Chamber and committees

As set out in response to S6W-29551, the Scottish Government continues to engage with the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance and other international climate initiatives as part of wider ongoing engagement with a range of organisations and stakeholders. Ministerial engagements at COP29 will be published in the usual manner in due course.

The Rural Affordable Homes for Key Workers Fund is a demand led fund of up to £25 million from the Affordable Housing Supply Programme budget over a five year period 2023-24 to 2027-28.

Local authorities and registered social landlords can apply to the fund to purchase existing suitable properties in rural and island areas where there is identified need and we would expect this to be included in local authorities' Strategic Housing Investment Plans. Annual funding levels will reflect the pace at which projects are brought forward as well as available budgets.

As laid out in the Programme for Government, the Planning Hub’s initial priority is to help planning authorities make quicker decisions on hydrogen planning applications.

This first phase of the Hub will be a pilot that looks to provide proof of concept for it to be in place for the longer term, with a plan to extend the services offered by the Hub in 2025-26 to support wider developments including the delivery of good quality homes and onshore wind. We will set out further details relating to extending the Hub’s services as this initial work progresses.

As laid out in the Programme for Government, the Planning Hub’s initial priority is to help planning authorities make quicker decisions on hydrogen planning applications.

This first phase of the Hub will be a pilot that looks to provide proof of concept for it to be in place for the longer term, with a plan to extend the services offered by the Hub in 2025-26 to support wider developments including the delivery of good quality homes and onshore wind. We will set out further details relating to extending the Hub’s services as this initial work progresses.

The Scottish Budget 2024-25 ensures that over 95% of non-domestic properties continue to be liable for a lower property tax rate than anywhere else in the UK.

The Planning Hub was established in September within the Improvement Service.

Scoping and engagement has commenced in collaboration with planning authorities, industry and other key organisations to identify the support and expertise needed by planning authorities to support consenting on hydrogen planning applications.

The Scottish Government continues to support the Improvement Service to work at pace to make the Hub fully operational.

The UK Government’s decision to restrict eligibility for Winter Fuel Payments was taken without consultation with the Scottish Government This decision is estimated to result in a reduction in this year’s Block Grant Adjustment (BGA) provided to the Scottish Government of approximately £150 million, over 80% of the cost of the Scottish Government’s planned replacement benefit, Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (PAWHP). Scottish Government analysis suggests that around 900,000 pensioners will no longer be eligible for this payment, of between £200 and £300, in Scotland in 2024-25.

Despite our best efforts to review our financial position we have no choice but to follow the UK Government and restrict eligibility for Pension Age Winter Heating Payment to older people who receive relevant eligible benefits.

The Scottish Government continues to fund the charity, Health in Mind, to deliver a specialist peer service to those affected by historic forced adoption. This is in direct response to feedback from people with lived experience for this type of support.

Funding has totalled over £73,000 to date, (£23,389 in 2022-2023 and £49,276 in 2023-2024). Health in Mind continues to promote the service across Scotland and raise awareness of the impact of historic forced adoption practices. Further details of the service are available at: https://health-in-mind.org.uk/how-we-can-help/national-services/historic-adoption-trauma-support-service/

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-29341 on 25 September 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 remains committed to reducing the significant impact of alcohol harm on the nation’s health through a range of measures including the forthcoming increase to Minimum Unit Pricing. However, we also recognise the calls for football fans to have the same opportunities as fans at other sports and events and we will continue to engage with the football authorities, supporters groups and clubs on ways to enhance the fan experience.