Scottish Parliament
Today’s business includes:
- Topical Questions
- Scottish Government Debate: EU Retained Law
- Committee Announcements
- Decision Time
- Members’ Business: S6M-05853: Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month 2022 (in the name of Clare Adamson)
- The following Committees are meeting this morning:
- Health, Social Care and Sport Committee (agenda items include: National Care Service (Scotland) Bill)
- Finance and Public Administration Committee (agenda items include: National Care Service (Scotland) Bill)
- Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee (agenda items include: National Care Service (Scotland) Bill and National Planning Framework 4)
- Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee (agenda items include: National Care Service (Scotland) Bill and Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill)
UK Parliament
Today’s business includes:
- Oral Questions (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) – topics include the Energy Price Guarantee, energy support for rural households and SME recruitment challenges.
- Westminster Hall Debate: Economic impact of covid-19 lockdowns
- Oral Questions (Lords) – questions include Russia’s use of drone attacks against Ukraine
- Orders and regulations – Draft Export Control (Amendment)(EU Exit) Regulations 2022
- Debate: Autumn Statement
- Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill – Debate
- Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill – Debate
- Second Delegated Legislation Committee - Debate: The draft Social Security (Class 2 National Insurance Contributions Increase of Threshold) Regulations) 2022
- Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee – Private Meeting
- Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee – Oral Evidence session on Post-pandemic economic growth: UK labour markets
- Defence Committee – Oral evidence session on Aviation Procurement
- Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Sub-Committee on Online Harms and Disinformation – Oral evidence session on Misinformation and trusted voices
- Built Environment Committee – Oral evidence session on Infrastructure policymaking and implementation in central government
- Industry and Regulators Committee – The work of Ofwat
- Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee – Oral evidence session on Avian Influenza
- International Development Committee – Oral evidence session on Ukraine: Humanitarian assistance
- Economic Affairs Committee – Oral evidence sessions with the Governor of the Bank of England
Aberdeenshire Council
Today’s business includes:
- Meeting of the Garioch Area Committee and Buchan Area Committee
Aberdeen City Council
- Today’s business includes:
Meetings of the Integration Joint Board and Local Licensing Forum
News/Consultations/Funding
- The Scottish Government Social Enterprise Just Transition Fund – the fund aims to finance organisations, businesses, communities, and individuals to transition to net zero, creating jobs in low carbon industries and contributing to the region’s future prosperity. More information can be found here. Closing date is the 9th of December 2022.
- Energy Market Financing Scheme – the scheme opens today to help support viable energy firms with major operations in the UK from the unprecedented volatility triggered by Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. More information can be found here.
- Energy Bill Relief Scheme for non-domestic customers. The Energy Bill Relief Scheme (EBRS) will provide discounts on energy bills for non-domestic customers in Great Britain. The discounts will initially be applied to energy usage between 1st October 2022 and 31 March 2023. The discount will be applied automatically to all eligible bills by suppliers. You do not need to take action or apply to the scheme, however if you would like more information please see here.
- Developing a Scottish tax to replace the UK Aggregates Levy – The Scottish Government is consulting on a proposal to introduce a Scottish replacement of the UK and are seeking views on how it should be structured and operate. To respond to the consultation, or for more information, please see here. Closing date is the 4th of December 2022.
- Scottish Enterprise Account Management Service. Scottish Enterprise are providing a dedicated account management service for ambitious companies that are able to demonstrate that they can make a significant contribution to achieving a fairer and greener economy. For more information, or to apply, please see here.
- 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.