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(a) The National Strategy for Economic Transformation puts a clear focus on growing new companies. Scotland aims to be a nation of entrepreneurs and innovators, with resilient supply chains and competitive advantages in the new industries generated by technological change and scientific advances. This is the epitome of medical research companies in Scotland.

(b) Life science company growth is being supported by a breadth of policies across government to support growth investment, skills development, R&D and innovation as well as business planning and support. The Scottish Government recognises that the commercialisation of university research is an important generator of new and innovative businesses, products and services, for societal and economic good. Scottish Enterprise has long been a key contributor to investment in the industry and participated in half of the life science start-up funding here. In addition, Scottish Government set up the Scottish Growth Scheme in 2019 to provide loans and equity investment to start-ups and high growth businesses, including those in life sciences. During 2022-23 we expect the Growth Scheme to invest approximately £28m in total to start-ups and high growth businesses.

The powers required to legislate in respect of company acquisition and ownership are reserved to the UK Parliament and, as such, the Scottish Government does not have the power to take action in this area. In addition recent legislative change in the UK via the National Security and Investment Act enables an increased screening of acquisitions in certain sectors on grounds, for example, of national security. This reflects similar change in EU legislation.

The Scottish Government and Enterprise Agencies therefore aim to work with businesses in Scotland, domestic and overseas owned, to ensure Scottish operations are not only secured here but opportunities for growth are pursued. Scotland has a highly supportive eco-system for early stage and high growth businesses with potential to scale. In a UK context Scotland is recognised by the Scale Up Institute as having a particularly supportive business eco-system for ambitious Scottish companies, with our Enterprise Agencies at the centre of a network based upon collaboration between public, private, third sector organisations and academic partners.

In support of this approach both our Inward Investment and Global Capital Investment Plans place maximum emphasis on securing good quality investment into Scotland aligning with our values as a nation and delivering our net zero economy supported by good green jobs. We will therefore continue to work closely with those Scottish and overseas-owned businesses and organisations with whom those values most closely align.

The powers required to legislate in respect of company acquisition and ownership are reserved to the UK Parliament and, as such, the Scottish Government does not have the power to take action in this area. In addition recent legislative change in the UK via the National Security and Investment Act enables an increased screening of acquisitions on grounds, for example, of national security. This reflects similar change in EU legislation.

These legislative mechanisms notwithstanding, company acquisition remains a commercial decision to be undertaken by two private entities. The Scottish Government and Enterprise Agencies therefore aim to work with businesses in Scotland, domestic and overseas owned, to ensure Scottish operations are not only secured here but opportunities for growth are pursued.

Scottish Enterprise research suggests acquisition can be an important route for companies with growth potential to achieve their ambitions; either Scottish companies who acquire other businesses or Scottish companies acquired by businesses from other parts of the UK and internationally. This is not unique to Scotland and is a feature of similar economies.

In addition both our Inward Investment and Global Capital Investment Plans place maximum emphasis in supporting good quality investment into Scotland aligning with our values as a nation and delivering our net zero economy supported by good green jobs. We will therefore continue to work closely with those Scottish and overseas-owned businesses and organisations with whom those values most closely align.

Listed building consent applications are made to and dealt with by the relevant local planning authority, unless a specific direction is issued for the decision to be made directly by Ministers. In order to add a formal requirement for any specific supporting evidence for listed building consent applications supplied by any of the institutions the member mentions, legislative change would be required. The Scottish Government has no plans for any such legislative change at present, and welcomes any suggestions from our local planning authorities to improve our processes, or any advice from the member of the specific benefits this would bring.

In recognition of the scale of the existing shock of the pandemic and of the need to consider existing models of funding, governance, collaboration and delivery, the Deputy First Minister and the then Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science commissioned the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) to undertake their Review of Coherent Provision and Sustainability on 3 June 2020.

The Cumberford-Little report was highlighted in the commissioning letter from Ministers as a key element of the evidence base to be drawn on in the SFC review.

Many of the recommendations first made in the Cumberford-Little report are reflected in the final recommendations of the SFC Review, published in June 2021, including the recommendation for government to set out a compelling narrative and purpose for the sector and the need for a transparent and accessible performance regime directly related to purpose.

The Scottish Government published its response to the SFC review on 26 October 2021, broadly accepting and agreeing with the recommendations. The response acknowledges the importance of the Cumberford-Little report in shaping those recommendations.

Work is underway to implement the recommendations in the SFC review both within Government and within the SFC. In addition, the recently published National Strategy for Economic Transformation with its clear focus on skills recognises the central role Scotland’s colleges have in supporting business growth and economic recovery. The delivery of the actions described in NSET will further support the ambitions and recommendations as envisaged in the Cumberford-Little report.

The Scottish Government through Transport Scotland provide annual funding to Energy Saving Trust (EST) to deliver the Switched-on Taxi Loan scheme on behalf of Scottish Ministers.

a) To date the Switched-on Taxi Loan scheme has received 920 applications with a value of £37,822,348.

b) To date the Switched-on Taxi Loan scheme has offered 662 loans worth £22,859,952 to taxi owners and operators who have passed the credit, affordability and eligibility checks. Owners/operators who are unsuccessful are given the opportunity to appeal the decision directly with EST.

c) To date Switched-on Taxi Loan scheme has paid 574 applications to the value of £22,859,952. The remaining 88 applicants are finalising documentation or awaiting confirmed delivery dates for their new vehicles.

The Scottish Government, through Transport Scotland and its delivery partner Energy Saving Trust (EST), undertake a full review and evaluation of the Switched-on Taxi Loan Scheme at the end of each financial year. A decision on the future of this scheme will be made shortly.

To promote the loan scheme, EST undertakes comprehensive sector outreach each year, which includes sector events, business referrals, and the publication and dissemination of information and advice, including Vehicle Comparison reports to highlight the benefits of switching to an electric taxi.

The Scottish Government fully appreciates that many students are facing higher energy bills and increased financial hardship as a consequence of the current cost of living crisis.

Over £37 million of hardship funding has been provided to colleges and universities by the Scottish Government since June 2021. These funds are available for colleges and universities to use up until 31 July 2022.

Students in further or higher education currently experiencing financial hardship should apply to their college or university for support from Discretionary Funds. I wrote to college and university principals last month asking them to continue to prioritise the allocation of hardship funds to those students most in need, and to take account of the impact of rising energy bills.

The Scottish Government has also recently announced a £350 uplift to the undergraduate student loan package from 2022-23. This represents the first step in delivering our manifesto commitment to provide student support equivalent to the living wage over the next three years. This increase ensures that the most disadvantaged students in higher education will receive bursary and loan support of up to £8,100.

We published our NHS Recovery Plan on 25 August 2021, which sets out our ambition of increasing NHS capacity by at least 10% as quickly as possible in order to address the backlog of care and meet the ongoing healthcare needs for people across Scotland.

Backed by over £1 billion of funding, the Plan will support an increase in inpatient, daycase, and outpatient activity to address the backlog of care, which will be supported by the implementation of sustainable improvements through new models of care.

Health Boards’ elective activity is being actively monitored through daily and weekly returns to the Scottish Government and support provided where required.