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The published 2023-24 Autumn Budget Revision at the link below shares that this funding came from the release of emerging/planned underspends from Lifelong Learning and Skills to support other SG priorities. Autumn Budget Revision 2023 to 2024: supporting document - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
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Further detail on this was confirmed in the Deputy First Minister’s letter to the Finance and Public Administration committee (FPAC) available at this link: Letter from the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance to the Convener of 21 November 2023 (parliament.scot)

Annex A confirms that the £6.2 million is in respect of a reduction in grant spend on Higher Education International Activity.

The Framework for Tax has since been superseded by our commitment in last year’s Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) to develop our strategic approach to tax as part of this year’s MTFS publication. This will be published for public consultation with the MTFS in spring 2024.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24110 on 18 January 2024. 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 .

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24498 on 23 January 2024. 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 .

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24444 on 22 January 2024. 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 .

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24498 on 23 January 2024. 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 .

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24444 on 22 January 2024. 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 Government is considering using the proposals for a Heat In Buildings Bill (as set out in consultation document “Delivering Net Zero for Scotland’s Buildings: Changing the way we heat our homes and buildings”, published November 2023) to make two potential changes to the Heat Networks (Scotland) Act 2021. Both potential changes arise from the need to harmonise our heat networks legislation with the recently-passed UK Energy Act 2023. These potential amendments are:

• To align our 2021 Act’s definitions of ‘supplier’ and ‘operator’ with those of the UK Energy Act 2023. Given that Ofgem will be acting as both the UK authorisation authority and Scottish licensing authority, it will be beneficial to the regulator and industry alike to have aligned definitions. This will foster a more streamlined application and determination process.
• To modify Part 7 of the 2021 Act, in order to take into account the ‘step-in’ and ‘supplier of last resort’ provisions of the UK Energy Act 2023. It may be necessary to remove similar Scottish provisions in this area (‘register of key network assets’ and a ‘transfer scheme’) in order to avoid duplication and potential confusion for market participants.

During the consultation process, additional potential amendments may be identified.

The Heat in Buildings Bill consultation proposes that local authorities and the Scottish Ministers may be provided with powers to require buildings within a Heat Network Zone to end their use of polluting heating systems (by a certain date and with a minimum notice period).

We do not specify any sub-sets of buildings which may be affected by these proposals, in order to gain thorough feedback in response to our consultation. Thereafter we will analyse responses to help determine whether to take these proposals forward, including whether they may be restricted to particular types of buildings.

In March 2022 we published The Heat Networks Delivery Plan, which sets out a building hierarchy table for connection to a heat network and can also support our policy development in this area. It sets out that within a heat network zone it will be important to encourage and prioritise the connection of key anchor buildings, which can enable the efficient operation of a heat network, helping to reduce customer costs and enabling the extension of the network over time to other nearby buildings.

District heat network development: Building Connection Hierarchy*

The Scottish Government recognises that maximizing the use of recoverable or waste heat, which at present goes unused, remains a priority.

For heat network developers, there are clear incentives to connect to this heat as it can be an economical source of heat, where buildings or the processes operating in them can provide surplus heat to our homes and buildings, potentially lowering the cost of heat for heat network customers and providing an income for heat source providers.

We are seeking evidence in our Heat in Buildings Bill consultation about whether requirements should be placed on owners of unused heat. Following the closure of the consultation we will analyse responses to questions on recoverable or waste heat and use this to guide our development of recoverable and waste heat policy.