Chamber and committees

Scottish Government officials are currently in discussion with the UK Government and the Green Freeport consortia about arrangements for publishing maps of the Green Freeport locations.

The Scottish Government is clear that that bullying and harassment of any worker, under any circumstances, is unacceptable. All employers have a duty of care to protect the health, safety and welfare of their workers. We endorse the Fair Work Convention's Fair Work Framework and agree that every worker, regardless of status or position, should be treated fairly and with respect.

Employment law, Equality law and Health and Safety legislation remains reserved to the UK Government. Only with the devolution of further powers will the Scottish Government have the full set of levers to take real action on workplace injustices.

On 09 December 2022 we published our refreshed Fair Work Action Plan, and are committed to promoting effective voice channels, such as trade unions, allowing workers views to be heard and help tackle issues such as workplace bullying. In addition, we are also introducing a requirement for recipients of public sector grants to provide effective voice channels as a condition of the grant, effective from 1 July 2023, as per the Bute House Agreement. This further recognises the role of effective voice in allowing the other dimensions of Fair Work to be realised, and in fostering a culture where bullying and harassment is prevented.

Where workers feel they have been unfairly treated, they should have the option of raising concerns through their workplace grievance and/or bullying and harassment procedures, seeking support from their recognised trade union representative if present. All workers should have access to justice via an employment tribunal, and should seek free and impartial advice from the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service wherever required.

Scotland is home to several vibrant, growing and dynamic technology sectors, and the Scottish Government recognises their importance to our current and future economy. Our 10-year National Strategy for Economic Transformation seeks to strengthen Scotland’s position in new market opportunities, and specifically cites enabling technologies, like photonics and quantum, that have close links to the semiconductor industry. Our Technology Sector Export Plan will also develop the export capacity and capability of our enabling technologies sectors.

Scotland has considerable photonics expertise, being home to approximately 60 companies, and the only Fraunhofer Research Centre in the UK - the Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics. In December 2021, I announced £6.5m of funding to support the next phase of its applied photonics research and innovation activities. The development of our quantum sector is supported through institutions such as the University of Glasgow’s Quantum Technology Hub, while Technology Scotland have also established a Quantum Special Interest Group. The Group is currently drafting a paper, due to be published this year, setting out quantum technology ambitions for Scotland over the next decade.

Official statistics for the Scottish Cervical Screening Programme will be published this Spring, with data up to March 2022. It is therefore too early to assert what uptake for 2021/22 will show, however the Scottish Government is aware that previous years have highlighted the need to improve uptake.

Both the Scottish Government and the Cervical Screening Programme encourage all those eligible for cervical screening to go for a test when invited, and for all those eligible to take up the offer of the HPV vaccine when invited to.

We continue to work with Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust to support their vital campaign work on cervical cancer, having awarded £456,000 in funding to highlight the benefits of screening and to better understand barriers to uptake.

Finally, we understand that increasing uptake alone is not enough, and that we must also strive for equality of uptake. Work is currently underway on a national Equity in Screening Strategy, which is being led by National Screening Oversight. The strategy will provide a focus and commitment to tackle inequalities in screening, to achieve equity of access for all eligible individuals across the whole screening pathway. It will consider the main causes of inequalities and will outline initial actions to address barriers and facilitate access of underserved groups.

The Scottish Government promotes the role of Citizens Advice Scotland and the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) in providing free and impartial advice and support on workplace issues, including bullying and harassment.

Everyone has the right to go to work without fear of intimidation. We endorse the Fair Work Convention's Fair Work Framework and agree that every worker, regardless of status or position, should be treated fairly and with respect.

We are committed to supporting strong trade unions and promoting collective bargaining. On 09 December we published our refreshed Fair Work Action Plan and continue to encourage all employers to provide effective voice channels, giving workers a voice in tackling workplace issues such as bullying.

Only with the devolution of employment powers will the Scottish Government have the full set of levers to take real action on workplace injustices.

The Scottish Government believes that bullying and harassment of any worker, under any circumstances, is unacceptable. We endorse the Fair Work Convention's Fair Work Framework and agree that every worker, regardless of status or position, should be treated fairly and with respect.

The Scottish Government promotes the role of Citizens Advice Scotland and the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) in providing advice and support on workplace issues, such as bullying and harassment.

We are also committed to supporting strong trade unions in Scotland for the benefit of workers and our economy. It is our belief that a progressive approach to industrial relations and to trade unionism is at the very heart of a fairer, more successful society, and we are clear that trade unions are key social partners in delivering our economic and social aspirations. Trade unions are a mechanism for providing effective voice in workplaces and have a role to play in tackling issues such as workplace bullying.

While policy on energy markets is a matter reserved to the UK Government and the responsibility for supplier guidance sits with Ofgem, the Scottish Government opposes the forced installation of prepayment meters, which increases the risk of self- rationing and self-disconnection. The additional costs associated with prepayment meters also lead to increased debt.

We are engaging with Ofgem regarding its request to suppliers to immediately halt forced installations and remote switching to prepayment meters until 31 March 2023, as well as its consultation on the rules and guidance on the use of prepayment meters by suppliers. We will use this engagement to ensure that the rights and interests of Scottish consumers are fully considered.

Last year, the First Minister chaired two energy summits which were attended by energy suppliers. We continue to build upon the progress made at these summits, and are looking to suppliers for assurance that they are exploring all possible options to support struggling customers, especially those living in vulnerable circumstances.

The Scottish Government does not collect data on local authority expenditure on the provision of temporary accommodation to households experiencing homelessness. This information would need to be requested from each local authority directly.

The majority of homelessness funding since 1999 has been provided to local authorities through the annual local government finance settlement, which is £13.2 billion in 2023-24. Local authorities decide how best to use this resource to prevent and respond to homelessness on the basis of local needs and priorities, including the provision of temporary accommodation. This has been supplemented in recent years by £5.5 million from the Scottish Government’s health and housing budgets for the Housing First pathfinder and identifiable resource as follows:

The Scottish Government is investing £79.5 million, an increase of almost 60% from 2022-23, to deliver climate action through an updated climate change plan and Scottish adaptation programme, a public engagement strategy and community action.

The Scottish Government will provide £50 million in capital and financial transactions to support the Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray to accelerate the development of a transformed and decarbonised economy in the region. This increase from 2022-23 is part of the Scottish Government's commitment to spend £500 million over ten years.

The Scottish Government will also continue to influence positive and progressive international climate action investing at least £6m in the Climate Justice Fund.

Whilst organisations are encouraged to apply in advance, registered charities and community amateur sports clubs (CASCs) have until 31 March 2023 to apply for the water and sewerage charges exemption scheme for the 2022-23 financial year. If exemption is granted, it will be backdated to 1 April 2022 - provided the criteria of the scheme were met at that time - and any charges will be refunded. The organisation’s income must be below £300,000 to qualify. Exemption will not be granted if:

• The organisation holds a permanent alcohol licence to sell alcohol at the premises
• the premises is a charity shop or other premises used for the purposes of retailing new or second hand merchandise
• the premises operates as a café which is open to the public and operated on a regular basis to generate income
• the organisation is a local council or an Arms-Length External Organisation (ALEO) which can be used by councils to deliver services