Chamber and committees

Ensuring that we have a suitably qualified workforce in place will be imperative for delivering a smooth rollout of energy efficiency and zero emission heating measures which will support us to achieve our net zero ambitions.

We currently offer support to the sector through a number of schemes which includes the Low Carbon Skills Grant which is available to heating and plumbing apprentices to undertake heat pump training as part of their qualification.

To further ensure the quality of works carried out we also provide funding to assist Scottish SMEs installing heat pumps in achieving MCS certification for the first time through the MCS Certification Fund.

We will continue to keep our offers of support under review to ensure that they are aligned at a local level with business needs and future local demands.

The Scottish Government very much recognise the importance of an independent legal profession and is committed to maintaining that independence.

The Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill retains and builds on the current oversight role of the Lord President of the Court of Session in respect of the legal regulatory framework in Scotland as well as providing necessary checks and balances. The Bill incorporates safeguards that deliver a balance between the independence of the legal profession with their duty to work in the public interest.

The Scottish Government is committed to continue engagement with stakeholders representing both the consumer and the legal perspective as the Bill proceeds through Parliament.

I met with the Law Society of Scotland to discuss the Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill on 24 May 2023.

The Scottish Government continues to engage with the Law Society and is committed to continue engagement with stakeholders representing both consumer and legal perspectives as the Bill proceeds through Parliament.

As well as the full public consultation, the development of the Bill was a result of extensive engagement with key stakeholders including a number of bodies and organisations representing the legal and the consumer perspective.

This engagement informed the consultation proposals and the measures in the Bill aim to provide for a proportionate approach that balances and delivers the key priorities of stakeholders.

The role of legal services are central to the protection of human rights and freedoms, playing a vital role in upholding the rule of law and providing access to justice.

In this regard, the Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill sets out a regulatory objective “to protect and promote the interests of consumers and the wider public interest”. There must be a public interest in ensuring that the basic needs of all citizens are satisfied.

Ministers are clear in their understanding of the need for independence in the legal profession, the Bill sets out a regulatory objective “to promote an independent, strong and diverse legal profession”.

There remains a need for regulation to operate in the public interest as well as that of the legal profession. Therefore, there should be a process to review the performance of a regulator in the light of issues being raised on how and whether regulators are delivering their regulatory objectives and the operation of regulation in relation to the public interest.

The provisions contained in the Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill were considered by Cabinet in advance of the Bill being introduced to the Scottish Parliament.

In developing the Bill, the Scottish Government engaged extensively with key stakeholders, including legal stakeholders such as the Scottish judiciary as well as carrying out a full public consultation exercise. This engagement has culminated in careful consideration of a wide range of views by Scottish Ministers.

This has led to the Bill as introduced into the Scottish Parliament which will implement a modern regulatory framework that will best promote competition, innovation, and the public and consumer interest in an efficient, effective, and efficient legal sector, while also improving the transparency and accountability of legal services regulation and the legal complaints system.

The SPCB provides a range of benefits to support the physical health and wellbeing of MSPs, MSP staff and SPCB employees.  This includes the provision of a free on-site gym, corporate gym membership discounts and the cycle to work scheme.  

The Healthy Living Scheme, which reimburses costs associated with physical activity, is currently open to SPCB staff.  Members can however choose to utilise their own Staff Cost Provision Budget to replicate this scheme for their own employees.     

The SPCB recently implemented a new Employee Assistance Programme which is delivered by Spectrum Life.  One of the benefits of this new service is that it provides all staff, including MSP staff, with free access to an online wellbeing platform as well as an app which includes:

• fitness programmes
• nutrition guides and recipes
• on-demand e-learning webinar across multiple wellbeing topics
• self-guided meditation; and
• wellbeing podcasts
  

The SPCB also provides a range of measures to support financial wellbeing.  Examples of this include membership of the Capital Credit Union and regular pension webinars.   

The SPCB takes very seriously its responsibility to support the wellbeing of staff (both those employed by the SPCB and those employed by Members).  The Positive About Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy sets out the SPCB’s aim to support a workplace environment that promotes good mental health and wellbeing of all colleagues.

The Scottish Government unequivocally condemns any form of hate crime. The latest figures from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service are a reminder to redouble our efforts to tackle hate and confront prejudice wherever it occurs. We are resolute in our commitment to tackling all incidents of hate crime and we encourage everyone who experiences or witnesses hate crime to report it directly to the police or by using a third party reporting centre.

In March, we published a new Hate Crime Strategy which sets out our vision for a Scotland where everyone lives free from hatred and prejudice, and where our communities are empowered, inclusive and safe. The strategy makes a number of commitments including ensuring improved support for victims of hate crime, improving data and evidence on hate crime and developing effective approaches to preventing hate crime. It will also support implementation of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021.

A delivery plan, setting out our immediate and longer term activity, will be published later this year.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-16521 on 27 April 2023. 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

Work has commenced on all 20 of the short term actions in the plan, with 12 now considered to be ‘complete’.

As set out in the Report on Progress, it is the case that a number of the short term actions will necessarily continue beyond their short-term timescales and will be ongoing throughout the life of the plan.

Work continues apace on the final eight actions, where it is considered that work needs to continue to augment the outputs achieved in the one year timeline set out in the Plan.

The Plan’s medium term actions are for delivery within one to three years. Work has commenced on the majority of these actions, with two already completed and the remainder progressing well and on track for completion by August 2024.

Work is ongoing with partners across Scotland to deliver the aims, priorities and actions in the Plan.