Scottish Parliament
Today’s business includes:
- General Questions (includes questions on the cost of living crisis and vacant buildings in Aberdeen City)
- First Minister’s Questions (includes questions on the cost of living crisis and dualling of the A96)
- Members’ Business – S6M-05082 Fair Tax Week (in the name of Rhoda Grant)
- Portfolio Questions – Constitution, External Affairs and Culture
- Ministerial Statement: Update on Displaced People from Ukraine
- Ministerial Statement: National Mission on Drugs Update
- Ministerial Statement: Future of Scottish Ferries
- Ministerial Statement: Protecting Those Most at Risk – COVID19 Vaccination Programme Winter 2022
- Decision Time
The following Committees will meet this morning:
- Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
- Public Audit Committee
- Social Justice and Social Security Committee
- COVID-19 Recovery Committee
- Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
UK Parliament
Today’s business includes:
- Oral Questions: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- General Debate: UK Energy Costs
- Westminster Hall Debate: General debate on supporting local food infrastructure
- Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill – Debate
- National Security Bill – Debate
Aberdeen City Council
Today’s business includes a meeting of the Education Operational Delivery Committee.
Aberdeenshire Council
Today’s business includes meetings of the School Placings and Exclusions Appeal Committee and Communities Committee.
News/consultations/funding
- The Flexible Workforce Development Fund - £15k available for Scottish businesses to retrain and upskill workforce. More information can be found here.
- Low Carbon Transport Business Loan 2022/23 – Interest free loans are available to Scottish businesses to help lower their transport and travel costs. These loans are funded by Transport Scotland and have a repayment term of up to 6 years. More information can be found here.
- Recovery Loan Scheme extended – The UK Government has extended the Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) by a further two years, with applications opening in August 2022 – when further details on the scheme will also be released. More information can be found here.
- £22 million support package to help unemployed people over 50 find work - The package will fund new measures that will help thousands of people across the UK who are over the age of 50 and unemployed. As a result, they will be given further individual support to help them find work before retirement. More information can be found here.
- Investing in net zero energy – new funding to drive innovation within the hydrogen sector and accelerate its production and storage has been launched. More information can be found here.
- Switched on Taxis Loan – Interest free loans of up to £150,000 are available to help owners and operators of hackney cabs and private hire taxis to replace their current vehicles with an eligible ultra-low emission vehicle. For further information please click here
- Low Emission Zone Support Fund for Businesses - Eligible Scottish micro businesses and sole traders can apply for up to £2,000 to take older, more polluting vehicles off the road and move towards cleaner transport options. This is for operating vehicles that are not compliant with the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) standards, in Scotland’s 4 largest cities. More information can be found here.