Wednesday, February 1: Today's political diary

Scottish Parliament:

Today’s business includes:

• Portfolio Questions: Constitution, External Affairs and Culture; Justice and Veterans
• Scottish Government Debate: Electoral Reform Consultation
• Decision Time
• Members’ Business: S6M-07161 Heart Month, February 2023 (in the name of Paul McLennan)

The following Committees are meeting this morning:

• Education, Children and Young People Committee
• Criminal Justice Committee
• Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

UK Parliament:

Today’s business includes:

• Oral Questions: Attorney General
• Prime Minister’s Question Time
• Ten Minute Rule Motion: Scotland (Self-Determination)
• Legislation: UK Infrastructure Bank Bill [HL]: remaining stages
• Backbench Business: State Pension Age
• Westminster Hall debate: Potential impact of artificial intelligence on intellectual property rights for creative workers
• Oral Questions (Lords): Plans to retain employment rights legislation contained in EU law beyond the end of 2023
• Legislation (Lords): Financial Services and Markets Bill – committee stage (day 3)
• Work and Pensions Committee – Oral evidence session on Defined benefit pensions with Liability Driven investments
• International Trade Committee – Oral evidence session on The future of the global rules-based trading systems
• Women and Equalities Committee – Oral evidence session on Cost of living: disabled people and carers (one-off session)
• Human Rights (Joint Committee) – Private Meeting

Aberdeenshire Council:

Today’s business includes:

• Audit Committee

Aberdeen City Council:

Today’s business includes:

• Finance and Resources Committee

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.
• NEW: 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: 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: Coastal Communities Challenge Fund 2023-24. This fund provides grants of between £10k and £50k to projects in Aberdeenshire which support the development of active travel routes along/to/from the coastline, the development of the coastal economy and sustainable tourism, the creation or enhancement of community, leisure and recreational facilities and/or the safeguarding, restoration and enhancement of the coastal environment. For more information, please click here. Closing date for applications is the 6^th February.
• 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.