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The Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM) is subject to a programme of regular updates. Specifically, sections are updated as and when amendments are required, due to changes in policy of Scottish Ministers, with the guide also being subject to an annual review. To achieve this SG Financial Management Directorate lead on and liaise annually with policy owners to identify any planned changes to the guide ensuring guidance is updated in real time throughout the year. Significant updates to the guide are communicated to public bodies and to SG via Finance Guidance notes published on the SPFM and provided to Public Bodies via information notices.

The SG is currently undertaking a strategic review of the SPFM during 2023-24. This review will seek to enhance existing processes and frameworks ensuring the SPFM remains up to date, aligned with best practice and accessible to key stakeholders, continuing to promote economy efficiency, effectiveness and high standards of propriety, regularity, and value for money.

The Scottish Government’s grant-in-aid to Creative Scotland for 2023/2024 is to fulfil its statutory functions, deliver Scottish Ministers' strategic objectives and contribute to the National Outcomes and National Performance Framework , as set out in the approved Creative Scotland Corporate Plan.

The public sector reform agenda announced as part of the 2023-24 budget is to ensure public services remain sustainable and are best placed to deliver improved outcomes. Guidance has been issued to Creative Scotland and other public bodies around key themes including where savings, improved performance and improved service delivery can be achieved by working together.

Updated Fair Work First guidance was published on 24 March, that supports public sector grant managers and recipients to pay at minimum the real Living Wage and provide appropriate channels for effective workers’ voice, within the limits on devolved competence, from 1 July 2023.

In June 2021 draft licensing guidance was published as part of our consultation on the Licensing Order. In March 2022 we published revised guidance for licensing authorities and hosts . Both iterations of guidance were produced in conjunction with our Stakeholder Working Group comprising industry bodies, local authority housing and planning forums, resident and community groups, licensing experts, Police Scotland and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

We are currently in the process of updating both parts of the March 2022 guidance to take account of matters arising since local authority schemes opened in October 2022, including topics discussed and advice provided to the forum of local authority officers facilitated by Scotland’s Housing Network. We are continuing to take a collaborative approach seeking input from licensing authorities and industry stakeholders.

A Planning Circular on control areas and short-term lets was published in June 2021. We intend to publish an updated Planning Circular on short-term lets this month (April 2023).

The Scottish Government recognises the crucial role local authorities play in communities across Scotland. Through various published strategies and plans, as well as sponsorship of our public bodies, we support and empower local authorities to act on behalf of the communities they serve.

Examples include our Culture Strategy, which celebrates the diversity and excellence of Scottish culture – past, present and future. National Planning Framework 4 approved by the Parliament in January 2023 recognises Scotland’s rich heritage, culture and outstanding environment as national assets that develop local economy, identity, and boosts health and wellbeing

Historic Environment Scotland has published a suite of documents on its website covering management of traditional buildings. It supports local communities through its Heritage and Place programme of area-based funding that aims to contribute to the development of vibrant and sustainable places in Scotland, through community-led regeneration of the historic environment. The Culture Collective programme, administrated by Creative Scotland with over £10m of Scottish Government funding to date, supports projects that celebrate local social history, and empowers communities to shape and share the story of their place.

Local authorities are statutorily responsible for taking forward flood protection schemes and other actions to reduce flood risk. In 2016, agreement was reached between Scottish Ministers and COSLA on a new strategic funding plan for flood protection. The agreement guarantees that until 2026 the level of flooding capital grant in the local government settlement is set at a minimum of £42 million per annum. 80% of the available £42 million is allocated to prioritised flood schemes and the other 20% is allocated between all 32 councils to take forward other flood risk management actions.

The Programme for Government published in 2020 included a commitment to invest an extra £150 million in flood risk management over 5 years in addition to the £42 million per annum. This funding will also be distributed to local authorities through the general capital grant. We are working with partners on the best way of allocating this additional funding.

