Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-11261 on 19 October 2022. 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

In this government’s first 100 days, we established six pilot schemes to provide free bikes for school age children who cannot afford one. A further four pilots were then established by the end of 2021.

The official pilot period for these pilots has now concluded, and a final evaluation is being collated. We expect to receive the evaluation in early November and will be publishing it on the Transport Scotland website thereafter.

While responsibility for immigration rests with the UK and we are clear the UK immigration system is not working for Scotland’s economy, public services or communities, the Scottish Government will do all we can to attract and retain people in Scotland. Last year we launched Moving to Scotland – an online resource providing information and signposting to people who have just moved to Scotland or who are thinking of moving here. In addition to Moving to Scotland we have committed to launching a Talent Attraction and Migration Service that will attract people to come and live in Scotland, help those moving to Scotland settle into their communities and support employers to navigate the immigration system. We are currently designing the service to ensure it achieves these outcomes and once we have completed this phase, will launch the service during 2023.

Migration from the rest of the UK to Scotland:

Estimates from National Records of Scotland (NRS) show that an annual average of 38,543 working-age (16-64) people have migrated from the rest of the UK to Scotland over the last five years of data (2016-17 to 2020-21).

However, over the same period, there has also been an average annual outflow (from Scotland to other parts of the UK) of 31,585 working age people – an annual average net flow (inflows minus outflows) of 6,958.

As part of our priority National Strategy for Economic Transformation (NSET) action, an Industry Advisory Group for rest of UK (rUK) Talent Attraction, chaired by Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise Minister, Ivan McKee, has been formed to share talent attraction expertise to identify and develop effective approaches to attracting talent from rUK.

The Industry Advisory Group (IAG) has met four times since being established in April 2022. The Group’s membership includes senior leaders from the Life Sciences, Tech / FinTech, Advanced Manufacturing – mechanical and electronics, Financial Services, Space and Renewables sectors, and has identified priority workstreams including; Data, Skills Shortages, Advertising and Marketing, Landing Support and Partner Support, Student Retention and Alumni; and Existing Pools of Talent.

In August 2023 Scotland will host the first ever Cycling World Championships, which is predicted to welcome 2,600 elite cyclists, including para-athletes, from 120 countries, and up to 1 million spectators. The Scottish Government aims to spread the benefits from major events across Scotland. The Championships will take place across a number of locations in Scotland. The road races will pass through many communities, bringing opportunities to experience the excitement of the Championships to a wide audience in Scotland.

We are working closely with Cycling World Championships Limited and other partners to ensure communities across Scotland benefit from the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.

A key aspect of delivering local community benefits is the ‘Inspired By’ projects, where the aim is to use the Championships as a catalyst for change and leave lasting benefits. The most notable ‘Inspired By’ project to date is the £8m Cycling Facilities Fund, which aims to provide accessible, inclusive and inspiring facilities and so increase participation in cycling, which can have physical health, metal health and environmental benefits. sportscotland has made 23 awards already across Scotland, with further awards to follow.

Another Inspired By project is the Community Cycling Fund which was announced on 19 May 2022, providing at least £1 million of support. The Fund is a joint initiative between the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, EventScotland and sportscotland. The fund has been developed with the aim of creating a national celebration of cycling across all of Scotland’s 32 local authority areas in the build up to the Championships, and to create lasting benefit post-event.

There are also opportunities for communities to get more directly involved with the event itself, for example through the volunteering programme. This will provide positive, high quality and meaningful volunteering opportunities. The aim is that the programme will engage new audiences into the joy of volunteering, be accessible and inclusive and increase community engagement with the championships. The programme is open for applications until 31 October with more details available at: Volunteer with us | 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships (cyclingworldchamps.com).

The Scottish Government will continue to engage with stakeholders to amplify and accelerate activity linked to the Championships, including with a view to delivering further community benefits.

The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships has been a policy-led event from inception. While successful delivery of the 13 world championships in August 2023 is a key focus, an overarching aim is to use the event as a catalyst for positive change and encourage more people to participate in cycling.

We are working closely with Cycling World Championships Limited and other partners to ensure that the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships supports increased cycling participation in Scotland. We have created a Policy Advisory Group, to help drive forward the wider policy ambitions of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, bringing together Cycling World Championships partners to assist with join up across policy areas, and to consider initiatives and approaches. There are six policy pillars. These are: Participation; Sport; Transport; Industry; Tourism; and Events. Getting more people on bikes is fundamental to success in all of these areas.

More specifically, through ‘Inspired By’ projects the Scottish Government aims to use the Championships as a catalyst for change and leave lasting benefits, increasing cycling participation. These projects include delivering accessible, inclusive and inspiring facilities through the £8 million Cycling Facilities Fund and engaging in every Local Authority area through the £1 million Community Cycling Fund will provide opportunities and inspiration to cycle.

The Championships is also working with Scottish Cycling and Cycling Scotland to increase cycling participation levels, develop sporting excellence through their talent and performance programmes and target a more diverse audience through programmes such as Scottish Cycling’s ‘Lets Ride, Breeze‘, aimed specifically at women and young people, and Cycling Scotland’s ‘Pedal’ events –supporting people new and returning to cycling, including families.

There are also opportunities for communities to get more directly involved with the event itself, for example through the volunteering programme. This will provide positive, high quality and meaningful volunteering opportunities. The programme is open for applications until 31 October with more details available at: Volunteer with us | 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships (cyclingworldchamps.com) .

Furthermore the promotional strategy for the championships is to appeal to a broad and diverse audience, not just those that are existing fans of cycling or cyclists. Diverse imagery will be used, and not just in a sporting context, to promote a variety of different uses of the bike and reinforce the message that cycling is for all.

The Scottish Government will continue to engage with stakeholders to amplify and accelerate opportunities linked to the Championships, including with a view to increasing participation in cycling.

The performance of Corporate Travel Management (CTM) is robustly monitored by the Scottish Government. This is carried out through regular progress reporting and meetings, rigorous financial monitoring, and through identifying continuous improvements including savings opportunities.

The Framework also provides obligations and standards that the supplier must adhere to in relation to the following: HMRC compliant invoices; appropriate insurances; credit rating threshold maintained; social value via the HM Government Code of Conduct which sets out standards of behaviours expected of the contractor and subcontractors; equality and accessibility; modern slavery; child labour and inhumane treatment; income security and working hours or staff; sustainability as part of Government Buying Standards; subcontractor monitoring; and data protection.

Corporate Travel Management (CTM) won the contract for the Provision of Displaced Persons Crisis Travel Management 2, through fair and open competition. Due to the urgency of the requirement, the Scottish Government utilised the Crown Commercial Services framework to allow for accommodation, travel, venue and ancillary booking services to be provided in support of the response to crisis management in relation to Displaced Persons. The Framework was awarded by Crown Commercial Services who published an Invitation to Tender to invite bids. This was a single supplier framework and the Service Provider, CTM, waived their management fee due to the humanitarian nature of the requirement.

The Provision of Displaced Persons Crisis Travel Management 2, which was awarded to the company, Corporate Travel Management (CTM), is a call off from a Crown Commercial Services framework and the original framework documentation is available from the Crown Commercial Services website: Travel and Venue Solutions - CCS (crowncommercial.gov.uk) . The contract notice with CTM was published on 9 August 2022.

The Scottish Government has regular and ongoing engagement with COSLA which includes discussing housing needs for Ukrainian displaced people in Scotland and funding support.

Most recently a meeting with senior leaders and officials from Scottish Government, COSLA and partners took place on 30 September to discuss next steps on our review of the Super Sponsor scheme.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-11199 on 4 October 2022. 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