Asked by: Eagle, Tim (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Highlands and Islands)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the findings in the Nuclear Industry Association's Jobs Map 2026, which indicate that nuclear workers in Scotland have to travel out of Scotland to take up opportunities created by new nuclear projects in other parts of the UK.
Answered by Gethins, Stephen - Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Energy
I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-03425 on 30 September 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
Asked by: Dijkstra-Downie, Sanne (Scottish Liberal Democrats - Edinburgh Northern)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many of the 100,000 properties identified in its Programme for Government are expected to have benefited from energy efficiency measures by the end of financial year 2026-27.
Answered by Gethins, Stephen - Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Energy
In 2026/27 the Heat in Buildings programme expects 20,000 properties to have benefited from clean heat and/or energy efficiency measures. Further detail on the final energy efficiency specific measures delivered will be available after the end of the financial year.
Asked by: Sweeney, Paul (Scottish Labour - Glasgow)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government when ministers last visited Dalzell, what observation were made during the visit, and whether they will make a statement to Parliament on the future of steel plate production in Scotland before the October 2026 recess.
Answered by Flynn, Stephen - Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport
The former Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work visited the Dalzell steelworks on 8 August 2018.
Ivan McKee, Minister for Public Finance made a statement to Parliament on 11 September 2025 regarding GFG Alliance operations in Scotland, including Dalzell.
The priority of the Scottish Government is to see the plant operational and Ministers are committed to updating Parliament on developments.
Asked by: Kerr, Liam (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - North East Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether emails sent or received by special advisers via official Scottish Government email accounts are considered to be information that is held by the Scottish Government for the purposes of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.
Answered by Hepburn, Jamie - Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans
I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-03424 on 29 September 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
Asked by: Kerr, Liam (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - North East Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether all special advisers are provided with an individual Scottish Government email account for the conduct of official business.
Answered by Hepburn, Jamie - Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans
Yes. All special advisers are provided with an individual Scottish Government email account for the conduct of official business.
I also refer the member to the answer to question S7W-03424 on 29 September. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
Asked by: Sweeney, Paul (Scottish Labour - Glasgow)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the extent of any historical contamination and other environmental liabilities at Clydebridge and who would meet remedial costs in the event of a sale, closure or change of use.
Answered by Flynn, Stephen - Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport
Liberty Steel Dalzell is a privately owned business and existence of any historic contamination or other environmental liabilities at Clydebridge is a matter for the company.
Asked by: Leask, Kristopher (Scottish Green Party - Highlands and Islands)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding was allocated to (a) Warmer Homes Scotland, (b) Area Based Schemes, (c) Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund, (d) Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan, and (e) Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan schemes, in each financial year from 2022-23 to 2026-27, and what the year-end outturn was for each of these schemes for each financial year from 2022-23 to 2025-26.
Answered by Gethins, Stephen - Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Energy
For the financial years 2022-23 to 2024-25, I refer the member to question answered on S6W-43202 on 3 February 2026 for information relating to Warmer Homes Scotland, Area Based Schemes, Social Housing Net Zero Fund and Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan.
All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found here; https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
Allocation and outturn data for all schemes relating to the 2025-26 financial year are included in the latest Heat in Buildings progress report, which will be published on the Scottish Government website on 2 October 2026.
Data for Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan was included within S6W-43202 under the category “other”. Specific Private Rented Sector Landlord Loans information is set out in the following table:
Programme | Allocation 2022-23 £000’s | Outturn 2022-3 £000’s | Allocation 2023-24 £000’s | Outturn 2023-4 £000’s | Allocation 2024-25 £000’s | Outturn 2024-25 £000’s | Allocation 2025-26 £000’s | Outturn 2025-26 £000’s |
Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan | 500 | 336 | 500 | 89 | 500 | 14 | 500 | 81 |
Provisional 2026-27 allocations are set out in the following table.
Programme | *Provisional allocation 2026-27 £m’s |
Warmer Homes Scotland | 90m |
Area Based Schemes | 70m |
Social Housing Net Zero Fund | 30m |
Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan | 48.5m |
Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan | 0.5m |
*provisional allocations provided are subject to change.
Asked by: Adams, James (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - North East Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will respond to the letter from Aberdeen City Region Deal Joint Committee following its meeting on 4 September 2026 regarding unsuccessful attempts to access the Housing Infrastructure Fund portion of the 2016 Memorandum of Understanding, and whether it will set out a guarantee that this fund will continue beyond March 2027 and until an eligible project has been approved.
Answered by Somerville, Shirley-Anne - Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Housing
On 12 September 2025, the Aberdeen City Region Deal Joint Committee, wrote to me to discuss the £20m portion of the 2016 Memorandum of Understanding for Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) projects across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. This included potential projects and how to access the funding to address issues arising from reinforced autoclaved concrete (RAAC) in the Torry Area of Aberdeen City.
On 23 October, I responded explaining the RAAC proposal was not eligible for HIF Funding and that agreement had been reached with Aberdeen City Council to offer flexibility and apportion an appropriate share up to £10 million of the MoU commitment and to re-purpose this towards meeting the cost of delivering new-build social housing projects through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme. This would free up an equivalent amount of their own resources to tackle RAAC issues they face. The response also confirmed that projects approved through this route would reduce the notional commitment entered into through the MoU.
HIF continues to operate and remains open for applications. Any correspondence received from the Aberdeen City Region Deal Joint Committee will be considered and responded to in the usual way.
Asked by: Briggs, Miles (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Edinburgh and Lothians East)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many new GP practices have opened since 1999, broken down by year and by NHS board area.
Answered by Constance, Angela - Cabinet Secretary for Health and Care
The Scottish Government does not hold records of how many GP practices have opened or closed since 1999.
Arrangements with GP contractors are a matter for health boards.
Asked by: Briggs, Miles (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Edinburgh and Lothians East)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many GP practices have closed since 1999, broken down by year and by NHS board area.
Answered by Constance, Angela - Cabinet Secretary for Health and Care
The Scottish Government does not hold records of how many GP practices have opened or closed since 1999.
Arrangements with GP contractors are a matter for health boards.