Chamber and committees

As set out in the Scottish Government’s Heat in Buildings Strategy, we are taking a ‘zero emissions first’ approach in our heat and energy efficiency delivery programmes, where it is technically feasible and will not increase fuel poverty. The main solutions for meeting our climate change targets in buildings are to install energy efficiency measures and zero direct emissions heating, such as heat pumps and low and zero emissions heat networks. Electricity networks must not become a barrier to achieving net zero, so it is essential they are ready to support our energy transition and heat ambitions.

The SEFARI (Scottish Environment, Food and Agriculture Research Institutions) gateway, who are administering the Specialist Advisory Group on waste emissions on behalf of the Scottish Government, received a number of notes of interest from waste specialists to join the Specialist Advisory Group. However, as of the date of this response, SEFARI have not yet issued contracts for the specialists on the group. We are therefore not able to provide details on the composition of the Specialist Advisory Group until these contracts have been finalised.

The Scottish and UK Government jointly developed an evidence led and objective place selection methodology for Investment Zones, adapting the approach taken by the UK Government in England to Investment Zones in England. Details of that process will be published in due course.

The Scottish Government is investing across a number of areas to ensure that those experiencing bereavement are able to access the support they need. We will continue to engage with our bereavement sector partners and work with them to take forward priorities.

The Scottish Government encourages all employers to be sensitive to the needs and feelings of their workers, and to be considerate of their wellbeing. We expect employers to make every effort to put in place reasonable adjustments and support workers on their return to work as they continue to deal with the impacts of bereavement. We also welcome the work being led by bereavement sector partners to help employers support their staff when experiencing a bereavement, and the Bereavement Charter for Scotland is an example of the sector’s work to support improved practices. The charter recognises that bereavement can impact all aspects of a person’s life, including work, and employers may want to consider the charter and how it can be used to support staff.

The Scottish Government, in partnership with Public Health Scotland, developed the ‘ Supporting a mentally healthy workplace’ digital platform to help employers in Scotland actively support and promote mental health at work. It signposts employers to a wide range of free mental health and wellbeing resources and information. It also includes contact details for wider support services that can help to support mental wellbeing in the workplace, including bereavement support services.

There are currently no planned funding rounds for the Just Transition Fund in 2023-24.

In addition to the Fund’s £50 million multi-year capital programme announced for the region in 2022, we have allocated £25 million to the Scottish National Investment Bank for 2023-24, to be invested by the Bank, on a commercial basis and in line with its Investment Strategy and its missions including to support a just transition to net zero. For further details, businesses, projects and their representatives can contact the Bank via its website, where the Bank’s new enquiries team will handle the approach - Contact | Scottish National Investment Bank (thebank.scot)

The pharmaceuticals sector plays a crucial role in the growth and development of the life sciences sector and as a result is a key contributor to the growth and development of the Scottish economy.

The manufacturing of pharmaceuticals sector is an important source of entrepreneurial activity, supporting GVA and employment throughout Scotland. The pharmaceuticals sector is a key driver of innovation and productivity in the economy with a GVA per head of employment of £200,700 in 2020, more than 3 times the Scottish average.

Scotland’s National Innovation Strategy was published on 6 June 2023 and it identifies a number of key areas where Scotland has a competitive advantage and a strong research and business base. Health & Life Sciences is one of these areas and one of four broad innovation themes on which future activity will focus. The Scottish Government is fully committed to supporting the further growth and scaling of one of the biggest life sciences clusters in Europe and the pharmaceutical industry will play a crucial part in the sector’s development of world leading excellence, bringing in investment and creating jobs and opportunities across the country.

As part of the 2023-24 budget we have provided SCTS with £4.7m in additional capital funding, on top of their £8m baseline capital allocation. The additional £4.7m was identified within the Justice portfolio budget to support a number of priority SCTS capital projects, including towards the costs in 2023-24 of the replacement of the Office of the Public Guardian IT system, as part of wider modernisation and improvement in the work of the OPG. Work on the new OPG IT system is progressing as planned.

Circularity Scotland Limited is a private not for profit company set up by industry. As an independent private company, it is not required to report to the Scottish Government. Therefore the Scottish Government does not hold any information on expenditure incurred by Circularity Scotland during the financial year 2022-2023. Circularity Scotland is currently in administration. More information on this can be found at: Interpath Administrators appointed to Circularity Scotland Ltd (interpathadvisory.com) .

We welcome the start of Hainan’s direct service between Edinburgh Airport and Beijing which we have promoted through our social media channels in China, with over 500,000 impressions to date. We wish Edinburgh Airport and Hainan every success with this service. The Scottish Government’s engagement with China continues to support political, economic, cultural, education, and social relationships with the people of China in keeping with the values of Scotland.

The Scottish Government is not aware on which specific date Circularity Scotland first informed Scottish Enterprise that it was at risk of going in to administration.