Here's what's happening in politics across the UK, Scotland and North-east today.
Scottish Parliament
No business
UK Parliament
Matters of interest include: Oral Questions (Levelling Up), Opposition Day Debate on “Increases in the cost of living” and a Westminster Hall debate on e-petition 599841 relating to requirements for employees to be vaccinated against CV19.
The Scottish Affairs Committee is also taking oral evidence in relation to the Union Connectivity Review. The review considered how best to improve transport infrastructure and connectivity across the UK via rail, road, air and sea. The final Union Connectivity Review report stated that “in general” devolution had been good for transport however “it has sometimes resulted in strategic cross-border transport schemes being less of a priority than those schemes which are wholly contained within a single nation”. During this evidence session, among other things, members are likely to be exploring: the current level of transport connectivity between Scotland and the rest of the UK; the feedback from the Scottish and UK governments to the review; and recommendations around funding to enhance transport connectivity, as outlined in the review.
Aberdeenshire Council
No business
Aberdeen City Council
Meeting of the Local Review Body of Aberdeen City Council
Consultations/Funding/News:
- Scotrail have launched a consultation into proposed changes to ticket offices: ScotRail Ticket Office Consultation | ScotRail Deadline for responses is the 2nd
February.
- Furthermore, the UK government is seeking views on the design of a new climate compatibility checkpoint for new oil and gas licensing. The deadline for this consultation is the 28th of February 2022. More information can be found here
- The consultation outcome for “Carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS): duties and functions of an economic regulator for CO2 transport and storage” can be viewed here.
- The consultation outcome for “Carbon capture, usage ad storage (CCUS): offshore decommissioning regime for CO2 transport and storage” can be viewed here.