Chamber and committees

Our universities are autonomous institutions and the alliances they forge across global academic networks are a matter for them and their governing bodies.

We expect all our universities to understand and manage the reputational, ethical and security risks associated with international partnerships. This includes conducting appropriate due diligence before entering into new international partnerships and monitoring existing partnerships. Guidance to support universities has been published by Universities UK.

In Scotland, NHS Boards are subject to the NHS Board Performance Escalation Framework which has a five stage escalation process. There are currently five territorial Health Boards escalated to Stage 3 or above on the framework. These boards are subject to additional scrutiny and are receiving tailored support.

Escalated Boards (as at June 2022)

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-08992 on 17 June 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

In 2019 we published “Scotland: a trading nation”; a plan to grow Scotland’s exports which highlighted energy as a key sector. This year will also deliver a Renewable Energy Sector export plan showing our long term growth plan for exports.

Scottish Development International is the primary delivery arm for providing in-depth export support to Scottish businesses, both in Scotland and overseas. This is undertaken through a combination of individual company work, industry exhibitions and conferences.

Ministers are supporting Scotland’s renewable energy suppliers by engaging in high level events focused on export. June 2022 will see the next GlobalScot Energy Showcase; an opportunity for Scottish businesses to connect with a community of internationally-based business ambassadors with in market knowledge to support export.

In line with the Programme for Government, we are helping manufacturing businesses to make the transition to net zero and realise the opportunities of a low carbon economy

The recently launched Low Carbon Manufacturing Challenge Fund will provide research and development funding for projects that result in increased product circularity, reduced waste during the manufacturing process and reduced carbon. Innovative proposals will be supported with £3 million funding this year and a total of £26 million over five years.

We are also supporting supply chains through our supply chain development programme which has an initial focus on net zero and is providing significant public sector procurement to build resilient supply chains.

In accordance with waiting times guidance, cancellations resulting from hospital operational circumstances should not result in any detriment to the patient. The Scottish Government expects that NHS Boards will offer a rescheduled appointment as soon as possible to any patient within NHS Scotland who has had their operation cancelled.

To date, over £20.3 million of the Recycling Improvement Fund has been awarded to 13 local authorities. This funding has been profiled over several years, based on individual project requirements. In 2021-22 local authorities required £5,267,640 of available funding, due to the lead in time needed to establish projects and some delays due to procurement and supply chain issues. The remainder is being phased over subsequent years of the fund, based on the local projects’ spend profiles.

As outlined in the recent Outcome of the Targeted Review of the Capital Spending Review, funding that has not been allocated to date will be available to invest in remaining years of the Fund. The Scottish Government remains committed to investing £70 million through the Recycling Improvement Fund to improve the quantity and quality of recycling in Scotland.

ScotRail introduced a temporary timetable on 23 May to provide certainty to train passengers about the availability of ScotRail services, this was in response to train drivers choosing not to work overtime or rest days – as is their right. ScotRail could not, therefore, maintain a Service Level Commitment (SLC) as a result, however given that ASLEF have now moved to ballot their members in a referendum on the pay deal, it is hoped ScotRail will be able to return to normal rail services as soon as possible. ScotRail reviewed the temporary timetable on June 3 rd and as a result have reintroduced a number of services.

However, it is also clear that wider UK-wide industrial action between Network Rail and the RMT is going to impact on ScotRail services from the 21 st of June.

Energy pricing and retail market regulation are reserved to the UK Government so it is not within the powers of the Scottish Government to require windfarm developers to provide cheaper electricity to local communities.

However, we do encourage them to provide benefits to communities to help address the needs and priorities of local residents. The Scottish Government published updated Good Practice Principles for Community Benefits from Onshore Renewable Energy Developments on May 2019, setting out national standards for the provision of community benefit which we encourage renewable energy businesses and communities alike to utilise.

Local Energy Scotland who deliver the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) maintain a Community Benefit Register on our behalf. According to the Register, as at May end 2022, over £22.8 million had been paid out to local communities over the past twelve months.

The Scottish Government welcomes the Promise Scotland’s Oversight Board report and the continued focus and momentum across all stakeholders to Keep The Promise.

The Scottish Government remains committed to Keeping The Promise by 2030, working in partnership with Local Authorities, The Promise Scotland, third sector, health boards and importantly the care community.

The Scottish Government Keeping The Promise Implementation Plan published on 30 March 2022 sets out a wide range of actions over a range of areas including education, health, justice and child poverty and how we will continue to work with The Promise Scotland, COSLA, Local Authorities. This includes actions on data gathering and monitoring.

The setting up of the Promise Collective as a strategic forum to ensure alignment of all Scottish Government funded delivery and improvement initiatives that are working to Keep The Promise. The group will be co-Chaired with COSLA, Scottish Government and The Promise Scotland.

The Scottish Government has committed £500m over the course of this Parliamentary term, beginning with £50m in 2022-23, to preventative spend through the Whole Family Wellbeing Funding. We will evaluate the impact of this funding on supporting transformational change and this will inform future policy, planning and development.

Working with The Promise Scotland to build an evidence base to understand the best governance, financial arrangements and models of care to assess how we can best Keep The Promise. This will explore the options for the future of children’s services from an evidence based position and enable us to assess the best way to Keep The Promise.

We are developing an Outcomes Framework for Children, Young People and Families which will provide a holistic understanding of what we mean by wellbeing, based on what children and families have told us matters, and rooted in GIRFEC and children’s rights.