- Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 04 December 2023
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 7 December 2023
To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to address the impacts of obesity and excess weight on the Scottish economy and NHS.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 7 December 2023
- Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 17 November 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 4 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what support is available for (a) private residential homeowners, (b) housing associations, (c) businesses and (d) commercial building landlords to replace inefficient double glazed windows and doors with a U-value of 2.8 to 3.2 that were installed before 2002.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not provide funding for residential homeowners to replace existing double glazing. Funding through our domestic Heat in Buildings schemes is prioritised for energy efficiency measures which provide comparatively better energy use and emissions savings, taking into account the cost of the measure; and for which demand would be lower without government support.
Details on loan funding provided through our Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme for double glazing and insulated doors can be found at: https://www.homeenergyscotland.org/funding/grants-loans/overview/
Housing Associations can apply for grant funding from the Social Housing Net Zero Heat fund for the installation of energy efficiency measures that deliver both carbon savings and reduction in fuel bills for social housing tenants. These measures include double and triple glazing and insulated doors. The fund is making at least £200 million available to registered social landlords (RSLs) to help install zero emission heating systems and improve energy efficiency in social housing during this parliament.
Should a business or commercial landlord be recommended improvements for their windows and doors through the Business Energy Scotland advice service and meet the eligibility criteria for the SME Loan and Cashback scheme, they could be eligible for between £1,000 - £100,000 interest free loan and up to £20,000 in an energy efficiency cashback grant. Making the total amount of Scottish Government funding available for these measures to be £120,000.
- Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 17 November 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 4 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what support is available for (a) private residential homeowners, (b) housing associations, (c) businesses and (d) commercial building landlords to replace double glazed windows and doors with triple glazing.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not provide funding for residential homeowners to upgrade double glazing to triple glazing. Funding through our domestic Heat in Buildings funding schemes are prioritised for energy efficiency measures which provide comparatively better energy use and emissions savings, taking into account the cost of the measure; and for which demand would be lower without government support.
Details on loan funding provided through our Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme for double glazing and insulated doors can be found at: https://www.homeenergyscotland.org/funding/grants-loans/overview/
Housing Associations can apply for grant funding from the Social Housing Net Zero Heat fund for the installation of energy efficiency measures that deliver both carbon savings and reduction in fuel bills for social housing tenants. These measures include double and triple glazing and insulated doors. The fund is making at least £200 million available to registered social landlords (RSLs) to help install zero emission heating systems and improve energy efficiency in social housing during this parliament.
Should a business or commercial landlord be recommended improvements for their windows and doors through the Business Energy Scotland advice service and meet the eligibility criteria for the SME Loan and Cashback scheme, they could be eligible for between £1,000 - £100,000 interest free loan and up to £20,000 in an energy efficiency cashback grant. Making the total amount of Scottish Government funding available for these measures to be £120,000.
- Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 17 November 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 4 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what support is available for (a) private residential homeowners, (b) housing associations, (c) businesses, and (d) commercial building landlords to replace single glazed windows and doors with double glazing.
Answer
Through the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme, the Scottish Government currently provides up to £8,000 in interest free loan funding for private residential homeowners to upgrade single glazing to double glazing or to install secondary glazing. Homeowners can also currently access up to £4500 in interest free loan funding for insulated doors. Replacement of single glazed windows can also be supported through our Area Based Schemes where this provides value for money.
Housing Associations can apply for grant funding from the Social Housing Net Zero Heat fund for the installation of energy efficiency measures that deliver both carbon savings and reduction in fuel bills for social housing tenants. These measures include double and triple glazing and insulated doors. The fund is making at least £200 million available to registered social landlords (RSLs) to help install zero emission heating systems and improve energy efficiency in social housing during this parliament.
Should a business or commercial landlord be recommended improvements for their windows and doors through the Business Energy Scotland advice service and meet the eligibility criteria for the SME Loan and Cashback scheme, they could be eligible for between £1,000 - £100,000 interest free loan and up to £20,000 in an energy efficiency cashback grant. Making the total amount of Scottish Government funding available for these measures to be £120,000.
- Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 17 November 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 4 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what support is available for (a) private residential homeowners, (b) housing associations, (c) businesses and (d) commercial building landlords to replace inefficient double glazed windows and doors with a U-value of 2.0 to 2.4 that were installed between 2002 and 2022.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not provide funding for residential homeowners to replace existing double glazing. Funding through our domestic Heat in Buildings schemes is prioritised for energy efficiency measures which provide comparatively better energy use and emissions savings, taking into account the cost of the measure; and for which demand would be lower without government support.
Details on loan funding provided through our Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme for double glazing and insulated doors can be found at: https://www.homeenergyscotland.org/funding/grants-loans/overview/
Housing Associations can apply for grant funding from the Social Housing Net Zero Heat fund for the installation of energy efficiency measures that deliver both carbon savings and reduction in fuel bills for social housing tenants. These measures include double and triple glazing and insulated doors. The fund is making at least £200 million available to registered social landlords (RSLs) to help install zero emission heating systems and improve energy efficiency in social housing during this parliament.
Should a business or commercial landlord be recommended improvements for their windows and doors through the Business Energy Scotland advice service and meet the eligibility criteria for the SME Loan and Cashback scheme, they could be eligible for between £1,000 - £100,000 interest free loan and up to £20,000 in an energy efficiency cashback grant. Making the total amount of Scottish Government funding available for these measures to be £120,000.
- Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 November 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Maggie Chapman (on Behalf of the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body) on 23 November 2023
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body when the most recent energy efficiency assessment of the Scottish Parliament building was completed, and what the results were.
Answer
The Parliament’s Energy Performance Certificate was last updated in 2019 and is renewed every 10 years. The Energy Performance Certificate is displayed at the Visitors Desk and is available on the Parliament’s website. The Parliament achieved a C rating which is a good score but leaves room for improvement. Measures are being adopted to improve the energy efficiency of the building as part of the Carbon Management Plan.
- Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 November 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 17 November 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the current construction skills landscape, and what plans it has to target and develop particular sectors within the construction industry based on any such assessment.
Answer
As part of the development of our Just Transition Plans, we are assessing how best to support workers and businesses in upskilling and reskilling, as well as attracting new talent into the workforce. Our Just Transition Plan for the Built Environment and Construction sector, to be published next year, will set out how we plan to enable a fair transition in the construction sector and support workers to take advantage of good, green job opportunities. This will draw upon the recent Sectoral Skills Assessment of construction conducted by Skills Development Scotland.
The Construction Leadership Forum, comprised of government and industry representatives, also has a dedicated working group progressing the commitments set out in the Construction Accord to ensure the competency of the construction workforce for current and future industry needs.
- Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 November 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 16 November 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the suitability of (a) whole-house renewable heating systems and (b) other renewable solutions for retrofitting on existing housing stock, and how many existing homes it estimates there currently are that are not suitable for retrofitting these systems.
Answer
On behalf of the Scottish Government, Element Energy conducted analysis of the technical suitability of low-carbon heating technologies in Scottish domestic buildings. A copy of this report is available here: Scottish Government (2020). Technical Feasibility of Low Carbon Heating in Domestic Buildings, www.gov.scot/publications/technical-feasibility-low-carbon-heating-domestic-buildings-report-scottish-governments-directorate-energy-climate-change/ .
We have recently published research by ClimateXchange that considers options for a methodology to assess the suitability of whole-building heating systems and we are currently undertaking work to develop options for such a methodology for further consideration.
We will consult during 2023 on proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill to phase out polluting heating systems in Scotland’s homes and buildings and move to clean heating systems. Any regulations introduced will be technology-neutral since different homes and buildings will require different clean heat solutions (including heat pumps, heat networks and direct electric heating systems).
- Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 November 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 16 November 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what key performance indicators it uses to measure the success of the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme, in terms of the improvements to energy efficiency delivered by funded works.
Answer
The Home Energy Scotland (HES) Grant and Loan Scheme offers homeowners in Scotland a grant, interest free loan or a combination of both to support the installation of energy efficiency measures and zero direct emission heating.
Energy efficiency measures funded through the scheme must be recommended on the property’s EPC, ensuring that funding is being utilised for measures which are suitable for a property and will result in a reduction in carbon emissions.
- Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 November 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 16 November 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the importance of ensuring that homes are insulated to standard prior to completing any installation of renewable heating systems.
Answer
We will shortly consult on proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill. This will include proposals to set a minimum energy efficiency standard for homes in Scotland - ensuring they are better insulated and driving down emissions to meet our targets.
