Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-16134

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 28 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its commitment to “phasing out the need to install new or replacement fossil fuel boilers in off gas properties from 2025”, as set out in its Heat in Buildings Strategy, whether it plans to offer support to help people move to zero or low emissions heating systems rapidly at points of distress, such as the sudden unexpected failure of a fossil fuel boiler.

The Heat in Buildings Strategy confirms our intention to introduce legislation (subject to consultation) prohibiting the use of direct emission heating systems in Scotland’s homes by 2045. We plan to introduce such requirements from 2025 and are developing approaches to phasing in these regulations across the housing stock. As committed to in this year’s Programme for Government, we will consult on our proposals for this legislation this year.

We offer a range of delivery programmes, provide advice and financial support for householders looking to install zero emission heating systems or make their buildings more energy efficient and affordable to heat. This package of support will evolve over the course of the decade to meet the scale of change required and align with any regulations we introduce.

Question reference: S6W-16135

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 28 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to ban the use of direct emissions heating systems for existing off-gas-grid properties from 2025.

The Heat in Buildings Strategy confirms our intention to introduce legislation (subject to consultation) prohibiting the use of direct emission heating systems in Scotland’s homes by 2045. We plan to introduce such requirements from 2025 and are developing approaches to phasing in these regulations across the housing stock. As committed to in this year’s Programme for Government, we will consult on our proposals for this legislation this year.

Question reference: S6W-15933

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 23 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding is currently allocated for goose management schemes, and how much has been spent in each of the last three years, broken down by scheme.

Management Agreement Costs

Schemes for Annex 1 goose species (barnacle geese, white-fronted geese) and pink-footed geese at Strathbeg

Financial Year	Islay	Kintyre	Slamannan	Solway	South Walls	Strathbeg	Uist, Coll & Tiree
2019-20	£937,000	£64,282	-	£234,668	£27,243	£13,460	£67,598
2020-21	£929,990	£68,259	-	£237,502	£27,495	£789	£67,806
2021-22	£911,498	£66,500	-	£230,568	£23,711	-	£64,966

Allocated 2022-23	£770,000	£58,014	-	£178,990	£15,562	-	£60,000

NatureScot and Scottish Government expenditure on Adaptive Management Pilot Projects for resident greylag geese in Scotland (inclusive of monitoring and development costs)

Adaptive Management Projects	Uist	Orkney	Tiree	Lewis
2019-20	£8,500	£14,245	-	£6,489
2020-21	£7,212	£12,319	£2,400	£6,489
2021-22	£6,000	£38,181	£6,000	£6,000

Allocated 2022-23	£7,500	£36,131	£6,000	£7,500

Question reference: S6W-15828

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 22 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15406 by Lorna Slater on 7 March 2023, what considerations have been given, specifically, to the export of waste in its work with local authorities to develop solutions to manage their residual waste ahead of the landfill ban in 2025.

We are continuing to support local authorities to secure landfill ban compliant residual waste treatment options. We are doing this by facilitating collaborative procurement through Zero Waste Scotland, and funding provision of additional technical, procurement and legal support.

Local authorities are responsible for, and best placed to make decisions on, the provision of local waste services, including on options for residual waste treatment. The collaborative procurement support is supporting local authorities to consider all available options, in accordance with their procurement rules and policies. This includes support to consider transport distances and methods, within a carbon impact assessment, to inform decisions on the available options.

Question reference: S6W-15291

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 21 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when the consultation on the Long-Term Plan for Vessels and Ports on the Clyde & Hebrides and Northern Isles networks (2023-45), which is part of the Islands Connectivity Plan, will be launched.

I look forward to launching the public consultation of the draft Long-term Plan for Vessels and Ports on the Clyde & Hebrides and Northern Isles Networks (2023 – 2045) in April. An advance copy of the draft Plan was sent to key stakeholders, for initial comments, and published on the Transport Scotland website on 30 December 2022.

www.transport.gov.scot/publication/draft-for-consultation-long-term-plan-for-vessels-and-ports-on-the-clyde-hebrides-and-northern-isles-networks-2023-2045-islands-connectivity-plan

Question reference: S6W-15757

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 21 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it anticipates meeting the target of 10% of everyday journeys to be taken by bicycle.

Question reference: S6W-15752

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 21 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many applicants to the Access Bikes scheme have received an interest-free loan to date, broken down by local authority area.

Question reference: S6W-15753

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 21 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many people have expressed an interest in receiving an interest-free loan through the Access Bikes scheme to date, broken down by local authority area.

The Access Bikes scheme closed in February 2022. During the life of the scheme, 348 people expressed an interest, 43 people advanced to the application stage and 4 of those applications were successful and received a loan.

A new Access Bikes scheme has been running since April 2022 which focuses on assisting those facing challenges to access a bike through various means. There is no loan aspect provided in the new scheme.

Question reference: S6W-15751

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 21 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many people to date have repaid their interest-free loans through the Access Bikes scheme.

Question reference: S6W-15755

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 21 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government which specific organisations have been involved in distributing funding allocated to the Access Bikes scheme, and how much funding was allocated to each.

The Access Bikes scheme closed in February 2022. The scheme was run by Cycling UK, who partnered with Capital Credit Union and ScotWest Credit Union as a mechanism for offering the loans. £250,000 was originally provided for financial transactions, though only £7,000 of this was distributed to successful applicants.

A new Access Bikes scheme has been running since April 2022 which focuses on assisting those facing challenges to access a bike through various means. This scheme is also run by Cycling UK.

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