Seòmar agus comataidhean

The Strategic Investment Model (SIM), an initiative devised to respond to the recommendations within the Strategic Investment Assessment, is a novel industry-led approach which is delivering for the offshore wind sector in Scotland.

The SIM is helping the Government, our agencies and the sector to identify key, shared priorities with an initial focus on investment in ports and harbours infrastructure improvements, manufacturing and fabrication. There is a strong pipeline of port infrastructure and supply chain projects now emerging through the SIM process.

On February 20 the SIM published details of 32 of the 38 projects that have successfully completed stage one of the process and have a completed project prospectus. 6 SIM projects have requested confidentiality. Strategic Investment Model Stage 2 projects announced | HIE (offshorewindscotland.org.uk)

An initial first three projects have been selected by the SIM to move into Stage 2 involving facilitated meetings between offshore wind developers and project proponents.

Currently, the 38 SIM projects have a combined total Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) of around £6.5BN.

Some project information is still commercially confidential. Therefore, the release of any further information will be undertaken by the SIM group. For more information, please contact Maf Smith, Lumen Energy & Environment, at maf.smith@lumenee.cc.

The Strategic Investment Model (SIM), an initiative devised to respond to the recommendations within the Strategic Investment Assessment, is a novel industry-led approach which is delivering for the offshore wind sector in Scotland.

The SIM is helping the government, our agencies and the sector to identify key, shared priorities with an initial focus on investment in ports and harbours infrastructure improvements, manufacturing and fabrication. There is a strong pipeline of port infrastructure and supply chain projects now emerging through the SIM process.

On February 20 the SIM published details of 32 of the 38 projects that have successfully completed stage one of the process and have a completed project prospectus. 6 SIM projects have requested confidentiality. Strategic Investment Model Stage 2 projects announced | HIE (offshorewindscotland.org.uk)

An initial first three projects have been selected by the SIM to move into Stage 2 involving facilitated meetings between offshore wind developers and project proponents.

Currently, the 38 SIM projects have a combined total Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) of around £6.5BN.

Some project information is still commercially confidential. Therefore, the release of any further information will be undertaken by the SIM group.

The Scottish Government recognises that the cost of living and doing business on islands can be higher compared to other parts of Scotland.

Our Islands Cost Crisis Emergency Fund has distributed £2.4 million to island local authorities since December 2022, giving councils flexibility in directing funding to those who need it most, including local businesses. Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar has been awarded £617,000 to date.

In 2024-2025, we will also offer a new 100% relief for hospitality businesses located on islands, capped at £110,000 per business.

The Scottish Government will continue to encourage the delivery sector to provide island communities with fair and affordable delivery options.

This is a matter for Local Authorities. The information requested is not held centrally. The Scottish Government published updated National Child Protection Guidance in 2023 which includes practitioner guidance on fabricated or induced illness.

This is a matter for the NHS. The information requested is not held centrally. The Scottish Government published updated National Child Protection Guidance in 2023 which includes practitioner guidance on fabricated or induced illness.

Marine Directorate Compliance Operations use a risk-based procedure which considers intelligence, likelihood, and impact on environment and fishery resources to ensure the conditions of the wrasse derogation are adhered to. For example, wrasse fishers are required to submit weekly data returns, in addition to their FISH1 forms, which can highlight if a fisher may be using more than 250 traps a day.

Marine Directorate have recently consulted on proposals to require a tracking device on all under 12 metre fishing vessels in Scotland. The consultation responses are currently being analysed and will be published in due course and depending on the outcome of the consultation, if implemented, this could provide additional compliance monitoring of the fishery.

We committed in our Strategic Childcare Plan, published October 2022 Best Start - strategic early learning and school age childcare plan 2022 to 2026 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) to work with local authorities to maximise uptake of the existing two year old offer using new access to data on eligible families in their local area.

Since then we have finalised data sharing arrangements with the UK Government and established ‘datapipeline’ – a digital platform from which local authorities can access lists of households in their area that meet the majority of ‘qualifying benefits’ criteria and have a child of the relevant age.

From this data we have been able to produce local and national estimates of the eligible population of two-year-olds. This has allowed us to publish uptake rates for two-year-olds by local authority for the first time ( Summary statistics for schools in Scotland 2023 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) , allowing more transparency on the national picture for uptake for two-year-olds as well as informing local authorities’ own understanding of their uptake rates.

With support from the Improvement Service, we have held a series of webinars with local authorities on making best use of the new data and on access to funded ELC for two-year-olds with a care experienced parent.

We are also offering one-to-one support, through the Improvement Service, to local authorities that would like to work on maximising uptake of funded ELC for two-year-olds.

The Scottish Government has been supporting innovative childminder recruitment pilots within 14 Local Authorities, in partnership with the Scottish Childminding Association. To date, 69 candidates have been supported through the programme to complete their registration as childminders with the Care Inspectorate. A further 116 are currently working towards their registration. We have also begun to explore ways of streamlining and reducing the administrative burden on childminders.

As announced in the 2023 Programme for Government, we will continue to build on this work and scale up these pilots to support and grow our childminding workforce. We will also implement a range of measures to address retention issues, including trialling a mentoring scheme and models of ‘funded time off the floor’ to support childminders to undertake professional development opportunities, planning or administration duties.

In the 2023-2024 Programme for Government the Scottish Government announced that we would develop and trial a digital service that will give parents and carers greater scope to manage their childcare.

We know that the current childcare system can be difficult for families to navigate, particularly for those on the lowest incomes, and are at an early stage of designing a digital service that will make it easier for parents and carers to manage their childcare.

The delay regarding the MV Caledonian Isles is regrettable and I recognise the frustration felt by communities as a result. The responsibility for operational decisions regarding ferry services lies with CalMac as the operator. I spoke with CalMac’s Chief Executive on 26 February to convey my concern, and make clear that everything must be done to address capacity and provide assurances for the Arran community and others across the network – particularly as we look towards the Easter break and beyond.

MV Isle of Arran is operating out of Ardrossan and there continues to be additional sailings via the islands secondary route Claonaig/Lochranza. This government will continue to do everything possible to ensure that new vessels enter service as quickly as possible, to deliver the service improvements upon which our islands depend. Delivering six new major vessels to serve Scotland’s ferry network by 2026 is a priority for this Government and currently there are no capacity issues.