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The Scottish Government has been engaging closely with Ofgem over recent months to highlight the vital role that electricity networks will play in meeting Scotland’s more ambitious decarbonisation and net zero targets.

I responded in October to Ofgem’s consultation on Electricity Distribution Price Control Sector Specific Methodology (RIIO-ED2). This response highlighted the electricity distribution network’s critical role in realising Scottish energy and climate change ambitions, and putting Scotland on a clear pathway to deliver net zero by 2045, including the need for timely deployment of transmission infrastructure and the need for interconnection between the mainland and our island archipelagos.

I have also responded to Ofgem’s Consultation on Price Control Draft Determinations for electricity and gas transmission, and gas distribution. My response made clear that gas and electricity network funding and regulation must take full account of Scotland’s distinct statutory climate change targets, and our wider energy, economic and social ambitions.

I had an opportunity to discuss these issues in more detail when I met with the Gas and Electricity Market Authority’s Board on September 30 th.

Scottish Government officials are part of the oversight structure which regularly discusses issues related to electricity networks and which aims to support the Regulator in developing proposals that reflect consumers’ interests, net zero targets, and, local ambitions.

I have engaged directly with Ofgem on a number occasions to ensure they are considering the implications of our net zero and decarbonisation targets. I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-33219 on 30 November 2020 for more detail on this engagement.

In my engagement, I highlighted that greater certainty over the availability of baseline funding during the next price control period (RIIO2) is going to be critical in terms of continued confidence in the renewable sector – for example, to the progress of new onshore and offshore wind developments. I believe that ensuring and enabling early progress and investment on vital upgrades to the east coast interconnectors and associated network infrastructure could have a profound effect on developer confidence. Decelerating these projects, or seeing them abandoned entirely along with the associated jobs, would be a poor outcome at the best of times; in the current economic crisis and climate emergency, it would be hugely damaging.

My colleague, Michael Matheson, wrote to the UK Government on the 31 August this year to highlight a range of issues where we need the UK Government to act in order to support net zero and a green recovery in Scotland. In that letter he specifically called on the UK Government to give Ofgem an explicit statutory obligation to enable the delivery of net zero, and to recognise and support devolved administrations’ statutory targets and policy.

I also raised this issue in more detail when I met with the Gas and Electricity Market Authority’s (GEMA) Board on September 30 th and have raised this with the Minister of State for Business, Energy and Clean Growth, Kwasi Kwarteng MP.

Ofgem is currently required by statute to represent the interests of existing and future energy consumers. In my engagement with the Regulator, we discussed whether it would be beneficial, and entirely consistent, if, given the commitment in Ofgem’s Decarbonisation Action Plan to support and facilitate delivery of net zero, Ofgem was to be given a clear, statutory duty to support the delivery of net zero. Delivering net zero will require substantial investment across a wide range of sectors, and it’s vital that we don’t pass on an unfair share or burden to future generations.

Network regulation faces huge and complex challenges. It needs to deliver infrastructure capable of delivering net zero, recognising and rewarding the impact of efficient, timely investment on our economy, on the development of skilled jobs, and the development of a dynamic supply chain. My view remains that the regulator’s remit needs to explicitly incorporate these challenges and requirements.

The Scottish Government has invested approximately £730m in funding over the last five years to support decarbonisation of heat and improve energy efficiency in buildings. This includes both grant funding and Government backed loans.

For some programmes funding to support decarbonisation of heating has been specifically identified but support for both heating and insulation measures are included as part of our energy efficiency spending (e.g. advice services). Energy efficiency improvements provided or recommended to households reflect individual needs and circumstances. Some pilot programmes have also provided investment to a mixture of domestic and non-domestic projects, for heating and/or insulation on the basis of need and to establish effectiveness of delivery.

Where sub-totals for type of measures funded and sector were specified, the investment can be broken down as follows (rounded to one decimal place):

Decarbonisation of heat in buildings

As stated in my answer to your earlier question (S5W-32625), planning is currently underway to establish the process and timetable for producing the final fuel poverty strategy, which the Programme for Government commits us to publishing next year. I will be writing to the Local Government and Communities Committee when I am in a position to confirm further details. For now work on the strategy remains on hold.

