Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-11074 on 5 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

Questions S6W-11074 - 77 are operational matters for Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and I have asked Stuart Black, HIE’s Chief Executive to respond directly. I have also provided detail below which I hope the member will find helpful.

The agency's statutory functions are laid out under the Enterprise and New Towns (Scotland) Act 1990 (the Act). It fulfils a series of financial duties and other functions, under Section 24 of the Act. It also operates under a range of general and specific powers, set out in full in Section 8 of the Act.

HIE is required to follow guidance on the proper handling and reporting of public funds, as detailed in the Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM). This includes its duty to focus its activities to deliver Best Value. The SPFM is also clear that guidance in HM Treasury’s Green Book has been adopted by the Scottish Government and applies to all organisations to which the SPFM is directly applicable.

HIE operates a number of funding schemes for which companies and other organisations can apply. For one-off and bespoke support, HIE’s process is aligned to treasury appraisal principles with market failure being a key consideration for all funding decisions. Any support provided by the Scottish Government and its associated public bodies must be contingent upon completion of satisfactory due diligence as required by the Borrowing, Lending & Investment section of the SPFM. This would require a robust business case. Prior to any investment, all other avenues of finance should have been explored and the additionality of HIE’s intervention confirmed. This includes availability of other government schemes, financing options and private sector support. Any investment should also consider Government or public sector support already being provided to the business.

HIE does not exclude companies or organisations that have submitted complaints. Its funding is discretionary and decisions are supported by proportionate appraisal aligned to Treasury guidance and Best Value characteristics.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-11074 on 5 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

There are no current plans to implement a Primary Authority system for devolved regulation. However, as part of the National Strategy for Economic Transformation we have set out that we are working with stakeholders to consider how regulation can be used to support economic and societal aims and use this work to continuously improve the approach to regulation in the future. This will include reviewing existing powers and processes to identify where changes could be made to support both businesses and regulators in achieving our strategic aims.

The Scottish Government has no plans to prevent people taking cans from wheelie bins following the introduction of DRS.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-03196 on 29 September 2021. 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
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The Business Rates Incentivisation Scheme (BRIS) was introduced in in 2012-13 in recognition of the fact that the Scottish Government guarantees the combined General Revenue Grant (GRG) and distributable Non-Domestic Rates Income (NDRI) funding thereby reducing the incentive for local authorities to try and maximise their NDRI. The BRIS is focussed on incentivising local authorities to maximise their existing NDRI and also to grow their local business tax base. This is achieved by the Scottish Government setting annual locally based targets. Any local authorities that exceed their annual target retain half the extra income achieved from growth in their tax base until the next NDR revaluation assuming they maintain the extra income in the subsequent years. The amounts to be retained are calculated from local authorities’ audited annual non domestic rates returns. The information requested is set out in the following table.

Due to the impact of COVID-19 on NDRI as a consequence of the enhanced relief package, Scottish Ministers took the decision to suspend the scheme for both 2020-21 and 2021-22.

The Scottish Government has supported the development of the Scotland Loves Local (SLL) gift card scheme as part of the SLL programme aimed primarily at economic stimulus and building community wealth. The card can be pre-loaded with funds for rewards and gifts, including for use for retail, hospitality, transport, culture and leisure.

In February, we launched the £80 million Local Authority Covid Economic Recovery (LACER) fund which empowers councils to consider the needs of local businesses, communities and households and to target support to maximise economic recovery in their areas. The dual purpose approach of economic stimulus and support for low income households was first pioneered in late 2021 by East Ayrshire Council who chose to use their own funding to provide £20 and then £50 SLL Gift cards to low income households.

Some local authorities chose to use the existing SLL gift card scheme as a mechanism to deliver the dual purpose of support to low income households and local business. To date, over £12m of funding has been committed for the SLL cards targeted at low income households via the LACER. This includes Glasgow £8.9m, Aberdeen £1.1m, Argyll & Bute £800,000 South Ayrshire £500,000 East Renfrewshire £450,000 with other local authorities’ still to be confirmed.

No, I attended the Astley Ainslie Hospital on 25 August to visit NHS Lothian’s Mental health After Covid Hospitalisation (MACH) service. During the visit, I met with staff from the MACH team, service users who have been involved in group therapy delivered by MACH, and members of the MACH National Specialist Advisory Group.

No, I attended the Astley Ainslie Hospital on 25 August to visit NHS Lothian’s Mental health After Covid Hospitalisation (MACH) service. During the visit, I met with staff from the MACH team, service users who have been involved in group therapy delivered by MACH, and members of the MACH National Specialist Advisory Group.