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It was my clear expectation that the bidding process for green ports in Scotland would begin with publication of an Applicant Prospectus this month.

Since the UK Government announced its intention to establish freeports around the UK, I and this government have engaged in that process assiduously and meaningfully. We wanted to ensure that Scotland was in a position to benefit from this policy but in a way which contributed to the Scottish Government’s wider economic ambitions. That is why we have spent months working up a fair, green ports model – as I announced to Parliament – to deliver fair work and enable a just transition to net zero. Scottish Government officials have engaged significantly with their counterparts in the UK Government to develop this model and I have had regular and positive engagement with relevant portfolio Ministers on it. Our Applicant Prospectus, which has been drafted jointly with the UK Government, reflects these dual objectives.

We have been ready to launch the bidding process in Scotland since 3 March and, as far as the Scottish Government is concerned, the Applicant Prospectus is ready for publication now. A link to an abridged draft Applicant Prospectus, which is currently languishing in the UK Government clearance process, can be found at: https://www.gov.scot/policies/cities-regions/green-ports/

We have been working with the UK Government on this throughout in good faith.

We are keen to ensure that Scotland could secure two green ports and that our successful bidders are treated fairly and equitably with freeports in England in terms of set up funding. We note recent announcements that the UK Government intends to establish “at least one Freeport in Scotland”. We are disappointed that we were not advised of this ahead of such announcements being made.

Regrettably, it would now appear that there is a lack of willingness on the part of the UK Government to sign up to our green port ambitions on fair work and net zero, and we have to assume that they are not as committed as we are to protecting workers rights; protecting the environment; and getting on with action to drive economic recovery. To be clear, our requirements for green ports to include implementation of Fair Work First and a robust plan for transition to net zero are red lines. We will not support any model that does not include these essential elements. We will not engage in a race to the bottom.

As we are now fast approaching the start of the pre-election period in Scotland on 25 March, there is the real prospect of a potentially damaging delay until after the Scottish Election in May. Therefore, if we do not have confirmation that the UK Government are ready to launch the Applicant Prospectus by close of business on Monday 22 March, we may have to conclude that the UK Government has effectively withdrawn from this process. If that is the case, I would call on them to confirm that and explain its decision to Scotland’s ports, airports, local authorities and the wider business community.

Registration opened on 15 June 2017, and delivery of Baby Boxes nationwide began on 15 August 2017 for all babies born and resident in Scotland.

Up to 26 February 2021, we have distributed 166,813 Baby Boxes to families across Scotland.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-34997 on‎ 18 February 2021. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

Since the Scottish Government bought Glasgow Prestwick Airport (GPA) in 2013, we have been clear that it is our intention to return the business to the private sector when the time is right. In November 2020 a notice was placed in the Official Journal of the European Union inviting expressions of interest. That attracted credible interests and since then GPA and its professional advisers have carried out a detailed evaluation of the competing bids. I am pleased to report that significant progress has been made and I have agreed the selection of a Preferred Bidder. This allows the process to move to the next stage and potentially an early divestment of our shareholding.

To protect the integrity of the process, we will not reveal the identity of the Preferred Bidder at this stage. I will keep Parliament advised of progress.

The decision to extend 100% business rates relief for the first three months of 2021-22, announced in the Scottish Budget on 28 January, was expected to save ratepayers £185m.

On 16 February 2021, I announced that the Scottish Budget 2021-22 would extend the COVID-19 relief for properties in the retail, hospitality, leisure and aviation sectors, and newspaper publishing, for all of 2021-22. The extension of this relief for the full year is expected to save ratepayers an additional £534m, for a total saving of £719m.

The Scottish Government cannot reliably apportion these amounts into retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors.

Scotland's Strategic Framework sets out our approach to supressing the Covid-19 virus which is based on an assessment of each of the four harms and contains the broad measures in place in each of the protection levels.

Garden centres can open in any area designated at protection level 3 or below and are presently open on some Scottish islands, including Shetland and Orkney. For all areas in protection level 4, garden centres are closed but are able to operate a permitted collection service and fulfil on-line orders.

In response to discussions at the Education and Skills Committee in 2019, research was commissioned on young people’s experiences of precarious and flexible work. An independent report into Precarious and Flexible Working will be published on the Scottish Government website later today.

The research report presents findings on young people’s experiences of precarious and flexible work. These findings cover a number of areas including young people’s circumstances, awareness of contractual status, types of precarious or flexible working conditions, experience of precarious and flexible working conditions and views around changing working circumstances. The research emphasises the importance of the individual’s circumstances in their determination of whether their contract arrangements are appropriate or not. These findings support our policy approach within the Young Person’s Guarantee of taking a person centred approach to policy design and delivery.

In response to the report’s recommendations, we have updated The Young Person's Guarantee website to signpost young people who want to change their current contract status out of precarious and flexible work, to guidance which will support them to do this. The findings from the report will be discussed with the Young Person’s Guarantee Implementation Group, whose membership includes the STUC. In particular the matter of young people not having formal contract arrangements, which is explored within the research, will be considered further as part of our ongoing fair work considerations within the Guarantee. We will also consider the potential of further research in relation to the impact Covid-19 has had on young people’s experiences of precarious and flexible work.

The Scottish Government promotes and encourages flexible working and works with employers to encourage flexible, agile and inclusive workplaces that benefit all employees, including those participating in the Young Person’s Guarantee. However the inappropriate use of zero hours contracts and other non-standard types of employment that offer workers minimum job or financial security is not supported by Scottish Government. This is stated in the criteria for Fair Work First, the relaunched Scottish Business Pledge and is reflected within the Young Person’s Guarantee.