Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-35649

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 21 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with (a) Ofgem and (b) energy suppliers to ensure that the replacement of Radio Teleswitch Service meters is completed in a timely manner and that no consumer is left without control over their heating and hot water when the service ends.

Question reference: S6W-35650

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 21 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what specific measures are being taken to address any potential impact of the ending of the Radio Teleswitch Service on vulnerable consumers in rural constituencies, particularly those who may have limited access to alternative heating and hot water solutions.

Question reference: S6W-35648

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 21 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the 1 July 2025 date for the ending of the Radio Teleswitch Service should be extended, in light of reported concerns about the readiness of suppliers and the potential impact on consumers, especially in rural and remote areas.

Question reference: S6W-35652

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 20 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on what progress has been made on the roll-out of smart meters across Scotland, and what steps it (a) can take and (b) is taking to ensure equitable access for consumers in rural and remote areas.

As a reserved matter, the Scottish Government has no powers over the smart-meter roll out and does not hold information on its progress. The UK Government publishes quarterly statistics on the smart meter roll out which are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/smart-meters-in-great-britain-quarterly-update-september-2024

The UK Government has made a commitment that all households will be offered a smart meter upgrade by the end of this year. However, many in Scotland, particularly those in our rural and island communities, face ongoing difficulties with smart meter connectivity, wiring or a lack of engineers, thus preventing them from upgrading or causing metering issues when they do.

Since the start of the smart meter roll out in January 2022, the Scottish Government has engaged regularly with the UK Government and Ofgem to ensure all smart meter users across Scotland have full network access.

While telecommunications is reserved to the UK Government, we have proactively addressed poor network coverage through digital infrastructure programmes such as Reaching 100% and the Scottish 4G Infill (S4GI) programme. We have delivered 55 mobile masts in rural and island areas, all of which are available on an open access basis and could potentially be used to site smart meter radio infrastructure.

However, the Data Communications Company (DCC) controls the digital energy infrastructure for Great Britain, and collects and shares smart meter data with energy suppliers via the Wide Area Network (WAN). In establishing how best to collect this data, the DCC took the decision that in the “north” region of Great Britain, including Scotland, the use of long range radio would allow signals to travel further across hills and mountains, reaching more rural communities more easily. It is clear that this does not always work in practice and many households and businesses are unable to install a working smart meter.

On 8 January, I wrote to the UK Minister for Energy Consumers, Dr Miatta Fahnbulleh, calling for the UK Government to take steps to allow the DCC to use mobile technology to provide a signal to homes in Scotland. In her response, Minister Fahnbulleh advised that the DCC is currently undertaking work to develop technical solutions to overcome the connectivity issues that currently prevent some consumers from accessing the WAN.

Further, on 10 March, I reiterated my view to Ofgem that an update to the DCC license conditions would provide enduring protection to consumers given the pace at which technical solutions are likely to change and the potential for meters to become unfit for purpose through no fault of the consumer.

Fit-for-purpose smart meters provide numerous benefits to consumers including real time usage data which can help consumers cut their energy usage and save money. It is therefore critical that the UK Government, Ofgem, and the DCC work together to urgently resolve these issues.

Question reference: S6W-35766

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 March 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 1 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the most recent South of Scotland Enterprise business panel survey report.

Question reference: S6F-03924

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 March 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 March 2025

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government is marking Endometriosis Awareness Month.

Question reference: S6W-35639

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 March 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 27 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the pilot suicide bereavement service, and whether it will roll it out across all NHS boards.

Question reference: S6O-04475

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 March 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what recent assessment it has made of the resources given to the Legislation team.

Question reference: S6O-04443

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 March 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps Historic Environment Scotland is taking to ensure that women have access to a safe working environment.

Question reference: S6W-35425

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 10 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it is giving to the reported community concerns regarding the culling of feral goats in the Scottish Borders, and whether a form of protected status is a potential option to preserve their existence.

Tell us your views

Seòmar agus comataidhean