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The Wellbeing Economy Monitor and Framework are being developed as tools to help realise the Scottish Government’s vision to build a wellbeing economy in Scotland.

The development of these tools has been informed by the consultations we conducted on the National Strategy for Economic Transformation, as well as previous consultations including the Citizens’ Assembly of Scotland, the Social Renewal Advisory Board, and that which informed the Advisory Group on Economic Recovery.

These tools are also being informed by engagement with key stakeholders and the Wellbeing Economy Governments group, as well as our Wellbeing Economy Pilot Project with Clackmannanshire Council.

We will continue to welcome views on these tools as they develop.

Since January 2019, Scottish Government ministers have not had any meetings with DP World. In the same timeframe, no Scottish Government officials have had meetings with DP World.

On my recent ministerial visit to Dubai, I requested to meet with DP World in order to raise with them our serious concerns about the recent behaviour of P&O Ferries. They did not respond to this request, therefore no meeting took place.

The Scottish Government has no plans to introduce legislation to sanction residential park owners who do not supply timely and fully completed written statements to their residents. The Mobile Homes Act 1983 states that if the owner has failed to give the occupier a written statement, the occupier may apply to the court for an order requiring the owner to give him a written statement.

The ScotWind outcome is a great opportunity for Scotland to deliver green energy, bring supply chain benefits and to support our just transition objectives.

Over the next few years each project will go through consenting processes, respond to geographical and technological requirements, and find a route to market. There are several variables to be managed across these processes, including aspects such as grid connection and the impact of offshore wind developments on various environmental receptors.

Furthermore, ScotWind promises to be transformational in delivering wider economic supply chain benefits to help power Scotland’s green recovery right across the country. As part of this, the introduction of the Supply Chain Development Statement will enable ongoing dialogue between the offshore wind and public sectors to enable strategic infrastructural planning so that Scotland can maximise the potential benefits from this exciting new era of investment for the Scottish economy.

Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd requested the four bidders at Invitation to Tender stage to provide responses to fair working practices. These were consequently received and fully evaluated by CMAL’s Head of Vessels and Head of Business Support as part of the procurement process.

We intend to publish the first phase of this work, the Blue Economy Vision for Scotland, today. This vision sets out the Scottish Government’s long-term ambition for Scotland’s blue economy to 2045, promoting an approach that is consistent with Scotland’s National Performance Framework and our international obligations. It demonstrates how much we value our marine environment and its significance which is captured in the six outcomes that we want to achieve.

The six blue economy outcomes have been identified to respond to major challenges of our time, such as the climate and nature crises, just transition to zero, a blue recovery from Covid-19 and EU withdrawal. The outcomes also recognise our ambition for Scotland to be a global leader in providing healthy, quality and sustainably harvested food. They frame a direction of travel and provide focal points for our long term blue economy aspirations with the overall aim that by 2045, Scotland’s shared stewardship of our marine environment supports ecosystem health, improved livelihoods, economic prosperity, social inclusion and wellbeing.

A blue economy approach will also help us to realise our ambitions for a wellbeing economy in Scotland where the country’s successes are defined and measured beyond economic growth and Gross Domestic Product, and we emphasise the importance of addressing inequality. Human wellbeing is multi-dimensional and nature plays an important part in ensuring a high quality of life for our people. The vision demonstrates the importance of the marine environment and its significance in contributing to Scotland’s economy, well-being climate and biodiversity priorities.

Across the world, there are an increasing number of countries looking to introduce a blue economy approach to better balance their economic, societal and environmental challenges and opportunities in marine environments. This vision puts Scotland at the heart of this international movement to support global ocean governance.

The publication of the Blue Economy Vision for Scotland is consistent with our Programme for Government commitment to develop a Blue Economy Strategy and subsequent delivery plan to support a green recovery and just transition, with sustainable growth of the blue economy underpinned by environmental protection.

