Question reference: S6W-03300
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 27 September 2021
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Current status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 20 October 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S6W-02678 to S6W-02684 and S6W-02686 by Richard Lochhead on 22 September 2021, whether it will (a) provide a copy of, or signposting to, the "co-design and co-delivery approach" that is referred to, (b) clarify what the "programme of broad engagement" will be and when it will be begin, (c) clarify what is meant by "the area" and whether it is geographical, or based on subject or discipline and (d) provide a timetable for the completion of the "detailed policy design work and implementation planning".
Answer
As detailed in our response to the Just Transition Commission, a co-designed and co-delivered approach will ensure all partners are empowered to engage and that action is fair and co-ordinated. This means placing those most likely to be negatively impacted by the transition at the heart of our process. Empowering people to shape their future is essential in maintaining a strong social consensus for change, and will inevitably be a more robust and creative process of planning. It will also help ensure that all the Just Transition Plans are underpinned by diversity and inclusion. These principles of co-design and co-delivery will inform the way we define the parameters for the Just Transition Fund.
We have already initiated ongoing engagement with key stakeholders, including the new Just Transition Commission, trade union representatives and the Council of Local Authorities, on our approach to just transition. We also expect to launch a specific programme of engagement for the refreshed Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan at COP26 and we have committed to publishing a detailed review of this co-design process, informed by our engagement, following the development of that draft Plan. This will be supplemented by ongoing stakeholder engagement.
The Just Transition Fund will accelerate the energy transition of the North East and Moray regions, and will also support the role of Aberdeen and the wider north east as one of Scotland’s centres of excellence for the transition to a net zero economy.
As committed in Parliament, a draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan will be published in Spring 2022.