Seòmar agus comataidhean

The detailed appraisal stage of the A96 Corridor Review has now concluded and ahead of my statement to Parliament, Transport Scotland has published the detailed appraisal material in draft on its website at www.transport.gov.scot/our-approach/strategy/a96-corridor-review/

I will set out next steps in relation to the Review in my Parliamentary statement later today.

Scotland has the resources, skilled workforce, and ambition to become a leading hydrogen nation and developing this sector will create international trade opportunities in terms of our hydrogen production and across the supply chain.

That is why an export plan aimed at realising Scotland’s hydrogen potential as a leading net exporter of hydrogen will be published on 29 November 2024.

The plan will set out how Scotland will realise the international opportunities presented by the development of the Hydrogen sector and will outline the immediate international export opportunities and strategic actions needed to support Scottish businesses.

Achieving this goal presents a great opportunity to combine the efforts of a range of partners. I look forward to continuing to work with them as we take forward delivery of the plan and realise Scotland’s hydrogen future.

In accordance with the Reimbursement of Members’ Expenses Scheme the SPCB is responsible for setting and maintaining minimum terms and conditions for the employment of staff by MSPs and for the terms and conditions of parliamentary service staff. I can confirm that the SPCB plans to review the terms and conditions of staff employed by MSPs early in the New Year. The SPCB regularly benchmarks its terms and conditions with other employers to ensure that they continue to support the objective of attracting and retaining staff.

(a) Potential grant recipients must provide appropriate factual evidence to the relevant funder confirming that they are meeting the effective voice condition and this must be signed off by a recognised trade union(s), or other appropriate workers’ representative where there is no union recognition. Examples of effective voice are provided in our updated Fair Work First Guidance, published on 18 November 2024.

(b) I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-31247 on 28 November 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

Whilst the recruitment and employment of teachers are matters for local authorities as the employer, the member may wish to be aware that teachers are not employed on zero-hour contracts.

The following tables provide the data as currently held.

Table 1 – Area of approvals for planting by Scottish Forestry

It is the responsibility of individual grant funders to monitor a grant recipient’s compliance with the real Living Wage and effective voice conditions and its progress on the remaining five desirable Fair Work First criteria, as part of their standard grant governance, assurance and monitoring processes.

Funding allocated to the Centre for Sustainable Delivery’s National Elective Co-ordination Unit from the additional £30m for planned care has been used to support collaborative working with Boards to maximise capacity and provide centralised, coordinated, and innovative approaches to waiting times recovery. Specifically, funding has been directed towards the following:

• National Dermatology campaign. This includes patient digitally supported validation; high volume image capture; patient imaging and triage activity.
• National Endoscopy campaign, including validation and activity.
• Minor Operations: management of campaign, waiting lists, booking and clinics in urology and orthopaedics for most challenged health boards.
• Breast see and treat activity for NHS Grampian.

Warmer Homes Scotland remains open for referrals and has an allocated budget of £65m in 2024-25, its highest ever budget level. Anyone that is considering applying to the scheme should contact Home Energy Scotland in the usual way.

The Scottish Government has introduced a waiting process for people who have been accepted onto the Warmer Homes Scotland programme due to the scheme’s success and high levels of demand. This is a necessary step taken to ensure that people who have been identified as eligible for the scheme can still receive assistance.

We understand that some customers will be disappointed with the waiting times. However, our managing agent Warmworks, continues to work hard to minimise the impact of this process, keeping customers informed throughout and making sure they are supported and receive regular communication every step of the way.

Warmer Homes Scotland is a demand-led scheme and it is important that we take the necessary steps to ensure the scheme remains within its allocated budget. In instances where someone has a broken boiler or no heating, Home Energy Scotland will explore with the customer if any suitable alternative crisis funding options exist.

The number of control test inspections the Agricultural Wages Enforcement Team have investigated that involved the use of interpreters, over the past five years, is: