Official Report 690KB pdf
Good morning. The first item of business is general question time.
Jobcentres (Closure)
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the United Kingdom Government regarding the closure of any jobcentres in Scotland. (S6O-05010)
We have raised the issue of jobcentre closures with UK Government counterparts, and we are concerned about the closure of the Cambuslang jobcentre in Clare Haughey’s constituency. We will continue to engage with relevant stakeholders to assess the impact and explore ways to minimise disruption where necessary.
The Department for Work and Pensions has announced that the Cambuslang jobcentre in my constituency is to close. It was saved in 2017 after a huge outpouring of opposition to the previous proposed closure. Hundreds of local residents have signed my petition against the closure, and Cambuslang community council is actively involved in the campaign. It is now 10 weeks since I requested an urgent meeting with the UK Government, and I have had no response. Will the Deputy First Minister join me in opposing the closure and condemn the UK Government’s lack of engagement with local representatives and the affected communities?
Cuts to services mean that people face greater travelling times and costs, which are particularly significant for disabled people and those with complex needs. People also face an increased risk of sanctions from having to travel longer distances to attend jobcentres at specific times. For those reasons, I absolutely join the representative for Rutherglen, Clare Haughey, and all the organisations that she has mentioned in opposing the closure. The lack of consultation prior to the decision is particularly unacceptable.
Biodegradable Municipal Waste
To ask the Scottish Government what the current state of readiness is for the upcoming ban on biodegradable municipal waste to landfill. (S6O-05011)
The forthcoming ban on biodegradable waste to landfill is a crucial part of delivering Scotland’s net zero ambitions. The waste sector has already made significant preparations, including by making significant investment in Scotland’s infrastructure for energy from waste. As such, the amount of Scottish waste that was landfilled in 2023 was the lowest on record. The vast majority of councils have indicated readiness for the ban, and the remainder are progressing arrangements towards compliance. However, I am aware of the challenges that are faced by some in the sector, notably waste small and medium-sized enterprises. We are working with partners to support their readiness for the ban and to reduce any environmental impacts.
The landfill ban assurance study refers to external markets helping to manage any capacity shortfall from 2026. Will the cabinet secretary outline what those markets are and, if she is in a position to do so, outline when we will know where the waste will be sent to?
My plan is to have as much waste as possible, particularly biodegradable waste, dealt with in Scotland, in readiness. I note that there has been some media reporting on the potential for waste to go to England. I do not want that, and the First Minister has been very clear in the chamber that that will not happen.
I have had detailed discussions with representatives of the waste sector, who have been extremely helpful and constructive in their approach and are working with me, my Scottish Government teams and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency on a range of solutions for the issues that SMEs in the waste sector face. I cannot divulge those solutions at the moment, because they are still being fully agreed, but I hope to be able to let members and the Parliament know about them in the next few weeks.
Hydrogen (Development and Deployment)
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that Scotland remains at the forefront of hydrogen development and deployment. (S6O-05012)
The Scottish Government is committed to supporting the hydrogen sector in Scotland to develop and grow. We are engaging with business and the United Kingdom Government on the enabling policies that are required and the investment, infrastructure and regulatory measures that need to be in place to realise the substantial opportunities for Scotland from the production and use of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen, given our renewable power potential in Scotland. We are working with Scotland’s enterprise agencies to deliver our commitment to provide up to £10 million to the sector in 2025-26, with the aim of supporting production, infrastructure and usage projects.
With the H100 Fife hydrogen homes project close to launch, how is the Scottish Government working with regulators to ensure a smooth transition to hydrogen, to enable broader adaptation and adoption of similar technologies across Scotland and to build public confidence in hydrogen as a safe and sustainable energy source?
The use of hydrogen as an energy vector has been routine by industry in Scotland for many decades, mostly in petrochemical refining. However, hydrogen use for domestic heating is new and needs to be demonstrated. The H100 Fife project, which I have visited, will inform UK Government decisions on the role of hydrogen in decarbonising heat using the gas network.
We are working with Scottish and UK regulators through multiple channels, including the Scottish regulatory steering group and the UK hydrogen regulators forum, to ensure that the framework for hydrogen supports the scale-up of the sector while protecting the environment and communities.
