Wednesday, January 25: Today's political diary

Scottish Parliament

Today’s business includes:

• Portfolio Questions: Rural Affairs and Islands; Health and Social Care
• Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Debate: Homeless Emergency
• Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Debate: Delivering the Homes Scotland Needs
• Scottish Government Debate: Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill – UK Legislation
• Legislative Consent Motion: Public Order Bill – UK Legislation
• Legislative Consent Motion: UK Infrastructure Bank Bill – UK Legislation
• Decision Time
• Members’ Business: S6M-07412 Future of Childcare (in the name of Meghan Gallagher)

The following Committees are meeting this morning:

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

UK Parliament

Today’s business includes:

• Oral Questions: Women and Equalities
• Prime Minister’s Question Time
• Ten Minute Rule Motion: First-Aid (Mental Health)
• Legislation: Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (Day 2): Remaining stages
• Adjournment: Government support for Britishvolt
• Westminster Hall debate: Reform of public procurement processes
• Westminster Hall debate: Regulation of cryptocurrency
• Westminster Hall debate: Contribution of the steel industry to the UK economy
• Legislation (Lords): Financial Services and Markets Bill – committee stage (day 1)
• Electricity and Gas Transmission (Compensation) Bill – Debate to consider the Bill
• Seventh Delegated Legislation Committee – Debate on The Plant Health and Trade in Animals and Related Products (Amendment) Regulations 2022
• European Affairs Committee – Private Meeting
• Environment and Climate Change Committee – Private Meeting
• Work and Pensions Committee – Oral evidence session on Plan for Jobs and employment support
• Science and Technology Committee – Oral evidence session on Governance of artificial intelligence (AI)
• International Trade Committee – Oral evidence session on UK trade negotiations: CPTPP accession
• Transport Committee – Rural connectivity
• Communications and Digital Committee – Oral evidence session on Online Safety Bill
• European Scrutiny Committee – Private Meeting
• Environmental Audit Committee – Oral evidence session on Environmental Change and Food Securit

Aberdeenshire Council

No scheduled business

Aberdeen City Council

Today’s business includes:

• Licensing 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.
• 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: 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.