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The Scottish Government's plans to increase the proportion of electric cars and vans will place an increased demand on electricity supply. This will need more flexibility and efficiency within the electricity system, and increase the importance of a resilient supply of power.

Vehicle electrification will also create new opportunities for storing and balancing electricity on the network, with great potential for smart technology to manage the interface between supply and demand of power between vehicles and grid.

These matters have been set out in the Scottish Government's draft Energy Strategy, published in January 2017, and will be developed further under the final Scottish Energy Strategy.

Use of the Sustainable Procurement Training Framework in the first year is in line with advertised values published in its procurement. This translates into over 350 places allocated so far. Take up is from a range of public sector organisations and geographically across all of Scotland.

The framework was awarded in September 2016 and runs for two years with the option for two further one-year extensions. Training places are demand led and open to all Scottish Public Sector organisations. The framework offerings facilitate learning and have grown through new course development in its first year.

Scotland’s new Waste Data Strategy will be published on 26 September 2017. This strategy has been written by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Zero Waste Scotland (ZWS) and the Scottish Government, in consultation with the following stakeholders:

• Belmont Trading UK Ltd

• BIFFA

• Chartered Institution of Wastes Management

• East Ayrshire Council

• EcoideaM Ltd

• Falkirk Council

• Jacobs UK Ltd

• Moray Council

• National Health Service – Ayrshire and Arran

• National Health Service – National Services Scotland

• Renfrewshire Council

• Resource Efficient Solutions (A Fife Council company)

• Ricardo Energy and Environment

• Scottish Environmental Services Association

• Stirling Council

• The University of Edinburgh

• University of St Andrews

• Valpak Scotland

• Viridor

• Western Isles Council

• William Tracey Ltd

Both the membership of the group and its terms of reference will be published when they are finalised.

The Scottish Government has reduced non-domestic rates bills this year by cutting the poundage, limiting the extent of the large business supplement and expanding the Small Business Bonus Scheme - as well as targeting further support in light of the 2017 revaluation.

The Scottish Government has now also responded to the Barclay review of non-domestic rates, committing to a range of measures to support investment, development and growth. The impacts of all changes are considered carefully informed by wide-ranging engagement with industry.

The Scottish Government does not collect this information.

The Scottish Government has met with a wide range of businesses and their representative organisations across Scotland over the last year to discuss
non-domestic rates, but does not hold confirmed attendance details for all engagements.

This information is published on the Transport Scotland website at: https://www.transport.gov.scot/public-transport/buses/scottish-green-bus-fund/#45456.

The Programme for Government sets a bold new ambition on ultra-low emission vehicles, including electric cars and vans, with a target to phase out the need for petrol and diesel vehicles by 2032.

This ambition is underpinned by our recently published Switched on Scotland Action Plan and builds on the range of incentives we already provide to local authorities, businesses and individuals. The Action Plan was developed through a series of workshops representing over 100 participants from 58 organisations.

In addition, the ambition is informed by the detailed analysis that supported the development of the draft Climate Change Plan. We will consider this in further detail as part of finalising the Climate Change Plan.

We look forward to working with stakeholders across the country as we take forward our plans.

As detailed in last week’s Programme for Government announcement, in order to lead the way on electric vehicles, we plan to significantly expand our electric charging infrastructure between now and 2022, whether in rural, urban or domestic settings. We will set out detailed plans over the coming months.