Chamber and committees

Decarbonisation of Fife rail services was not planned to complete by 2024. Development work for future electrification in Fife is currently underway. Some advance work is being carried out between Haymarket to Dalmeny to facilitate the future electrification of Fife.

The timescale for decarbonisation of the Fife Circle route will be considered through the Final Business Case submission of the project and as part of the Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan refresh scheduled for later in 2023.

The Scottish Government has authorised the investment of c.£30m for a new feeder station at Thornton in Fife. This will provide power to the planned electrification. This feeder station is scheduled to be operational in 2026.

In 2021, through the first phase of the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB), the Scottish Government supported operators to acquire 276 zero-emission buses and their supporting infrastructure, with awards of £62 million. This hugely successful grant programme brought the number of zero-emission buses in Scotland supported by the Scottish Government to 548. These vehicles have been brought in to service across the country, including in the mid Scotland and Fife region with the recent fleets of zero-emission buses being brought into service in Perth and Dunfermline.

Through the opening of the second phase of ScotZEB, the Scottish Government has made up to £58 million available to further support the bus sector to decarbonise. This is in addition to the £113 million already invested through ScotZEB 1 and its predecessor the Scottish Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme (SULEBS), meeting our commitment to invest £120 million into zero-emission buses; taking us closer to realising a fully decarbonised future for Scotland’s bus fleet and supporting the Scottish supply chain. Currently Scotland has around double the proportion of its fleet running on zero-emissions, compared to the proportion in England, and ScotZEB 2 will allow Scotland to continue to be a leading example of bus decarbonisation.

We have always been clear that the bus decarbonisation target was an ambitious target that the Scottish Government could not meet alone. We all have to play our part in the collective endeavour to end Scotland’s contribution to climate change. The launch of ScotZEB 2 is the next phase of the Government’s contribution, to encourage collaborative proposals and bring about necessary change in the market, and deliver a Just Transition to net zero for the bus and coach sector. We will continue to challenge the bus sector to deliver excellence for Scotland, and by working in partnership with private financiers, manufacturers, SMEs and community operators, I have every confidence that Scotland’s bus sector will rise to this challenge. The role of the Bus Decarbonisation Taskforce has been crucial in bringing key players in the sector together to tackle the shared barriers in the way of decarbonisation, which is why I am happy to confirm that the Taskforce has reconvened after the launch of ScotZEB 2.

The Scottish Government expects the bus sector to deliver highly transformational projects, with Government support, to deliver rapid change to the bus market in Scotland, making zero-emission vehicles the default choice for operators. Scotland is the perfect place for innovative financiers and technology start-ups to invest in a zero-emission future. The Scottish Government is putting policies in place which will support these businesses to transition at pace to zero-emissions; grow our green wellbeing economy; provide opportunities for good, green jobs in Scotland; and better, healthier communities.

Positive progress continues to be made with the electrification of the Glasgow to Barrhead Route and with plans for the electrification of the East Kilbride route now at an advanced stage. Plans for further electrification continue to be developed across the rail network in Scotland including Fife and the Borders.

The Scottish Government has been clear about the extent of the financial pressures the public sector as a whole is facing. The Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan is planned as a dynamic document, with a refresh of the Plan scheduled for later in 2023. The refresh will ensure Transport Scotland continue to prioritise the right projects, in the right place, and at the right time in line with available budgets.

Despite this, significant investment is also under way across Scotland in the form of new feeder stations required to provide the power needed to support the electrification of the network across Scotland.

Co-Operative Development Scotland (CDS), operating within Scottish Enterprise, continues to work to raise awareness of the value of co-operative and employee ownership models, provides specialist advice and support to businesses and community groups who want to adopt those models and supports company growth through collaborative and employee ownership business models.

CDS works with employee-owned businesses and specialist to share experience and best practice through development of resources including case studies, blogs and podcasts.

Transport Scotland publishes the results of all regulated procurements through contract award notices on the Public Contracts Scotland website. The call-off contract awarded to Turner and Townsend for work associated with the provision of the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services, was awarded under the Scotland Excel, Engineering and Technical Consultancy Framework, Lot 9, Project and Commercial Management. This can be viewed via the Scotland Excel website through the contract register, ref 0820.

Scotland’s Forestry Strategy Implementation Plan 2022-2025 has a priority action to protect and improve native woodland condition. The Scottish Government currently supports landowners, farmers, crofters and managers to bring native woodlands into positive management through the Forestry Grant Scheme. Support is also provided to help with preparing long-term forest plans for these woodlands, which is often the first step towards recovery. Engagement with private land managers is ongoing in order to encourage them to take up and make use of this available funding. Scottish Forestry has committed over £14 million since 2015, to help secure the sustainable management of native woodlands and associated habitats.

Further steps have recently been taken by the appointment of a Rainforest Action Co-ordinator to work with partners to develop a strategic approach to improve delivery of native rainforest expansion and restoration, and to develop a framework of public and private funding sources.

Co-Operative Development Scotland (CDS),operating within Scottish Enterprise, continues to work to raise awareness of the value of co-operative and employee ownership models, provides specialist advice and support to businesses and community groups who want to adopt those models and supports company growth through collaborative and employee ownership business models.

Transport Scotland is considering the recommendations from the Strategic Transport Projects Review 2 as part of their work on the Islands Connectivity Plan and subsequently will consider how best those recommendations can be reflected within the contract specifications for our lifeline ferry services.

Co-Operative Development Scotland (CDS), operating within Scottish Enterprise, continues to work to raise awareness of the value of co-operative and employee ownership models, provides specialist advice and support to businesses and community groups who want to adopt those models and supports company growth through collaborative and employee ownership business models.

Industry leadership group Scotland for Employee Ownership champions employee ownership across Scotland, raising awareness of the employee ownership model and providing a voice for the sector in Scotland.

Ensuring businesses have access to the finance they need to invest and grow is a priority for the Scottish Government. Information on the range of funding available to Scottish businesses, including employee owned businesses can be found on https://findbusinesssupport.gov.scot .