Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-23296

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 18 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what recent correspondence it has had with the UK Government regarding the possibility of the UK joining the EU in a coordinated withdrawal from the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), and any impact that the UK’s continued ECT membership has on Scotland’s climate ambitions, following the Energy Charter Conference on 20 November 2023.

The Scottish Government is in regular contact with the UK Government’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero about the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT).

Following the ECT Annual Conference on 20 November 2023, Scottish Government officials contacted the UK Government, seeking an update on their review of UK membership of the ECT. Subsequently, the UK Government has confirmed publicly that it is continuing to review the UK’s membership, and to consider stakeholder views.

The Scottish Government shares many of the concerns raised by experts, such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the Climate Change Committee, about ECT membership and sees merit in calls for the UK to withdraw. Our position, as set out in our Vision for Trade, is that no part of a trade or investment agreement should limit the ability of the Scottish Parliament to regulate in devolved areas, or constrain much needed action to achieve our net zero goals.

We therefore remain concerned at the lack of a decision on this issue and the prospect of Scotland continuing to remain subject to the provisions of an unreformed Treaty, through the UK’s continued membership.

Question reference: S6O-02904

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 December 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work of its NHS Forth Valley Assurance Board.

Question reference: S6W-23610

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 December 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Shona Robison on 6 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the proposed Wellbeing and Sustainable Development Bill and Future Generations Commissioner.

We have today launched our consultation on the proposed Wellbeing and Sustainable Development Bill, including the potential role of an Independent Commissioner for Future Generations. The consultation will run until 14 February 2024 and can be accessed at https://consult.gov.scot/national-performance-framework-unit/wellbeing-and-sustainable-development-scotland .

We committed in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 Programmes for Government to explore the development of a Wellbeing and Sustainable Development Bill, and we are now at the stage of seeking views on how this legislation could best ensure that wellbeing and sustainable development are embedded into public sector decision making and that future generations are considered in decisions made today.

We are seeking views on providing legislative definitions of “sustainable development” and “wellbeing”, strengthening duties on public bodies to consider the National Outcomes in decision making, and extending these duties to Scottish Ministers. We are also asking for views on how best to ensure that the necessary accountability and support for these duties is in place, including the potential role of an Independent Commissioner for Future Generations. I look forward to receiving a range of views on these matters.

I have also written to the Finance and Public Administration, Net Zero and Transport, Economy and Fair Work and Rural and Islands Committees to inform them of the consultation launch.

Question reference: S6W-23053

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 17 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 4 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to align with the EU's Nature Restoration Law.

Scotland and the EU share a high ambition for nature, and are both putting in place the actions required to meet the targets set out in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework agreed in December 2022. The EU’s provisional agreement on nature restoration seeks to restore 20% of EU’s land and sea.

In line with Scottish Government’s commitment to maintain and enhance environmental standards, we have our own ambitious commitment to protect 30% of our land and sea for nature by 2030 (30 by 30).

Our Scottish Biodiversity Strategy sets out our ambition to halt nature loss by 2030 and restore Scotland’s natural environment by 2045.

Our strategy will be supported by the introduction of a Natural Environment Bill which will introduce a framework for statutory nature recovery restoration targets. In developing those targets we will take into account the position in the EU.

We are currently consulting on key elements of the overall Biodiversity Framework, including the Biodiversity Strategy, the first 5 year Delivery Plan, proposals for the Natural Environment Bill, and as set of principles to guide delivery of key commitments including 30 by 30 and nature networks.

Question reference: S6W-23052

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 17 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 4 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to align with updated Commission Regulation (EU) No 546/2011 as regards bees principles for evaluation and authorisation of plant protection products.

Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/1441 of 31 August 2022 amended Commission Regulation (EU) 546/2011 as regards specific uniform principles for evaluation and authorisation of plant protection products containing micro-organisms. It did not amend Commission Regulation (EU) 546/2011 as regards bees principles.

The Health and Safety Executive, as the UK regulator, closely monitors EU developments. Regulatory changes at GB level are considered in line with our domestic governance structure. The UK National Action Plan for the Sustainable Use of Pesticides , which outlines the UK approach to minimise the impacts of pesticides, will be published this year.

Question reference: S6O-02832

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of introducing ticket levy schemes at large music venues in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-22077

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 06 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 2 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the contribution of its latest Infrastructure Investment Plan to meeting Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.

Annex C of the Infrastructure Investment Plan (IIP), published February 2021, used a taxonomy approach to assess planned infrastructure spend into low, neutral and high carbon categories, drawing on the annual carbon assessment of the capital budget. The 2022-23 annual IIP progress report, published June 2023, considers Major Capital Projects within the IIP in the context of the climate change targets.

My previous answer to question S6W-21956 on 25 October 2023 sets out details of Scottish Ministers’ commitment to comply fully with the requirements of section 94A of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.

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

Question reference: S6W-22078

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 06 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 2 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on (a) its position on aligning its Infrastructure Investment Plan (IIP) with Scotland’s pathway for achieving net zero and (b) whether it has discussed creating a new methodology for assessing the contribution of individual infrastructure projects within the IIP to greenhouse gas reduction efforts.

Scottish Ministers are committed to complying fully with the requirements of section 94A of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 and are engaging with Environmental Standards Scotland on this matter through the informal resolution process. To this end, the Scottish Ministers intend to publish an assessment of the extent to which investment in accordance with the Infrastructure Investment Plan is expected to contribute to the meeting of the emissions reduction targets in Part 1 of the 2009 Act. In the context of the informal resolution process, it is the Scottish Ministers’ intention to share with ESS the proposed assessment prior to publication. This will be done as soon as possible and before the end of the calendar year, with publication anticipated in early course thereafter.

An enhanced taxonomy approach will be adopted and will include an assessment on whether the IIP is contributing positively to the emissions reduction targets.

As set out in the Infrastructure Investment Plan, Scottish Ministers are committed to considering developments in methodologies for assessing the contribution of infrastructure investment plans to the emission targets and this will be pursued in relation to future IIPs.

Question reference: S6W-22436

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 31 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what plans it has to support grassroots music venues across Scotland.

The Scottish Government fully values the important contributions that grassroots music venues provide for Scotland and recognise the role venues play in skills development and the talent pipeline. I met with the Music Venue Trust on 20 September to better understand how we can further support the music sector and grassroots music venues. The outcomes of this meetings are included in my answer to question S6W-21872 on 20 October 2023. 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 .

Question reference: S6W-22437

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 31 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what assessment it has made of any additional revenue raising tools, such as ticket levies on large music events and areas, to support grassroots music venues and the talent pipeline.

The Scottish Government values our culture sector and the contribution of the grassroots music industry to the cultural and economic offer in Scotland. I met with Music Venue Trust on 20 September to discuss the challenges faced by grassroots music venues, and their proposal to develop a ticket levy. I recommended that the Music Venue Trust asks the Cross-Party Group for Music to convene an industry roundtable to discuss the proposal.

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