Chamber and committees

We are aware of the impact the restrictions had on football at all levels of the football pyramid, including clubs operating on a full time and part time basis. The distribution mechanism was agreed with the Scottish FA to be as fair and equitable as possible, addressing the financial difficulties being experienced by clubs while also recognising the need to ensure there was no unfair competitive advantage to any club within the same division.

The suspension of the lower leagues below the Championship by the Scottish FA for a short spell was necessary to combat the pandemic and reduce transmission rates across the country.

The Scottish Government worked closely with the Scottish FA to allow the resumption of some additional football activity earlier this month with mandatory weekly COVID PCR tests for all players and staff.

Battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell technologies are complementary in the electrification of much of our transport system, as is required as Scotland transitions to net zero. The Scottish Government is therefore supporting targeted investment in both technologies.

With hydrogen expected to have most impact in the heavy duty road vehicle sector, rather than cars and lighter road vehicles, it would not be prudent at this point to emulate the widespread roll-out of a public refuelling network, akin to the ChargePlace Scotland electric vehicle charging network. Rather, hydrogen refuelling infrastructure is being funded where there is parallel deployment of hydrogen vehicles to create a demand for the fuel. Examples of this have been stations in Aberdeen serving hydrogen buses and various council vehicle types, as well as in Orkney, fuelling small vans. Other local authorities - including Dundee and Glasgow have plans for hydrogen transport solutions and the Scottish Government is working with officials, industry and academia to help realise those projects. As well as hydrogen vehicles and infrastructure, Scottish Ministers have invested in research and innovation in this area, including the Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc in Dundee, and the Hydrogen Accelerator Programme based in St Andrews University.

In the future, areas of high demand for hydrogen in Scotland could enable lower-cost hydrogen production at scale, with demand coming from trains and shipping, as well as road transport. Industrial processes and heating could also require large scale hydrogen production and distribution solutions. Scottish Ministers' Hydrogen Policy Statement published last December, and the forthcoming Hydrogen Action Plan are parts of a more strategic approach that will takes all these future needs and opportunities for Scotland into account.

I am pleased to inform Parliament that the Just Transition Commission have today published their final report.

I am grateful for all of the work the Commission has undertaken over the past two years. In preparing advice for Scottish Government, Commissioners have engaged with businesses, workers and communities right across the country. Prior to Covid-19, this was via a number of evidence sessions and engagement events and throughout this past year they have continued their work online.

We welcome this ambitious report. The timeframe for a response means any decisions will be for the next Parliamentary session. If this administration is returned after the election, we will take the necessary time to reflect on the recommendations and issue a considered, comprehensive and cross-Government response in late summer.

The 2019 Climate Change Act enshrined in law our commitment to a just transition to net-zero, one in which wellbeing, fair work and social justice are prioritised and no-one is left behind. And we have taken already taken steps towards delivering a just transition to net-zero emissions and a wellbeing economy.

The Scottish Government’s approach to tackling climate change aims to build a society that is thriving across economic, social and environmental dimensions, and that delivers sustainable and inclusive growth. The work that the Commission has published today will help to ensure that Scotland delivers on a transition that is fair for all.

Scotland’s independent Climate Change Citizen’s Assembly is also due to publish their interim findings tomorrow. Scotland’s Climate Assembly exemplifies how we are putting people at the heart of policy making, by consulting, engaging and involving citizens in decision-making. In addition, our new draft Public Engagement Strategy will further drive engagement with Scotland’s citizens on Climate Change and help to deliver a just transition to net-zero.

Falkirk Council are leading the delivery of this scheme and are responsible, along with West Lothian Council, for ensuring that the business case remains robust and for setting the final timetable on delivery, which is expected to come forward later this year. The Scottish Government remains fully committed to delivering its share of funding for this project.

Transport Scotland officials remain in dialogue with Council officers to ensure that an agreement can be reached and I have asked officials to pursue discussions to develop a Memorandum of Understanding or a similar framework for the three funding parties to work within. As part of this I will be seeking assurances from the respective councils that they remain committed to delivering the project and have in place the necessary funding to do so.

Transport Scotland is currently inviting comments on a range of transport options for the Forth Valley area as part of the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2). Included within the list proposed for more detailed appraisal are two options that include a new Grangemouth railway station and the construction of a new east facing rail chord that would allow trains to travel towards Edinburgh more easily. Details of these are contained in Appendix E of the National Case for Change document published 3 February 2021 which can be found in the attached link: Initial appraisal: Case for Change - National - STPR2 (transport.gov.scot)

Further information, including the option generation and sifting process, relating to the STPR2 Forth Valley Case for Change can be found in the attached link: Initial appraisal: Case for Change - Forth Valley - STPR2 (transport.gov.scot)

The distribution mechanism was agreed with the Scottish FA to be as fair and equitable as possible. The suspension of the lower leagues below the Championship by the Scottish FA for a short spell was necessary to combat the pandemic and reduce transmission rates across the country. The Scottish Government worked closely with the Scottish FA to allow the resumption of additional football activity earlier this month; including SPFL Leagues 1 and 2, SWPL1 and the Highland League clubs still in this season’s Scottish Cup. This could only happen alongside enhanced measures to keep everyone safe, including mandatory weekly COVID PCR tests for all players and staff.

The Grangemouth Future Industry Board, announced in the 2020 Programme for Government, has recently moved from an initiation phase to a delivery phase, bringing together key decision makers across the Scottish public sector, strengthening alignment and co-ordinating activity to best respond to the opportunities at the Grangemouth cluster.

The Board has completed an important period of collective agreement between partners on its purpose, remit and focus - as well as establishing systems of good governance and communication, including how the Board engages contributors who are external to the Board. Supporting a vibrant and sustainable future for the Grangemouth industrial cluster is at the heart of the Board, and actions taken will undoubtedly require input from a range of stakeholders including industry experts, business representatives, local residents and the community groups that represent them.

To this end, officials recently met with representatives of the Grangemouth Community Council to inform them of the Board, its workplan and the opportunities to become involved. Whilst the Board will continue to function as a public sector facing group, it will strive to maintain and strengthen channels of communication with the community council - and other vital stakeholders - to ensure that their perspectives are considered and reflected at key decision points.

The Scottish Government, working closely with our partner, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, recognises the importance of regulation to protect the environment and communities around Grangemouth, as well as being a real driver of innovation and transformational change.

The Grangemouth Future Industry Board, announced in the 2020 Programme for Government, is now in its delivery phase and has agreed its workstreams and priorities for the next 12 months. These are available on the Scottish Government’s GFIB webpage .

One workstream is to commence work to build an integrated environmental regulatory hub. This will involve a partnership approach and consider shared regulatory tools, and the opportunity to take a circular economy approach to target areas across supply chains that could deliver an accumulated benefit to reducing emissions and encourage innovation. Work to scope the partners and stakeholders who have a role in this work is underway, and from there workstream leads will identify and agree the outputs and outcomes expected of this workstream to ensure regulation is effective and facilitates a just transition.

The Scottish Government appreciates elite dancers will want to resume training in advance of international competitions. Where an individual has qualified for a world or regional dance competition, in level 4 areas the provisions in of Schedule 5, Part 1 (3)(aa) of the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 (as amended) would apply. These provide that only professional sportspeople are permitted to train in legally closed facilities (such as an indoor fitness studio). The definition of a professional sportsperson is set out in the interpretation section of the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 (as amended).

The Scottish Government is currently discussing some additional flexibility around the type of event that is referred to in the legislation above, however currently a professional sportsperson refers to someone who derives a living from competing in sport; or is a senior representative nominated by a relevant sporting body; or is a member of the senior training squad for a relevant sporting body; or is on an elite development pathway; and must train or compete in a sport for which a resumption of performance sport plan has been approved by sportscotland or the Scottish Ministers.

If a governing body considered there were athletes who would be eligible under the above definitions, they would need to discuss this with sportscotland and they would then be expected to work with sportscotland to develop a Resumption of Performance Sport Plan (sportscotland’s guidance is here ).

Where individuals attend a dance school that offers educational qualifications such as HNDs, guidance for colleges and universities would apply to such a school as it is an educational provider and there is no requirement in the regulations for colleges to be closed in level 4 areas (although the guidance provides that students should only be back in the limited circumstances where it is necessary for assessments etc.).

In addition, in her statement to Parliament on 16 March, the First Minister noted the intention to open indoor facilities on, or around, 26 April and this would permit group exercise to resume for those aged under 18 who may not meet the requirements outlined above.

The Scottish Government is currently involved in the review of the UK National Action Plan (NAP) for the Sustainable Use of Pesticides.

The revised NAP draft, agreed by all four nations of the UK, represents our shared ambition to increase uptake of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and sustainable crop protection to minimise the risks and impacts of pesticides to human health and the environment.

The public consultation closed on 26 February 2021 and the process of analysis and consideration is now underway. The Agricultural Industries Confederation’s response and those of other respondents will be fully considered during this stage of the consultation process.