Chamber and committees

Following the UK General Election, we will work with the new UK Government to understand the approach they plan to take regarding a consultation on a Renewable Liquid Heating Fuel Obligation, which will then determine the need for engagement with the Scottish supply sector.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information. The Scottish Ambulance Service publish their weekly performance statistics, which can be found here - https://www.scottishambulance.com/publications/unscheduled-care-operational-statistics/ .

The Government plans to commence the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill within three months of the Bill receiving Royal Assent.

The Scottish Government is keen to promote a culture of entrepreneurship.

Scottish Government business support is provided by our enterprise agencies, utilising a range of support mechanisms. Scottish Enterprise provide business support in the area which includes the Edinburgh Eastern Constituency.

Scottish Enterprise systems do not hold tags for UK or Scottish parliamentary constituencies. Accordingly, as a proxy, the postcodes for the Edinburgh Eastern constituency were used to identify businesses in that constituency to which payments were made. It is also not possible for Scottish Enterprise to break down the payments according to size of business as they do not hold company size in our finance system

The only review currently in progress for which I am responsible is the Independent Review of Community Learning and Development (CLD).

The review will consider the extent to which CLD is contributing to deliver positive outcomes in line with Scottish Government priorities.

The Scottish Government are in regular discussions with the Scottish Funding Council about the financial sustainability of the university sector. These discussions consider sector risks and plans and seek to strengthen our collective approach.

Additionally, I last met with University Chairs on 5 March 2024 at which a range of topics of importance to the sector were discussed. In addition to regular meetings with Universities Scotland (US), I met with US, the Scottish Funding Council and PriceWaterhouseCoopers on 29 May to discuss the short to medium term financial sustainability of universities in Scotland.

There is significant progress being made to reform and improve key areas of the post-school learning system covered by James Withers’ review Fit for the Future, including on apprenticeships, skills planning and simplification of the funding body landscape. I provided the latest update on progress in a letter to the Education, Children and Young People Committee on 27 March 2024, available at Update to Committee - Post school reform | Scottish Parliament Website .

I refer the member to the answer to question PQ S6W-27235 on 17 May 2024. 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 .

The Scottish Government has announced it will consult on whether the prosecution and government functions of the law officers should be separated.

Rape crisis centres are independent and the governance and day-to-day operation of services sits with their Boards. As such, it would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to discuss employment law matters with Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre. We continue to fund Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre to support survivors of rape and sexual assault.

In the consultation on a Heat in Buildings Bill, we recognise that as a renewable, and potentially net zero, energy source, bioenergy may represent the best option to help decarbonise some homes for which clean heating systems are not suitable. We also want to ensure that owners who have taken the proactive step of installing renewable bioenergy systems are fairly treated.

This is why, in addition to permitting extra time for those currently using bioenergy to meet the clean heat element of the Standard, we sought views on whether a more flexible approach to the use of bioenergy under future regulations is needed.

We are currently analysing the over 1600 responses to this consultation and considering how to take this matter forward in a way that balances the needs of Scotland’s diverse buildings. We would need to balance this flexibility with the need to protect and ensure the supply of bioenergy in other sectors of the economy that also rely on bioenergy to remove emissions.