Thursday, January 26: Today's political diary

Scottish Parliament

Today’s business includes:

• General Questions (questions include: To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with stakeholders regarding retraining and upskilling the north east energy sector workforce)
• First Minister’s Questions (questions include: To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the second round of the UK Government's Levelling Up Fund allocations in Scotland.)
• Members’ Business: S6M-07477 Holocaust Memorial Day 2023 (in the name of Fergus Ewing)
• Portfolio Questions: Social Justice, Housing and Local Government
• Ministerial Statement: Strategic Transport Projects Review 2
• Finance and Public Administration Committee Debate: Scottish Budget 2023-24
• Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body Debate: Appointment of a New Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life
• Decision Time

The following Committees are meeting this morning:

• Public Audit Committee
• Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
• COVID-19 Recovery Committee (Agenda items include consideration of the report: “Road to recovery: impact of the pandemic on the Scottish labour market”)

UK Parliament

Today’s business includes:

• Oral Questions: Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
• Oral Questions (Lords): Supporting UK manufacturing following the UK’s exit from the EU
• Short debate (Lords): Report by Chris Skidmore Mission Zero: Independent Review of Net Zero, published on 13 January
• Electronic Trade Documents Bill [HL] Special Public Bill Committee – Oral evidence session on Electronic Trade Documents Bill
• Public Accounts Committee – Oral evidence session on Managing tax compliance following the pandemic
• International Agreements Committee – Private meeting

Aberdeenshire Council

Today’s business includes:

• Infrastructure Services Committee

Aberdeen City Council

No scheduled business

News/Funding/Consultations

• Consultation: Draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan. The draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan sets a vision for Scotland's energy system to 2045 and a route map of ambitions and actions that, coupled with detailed sectoral plans and the forthcoming Climate Change Plan, will guide decision-making and policy support over the course of this decade. For more information or to respond to the consultation, please click here
• Consultation: Alcohol advertising and promotion. The Scottish Government are consulting on whether further restrictions on the alcohol advertising and promotion should be introduced, what any restrictions might cover and what might be expected from them. For more information, or to respond to the consultation, please click here. The closing date for responses is 9^th March.
• Consultation: 2035 target for the amount of heat to be supplied by heat networks. The Scottish Government is seeking views on a proposed target relating to the combined supply of thermal energy through heat networks in Scotland by 2035. For more information, or to respond to the consultation, please click here. The closing date for responses is 11^th March.
• Support/Training: The Princes Trust Explore Enterprise Course. The Prince’s Trust Explore Enterprise Course consists of up to seven online sessions providing information and support on the basics of self-employment, HMRC and finance, pricing and sales, marketing, networking, cashflows, and business plans. These sessions are open to individuals aged between 18-30, who are resident in Scotland and been trading for less than 2 years. For more information, or to sign up, please click here.
• Support/Training: Manufacturing Excellence. Manufacturing Excellence is a 10-month programme aimed at leaders from small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the manufacturing industry. The programme will look at collaboration and networks, supply chains and competitiveness, adaption and transformation, and skills and workforce. The programme will be delivered through a series of in-person workshops and support days. For more information, or to apply, please click here.
• Support: Techscaler. Techscaler is a Scottish Government programme that connects tech startups in Scotland with experts who can help them grow and scale their businesses. Techscaler membership provides tailored support for founders and leaders of tech startups including educational courses, resources, one-to-one mentoring, workspace options, events and meetups, and access to a network of experts. For more information, please click here.
• Funding: Creative Scotland Open Fund – Sustaining Creative Development. This fund is for organisations and groups based in Scotland whose work or project involves the arts, screen and creative industries, and aims to enable such organisations to explore ways of working that will help them adapt and respond to the current changing circumstances as a result of covid-19. Grants of between £1,000 and £100,000 are available. For more information, please click here. The fund will close on 8^th February 2023.
• Funding: Business Chargepoint Funding. Grants of up to 50% of the cost of purchasing and installing electric vehicle chargepoints for small and medium enterprises in rural areas. For more information, please click here.