Tuesday, February 7: Today's political diary

Scottish Parliament

Today’s business includes:

• Topical Questions
• Ministerial Statement: Scottish Government’s Response to the Second Round of the Levelling Up Fund
• Scottish Government Debate: Update on the Social Security Programme Business Case
• Decision Time

Members’ Business: S6M-07485 UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill

• 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
• Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
• Finance and Public Administration Committee
• Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

UK Parliament

Today’s business includes:

• Oral Questions: Treasury (including Topical Questions)
• Ten Minute Rule Motion: Seizure of Russian state assets and support for Ukraine
• Legislation: Seafarers’ Wages Bill [Lords: Remaining Stages]
• Westminster Hall debate: Levelling Up Fund round 2 bidding process
• Oral Questions (Lords): Reviewing the impact of their energy profits levy, given the profits announced by Shell on 2 February
• Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee – Oral evidence session on The work of the BBC
• Treasury Committee – Oral evidence session on Retail Banks
• Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee – Private meeting
• Science and Technology Committee (Lords): Oral evidence session on Delivering a UK science and technology strategy
• Justice and Home Affairs Committee – Private meeting
• Industry and Regulators Committee – Private meeting on The work of Ofwat
• Common Frameworks Scrutiny Committee – Private meeting
• Foreign Affairs Committee – Oral evidence session on The FCDO’s approach to state level hostage situations
• Economic Affairs Committee – Private meeting
• European Affairs Committee – Private meeting on The future of the UK-EU relationship

Aberdeenshire Council

Today’s business includes:

• Formartine Area Committee
• Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee

Aberdeen City Council

Today’s business includes:

• Licensing Board

News/Funding/Consultations

• 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.
• 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.
• LAST CHANCE: 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.