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We recognise the critical role of planning in helping to meet our net zero targets. Our NPF4 Position Statement, published on 26 November, underlines that responding to the global climate emergency will be at the heart of NPF4. It highlights key areas for policy change including: 20 minute neighbourhoods, embedding sustainable travel, low and zero carbon design and energy efficiency, emphasis on re-using existing buildings and previously used land, supporting renewable energy and energy transmission infrastructure. The position statement can be accessed from the Scottish Government’s website: .

We are aware of concerns around resourcing of planning authorities and the need for efficient handling of applications, particularly those with the potential to support key policy drivers including emissions reductions.

Our programme of planning reform aims to improve the system as a whole and our extensive programme of policy, regulations and guidance will bring greater certainty over consenting and delivery of planned development, supporting economic recovery whilst also delivering social and environmental benefits. We will also consider whether to extend ‘permitted development rights’ which remove the need to apply for planning permission for zero-emission heat networks and micro-renewable technologies.

Plans to revise planning fees are currently paused due to the potential impact on the development sector in light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. However Ministers remain committed to ensuring that planning authorities are properly resourced and we will bring forward a revised fee structure as soon as the timing is appropriate.

The amount of waste exported will be affected by the type, volume, and quality of waste generated in Scotland, as well as the nature of contracts put in place by businesses and local authorities to manage their waste. We have not made projections for the export of waste or material collected for recycling.

We want to build a fully circular economy and be able to manage more of our own waste within Scotland, including the 14% which is currently processed elsewhere. As outlined in our Programme for Government 2020-21, we are working with local authorities to explore options that will unlock reprocessing investments, including pricing and incentive schemes. We are also actively working with potential investors to encourage reprocessing capacity in Scotland.

Scottish Government anticipate that the statutory annual emissions reduction targets set in the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019 will represent the future national emissions trajectory. A full list of the levels of these targets has been laid in the Scottish Parliament, and can also be found on the Scottish Government website. The Climate Change Plan update, to be published later this month, will articulate our policy pathway up until 2032 to meeting these targets.

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

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.

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.

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.

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