Safety is absolutely fundamental, and the beauty of the H100 Fife project is that it can demonstrate that safety. Before the trial can go ahead, the Health and Safety Executive will have to be satisfied that it will run safely. If the HSE is satisfied, the evidence will demonstrate that the trial can run, which will provide the evidence to show that 100 per cent hydrogen, where applicable, can be used safely in a domestic setting.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Support)
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide further details of the steps that it is taking to support innovation and entrepreneurship in Scotland. (S6O-05013)
We are fully committed to our support of innovation and entrepreneurship. During the recent national innovation week, we reaffirmed our commitment to supporting innovators by announcing a £5 million package for Scotland’s high-growth clusters, and we launched a new national programme to help businesses to adopt artificial intelligence. In addition, we are investing a record £30 million in various initiatives to support entrepreneurs. Through all those interventions, we aim to become one of Europe’s fastest-growing start-up economies.
Will the Deputy First Minister provide a breakdown of the allocation of and expected outcomes from the ecosystem fund in 2025-26, particularly in regard to the supported projects and their impact on regional economies?
The ecosystem fund is our programme to support organisations that strengthen the wider entrepreneurial ecosystem by delivering projects that create the conditions for Scottish start-ups to thrive. Since 2021, the fund has invested £3.4 million across 100 innovative projects. The most recent round was launched in April, and, this year, we have awarded £800,000 to 28 projects from 317 applications, which demonstrates continued strong demand.
Northern Isles Ferry Services
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to reintroducing the “shared cabin” policy as a condition of the next northern isles ferry services contract. (S6O-05014)
I refer Liam McArthur to the response that I gave to written question S6W-35681. I reiterate:
“The detailed service requirements will be informed by a combination of stakeholder views alongside consideration of operational feasibility.”
The NIFS public consultation remains open until 13 October. Pending the analysis of feedback, I note that
“There are no current plans to introduce shared cabins as part of the NIFS services.”—[Written Answers, 26 March 2025; S6W-35681]
For years, the shared cabin policy on northern isles NorthLink ferries allowed islanders to get a good night’s sleep on the Aberdeen route while keeping costs down. The option was removed during Covid, and NorthLink and ministers have since refused to reintroduce it. As a result, islanders are often forced to pay full cabin price for a single berth or face sleeping in chairs or on the floor. It is akin to charging a motorcyclist for deck space for an articulated lorry. Costs are up and the value of vouchers is down. The ferries are a lifeline service and islanders deserve better. Again, I urge the minister to ensure that reintroducing the option of shared cabins is a condition of the next ferry services contract.
I hear the points that Liam McArthur makes. There are split views on what the policy should be. It is an operational matter, and the decision was taken by the operator on a health and safety basis. A number of other options can be used on that ferry service. A conclusion will be reached on those views as we go through the process.
Decarbonising Homes
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the climate action secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding how to encourage home owners to decarbonise their properties as part of Scotland’s ambition to achieve net zero by 2045. (S6O-05015)
As part of the development of the next climate change plan, I have had discussions with a range of colleagues, including the Cabinet Secretary for Housing, on heat in buildings in particular.
Decarbonising Scotland’s buildings is essential to achieving net zero by 2045, because heat is one of the most significant sources of emissions. Our programme of support schemes and advice services helps home owners to play their part by funding a significant share of the decarbonisation cost. We are investing £300 million in 2025-26 in supporting more than 20,000 households to save up to £500 a year on their energy bills.
At every opportunity, we must support home owners to decarbonise their properties, including by moving from heat systems that are reliant on fossil fuels to alternatives such as ground-source heat pumps. Often, however, when a heating system breaks down and is beyond repair, home owners need to move swiftly to secure heating and hot water for their families as soon as possible, particularly if they have small children or elderly relatives at home. That can necessitate the installation of a like-for-like system for speed—something that I have direct experience of. What action can the Scottish Government take to address barriers in switching to alternative heat sources in such circumstances, where time is of the essence and delays in installing good-enough heat systems might deter many?
I recognise the scenario that Mr Doris outlines, and I recognise that most home owners will replace like for like when an existing boiler breaks down, because it is an emergency purchase. Our support schemes are there to help home owners either to replace their boiler with a clean heating system before that stage or to put plans in place for when their boiler reaches the end of its life.
The Home Energy Scotland grant and loan scheme helps people across Scotland plan for and install heat pumps, and more than 2,500 pumps have been funded by the scheme in the past financial year. We will shortly be launching a national campaign to promote Home Energy Scotland, which provides households with free, impartial advice on energy efficiency and clean heating and can help households access the support that is available. I would also note that Glasgow City Council is working at pace to plan for significant heat networks in the city, as part of its stated goal to be a net zero city.
