Chamber and committees

The UK Government’s decision to restrict eligibility for Winter Fuel Payments was taken without consultation with the Scottish Government This decision is estimated to result in a reduction in this year’s Block Grant Adjustment (BGA) provided to the Scottish Government of approximately £150 million, over 80% of the cost of the Scottish Government’s planned replacement benefit, Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (PAWHP). Scottish Government analysis suggests that around 900,000 pensioners will no longer be eligible for this payment, of between £200 and £300, in Scotland in 2024-25.

Despite our best efforts to review our financial position we have no choice but to follow the UK Government and restrict eligibility for Pension Age Winter Heating Payment to older people who receive relevant eligible benefits.

The spawning in Gairloch was a short-term event, lasting only a few days, and has not occurred there in recent years apart from this spring. This is not sufficient evidence to justify immediate protection as a spawning area, especially as measures that will remove the fishing pressure in this area are already being developed. Based on the available evidence, an immediate spawning closure is also not required to preserve the overall sustainability of the herring stock.

We recognise that the current situation in respect of disabled young people's transitions must improve, and remain fully committed to developing a strategy which recognises the urgency of the improvements we have heard are required whilst also allowing sufficient time to support the meaningful engagement and participation of those impacted by the strategy.

We are currently analysing our recent engagement with over 500 people, including disabled young people themselves. Following this, we will further develop the timeline for the strategy to ensure that it can be published alongside a range accessible formats. I commit to writing to the Member in due course to provide a further update on this.

As set out in response to S6W-29551, the Scottish Government continues to engage with the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance and other international climate initiatives as part of wider ongoing engagement with a range of organisations and stakeholders. Ministerial engagements at COP29 will be published in the usual manner in due course.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-29551 on 17 September 2024. 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.

The Planning Hub was established in September within the Improvement Service.

Scoping and engagement has commenced in collaboration with planning authorities, industry and other key organisations to identify the support and expertise needed by planning authorities to support consenting on hydrogen planning applications.

The Scottish Government continues to support the Improvement Service to work at pace to make the Hub fully operational.

The Scottish Budget 2024-25 ensures that over 95% of non-domestic properties continue to be liable for a lower property tax rate than anywhere else in the UK.

As laid out in the Programme for Government, the Planning Hub’s initial priority is to help planning authorities make quicker decisions on hydrogen planning applications.

This first phase of the Hub will be a pilot that looks to provide proof of concept for it to be in place for the longer term, with a plan to extend the services offered by the Hub in 2025-26 to support wider developments including the delivery of good quality homes and onshore wind. We will set out further details relating to extending the Hub’s services as this initial work progresses.

As laid out in the Programme for Government, the Planning Hub’s initial priority is to help planning authorities make quicker decisions on hydrogen planning applications.

This first phase of the Hub will be a pilot that looks to provide proof of concept for it to be in place for the longer term, with a plan to extend the services offered by the Hub in 2025-26 to support wider developments including the delivery of good quality homes and onshore wind. We will set out further details relating to extending the Hub’s services as this initial work progresses.

The Planning Hub is hosted and coordinated by the National Planning Improvement team in the Improvement Service. As host, the Improvement Service is responsible for the operational delivery of the Hub, including resourcing.

The Scottish Government continues to support the Improvement Service to work at pace to make the Hub fully operational.