Chamber and committees

The latest Scottish Government forecast of Scottish GDP was published in the Draft Budget 2017-18 Devolved Taxes Methodology Report on 15 December 2016.

The report is available from: http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2016/12/6669/4

There are no previous forecasts to compare to.

The economic forecast underpins the fiscal forecasts in the Draft Budget. These are determined by the relative forecast for Scotland and the UK, through the Block Grant Adjustment. The Scottish economic forecast should therefore be compared to the relevant OBR UK forecast from the same period.

Addressing the gender pay gap in Scotland does not sit with Scottish Enterprise (SE) alone, there is a role to be played by all agencies, other partners and the private sector. Due to the many factors influencing changes to the gender pay gap, it is extremely challenging to measure the contribution made by a specific intervention in isolation.

SE is, however, committed to addressing this evidence gap to the fullest extent possible and is working with Close the Gap and others to identify ways to do this. SE is already tracking factors which contribute to reducing the gender pay gap, for example the number of account managed companies paying the living wage and meeting the gender diversity element of the Business Pledge. Further, in the newly revised performance framework for the SE workplace innovation programme, SE has included metrics of relevance to the gender pay gap, for example on adoption of flexible working arrangements.

SE is also developing case studies around this activity to promote internally and externally. These will focus on showing where interventions can have a positive effect on reducing any pay gap identified to encourage adoption amongst SE's colleagues and customers.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-10353 on 14 August 2017. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

The Scottish Government has noted the recent report by the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Committee and will consider their recommendations in full. Action is already being taken to assist in closing the gender pay gap in Scotland but we are keen to consider any other steps that can be taken to reduce the pay gap further.

Scottish Enterprise is also considering what appropriate action should be taken in response to the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Committee’s recent report and they recognise the business and wider economic benefits that addressing this issue can deliver.

SE’s focus on encouraging companies to support the various elements of the Business Pledge such as paying the living wage, the use of appropriate workplace contracts and encouraging more women in to leadership positions will help contribute to the narrowing of the gender pay gap across Scotland. This is also supported by SE’s Workplace Innovation Service which has Fair Work as one of its guiding principles.

In addition to their direct services to business, SE will continue to serve on the Advisory Group of Close the Gap to advise on their services so that they meet the needs of SMEs and in particular larger organisations who are subject to new reporting legislation in this area.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-10260 on 11 August 2017. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

National Grid’s priority in the event of a black start would be to restore network functions as quickly as possible.

Security of supply and the restoration of electricity supplied in the event of a black start is a reserved matter and one in which the Scottish Government has no formal functions. The responsibility for restoring electricity supplies in the event of a black start lies with National Grid under its Transmission License.

The Scottish Government works closely with National Grid – as well as with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Ofgem and Scotland’s network operators – to ensure that the black start strategy remains resilient and effective, and that Scottish circumstances and priorities are taken fully into account.

The Scottish Government supports the need for a diverse supply of electricity located across the network to aid black start restoration processes. On 21 September 2016, I wrote to Greg Clark, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, highlighting the value of black start-capable pumped storage hydro (PSH) to the energy system, and calling upon the UK Government to consider how a 'route to market', which provides investors with confidence in the necessary revenue streams, could bring forward infrastructure investment in grid scale storage, including consented PSH projects in Scotland.

The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Constitution announced the 2016-17 provisional outturn figures on 22 June. These are currently subject to the final audit process.

The final 2016-17 Fuel Poverty and Energy Efficiency budget was £119m. An increase of £16m on the draft budget. This reflects additional funding allocated in year to support delivery of our Warmer Homes Scotland scheme and to assist social landlords in meeting the Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing.

The provisional budget outturn for 2016-17 notes a variance of £3m in the outturn in the Fuel Poverty and Energy Efficiency Budget. This occurs in our Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland (HEEPS): Area Based Schemes, covering standard ABS projects and phase 1 of the Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme (SEEP) Pilots. The nature of these schemes involves technically difficult measures being installed on properties which can lead to delays in completion and invoicing. Officials are in regular contact with local authority counterparts seeking updates and reassurance on forecast spend. Despite repeated reassurances during the year, some councils declared an underspend very late in the financial year, by which time it was too late to use the allocated budget for this purpose. As is normal practice, this budget underspend was used to help offset additional spend elsewhere in the Scottish Government.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-10260 on 11 August 2017. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Security of supply and the restoration of electricity supplied in the event of a black start is a reserved matter, accountability for which rests with the Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and is a matter in relation to which the Scottish Government has no formal functions. The responsibility for restoring electricity supplies in the event of a black start lies with National Grid under its Transmission Licence.