The document will be available to view on the Scottish Government website from today:

• The Blue Economy Vision for Scotland: http://www.gov.scot/ISBN/978-1-80435-258-8

The next step is to develop the programmes and policies to deliver these outcomes through a Blue Economy Action Plan.

The Scottish Government has been clear that fair work practices sit at the heart of Green Freeports. All applicants are required to set out their strategy for embedding fair work across the Green Freeport area. Any application which does not show a clear commitment to fair work practices will not be supported by the Scottish Government.

The manner in which P&O decisions have been communicated is completely unacceptable. Scottish Ministers expect all businesses to apply fair labour practices and treat their staff with respect. P&O Ferries have fallen well short of that standard.

The Scottish Government has today published its Heat Networks Delivery Plan which can be accessed at http://www.gov.scot/ISBN/9781804352366 .

This plan fulfils the requirement of section 93 of the Heat Networks (Scotland) Act 2021 to publish and lay before Parliament the first Heat Networks Delivery Plan no later than 1 April 2022. (Laying number SG/2022/46.) The plan outlines how the provisions of the 2021 Act, and any other supporting policies, will contribute to increasing the use of heat networks in Scotland. It sets out the proposed approach that the Scottish Ministers intend to take to increase the use of heat networks in Scotland and how the statutory targets will be met. In addition, it outlines how progress will be measured and the expected contribution that heat networks will make toward meeting the emission reduction targets.

Over this parliamentary term we are investing at least £1.8 billion in heat and energy efficiency in buildings, including investing £400 million to support the development of large-scale heat infrastructure, such as heat networks. Our £300 million Heat Network Fund launched in February 2022 is part of this new suite of delivery schemes. Additionally, our recently announced £1 million Heat in Buildings Development Funding Invitation, which is a forerunner to our Heat Networks Support Unit, provides resource funding to stimulate and accelerate the development of a pipeline of zero emission heat projects for buildings across Scotland.

This plan has developed after taking into consideration views provided during a period of public consultation on the Draft Heat Networks Delivery Plan. Today we are also publishing the analysis of responses to that consultation. The report of the analysis of responses can be found at: http://www.gov.scot/ISBN/9781804351918 .

The plan will be reviewed within a 2 year period.

I have also written to the Conveners of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee and Local Government, Housing and Planning committees. The Government looks forward to engaging with interested parties on this issue.

As outlined in S6W-03519 answered on 5 October 2021, the Scottish Government will continue to take forward our No One Left Behind approach to employability from 1 April 2022.

No One Left Behind is transforming employment support in Scotland to deliver a system that is more tailored and responsive to the needs of people of all ages who want help and support on their journey towards and into work.

The local governance approach within No One Left Behind funds services through Local Employability Partnership’s (LEPs). LEPs bring together a range of partners including Skills Development Scotland, Department for Work and Pensions, Colleges, NHS, the third sector and other partners to design and deliver services that meet both individual and labour market needs in each local area. This type of partnership and collaboration is crucial if we are to tackle poverty and inequalities that impact too many people in Scotland.

Helping families to increase incomes from employment and earnings is central to a balanced and sustained approach to tackling poverty. The Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan 2022-26: ‘Best Start, Bright Futures’, recognises the value of the No One Left Behind approach and the opportunity to increase investment in services which provide the holistic and connected support parents need to enter and progress in employment.

We are committed to continuing to work collaboratively with our partners in local government, the third sector, the private sector and others to tackle poverty and secure better outcomes for people, employers and communities across Scotland.

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 with Scotland’s seven cities established the City Centre Recovery Task Force in 2021 to identify innovative actions for city centre recovery. I am pleased to confirm that the Task Force has published its report today, and sets out the areas and the actions that the Task Force has jointly agreed to prioritise.

The Scottish Government has this financial year allocated £6m to our City Centre Recovery Fund, to enable local authorities to take forward local priorities in line with those identified by the Task Force.

Our cities are economic drivers for Scotland and play a key role in our vision of a wellbeing economy. As we focus on recovery from the pandemic, we all want to encourage even more people to return and safely enjoy all that our city centres offer.