Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government has a corporate correspondence system. Correspondence addressed to Ministers and requiring a response is added to the system on receipt.

I met with NHS Board Chairs and Chief Executives this morning, including those from NHS Orkney, and we discussed a range of issues related to the current service pressures.

We know households are facing financial pressures and have urged the UK Government to take action, particularly on spiralling energy costs. Our £41 million Winter Support Fund is helping people meet rising living costs and we also doubled the December payment of the Carer’s Allowance Supplement which supported 91,000 unpaid carers. Our Scottish Child Payment will also double in April. We are providing £7.4 million this year to support free debt advice, including additional funding for increased demand. I would also encourage people to access our new Money Support Scotland website for debt and money advice and adverts promoting the site are running now.

The Scottish Government supports businesses of all kinds through a wide range of interventions delivered through our enterprise and skills agencies and partner organisations and values the role small community businesses.

In August 2021 we launched the £10 million Scotland Loves Local multi-year programme to support local businesses and encourage people to shop locally. We have also established a £325 million Place Based Investment Programme backed by a five year commitment over the course of the Parliament to accelerate our shared ambitions for Place, Town Centre Action, 20-Minute Neighbourhoods, Community Led Regeneration and Community Wealth Building.

We are working with sectors on an economy wide basis to help navigate the predictable consequences of leaving the EU.

The hospitality sector, like many sectors who have employed EU nationals as a benefit of free movement, is experiencing recruitment and retention challenges directly linked to EU Exit.

We have supported a recruitment campaign for tourism and hospitality businesses with £100,000 of funding. We also continue to develop recovery plans for the sector that will seek to mitigate the worst impacts of EU Exit alongside pandemic pressures, and continue to press UKG for a workable immigration policy to support our economy.

Scotland is a globally renowned producer of seed potatoes, with the industry contributing £245 million pounds annually to Scotland’s economy.

Regrettably, Brexit has had a disproportionate impact on the Scottish sector with the loss of the EU and NI markets. The Scottish Government raised concerns with the UK Government from the outset but this is another example of their failure to secure an outcome which protects this key Scottish industry. Finding a resolution is a priority for Scottish Government. At every opportunity we stand firm against export or import proposals that would cause further harm to our producers and exporters.

The Scottish Government remains absolutely committed to ensuring that victims of domestic abuse feel supported throughout the justice system, including court proceedings. A number of measures are in place to support survivors of domestic violence during court proceedings. For example, the court can take extra steps, called 'special measures', to help vulnerable witnesses give the best evidence they can. In criminal courts, deemed vulnerable witnesses (including those in domestic abuse cases) are automatically entitled to special measures including a screen in the courtroom; a TV link to somewhere outside the courtroom; and a supporter who can sit with the witness while they give evidence.

The Scottish Government recognises the key role that advocacy services play in helping victims come forward and engage with the justice process. As such, in the first 100 days of this Government we allocated an additional £5m to fourteen specialist support organisations including Scottish Women’s Aid to bolster the vital services they provide and help ensure those who need support are able to access it.

In line with the terms and conditions associated with the Winter Support funding, the Scottish Government expects to begin receiving evaluation reports in April 2022.

This fund is one of the recommendations in the Improving Housing Outcomes for Women and Children Experiencing Domestic Abuse report . We have convened an official level implementation and monitoring group to oversee implementation of the recommendations within the report, including working with partners to explore the options for a dedicated fund to support women leaving an abusive partner.

The Scottish Welfare Fund (SWF) can currently provide financial and practical support to those experiencing Domestic Abuse with the provision of Crisis and Community Care Grants.

We are aware that some manufacturers may be affected by difficulties with imported components. Other manufactures have stock availability and specialist retailers are also able to meet demand, subject to logistical challenges. However, I would emphasise that when the legislation comes into force, it says that work should be done within a reasonable period, which takes into account individual circumstances. No home owner will be penalised if they are unable to do the work by 1 February 2022.