The Scottish Government’s grant in aid to Historic Environment Scotland in 2023-24 is to support the priorities agreed by Ministers in its corporate plan, Heritage for All, and enables HES to invest in fair staff pay, in running and maintaining its properties, in giving grants to the heritage sector and in fulfilling its advisory and regulatory functions.

The public sector reform agenda announced as part of the 2023-24 budget is to ensure public services remain sustainable and are best placed to deliver improved outcomes. Guidance has been issued to Historic Environment Scotland and other public bodies around key themes including where savings, improved performance and improved service delivery can be achieved by working together.

Updated Fair Work First guidance was published on 24 March, that supports public sector grant managers and recipients to pay at minimum the real Living Wage and provide appropriate channels for effective workers’ voice, within the limits on devolved competence, from 1 July 2023.

The high cost of energy prices combined with inflation is having a disproportionate impact on fuel poor households across Scotland.

That is why the First Minister recently announced that our Fuel Insecurity Fund will be increased to up to £30 million in the next financial year to support the most vulnerable households in Scotland. In addition, our winter heating payment has been maintained, providing a stable and reliable annual £50 payment to around 400,000 low-income individuals. This benefit is an investment of over £20m each year which is more than double the £8.3m provided on average by the UK Government in each of the last 7 years.

We were disappointed that the UK Government did not answer our calls to extend the Energy Bills Support Scheme as part of its Spring Budget Statement. The removal of the support scheme means a typical household’s annual bill will increase by around 19%. As well as removing 50,000 households from fuel poverty, the continuation of the scheme would also have removed 120,000 Scottish households from extreme fuel poverty.

Following the progress made at the Scottish Government energy summits held last year, we continue to work with energy suppliers to explore ways to mitigate the impact of rising energy costs on those who are struggling to pay their bills and heat their homes.

The Scottish Government is not aware of a decision by Mowi to end open-net farming in Canada and Norway due to impacts on wild fish.

The Scottish Government is committed to a programme of work to protect and restore wild Atlantic salmon populations. The Wild Salmon Strategy and accompanying Implementation Plan, published in February this year, set out a suite of actions to be taken to mitigate against the wide range of pressures which impact wild fish populations.

There is a presumption against open cage fish farming development on the North and East costs of Scotland in the National Marine Plan and National Planning Framework to protect wild migratory species.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is preparing for a further consultation on a new sea lice risk assessment framework to protect wild fish for implementation in the aquaculture zone.

The duties of SEPA are set out in the Environment Act 1995.

There is regular engagement at all levels between Scottish Government and SEPA and this will continue for the remainder of the financial year 2023-24. This includes regular dialogue between Ministers and the SEPA Chair and CEO. SEPA’s Corporate Plan will be renewed in 2024 and Ministers will work with SEPA to agree the Key Performance Indicators and priority areas to be included in that Plan.

In line with guidance sent to all public bodies, SEPA receive relevant guidance documents from Scottish Government. For example, SEPA have received a copy of the Public Sector Pay Strategy 2023-24 and a copy of the Fair Work First Guidance.

The high cost of energy prices combined with inflation is having a disproportionate impact on vulnerable consumers, including those living with disabilities.

We were disappointed that the UK Government did not answer our calls to extend the Energy Bills Support Scheme as part of its Spring Budget Statement. The removal of the support scheme means a typical household’s annual bill will increase by around 19%. That is why the First Minister recently announced that our Fuel Insecurity Fund will be increased to up to £30 million in the next financial year to support the most vulnerable households in Scotland. In addition, our winter heating payment has been launched, providing a stable and reliable annual £50 payment to around 400,000 low-income individuals. This benefit is an investment of over £20m each year which is more than double the £8.3m provided on average by the UK Government in each of the last 7 years.

Following the progress made at the Scottish Government energy summits held last year, we continue to work with energy suppliers to explore ways to mitigate the impact of rising energy costs on those who are struggling to pay their bills and heat their homes.