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The Scottish Government hopes to publish a draft Bioenergy Policy Statement for consultation by the end of 2023.

The Home Energy Scotland (HES) Grant and Loan Scheme was launched in December 2022 and offers homeowners in Scotland a grant, interest free loan or a combination of both to support the installation of zero direct emission heating systems and energy efficiency measures.

As the scheme is already open to all domestic homeowners in Scotland who live in the property they own, there are currently no plans to widen the eligibility of the scheme.

I wrote directly to Richard Turfitt, the Senior Traffic Commissioner, on 6 September to set out our strong concerns with the proposed guidelines and to request any future proposals are developed with the full involvement of the Scottish Government and the Scottish football governing bodies, and most importantly, supporters clubs and fans. The consultation was subsequently withdrawn but nevertheless I look forward to receiving a response to my letter.

Procurement of the upgrade works at Ardrossan has been paused. Please refer to my letter to Task force members dated 15 August 2023 informing them of the decision.

Minister for Transport – Letter to Task Force members August 2023 | Transport Scotland

And as in the answer to question S6O-02548 on 21 September 2023 Meeting of the Parliament: 21/09/2023 | Scottish Parliament Website .

Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow is responsible for consultation with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on the design aspects of MV Glen Sannox and MV Glen Rosa, not Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited.

CalMac, as operator of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service, has engaged with the trade unions since 2017 regarding operational readiness of the vessels.

The report on the evaluation of Out to Play Improve, initially named as the Outdoor Learning Practicum, was published on the Scottish Government Children and Young People Improvement Collaborative website in November 2022, and can be found here .

Through the Scottish Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (SIETF), to date, we have allocated over £22 million to co-invest with a diverse range of Scottish manufacturers to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions through increased energy efficiency and deep decarbonisation projects.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-21623 on‎ 29 September 2023. 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 and UK Governments will seek to agree a rigorous monitoring and evaluation framework for Scotland’s Investment Zones, working closely with Regional Economic Partners and drawing on external expertise to agree reporting arrangements. Through this continued collaborative working approach with regional partners, we aim to develop proposals with distinct sectoral focus to maximise cluster building, innovation and economic growth, whilst reducing the risk of any potential displacement effects.

The response to question S6W-21286, answered on 13 September 2023, notes that as a result of the devolved settlement and the Scottish Government’s powers, along with the interaction with reserved tax and benefits, it is not possible to deliver the Parental Transition Fund as originally envisaged.

As set out in the Medium-Term Financial Strategy, the current financial situation facing the Scottish Government is amongst the most challenging since devolution. Tough and decisive action must be taken to ensure the sustainability of public finance, whilst also strengthening the immediate support available for households impacted by the cost of living crisis. On this basis, the £5 million made available for the Parental Transition Fund in 2023-24 has been reallocated to help meet the previously announced increased investment in the Fuel Insecurity Fund to address the need for immediate help with fuel costs and to support the Scottish Government’s path to balance.