Wednesday, February 8: Today's political diary

Scottish Parliament

Today’s business includes:

• Portfolio Questions: Covid-19 Recovery and Parliamentary Business; Finance and the Economy
• Scottish Liberal Democrats Debate: Addressing the Crisis in NHS Dentistry
• Scottish Liberal Democrats Debate: Investing in the Future of Social Care
• Decision Time
• Members’ Business: S6M-07546 Cervical Cancer Prevention Week (in the name of Ruth Maguire)
• Members’ Business: S6M-07514 Final Report of the Independent Oversight and Assurance Group on Tayside’s Mental Health Services (in the name of Michael Marra)

The following Committees are meeting this morning:

• Education, Children and Young People Committee
• Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
• Criminal Justice Committee

UK Parliament

Today’s business includes:

• Prime Minister’s Question Time
• Westminster Hall debate: Genomics and national security
• Oral Questions (Lords): Prohibiting the forcible installation of prepayment energy meters, and compensating those subjected to this practice
• Legislation (Lords): Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill – second reading
• Work and Pensions Committee – Oral evidence session on Plan for Jobs and employment support
• Science and Technology Committee – Oral evidence session on The antimicrobial potential of bacteriophages
• European Scrutiny Committee – Private meeting
• International Development Committee – Oral evidence session on Aid spending in the UK
• Human Rights (Joint Committee) – Oral evidence session on Legislative Scrutiny: Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill 2022-2023

Aberdeenshire Council

No scheduled business

Aberdeen City Council

Today’s business includes:

• Local Review Body of Aberdeen City Council

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.
• 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.