Given the huge potential of heat pumps, will the Scottish Government consider reintroducing financial support for householders to install solar panels as a first step to installing heat pumps? Our constituents are now cancelling their plans to install heat pumps, which is bad news for our climate, for their homes and for the companies that make heat pumps in Scotland.
With the fiscal constraints at the moment, we have had to make some choices about where we put support. I would love to be in a position to extend the support available into other technologies such as the ones that Sarah Boyack mentions, but we have to look at where, with the funding that we have got, we can make the biggest difference to decarbonisation and have some effect on fuel poverty. If things improve in relation to our settlement from the United Kingdom Government, I will be able to take measures such as the ones that Sarah Boyack has outlined.
Public Body Officials
Given the time, maybe I should speak slowly, Presiding Officer.
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has in place to ensure that public body officials do not misuse their position for personal gain. (S6O-05016)
Public body officials must adhere to the Scottish public finance manual. Scottish Government-sponsored bodies must ensure compliance with any relevant provisions and arrange for procedures that are consistent with the guidance to be put in place.
Board members establish the values and standards of their organisation and ensure that the organisation adopts and complies with its code of conduct for staff. The Scottish Government ensures that board members are aware of their responsibilities through annual board induction events and the production of guidance. The Standards Commission for Scotland provides further detailed guidance through a model code of conduct and guidance on how it applies.
I am grateful to the minister for his reply. In relation to the conduct of senior officials, given the on-going disclosures in the public interest at Historic Environment Scotland, Glasgow City Council and Techscaler on matters that would never have seen the light of day were it not for the courage of individuals in being prepared to speak out, often in the face of intimidation and the threat of retaliation, will the minister take the opportunity to commend the bravery of whistleblowers and to acknowledge the vital role that they play in safeguarding the public interest? Does he accept that it is often only the guarantee of anonymity that gives whistleblowers the courage to make a protected disclosure to a prescribed person in the first instance?
I am aware of the issues in connection with Historic Environment Scotland. Stephen Kerr knows that my colleague Angus Robertson, the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, is seized of those matters. We are delighted that HES has a new and highly commended chairman in Sir Mark Jones, who will look closely at governance and other matters.
On the broader issue that Stephen Kerr raised, I absolutely commend the whistleblowing that takes place, because it is important in keeping the whole public sector system in check and in raising awareness of where there might be potential issues that need to be addressed.
Scotland’s Rural College
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will change the college and university funding frameworks to reflect the hybrid nature of Scotland’s Rural College, which has both higher and further education provision. (S6O-05017)
The Scottish Government absolutely recognises the important role of hybrid institutions such as the SRUC, which support the delivery of both further and higher education. The current framework allows the Scottish Funding Council to fund institutions to support both provision types.
As the member will be aware, it is the Scottish Funding Council that is responsible for allocating funding to institutions. However, I would be interested to hear more from him on the issue of funding frameworks.
The SRUC has been through the mill in recent years. It has had significant problems with its finances, which have resulted in the closure of buildings and courses, and although it has a huge estate that it inherited from its predecessors, it gets a fraction of the capital funding from the Scottish Funding Council that I think that it deserves. Therefore, I would appreciate it if the minister could have a discussion with the SFC to ensure that the special hybrid nature of the SRUC is reflected in the finances that are available to it.
I am aware of the contribution that the SRUC makes, not only because of my present role but because of my time as Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment in years past.
I was grateful to receive direct correspondence from the SRUC on my appointment on 29 September, and I am aware of the engagement that my predecessor had with the organisation. I look forward to having further direct engagement with the SRUC on the matters that the member has raised and on other matters of pertinence to the organisation, and to having continued dialogue with the SFC. I will note the points that the member has raised as I undertake that dialogue in the period ahead.
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Once again, I forgot to declare an interest as a director of WhistleblowersUK, which is a not-for-profit company that has set up a campaign for a more favourable legislative framework for whistleblowing.
Thank you, Mr Kerr. Your comments are on the record.
The minister will be aware that, this week, the United Kingdom Government has moved to reintroduce grant support for students on low incomes—and about time, too. Can he confirm that the policy of utilising international student income for that purpose will not affect Scotland’s universities? How do the new measures in England compare with what the Scottish National Party already provides by way of support to students?
The matters that the member raises in relation to the UK Government’s announcement are matters of concern that the Scottish Government will consider. We will continue to make sure that, through free tuition and the enhanced support that is provided in Scotland, learners in Scotland receive the most support in the UK and that the total package of support that is provided here is the most generous in the UK. We will make sure that Scottish students continue to have the lowest average student loan debt in the UK, and we are committed to free tuition, as the Parliament well knows.