listed greenhouse gases, as detailed in Schedule 1 of the ETS Regulations 2005. Most offshore emissions are CO₂ emissions and are within the net UK carbon account. This sector falls under reserved competence and is dealt with by DECC and BiS.

In relation to the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation, the Scottish Government worked very closely with the UK Government on the development of the regulations to ensure they were sufficiently flexible to allow Scottish specific circumstances to be taken into account. Under the Energy Act 2011, Scottish Ministers had to give consent for a number of the secondary regulations to be laid in the UK Parliament.

In terms of the Renewable Heat Incentive, under the Energy Act 2008 Scottish Ministers must give consent to any changes to the Renewable Heat Incentive regulations. We will continue to work closely with DECC (Department of Energy and Climate Change) in the development of future regulations.

In relation to the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation, the Scottish Government is content with the regulations and consented to them being laid before the UK Parliament.

In terms of the regulation relating to the Renewable Heat Incentive, we remain concerned about the impact this will have on investment in the sector at such a critical time. We feel that it is important to provide certainty and confidence and this action will only add to the uncertainty.

In the Scottish Government’s response to the consultation, we told the UK Government it was our belief that the measures set out were misguided and unnecessary and, while we do not agree that this measure is required, we understand the UK Government’s reasons for introducing a change, and they have acknowledged and are aware of the risks associated with their actions.

We are very supportive of appropriate fiscal measures that will help protect the credibility of the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme and we continue to work with the UK Government as they develop longer term proposals.

The Scottish Government provide funding to the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) to undertake bus punctuality improvement work in Scotland. Presently there are four enforcement examiners and bus punctuality forms part of their overall enforcement role. This will extend to seven or eight enforcement examiners within this financial year.

Bus operators are required, when asked, to provide punctuality data to both the Traffic Commissioner and the local authority.

Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) examiners involved in bus punctuality improvement will, as part of their duties, assess the suitability of systems for monitoring and improving punctuality that operators have in place. This work is considered to form around 20-25% of their normal duties. When required they may also carry out specific assessment of punctuality as part of a wider investigation.