Seòmar agus comataidhean

The Scottish Government has not had any recent discussions with the UK Government on mutual recognition of professional qualifications with Ukraine. It is ultimately for the professions’ independent regulators to determine the process for recognition of relevant qualifications and experience for professionally qualified New Scots, including displaced people from Ukraine.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of employment in the integration of New Scots, allowing people to use their skills and experience, rebuild their confidence, expand their social networks, and reduce the risk of poverty or reliance on government support. We also recognise the unique challenges New Scots face, including the recognition of overseas qualifications. Through the New Scots Delivery Plan, the Scottish Government has committed to ‘work with Scottish professional bodies to understand and promote recognitions pathways for industries and identified sectors.’

In 2023, the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) Partnership published a Guide to Ukrainian Qualifications for employers, admissions staff in institutions, recognition of prior learning (RPL) practitioners and third sector organisations to help better understand Ukrainian qualifications. The guide provides information about the main certificates, diplomas and degrees awarded in Ukraine to allow employers, education and support staff to make informed judgements about the value of these qualifications for entry to education, training or employment.

In addition, the Scottish Government commissioned SCQF Partnership to undertake scoping work on Recognition of Prior Learning to support the potential development of a national policy and strategy on RPL. The aim of this is to embed the recognition of prior learning and skills of school leavers, adult learners, and those settling in Scotland within our education and skills system. Work is still in early stages and subject to Ministerial approval.

Any project developer will have to satisfy environmental and planning regulations throughout the project lifecycle.

The Scottish Government is unable to create a strategic Bitcoin reserve. As a devolved government we must operate within rules laid down by the UK Government and as set out in HM Treasury’s financial framework. These rules preclude speculating on currency movements.

Section 6 of the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022 will be commenced in autumn 2025. This will ensure the SSI on specified functions made under section 6 of the Act, can be laid and in force in time for the final plan being published.

We will update parliament in due course on the progress made against the recommendations set out in Project Willow.

The power to undertake reforms to the wholesale market is reserved to the UK Government.

The Scottish Government has been consistently been clear with successive UK Governments, NESO, Ofgem and industry that reforms must reduce costs for Scottish consumers, ensure our communities feel the benefit of the energy transition, protect investment in our renewables industry and support decarbonisation.

The Scottish Government is clear that the current wholesale electricity market is not fit for the delivery of our net zero ambitions, nor our aims to tackle fuel poverty.

We remain focused on delivering 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, with at least 70% of these for social rent and 10% in rural and island areas, including new build, rehabilitation and acquisitions.

Backed by £768 million of investment this year, we are continuing to work with partners to increase the delivery of more affordable homes. We will report on all homes delivered through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme via our quarterly official statistics. Official statistics for the Affordable Housing Supply Programme are available on the Scottish Government website at Housing statistics - gov.scot.

Local authorities, as strategic housing and planning authorities, are responsible for assessing affordable housing needs in their area and setting out their investment priorities in their Strategic Housing Investment Plans (SHIPs). These plans set out planned proposals for affordable housing supply over a five year period, and should be available on each local authority’s website.

From 23 March 2022 to 31 December 2024, a total of 26,039 affordable homes have been delivered towards the target of 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, consisting of 19,945 (77%) homes for social rent, 3,644 (14%) for affordable rent, and 2,450 (9%) for affordable home ownership.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of skills provision to realising the potential of Project Willow, and to securing an industrial future for Grangemouth more widely. We are prioritising skills development through the Grangemouth Just Transition Plan which will be published shortly.

This complements the support the Scottish Government is providing to Grangemouth refinery workers to retrain into in-demand industries, including those associated with Project Willow.

The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI), like all public inquiries, is independent of all organisations including the Scottish Government. Under s17 of the Inquiries Act, procedure and conduct of the inquiry is a matter for the Chair. The appointment of inquiry staff is a matter for the SCAI.

Forestry in Scotland is guided by the principles of sustainable forestry management set out in the UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) requirements and guidelines and must also operate within the legal requirements regarding biodiversity and wider environmental impacts. Scottish Forestry is the Scottish Government’s agency tasked with regulation and policy advice for forestry. Any felling must either comply with a felling permission granted by SF or be carried out as part of an approved long term management plan. Techniques, such as whole tree harvesting, are only suitable on certain sites and guidance is available to ensure that it is carried out in a sustainable manner. All new woodland creation projects are assessed against the evidence-based UKFS which represents the governments approach to sustainable forestry.