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The Scottish Government is aware that the European Council has announced that it has reached provisional agreement with the European Parliament on a regulation establishing a framework to ensure a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials.

The provisional agreement sets a benchmark for recycling to at least 25% of EU’s annual consumption of raw materials and proposes an increase on the recovery of raw materials present in waste. The Scottish Government will assess this new regulation in detail, once the final text is agreed by the EU institutions and adopted, against our policy to align with EU where it is possible for Scotland to do so and such alignment is meaningful in protecting and advancing high standards.

The recent announcement made by Petroineos relates to preparatory works, at this stage, to assess the development of an import terminal.

Therefore it is our understanding, that work to determine the potential future size of the workforce and subsequent impacts is still under development.

I understand that the recent announcement will create uncertainty for the highly skilled and valuable refinery workforce, and I have been clear in my engagements with both Petroineos as the operator, and the Unions that workers must be at the heart of any decisions around the site’s transition.

Furthermore, I have tasked the Grangemouth Future Industry Board to assess, at pace, options that are available to bring forward in support of industrial transition at Grangemouth, in line with our Just Transition Plan for the site, including options for maintaining and re-skilling the workforce.

The Scottish Government is aware that there are ongoing global supply issues with products which are licensed for the treatment ADHD. At present, it is anticipated that most of the global shortage of ADHD medicines will be resolved between the end of December 2023 and January 2024. Scottish Government officials will continue to monitor the situation for any further developments.

It is for NHS Boards and healthcare professionals to determine how best to treat patients, including any changes to prescribing practice and prescribing medications, or to advise patients of any anticipated medicine supply issues.

A UK-wide National Patient Safety Alert (NatPSA) was issued on 27 September for medicines used for the treatment of ADHD. This notified healthcare professionals in both primary and secondary care about the ongoing supply issue, and guidance has been issued advising prescribers to not initiate new patients on products affected by this shortage until the supply issues resolve; to identify all patients currently prescribed these products and establish how much supply they have remaining; and providing clinical information on alternative suitable medication when appropriate.

The Scottish Government defines a just transition as both the outcome – a fairer, greener future for all – and the way we get there by developing action in partnership with those most likely to be negatively impacted by the transition to net zero.

We recognise that rural communities face particular challenges. Our sectoral Just Transition Plans for the Energy, Transport, Land Use and Agriculture and Built Environment and Construction, due to be published next year, will respond to these.

We have committed to developing regional just transition plans during the course of this Parliament and these will be underpinned by extensive co-design and engagement. They will outline challenges and opportunities faced by regions and identify actions to both mitigate and realise these.

The Scottish Government defines a just transition as both the outcome – a fairer, greener future for all – and the way we get there by developing action in partnership with those impacted by the transition to net zero.

Extensive co-design and engagement with impacted communities, including those in urban places, is informing the development of our sectoral draft Just Transition Plans for the Energy, Transport, Land Use and Agriculture, and Built Environment and Construction, due to be published next year.

Furthermore, we have committed to developing regional just transition plans during the course of this Parliament. These will aim to outline the challenges and opportunities faced by regions and identify actions to both mitigate and realise these.

To date, the low carbon Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme has allocated £26,732,792 to 33 projects bringing persistent vacant and derelict land back into use.

The low carbon Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme has invested in 33 projects bringing back just over 112 hectares of persistent vacant and derelict land back into use.

Official designations of party affiliations are held in one central system and shared across many other parliamentary systems. There are technical considerations about making this change across these systems, including the fact that the change would not be retrospective. Parliamentary officials will explore options with you as to how the designation could be represented in an appropriate manner.

The extreme conditions of Storm Babet had significant impacts on a number of local communities in Scotland, particularly Brechin and the Angus Council area.

Given the unprecedented nature and scale of the storm’s impacts, a Ministerial Taskforce was established to encourage co-operation between local recovery groups and co-ordinate Scottish Government actions where they may support locally-led recovery efforts.

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting the hospitality and night-time industry, having been the hardest hit of all sectors from the Covid-19 pandemic and cost crises.

The Scottish Budget 2023-24 ensures the lowest poundage in the UK for the fifth year in a row and supports a package of rates relief worth an estimated £749 million, including the Small Business Bonus Scheme. Around half of properties in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors are eligible for 100% relief this financial year. Decisions on non-domestic rates for 2024-25 will be made as part of the Scottish Budget, which will be published on 19 December.

The Scottish Government is also supporting the sector through the Tourism and Hospitality Industry Leadership Group and through the New Deal for Business Group. In addition, the Town Centre Action Plan aims to revitalise our towns and town centres, which contributes to supporting the night-time economy.

Our recent request of the UK Government for a reduced rate of VAT for the hospitality sector was rejected.