Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-05348

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what user, personal and medical information is currently provided and displayed on the NHS Scotland Covid Status app, and whether that information is explicitly outlined in the user privacy policy agreement.

The information displayed on the NHS Scotland Covid Status App is described in detail in the privacy notice .

Venues are required to display a privacy notice in areas where the app will be used. This will help members of the public understand the purpose of the data processing that will be done by the app and provide assurance about how their personal data will be safeguarded by the venue staff. A privacy notice template can be found here .

Rigorous data minimisation controls have been put in place, including the use of the “Green Tick” for domestic purposes, to ensure that as little personal data is displayed as possible, through the NHS Scotland COVID Pass Verifier app.

Question reference: S6W-05347

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what data protection guidelines are currently in place for the NHS Scotland Covid Status app, and from what legislation any guidelines are derived.

Question reference: S6W-05345

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what issues it has experienced matching the functionality of the NHS Scotland Covid Status app with international and EU travel guidelines and restrictions.

The data held in the international section of the NHS Scotland Covid Status app is a statement of fact, representing a person’s vaccination status and/or test and recovery status. Both the content and presentation fully aligns with the standards set by the EU.

Scotland, along with the rest of the UK, has full legal equivalence with the EU Digital Covid Certificate, meaning Scotland’s Covid certificates are accepted throughout the EU. For more information, see EU Digital COVID Certificate | European Commission and for full details on travel guidelines see Foreign travel advice .

Question reference: S6O-00670

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 January 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide additional COVID-19 support funding for bed and breakfast and guest house operators.

Question reference: S6T-00438

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 17 January 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to a recent report by Enable Scotland that highlights that over 250 people with learning disabilities are living in NHS Scotland inpatient units, with one woman being there for 60 years.

Question reference: S6W-05249

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 20 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 17 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the climate emergency, and in regard to energy saving and efficiency improvements delivered through its national fuel poverty scheme and other related schemes, what action it has taken to ensure that improvements that are made to homes prioritise environmentally-friendly technologies and heating systems.

The Heat in Buildings Strategy, published October 2021, outlined an ambitious policy package to significantly accelerate the decarbonisation of Scotland’s homes and buildings. It highlighted tried and tested technologies that can be deployed today, highlighting as strategic priorities energy efficiency, heat pumps in off-gas buildings and some on-gas settings, and heat networks in suitable areas. Over the longer term, additional technologies such as hydrogen may become available.

We continue to support people converting their heating systems to zero emissions ones, targeting that help at those least able to pay. Our delivery schemes which target households in fuel poverty already take a “zero emissions heat first” approach.

Scottish Government-funded domestic energy efficiency schemes recommend low-carbon measures first to increase the energy efficiency of the property and decrease carbon emissions. On 6 September 2021, we ended public subsidy for oil and LPG boilers, the most polluting technologies, in favour of offering zero emissions alternatives.

Our national fuel poverty scheme, Warmer Homes Scotland, designed to help those living in, or at risk of, fuel poverty through installing insulation and heating measures to individual homes recommends low-carbon measures first, alongside a package of insulation measures. In addition, since April 2021, our Area Based Schemes have included additional funding to provide low carbon and micro-generation measures as part of a whole house approach.

Home Energy Scotland Loans are also available to homeowners who live in the property they own and to self-builders. Loans for both energy efficiency measures and renewables measures are available with up to 40% and 75% cashback grants respectively.

We also continue to fund Home Energy Scotland to provide free and impartial advice on how to reduce bills and make homes warmer and cheaper to heat.

The Heat in Buildings Strategy confirms our intention to introduce – subject to consultation – regulations from 2023-2025 requiring Scotland’s homes and other buildings to meet EPC Band C equivalent by 2033, where that is technically feasible and cost effective. We have set out proposals for regulations to come into effect during major refurbishment, change of tenancy and point of sale and are currently working on developing the details of those trigger points.

