Chamber and committees

We are committed to protecting vulnerable marine habitats through our Marine Protected Area (MPA) network. Seventeen sea lochs are already protected through MPAs. The Scottish Blue Carbon Forum is currently conducting a multi-year research programme to further investigate blue carbon habitats, their role in carbon uptake and their vulnerabilities to human activities. The current evidence does not yet support the introduction of further measures to protect sediment hotpots however protection will be considered if research suggests it is necessary.

Additionally, work to protect blue carbon habitats such as maerl and seagrass is already underway. The Scottish Government is in the process of developing fisheries management measures for the most vulnerable Priority Marine Features outside of MPAs. This work was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We intend to resume the project as soon as it is safe to hold face-to-face stakeholder meetings again.

The Hydrogen Policy Statement published on the 21 December 2020 sets out the Scottish Government’s vision to develop Scotland into a leading Hydrogen Nation in the production of reliable, competitive, sustainable hydrogen and to secure Scotland’s future as a centre of international excellence as we establish the innovation, skills and supply chain that will underpin our energy transition.

The Hydrogen Policy Statement has provided the framework for the development of a Hydrogen Action Plan in 2021 which will provide further detail on the planned approach and necessary actions to implement the policy positions outlined in the Policy Statement.

In the development of the Hydrogen Action Plan, the Scottish Government will consider a wide range of options and actions to realise this vision and our ambition to reach 5GW’s of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen production by 2030 as set out in the Hydrogen Policy Statement.

The Falkirk district contributes significantly to Scotland’s economy, with nationally important industrial assets, a reputation for high-value manufacturing, the Port of Grangemouth, and internationally-recognised tourist attractions. The Scottish Government have committed £50 million to the Falkirk Growth Deal, which demonstrates our commitment to supporting the area and delivering long-term benefits to local communities and businesses. We continue to work with our partners in Falkirk and the UK Government, supported by our enterprise and skills agencies, to help them to consider proposals that will ensure Falkirk can thrive as a great place for innovation, sustainability and culture. We hope to be in position to sign a Heads of Terms agreement this summer.

Under Regulations, supermarkets must take all reasonable measures to ensure that a distance of two metres is maintained between any persons on the premises, with the exception of those within the same household or a carer assisting another person. They must also take all reasonable measures to ensure that it only admits people to its premises in sufficiently small numbers to make it possible to maintain that distance. This includes those queueing awaiting entry to the premises. We also know from our discussion with supermarkets that frequency of visits has reduced and shopping baskets are larger. We will continue to work with sector leads to protect workers and customers in retail settings as we monitor the transmission risks associated with COVID.

At the moment our focus on testing in the food sector is focused on higher risks premises (eg meat and fish processing) and retail distribution to ensure continuity of food supply but we will keep this under review.

The Scottish Blue Carbon Forum, a partnership between Scottish Government and academia, is currently conducting a multi-year research programme to further investigate blue carbon habitats, their role in carbon uptake and their vulnerabilities to human activities. The potential impact of the disturbance by bottom-contacting fishing gears on blue carbon habitats forms part of one of the research projects within the Scottish Blue Carbon Forum: ‘Assessing the resilience of Scotland’s Blue Carbon Sediment Stores’. Initial results are expected in the near future.

The Scottish Government contracted Pennington Choices to provide independent quality assurance and audit services to the Warmer Homes Scotland Scheme. Pennington Choices audit all aspects of the customer journey and all Warmworks sub-contractors involved in the delivery of the scheme. This ensures that Warmworks aim which is to provide good quality installations which are right first time are closely monitored. With regard to value for money, Warmworks bid for a fully compliant European tender and won on the basis of quality and costs.

The feasibility study, published in March 2020, provides details of what would be required to operate mobile abattoirs in Scotland, including the regulatory framework, and offers a cost-benefit analysis of possible operational models. However, the report also highlights the difficulty in achieving a sustained economic return from a mobile abattoir in Scotland.

The Scottish Government in conjunction with Food Standards Scotland would be willing to discuss in more detail with any organisation who are considering operating mobile abattoirs in Scotland.

The full report can be found at https://www.gov.scot/publications/assessing-viability-sustainability-mobile-abattoirs-scotland/ .

The Scottish Government has worked closely with local authorities and sector representatives to assess and address the financial sustainability of the childcare sector through the Working Group on Early Learning and Childcare and Childcare Sector Recovery. We are working with the whole childcare sector to understand the challenges they face and to establish whether there are reasons why the financial support needs for Out of School Care providers may differ to those of the rest of the childcare sector.

We have made £22 million in dedicated support available to private and third sector day care of children settings, including private out of school care providers, since the start of the pandemic. During the current period of restrictions, £3.8 million has been made available for grants in each 4 week period, this will total £11.2 million between January-March. In view of the reopening of the early learning and childcare sector from the 22 February we are considering how best to utilise the one third of the fund identified for March to best support those in the sector in greatest need, in particular if restrictions continue for school age childcare settings.

The Scottish Government laid the Climate Change Plan update in Parliament today.

The Climate Change Plan update can be accessed at https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781800044302 and sets out a pathway to our emissions targets up until 2032 as part of a green recovery from COVID-19 and our just transition to net zero emissions. It builds on the 2018 Climate Change Plan and sets out new, boosted and accelerated policies, putting us on a pathway to our new, ambitious targets.

Moving toward a net-zero nation will require all aspects of Scottish society to embrace significant changes in order for us to meet our targets. The Climate Change Plan update provides clear market signals to promote business confidence to invest in a low carbon economy and grow the market in these areas to deliver emissions reductions in a way that is fair and leads to a thriving net zero economy in the future. As many of the key levers are currently reserved to the UK Government, the Climate Change Plan update also sets out our calls on the UK Government.

The Climate Change Plan update has been informed by the Sustainable Renewal Advisory Group, the membership of which included MSPs from other political parties and experts from various sectors including CoSLA, business, trade unions, academia and representatives of other interests. We have also received advice from other interests including the UK Climate Change Committee and interim advice from the Just Transition Commission.

The global climate emergency has not gone away, and we remain absolutely committed to meeting Scotland’s world-leading statutory climate targets through a just transition to net-zero emissions by 2045. This is not the end of the journey and we will continue to engage with the public via the Citizens Assembly on Climate Change and other mechanisms in advance of developing the next full Climate Change Plan.

The draft Public Engagement Strategy for Climate Change and the Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan will be published separately today.