Chamber and committees

While responsibility for immigration rests with the UK and we are clear the UK immigration system is not working for Scotland’s economy, public services or communities, the Scottish Government will do all we can to attract and retain people in Scotland. Last year we launched Moving to Scotland – an online resource providing information and signposting to people who have just moved to Scotland or who are thinking of moving here. In addition to Moving to Scotland we have committed to launching a Talent Attraction and Migration Service that will attract people to come and live in Scotland, help those moving to Scotland settle into their communities and support employers to navigate the immigration system. We are currently designing the service to ensure it achieves these outcomes and once we have completed this phase, will launch the service during 2023.

Migration from the rest of the UK to Scotland:

Estimates from National Records of Scotland (NRS) show that an annual average of 38,543 working-age (16-64) people have migrated from the rest of the UK to Scotland over the last five years of data (2016-17 to 2020-21).

However, over the same period, there has also been an average annual outflow (from Scotland to other parts of the UK) of 31,585 working age people – an annual average net flow (inflows minus outflows) of 6,958.

As part of our priority National Strategy for Economic Transformation (NSET) action, an Industry Advisory Group for rest of UK (rUK) Talent Attraction, chaired by Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise Minister, Ivan McKee, has been formed to share talent attraction expertise to identify and develop effective approaches to attracting talent from rUK.

The Industry Advisory Group (IAG) has met four times since being established in April 2022. The Group’s membership includes senior leaders from the Life Sciences, Tech / FinTech, Advanced Manufacturing – mechanical and electronics, Financial Services, Space and Renewables sectors, and has identified priority workstreams including; Data, Skills Shortages, Advertising and Marketing, Landing Support and Partner Support, Student Retention and Alumni; and Existing Pools of Talent.

As co-chair of Under2 Coalition European region, I attended the Under2 General Assembly in New York where it was announced that Scotland will continue its role as co-chair for a second term.

The General Assembly took place alongside New York Climate Week, which offered an important opportunity to meet with many counterparts, including fellow Under2 members, UN representatives including Catherine McKenna, Chair, UN High-Level Expert Group on the Net-Zero Emissions Commitments of Non-State Entities, and other climate leaders.

I also hosted an investment event promoting a number of Scottish green tech companies and met with Damilola Ogunbiyi – CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) and Co-Chair of UN-Energy, confirming Scotland’s commitment to the 24/7 Carbon-free Energy Compact (CFE).

Renewable energy, Hydrogen development, Just Transition, Financing and Climate Justice were common themes in New York. I also took part in a Loss and Damage panel and used the opportunity to promote the conference Scotland is hosting on loss and damage next month (11-12 October).

The national framework for the Supply of Electricity wholesale volumes are bought up to 2½ years in advance in tranches, following a proven ‘hedging’ purchasing strategy overseen by a cross-sectoral Risk Management Committee. The Committee comprises senior managers representing procurement, finance and energy management interests.

Whilst energy prices have risen to unprecedented levels because of global influences, the Scottish Government purchasing strategy has mitigated some of the increases for customers on the framework. However, given the substantially increased risk that this market volatility has brought, the Risk Management Committee has temporarily suspended the on-boarding of all new customers with immediate effect in order protect the risk strategy and the organisations currently using the framework. Organisations that are currently customers (including some third sector bodies) will remain on the framework.

The Risk Management Committee will keep that decision under regular review and when market conditions and risk profile allow, will permit new customers to join.

This is a question for the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland. She advises me that transfers of interest relating to properties over 3000 hectares are counted where:

• at least one applicant in the application for registration was designated as acting in the capacity of trustee
• the transfer of interest is not classified as a full market sale according to the Registers of Scotland property market report methodology.

This is a question for the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland. She advises me that transfers of interest relating to properties over 1000 hectares were counted where:

• at least one applicant in the application for registration was designated as acting in the capacity of trustee
• the transfer of interest is not classified as a full market sale according to the Registers of Scotland property market report methodology

This is a question for the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland. She advises me that transfers of interest relating to properties over 2000 hectares were counted where:

• at least one applicant in the application for registration was designated as acting in the capacity of trustee
• the transfer of interest is not classified as a full market sale according to the Registers of Scotland property market report methodology

The Scottish Government have provided funding to the Scottish Flood Forum since 2009 to work with communities to build resilience and to support those affected by flooding.

The Scottish Government also currently funds Adaptation Scotland Programme, a place-based, capacity building programme which provides advice and support to public sector organisations, businesses and communities to adapt to the impact of climate change, assess risks and ensure they are prepared for extreme weather such as storminess and flooding. Adaptation Scotland’s Adaptation Capability Framework is used across the public sector to assist organisations in assessing and developing their adaptation capacity.

In recognition of the importance of reducing flood risk the Scottish Government has provided, since 2008, a total of £42 million a year through the General Capital Grant to local authorities to allow them to invest in flood protection measures. In addition the 2020 Programme for Government committed an additional £150 million over the course of this Parliament for flood risk management actions.

The Scottish Government works closely with Scotland’s network of 12 Local Resilience Partnerships (LRPs) - which bring together emergency services, local authorities, health boards, power companies and other relevant partners - to prepare for and respond should severe weather impact or flooding occur.

People in Scotland over State Pension age, who do not already have an award of Personal Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance or Adult Disability Payment, can apply for Attendance Allowance.

Attendance Allowance is awarded to help with extra costs if a person has any disability severe enough that they need someone to help care for or supervise them. Attendance Allowance is currently delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions, on the Scottish Government’s behalf, through an agency agreement.

Pension Age Disability Payment will be the Scottish replacement for Attendance Allowance. Further information on Pension Age Disability Payment delivery will be provided in due course.

Public communications for Scotland's Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) are taking place over two phases. The first focuses on business and has already commenced, the second will focus on consumers and will take place closer to the scheme’s launch.

Spending decisions on individual nature sites are operational matters for NatureScot and the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA). I have asked the respective Chief Executive's to write with relevant details.