Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-19259

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 23 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what research it has carried out on utilising single solar and hydrogen combined heat and power units for home usage.

Hydrogen will be a key part of the net zero journey. Complementary alongside electricity, hydrogen will potentially play a role in heating some homes and buildings, this role depends upon strategic decisions by the UK Government and we continue to urge the UK Government to accelerate decisions on the role of 100% hydrogen in the gas grid. These decisions will be supported by testing and demonstration.

The Scottish Government has helped fund a number of key hydrogen demonstration projects over the past few years. These investments have been critical in gaining an understanding of hydrogen production and hydrogen system integration into wider energy systems. Projects such as SGN’s H100 Fife project, with aims to fit 100% hydrogen boilers into 300 homes in Leven, will help to understand the role hydrogen can play in decarbonising heat using the gas network and the Kirkwall Airport project, which demonstrates the potential for a renewable hydrogen combustion engine to support the decarbonisation of the Highlands and Islands Airport Limited (HIAL) locations.

Question reference: S6O-02451

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 June 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to mitigate the impact of the cost of living crisis on people across Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-19009

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 20 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding potential measures to protect workers’ rights in any new Investment Zones that may be established in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-19010

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 20 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is considering for implementation within any new Investment Zones that may be established in Scotland.

The Scottish Government have been clear that any Investment Zones here must be a good fit for Scotland’s policy, economic and governance landscape; be well aligned to our National Strategy for Economic Transformation, our approach to regional economic policy, and our recently published innovation strategy, and; be taken forward jointly by the Scottish and UK Governments, and in close partnership between government and the relevant Regional Economic Partnerships.

Question reference: S6W-19008

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 20 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Aberdeen City Council regarding the possibility of an Investment Zone in Aberdeen.

Question reference: S6W-19007

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 20 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the possibility of an Investment Zone in Aberdeen.

Scottish Government and UK Government officials are actively discussing a partnership approach to possible Investment Zones in Scotland. The Scottish Government has been clear in these discussions that any Investment Zones must be a good fit for Scotland's policy, economic and governance landscape; must build on, rather than cutting across, existing economic activity; and must be taken forward jointly by the two governments working closely with local authorities and their partners.

Question reference: S4W-30422

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 March 2016
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 22 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce legislation to close any loopholes in the law regarding fraudulent disposition of title to protect the public.

There is already a Client Protection Fund (the operating name of the Scottish Solicitors’ Guarantee Fund) to protect clients who have lost money because of the dishonesty of a solicitor or a member of their staff.

More details about a consultation carried out by the Law Society of Scotland on the Fund are at http://www.lawscot.org.uk/members/regulation-and-standards/regulation-consultations/.

Following cases in Aberdeen and West Lothian, the society commissioned a report by Sheriff Principal Bowen on consumer protection in conveyancing. This report is at https://www.lawscot.org.uk/media/439009/Law-Society-report-Consumer-Protections-in-Conveyancing-Cases.pdf

Sheriff Principal Bowen made a specific recommendation on the Guarantee Fund in paragraph 42 of his report.

We will continue to discuss with the Law Society of Scotland and others any steps that can be taken to improve the conveyancing process generally and to improve safeguards for the public, including any need for legislation. When considering any legislation, the Scottish Government will need to bear in mind that consumer protection is a reserved matter.

Question reference: S4W-30419

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 March 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 22 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland has made recommendations to the Scottish Government about any legislative change required following the recent cases of fraudulent disposition of title.

The keeper has robust measures in place to minimise the effects of fraud, and keeps them under review. She has a designated fraud officer responsible for implementing her fraud prevention and mitigation policies, and for delivering regular staff training. Her staff are encouraged to refer suspicious applications to the fraud officer. In order to aid earlier detection, the Keeper meets with other bodies such as the Law Society of Scotland, the Council of Mortgage Lenders, Police Scotland and Revenue Scotland. She also maintains communications with other land registries both in the UK and internationally to monitor trends.

The reply to S4W-30417 on 17 March 2016 sets out the process for fraud discovered after registration. If an allegation of fraud is made before an application for registration has been determined then the keeper will apply her policy on holding applications in abeyance as set out in Registers Update 42 (issued in December 2014)

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

Question reference: S4F-03326

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 March 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 March 2016

To ask the First Minister what actions the Scottish Government can and will take to create a fairer Scotland, in light of recent UK Government decisions.

Question reference: S4W-30415

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 March 2016
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Burgess on 17 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to (a) property owners and (b) tenants to identify whether communal repairs are required.

Assistance for home owners is the responsibility of local authorities. Local authorities have a wide range discretionary powers to assist owners who need help to identify work needed to look after their home.

If occupants are private tenants, the landlord is required to carry out an inspection before the tenancy begins to ensure that the house complies with the repairing standard under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006. Information about a landlord’s duties, what documents should be provided, and tenant’s rights is set out in the statutory tenant information pack.

If occupants are social tenants, the Scottish Social Housing Charter requires their landlord to provide information about its decisions and services, to ensure homes meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard and to keep them in a good state of repair.

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