Tuesday, February 28: Today's political diary

Scottish Parliament

Topical Questions

• Economy and Fair Work Committee Debate: Retail and Town Centres in Scotland
• Decision Time
• Members’ Business: S6M-07857 Celebrating LGBT+ History Month (in the name of Joe Fitzpatrick)

The following Committees are meeting this morning:

• Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
• Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
• Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
• Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee
• Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

UK Parliament

Today’s business includes:

• Oral Questions: Energy Security and Net Zero (including Topical Questions)
• Adjournment: Impact of bank closures on the high street
• Oral Questions (Lords): Progress on the Heat and Buildings Strategy and plans to change the date of 2025 for banning the installation of gas boilers in new-build homes
• Oral Questions (Lords): Underspend in the annual £150 million budget to install domestic heat pumps and other low-carbon alternatives to gas boilers
• Legislation (Lords): Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill - committee stage (day 2)
• Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee Debate: The draft Direct Payments to Farmers (Reductions) (England) Regulations 2023, The draft Agriculture (Financial Assistance) (Amendment) Regulations 2023
• Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee: Oral evidence session on UK plc 2050
• Defence Committee – Oral evidence session on Defence and Climate Change
• Science and Technology Committee (Lords): Oral evidence session on the effects of artificial light and noise on human health
• Treasury Committee – Oral evidence session on The crypto-asset industry
• Industry and Regulators Committee – Private meeting on The work of Ofwat
• Built Environment Committee – Oral evidence session on The impact of environmental regulations on development
• Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee – Oral evidence session on Species Reintroduction
• Communications and Digital Committee – Oral evidence session on Digital exclusion and the cost of living
• International Development Committee – Oral evidence session on WASH (Water, Sanitation and Health)
• Foreign Affairs Committee – Oral evidence session on UK universities’ engagement with autocracies
• Economic Affairs Committee – Private meeting
• European Affairs Committee – Private meeting on The future UK-EU relationship

Aberdeenshire Council

Today’s business includes:

• Formartine Area Committee
• Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee

Aberdeen City Council

Today’s business includes:

• Risk, Audit and Performance Committee

News/Funding/Consultations

• Consultation: Ending the sale of peat in Scotland. As part of the recently adopted National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), the Scottish Government have stated their intention to ban the sale of peat and related products as the first stage of their commitment to phase out its use in horticulture. They are now consulting on the proposed timetables and the impacts of doing this. For more information, or to respond to the consultation, please click here. The closing date for responses is 12^th May.
• Consultation: Additional Dwelling Supplement: Proposals for Change. The Scottish Government is consulting on proposals to increase the timelines in the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) Additional Dwelling Supplement (ADS) legislation from 18 months to 36 months. For more information, or to respond to the consultation, please click here. The closing date for responses is 5^th April.
• Consultation: International Culture Strategy: Survey. The Scottish Government has committed to developing a strategy to support the international aspirations and potential of Scotland’s culture sector. The Strategy will focus on the motivations of culture sector stakeholders in working internationally, while recognising that such work has wider impacts on Scotland’s international reputation and relationships. For more information or to respond to the consultation, please click here. The closing date for responses is 26^th April.
• 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: Changes to residency criteria for access to financial support in Further and Higher Education. Following a recent Court case, Scottish Ministers have given an undertaking to review the residency criteria in relation to student funding. For more information, or to respond to the consultation, please see here. The closing date for responses is 31^st March.
• Consultation: Community Wealth Building. Community Wealth Building (CWB) is an approach designed to tackle long-standing economic challenges and transform Scotland’s local and regional economies by considering the ways in which the public sector, in partnership with the private, third and community sectors, can ensure more wealth is generated, circulated and retained in communities and localities. In short, CWB is focused on growing the influence communities have on the economy and ensuring communities receive more of the benefits from the wealth they help to generate. The 2021-22 Programme for Government confirmed the Scottish Government’s intention to bring forward legislation on CWB during the current Parliamentary session. For more information, or to respond to the consultation, please click here. The closing date for responses is 25^th April.
• Consultation: Amendments to the regulation on independent health care. The Scottish Government is consulting on proposed changes to the regulation of independent health care in Scotland. For more information, or to respond to the consultation, please click here. The closing date for responses is 26^th April.
• Consultation: Electoral Reform. The Scottish Government is consulting on possible changes to electoral law including proposals to increase voter registration, accessibility in elections, those without voting rights and those permitted to vote but not stand for election. For more information or to respond to the consultation, please click here. The closing date for responses is 15^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.
• NEW: Funding: Workforce Innovation Voucher. The Workforce Innovation Voucher scheme can be used to support innovation to develop a company’s workforce in partnership with a college or university – for example, a new or enhanced workplace business processes, workplace practice or innovative business expertise. Interface provides support with finding a suitable academic partner who has the right specialist expertise to progress your Research and Development project. For more information, or to apply, please click here.
• Funding: National Lottery Open Fund of Organisations – Creative Scotland. The National Lottery Open Fund for Organisations is a funding programme for artistic, creative and cultural organisations based in Scotland. Organisations can apply for between £1,000 and £100,000 to support creative activity that lasts up to 18 months. For more information, or to apply, please click here.
• Funding: National Lottery Extended Programme Fund – Creative Scotland. The National Lottery Extended Programme Fund is a time-limited funding programme for non-profit artistic, creative and cultural organisations based in Scotland. Organisations can apply for between £100,000 and £200,000 for programmes of creative activity that last between 18 and 24 months. For more information, or to apply, please click here.
• Funding: Flexible Workforce Development Fund. The Flexible Workforce Development Fund (FWDF) helps employers in Scotland access workforce training opportunities to upskill or reskill their employees. Eligible employers can get up to £15,000 in funding for tailored training programmes. Applications will be accepted up until the 31^st July or whenever the fund has been fully allocated, if earlier. For more information, or to apply, please click here.
• Funding: Green Heat Innovation Support Programme. The Green Heat Innovation Support Programme provides grant funding, competitive procurement and other forms of support to help Scottish-based companies or companies looking to invest in Scotland develop innovative products, services or business models that address the challenges of green heating. For more information, or to apply, please click here.
• 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.