We have also set out in our Heat in Buildings Strategy plans to reform Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) so they can effectively be used as a basis for regulation and drive and prioritise the energy efficiency and zero-emissions heating systems needed to reach net zero.

We will consult on proposals for regulations, trigger points and EPC reform later this year.

Question reference: S6W-05250

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 20 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 11 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of information published by Warmworks Scotland reporting that, over the past five years, it has helped 251 households in North East Fife with energy saving and efficiency improvements delivered through the national fuel poverty scheme, what the total number of homes in North East Fife that have received energy saving help from the Scottish Government over that period is, and whether it will provide a breakdown of the various governmental schemes involved in providing energy saving help and fuel poverty relief to those homes.

The total number of households that have received energy saving and efficiency improvements delivered through the Scottish Government’s energy efficiency programmes between 2016-17 and 2020-21* in this region** are:

Warmer Homes Scotland – 251

Area Based Schemes – 1337

Home Energy Scotland Loans – 522 (316 of which received cashback)

*As Area Based projects for financial year 2020/21 have just concluded, final installation figures are currently unavailable until late January 2022. Home Energy Scotland loans scheme began April 2017, so there is no data for 2016/17.

**Figures for Area Based schemes and Home Energy Scotland Loans are only available on a Local Authority basis not a Parliamentary Constituency basis.

Question reference: S6W-04712

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Monday, 29 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 8 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what care support (a) it provides and (b) local authorities are expected to provide, that is specifically aimed at helping people with Down syndrome, and what new measures it will introduce to enhance the support that is presently available.

(a) In terms of Scottish Government support, we have set out our commitment to people with a learning disability, including those with Down’s Syndrome, and their families through the Keys to Life Learning Disability strategy and the Towards Transformation Learning Disability and Autism Plan . Both plans focus on outcomes intended to ensure people with a learning disability live healthier lives, enjoy choice and control over the services they use, and are supported to be independent and active citizens.

To this end, we have committed to introducing a Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodiversity Bill as part of the Programme for Government. This Bill will ensure that the rights of people with Down’s Syndrome, among others, are respected and protected. Additionally, we will create a Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodiversity Commissioner to champion the new law.

The Scottish Government works closely with a range of third sector partners and funds Down’s Syndrome Scotland as delivery partners in achieving the Keys to Life Learning Disability strategy and the Towards Transformation Learning Disability and Autism Plan as well as to allow them to provide direct support to people with Down’s Syndrome and their families.

Additional funding was also awarded to develop changes in Down’s Syndrome Scotland’s programme of work during COVID-19 and supporting families through the pandemic and the recovery phase, including their vital helpline.

(b) Whilst the Scottish Government has overall responsibility for health and social care policy in Scotland, it is for the regional health & social care partnerships to determine the level of services that are required to meet local needs and to arrange an appropriate and suitable range of services to meet these local needs, as mandated under statute in the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act. The Scottish Government expects that the needs of people with Down’s Syndrome are identified, acknowledged and met, ensuring positive outcomes are achieved.

Question reference: S6W-04713

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 29 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 3 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that the UK Government will support the private member's bill, the Down Syndrome Bill, that has been introduced by Dr Liam Fox MP, whether it will bring forward a similar set of measures.

The Scottish Government wants to improve opportunities, outcomes and support for people with learning disabilities including Down’s Syndrome. To this end, we have committed to introducing a Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodiversity Bill as part of the Programme for Government. This Bill will ensure that the rights of people with Down’s Syndrome, among others, are respected and protected.

To help make sure that the new legislation is championed when it is implemented, we will create a Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodiversity Commissioner through the new law.

Additionally, we have set out our commitment to people with a learning disability, including those with Down’s Syndrome, and their families through the Keys to Life Learning Disability strategy and the Towards Transformation Learning Disability and Autism Plan . Both strategies focus on outcomes intended to ensure people with a learning disability live healthier lives, enjoy choice and control over the services they use, and are supported to be independent and active citizens.

Question reference: S6T-00328

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 29 November 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported number of deaths of homeless people in 2020.

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