Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-28760

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 26 July 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 20 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Transport Scotland paper, Aviation Statement and Key Priorities, did not include a reference to the memorandum of understanding that it signed with Heathrow Airport in support of the building of a third runway.

The Aviation Statement focusses on new actions where the Scottish Government can make a meaningful contribution to growing Scotland’s direct international connectivity, securing lifeline services in the Highlands and Islands and contributing to decarbonising aviation. The Memorandum of Understanding with Heathrow airport is designed to ensure that any expansion of Heathrow approved by any UK Government results in significant job creation and investment opportunities in Scotland. As this has not changed, and as Heathrow expansion is not approved or underway, even though the new UK Government may support it, there was no need to include it in the Aviation Statement.

Question reference: S6W-28658

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 19 July 2024
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don on 16 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take, or has taken, prior to the commencement of the provisions under the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Act 2024 that prevent any child found guilty of an offence being sent to a young offenders' institute, to ensure that there is the necessary capacity in secure accommodation for the under 18-year-olds who are required to be sent there.

Action to prepare and plan for this transition began prior to the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Act 2024 receiving Royal Assent, and is ongoing. To support the relevant commencement and transitional provisions laid in the Scottish Parliament yesterday, intensive engagement with relevant partners across the sector has taken place. This to ensure readiness and capacity within secure care and wider children’s services, so that the children being moved are safe and well supported. The action included officials recently visiting each of Scotland’s four secure centres to ensure any additional support could be identified and put in place, and regular ongoing engagement with key delivery partners, including the Scottish Prison Service, secure accommodation providers, the Care Inspectorate, Social Work Scotland, COPFS, and the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service.

Each of the children currently in Polmont YOI has a bespoke “Child’s Plan”, grounded in the principles of Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC), Curriculum for Excellence and the SPS Vision for Young People in Custody (refreshed in 2021). A tailored transfer, matching and orientation process is being prepared for each child to transition to secure accommodation, along with action to inform and reassure their families.

Question reference: S6W-28657

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 19 July 2024
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don on 16 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will commence the provisions under the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Act 2024 that prevent any child found guilty of an offence being sent to a young offenders' institute.

The Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Act 2024 (Commencement No.1 and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2024 were laid in the Scottish Parliament on 15 August. The Scottish Government does not generally lay secondary legislation during Parliamentary recess. However, Scottish Ministers are taking action to end the practice of detaining children in Young Offenders’ Institutions as soon as possible, having identified the earliest point at which delivery agencies and partners could safely deliver the change.

Question reference: S6O-03869

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 August 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 May 2028

To ask the Scottish Government test.

Question reference: S6W-28763

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 26 July 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 14 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement in the Transport Scotland paper, Aviation Statement and Key Priorities, that it carries out its work on a "airport-neutral" basis to ensure that it does not act in a way that interferes with competition, what its position is regarding whether this policy applies to airports outwith Scotland, in light of its support for the building of a third runway at Heathrow Airport, as set out in its memorandum of understanding with the airport.

Question reference: S6W-28758

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 26 July 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 14 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the data that it published on 15 January 2020 in response to the freedom of information request FOI/19/02661, what subsequent calculations it has made of the emissions that could be generated by extra flights between Heathrow Airport and airports in Scotland if a third runway was built at Heathrow.

Question reference: S6W-28761

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 26 July 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 14 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its commitment set out in the Transport Scotland paper, Aviation Statement and Key Priorities, that it will contribute to the global effort to reduce CO2 emissions in international aviation by 5% by 2030, how it will measure (a) Scotland’s contribution to this target and (b) the impact of its support of the building of a third runway at Heathrow Airport, as set out in its memorandum of understanding with the airport.

Question reference: S6W-28764

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 26 July 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 14 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the Transport Scotland paper, Aviation Statement and Key Priorities, what projections it has made of the country's aviation emissions in (a) each year between 2023 and 2030, (b) 2040 and (c) 2045.

Question reference: S6W-28765

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 26 July 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 14 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the assertion in the Transport Scotland paper, Aviation Statement and Key Priorities, that it expects to follow a similar CO2 emissions reduction trajectory to that set out in the UK Government’s Jet Zero strategy, what consideration it has given to the UK Climate Change Committee’s 2023 report to the UK Parliament that this is “high risk” due to its reliance on nascent technology, and what policy frameworks it will put in place to ensure that emissions reductions in the aviation sector occur if these technologies are not delivered on time and at sufficient scale.

The UK Government’s Jet Zero strategy, with its associated emissions trajectories, will apply throughout the UK. As the Aviation Statement makes clear, it is therefore vital that Jet Zero should benefit Scotland and Ministers will work with the UK Government to secure that aim. Scottish Ministers support the harnessing of new technologies across aerospace to meet climate targets. In addition to the technology-related actions in our Aviation Statement, the Scottish Government has established an expert working group to provide recommendations on increasing the production and use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-28767

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 26 July 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 14 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the UK Climate Change Committee’s report to the Scottish Parliament, which was published in March 2024, what its response is to the assertion that there (a) is no strategy for decarbonising aviation and (b) has been no progress in addressing aviation demand growth.

The assertion that there is no Scottish strategy for decarbonising aviation does not take into account that aviation is reserved or that the UK Government’s Jet Zero Strategy applies throughout the UK. Separately, the Scottish Government’s Aviation Statement has now been published and describes actions we will take to contribute to the global effort to reduce CO2 emissions. The Statement also emphasises that Jet Zero should benefit Scotland and that Ministers will work with the UK Government to secure this aim.

The Scottish Government’s response to the UK Climate Change Committee's report will be published in the coming months.

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