Chamber and committees

We are actively exploring various measures to address emissions from business travel. As part of this process, we will consult on amending the air travel policy to mandate terrestrial or maritime modes of travel for official domestic trips within Scotland and the UK.

While the potential amendment to the policy is under consideration, we are also mindful of the practical implications it may entail. Transitioning to alternative modes of travel will require careful planning, and consideration of the logistical requirements for ministers and officials. Ensuring efficiency, accessibility, and the ability to fulfil official duties effectively will be essential during this process.

As we move forward, we will engage with relevant stakeholders, to ensure that any potential amendments to the air travel policy are well-informed and representative of the broader public interest.

Scottish Government officials meet bi-monthly with FCA officials to discuss a range of industry and regulatory issues. As part of these discussions the FCA have flagged the increased regulatory powers they will receive, through the Financial Services and Markets Bill, to act where they find impacts on consumers’ ability to access cash across the UK. The FCA have explained that the Bill provides a cash access framework within which they will seek to ensure the reasonable provision of cash withdrawal and deposit services in local areas where they anticipate potential deficiencies. The FCA have also said that, before they make any rules under these new powers, they will conduct a public consultation.

These new powers have only been granted to the FCA upon the passing of the Financial Services and Markets Bill which received Royal Assent on the 29 th of June. Until now, conversations between officials on this topic have centred around the progress of the Bill through the UK Parliament, as opposed to its implementation. Officials will continue to meet bi-monthly with the FCA and discuss with them how these new powers, and any new rules implemented post consultation, impact on cash and banking services in Scotland.

It has also been suggested that senior representatives from the FCA meet with me in the near future to discuss these increased regulatory powers. I am conscious of the importance of banking services to our communities, particularly in rural areas and our islands, and officials are working with the FCA on a suitable date for this meeting. I would be pleased to report progress to the Member once this has taken place.

The Scottish Government continues to engage with National Records of Scotland and adoption agencies to understand further the challenges in accessing adoption records.

We have also commissioned research to explore the unmet needs of those people affected by historic forced adoption, and what services we could put in place to support them. Access to records forms a key part of that research which is due for publication in late autumn.

Scotland is committed to reaching net zero and to ensuring the journey is fair and just for everyone.

The draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan lays out over 150 actions, as well as consulting on further actions, to help maximise a just transition to net zero for our economy, communities, business and workers

Decarbonising industry is critical to our climate goals and the infrastructure and expertise at Grangemouth will play a key role. That is why we have committed to delivering a dedicated Just Transition Plan for the Grangemouth industrial area.

We will work closely with industry, unions, the workforce and the community to make sure they have a say in the plan for Grangemouth’s future.

The Access for All scheme is a UK Government scheme and as such is managed by the UK Department for Transport (DfT).

The Scottish Government has made a case for Springburn railway station to be nominated for Access for All scheme funding for Control Period 7 (2024-2029). We will continue to make representations to the UK Government on this matter.

The Department for Transport is expected to announce which stations will be prioritised for funding through the Access for All scheme this Autumn.

Transport Scotland is considering future ferry fares policy as part of the Islands Connectivity Plan alongside our wider Fair Fares Review, which will report by the end of 2023 and recommend a package of measures which can be considered for implementation from 2024-25 and onwards to address the wider issues of cost and availability across all modes of public transport.

Meantime, we are continuing to take action on ferry fares with fares on the Northern Isles and Clyde & Hebrides ferry networks to remain frozen until the end of March 2024.

Any introduction of new RET measures on lifeline ferry services in Scotland would now need to comply with the requirements of the Subsidy Control Act 2022 and there have been extensive discussions on the Subsidy Control Act 2022 but no separate specific discussions on RET with the UK Government.

The Scottish Government understands the importance of bank branches to rural communities in Scotland and recognises that when a local branch closes it can be difficult for those living in rural and highland communities to access their next nearest branch.

The regulation of financial services is reserved to the UK Government. As such, the Scottish Government cannot intervene on banks’ commercial decisions to change their branch network and so we have not conducted data analysis on what we would consider a necessary number of bank branches in a particular area. We are, however, aware of ONS data showing a 41% decline in Scottish bank branches since 2012 and the data the FCA reported in Q4 2021 that only 32.7% of the Scottish rural population live within 5km of their nearest branch.

We proactively engage with the banking sector following decisions they have made to close Scottish branches. Through these engagements we have reminded banks of their social responsibility and re-iterated the importance of in-person banking services for communities across Scotland. We welcome industry commitments made through the Access to Cash working group to ensure alternative services are available to mitigate the impact of branch closures. This includes “Banking Framework 3” which allows customers of 30 major UK banks to use the Post Office for their basic banking needs. We note that, when including Post Offices with bank branches, 78.4% of Scotland’s rural population live within 5km of the nearest branch.

We will continue to engage with the banking sector and encourage them to do all they can to ensure that appropriate support is provided so that our rural communities are not disproportionately disadvantaged by branch closures.

We are considering the calls for a meaningful and fitting recognition of the pain and trauma suffered by those with experience of historic forced adoption. It is Scottish Government policy that the costs of creating and maintaining memorials are not to be met from public funds. We will, however, continue to engage those affected and be led by their views on the most appropriate form of commemoration and validation for these past injustices. We would be happy to support to any specific initiative raising funding in this area.

We anticipate that the research will be published in late autumn and thank the people who have bravely shared their story as part of this work. Their voices will continue to shape the support that we put in place to help those affected by these historic practices.

Oil and gas licensing is matter that is reserved to UK Government. Through our draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan, we have set out a clear pathway to deliver on global commitments and capitalise on the enormous opportunities offered by becoming a net zero economy. Our focus must be meeting our energy security needs, reducing emissions and ensuring a just transition for our oil and gas workforce as North Sea resources decline.

Membership of the Beyond Oil & Gas Alliance forms part of a wider programme of analysis and engagement with a range of organisations and stakeholders.