Seòmar agus comataidhean

Our Just Transition to net-zero will necessitate the creation of new businesses and jobs, in addition to managing the transition of existing jobs and skills to the renewables sectors and their supply chains. The pace of change will differ between these sectors (offshore and onshore wind, hydrogen, carbon capture and storage) and we expect jobs to be created throughout Scotland by 2030.

In line with our published workforce statistics up to March 2022, which includes our directly employed staff and contingent workers staff, our staffing headcount has increased from 1777 in September 2021 to 2611 up to and including March 2022. This is an increase of 834 staff.

Our next workforce figures will be published in September 2022 and will include staffing levels up to June 2022.

The responses are still currently being analysed and considered carefully. This will help to determine the next steps and will also provide more understanding of what support is needed to help the people affected by historical adoption practices.

In the meantime, we have started the process of establishing specialist support and peer support groups for those affected. We have also introduced a working group to assist with the implementation of peer support groups where we are working with partners to scope and develop the support service.

Single Building Assessment applicants are supported through the process to complete the application form and commission professional services ahead of receiving the final survey report. 10 pilot blocks are within the Application Phase and 15 pilot blocks are within the Delivery Phase. The Single Building Assessment provides an individualised process therefore timescales vary on a building by building basis.

The analysis of the Islands Bond online consultation and the Scottish Government response was published on the Scot.gov website today, 19 August. These documents can be accessed via the following links:

Analysis: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781804353141

SG Response: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781804358214

The approach outlined in the documents is in direct response to the views provided by our island communities. We remain fully committed to addressing the issue of depopulation on our islands and doing so in a way that is supported by islanders.

As part of the Cladding Remediation Programme we will create a Building Safety Register. This register will include blocks of flats, of any height, assessed as 'low risk' or remediated as an outcome of the Single Building Assessment process.

The Scottish Government is aiming to introduce a Housing Bill to the Scottish Parliament in 2023.

Accessibility of our railways is a reserved matter for the UK Government. We will continue to press for full devolution in Scotland of all rail matters to deliver more accessible improvements. There are no immediate plans to improve accessibility at Insch railway station, however the station will be included for consideration, alongside others, for improvement to its accessibility, as part of the Department for Transport’s (DfT) Access for All programme for Control Period 7, which commences in 2024.

The Scottish Government have not awarded a contract to Bain & Co to undertake any work in the last five years. Any decision to prohibit Bain & Co from tendering for a Scottish Government Contract will be considered on a case by case basis under the provisions of ‘Discretionary Grounds’, Regulation 58 (Exclusion Grounds) of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Contractor spend prior to July 2021 was £0. b) The contractor spend for July 2022 is £16,422 and August 2022 projected spend is £18,829.