I can, though, assure you that in preparing the strategy we will allow sufficient time to consult widely with stakeholders and the public, including those with direct lived experience of fuel poverty and the characteristics specified within the Fuel Poverty (Targets, Definition and Strategy) (Scotland) Act 2019. The Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel will also play an important role in shaping the strategy. In line with previous commitments, an Island Communities Impact Assessment will be undertaken in relation to the strategy and its proposals.

We are aware that if someone is identified as a close contact of a positive case on multiple occasions, they may have to self-isolate more than once. The Scottish Government does not hold data about the monitoring of individuals who have been asked to undertake multiple periods of self-isolation.

No matter how many times a person is asked to self-isolate through Test and Protect, there is always support available for those who need this.

We do not underestimate how big a challenge this will be for some people and so we are providing financial support to people on low incomes who are asked to self-isolate. Workers on low incomes who are in receipt of low income benefits, and would lose income through self-isolation, can apply for a £500 payment if they are asked to self-isolate by contact tracers, including on multiple occasions if necessary. In partnership with Local Authorities, we have also launched a Local Self-Isolation Assistance Service which will proactively get support to the people self-isolating who are likely to need it.

Further to the information highlighted by myself in answer S5W-28871, please see the updated table as requested:

Updated Purple and Red Incidents Attended, 01-01-2017 – 31-10-2020

The Cycle Threshold, or CT value, is the number of PCR cycles that it takes before the virus is first detected; the lower the CT value the higher the level of virus in the original sample.

Each manufacturer of the PCR test will recommend a differing maximum amplification cycle number to determine presence of SARS CoV-2 when interpreting results, but a maximum of around 40 amplification cycles is normally used.

There are a range of PCR platforms used across NHS Scotland Laboratories, and the minimum and maximum CT values set for interpretation of results are recommended by the manufacturers. The lower the CT value the higher the level of virus in the original sample, up to a maximum of 40 amplification cycles normally used.

COVID-19 Scotland’s Strategic Framework is rooted in the 4 harms approach set out in COVID-19 Framework for Decision-Making . In taking and reviewing decisions about the different levels, we consider the direct impact of the virus on health, the effect of measures to suppress it on wider health and care, society, and economic activity. This includes physical health, mental wellbeing, social isolation and the impact on those with underlying health conditions. We are committed to ensuring that decisions will always be informed by data and analysis and to bring transparency to our decisions, and to support people to understand the very difficult issues that we face, we publish data on these harms online.

The Scottish Government will publish a further analysis and evidence paper on 20 November which, building on earlier papers, describes how the four harms approach works in practice and how evidence and analysis has been used to inform decision making. Consistent with our transparent approach, our intention is to follow this up in the near future with another paper explaining the evidence and analysis, including four harms considerations, supporting the levels approach.

We know that social isolation and loneliness is a public health issue and there are well documented negative impacts on mental health, that is why the Scottish Government has considered these issues when developing the rules on social gatherings.

The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 take progressively more restrictive steps, such as limiting the numbers of people that can meet indoors and outdoors. Our aim in doing this is to reduce the chance for the virus to spread, while allowing households the opportunity to socialise. Even at the strictest level, 6 people from a maximum of 2 households can socialise outdoors and in public places. The Regulations also permit extended households to be formed at all Levels.

The gatherings restrictions that apply to children under 12 at different levels allow this age group to mix more freely outdoors. Older children and young people aged 12-17 are permitted to meet outdoors in a larger number of households than the general restrictions. Both these measures were brought in to lessen the impact of social isolation on children and address children’s rights concerns.

The Scottish Government is clear that restrictions will be relaxed where the evidence suggests this is appropriate. For that reason, from 13 November, residents of Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles are able to meet with one other household inside their homes, up to a maximum of six people.

Information on mental health help and support is available at clearyourhead.scot or by calling NHS 111.