Seòmar agus comataidhean

The question relates to a live planning application, and remains subject to consideration by the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority at this time.

As a statutory consultee in the planning process, with a responsibility for the safe and efficient flow of traffic on the A82 trunk road, Transport Scotland was consulted on the second Flamingo Land's Lomond Banks planning application in May 2022.

In terms of national planning policy requirements when considering the potential transport impacts of the proposed development, Scottish Planning Policy, (2014) remains in force until such time as National Planning Framework 4 is adopted and published. SPP contains no requirement to consider potential carbon impacts on Scottish Government climate and vehicle reductions targets.

Transport Scotland did however undertake a comprehensive review of the applicant’s transportation assessment supporting the planning application. Transport Scotland was satisfied that the proposed development could be adequately served by, and connected to, active travel and public transport networks and would not therefore be wholly reliant on car travel.

The outcome from the review informed Transport Scotland’s formal consultation response to the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority.

Revenue Scotland publishes monthly and annual data on transactions subject to the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) Additional Dwelling Supplement (ADS). This data is available at: Statistics | Revenue Scotland .

The monthly data published by Revenue Scotland includes the number of transactions subject to the Additional Dwelling Supplement per month. Data up to and including November 2022 is currently available at: Monthly LBTT Statistics | Revenue Scotland . In total, 17,970 transactions were recorded for the period of April 2022 to November 2022.

Local authority level data is published on an annual basis, as part of Revenue Scotland’s Annual Summary of Trends in the Devolved Taxes. The report for 2020-21, which provides data for the period from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2021, is available at: Annual Summary of Trends in the Devolved Taxes 2020-2021 | Revenue Scotland . The report for 2021-2022 is due to be published in early 2023.

The Home Energy Scotland Grants and Loan Scheme does not directly accredit installers for external wall insulation, however we do require that businesses installing this measure are accredited to the PAS2030 British Standard

Since June we have published our Heat in Buildings Supply Chains Delivery Plan which sets out the practical steps that we are taking to support the growth of the green heat sector.

As part of our Supply Chains Delivery Plan, Skills Development Scotland are currently leading on pathfinder research to build the evidence base in the Glasgow City and Shetland council areas. This will build an understanding of forecast skills demand and identify gaps, providing a model for undertaking such an assessment in other areas. The pathfinder research will be complete spring 2023.

As part of this package of actions, we have also re-launched our previous 'Sustainable Energy Supply Chain Programme' as the ‘Green Heat Installer Engagement Programme’, with a dedicated focus on working with installers in the heat and energy efficiency supply chain.

The Scottish Government Graduate Development Programme is recruited bi-annually. Our last recruitment onto the programme was in 2021 meaning we were not scheduled to recruit in 2022. Our next intake for the programme will be in 2023.

On 11 November 2022, the First Minister and I represented the Scottish Government at the Summit meeting of the British-Irish Council hosted by the UK Government in Blackpool. The meeting was attended by Ministers from seven of the eight of the BIC Member Administrations with Northern Ireland represented by senior officials in an observational capacity.

The Prime Minister, who was attending for the separate Heads of Government Council meeting, welcomed delegates to Blackpool on the Thursday evening ahead of the Summit. The Summit meeting itself was chaired by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Minister for Intergovernmental Relations, Michael Gove.

The Summit focussed on Sustainable Economic Growth and Regeneration, and on that topic I attended a site visit to the Lancashire Energy HQ. The Energy HQ is situated within the regenerated Blackpool Enterprise Zone and focusses on training and engineering skills for the sustainable energy sources industry. During the main Summit meeting I reflected on the visit and similar activity undertaken in Scotland to assist our just transition to net zero.

On the latest Political Developments item, the First Minster communicated views on the cost-of-living crisis, EU relations, the climate crisis and the ongoing situation in Ukraine. As well as the Heads of Government Council meeting with the PM and FM Wales, the First Minister also took the opportunity to hold bilateral meetings with Prime Minister and the Taoiseach.

The Communiqué that was issued by the British-Irish Council after the meeting can be found on its website at: www.britishirishcouncil.org

38th British-Irish Council Summit, UK Government

11 November 2022

Communiqué

The British-Irish Council (BIC) held its 38th Summit meeting today hosted by the UK Government in Blackpool. The Prime Minister opened the 38th British Irish Council Summit Programme, welcoming delegates to Blackpool on Thursday. A full list of Ministerial participants at the Summit meeting is attached.

As part of the programme, Ministers were invited to visit local businesses to set in context discussions at the plenary meeting on sustainable local growth, which the Secretary of State for Levelling Up chaired.

Latest Political Developments

The Council reflected on the latest political developments across their administrations, and took the opportunity to engage on a number of topics of mutual interest. These included the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the impact of the rising cost of living, shared climate and decarbonisation objectives, and ongoing relations with the EU. The Council received an update on Northern Ireland and looked forward to the restoration of the devolved institutions.

The Council also noted that 2023 would mark the 25th anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, and underlined the importance of supporting the effective functioning of all of the agreement’s institutions, including the British-Irish Council.

Sustainable Growth and Regeneration

The Council discussed the topic of sustainable growth and regeneration further during the Summit meeting, considering efforts underway across BIC Member Administrations to stimulate and support sustainable economic growth, the development of more inclusive communities, and to address pressures on housing in particular.

The Council took the opportunity to review recent thematic activity across the BIC’s work sectors aimed at supporting thriving local economies and building sustainable and resilient communities. The Council also noted the recent Ministerial meeting of the BIC Social Inclusion work sector, which took place in Cardiff and where Ministers considered how best administrations can support the growth and development of the Social Enterprise sector.

Next Summit Meeting

The Council noted that the next BIC Summit will be hosted by the Government of Jersey.

BIC Secretariat

11 November 2022

Scottish Ministers are committed to empowering our communities and engagement in regional marine planning partnerships. It is for each regional marine planning partnership to determine its own governance arrangements. Section 12 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 requires Scottish Ministers to ensure that the group of persons (to whom regional marine planning functions are delegated) comprises, so far as it reasonably practicable, representatives of persons who have an interest in the protection and enhancement of that marine region and the use of that region for recreational and commercial purposes. Decisions on applications for membership are a matter to be determined by each regional marine planning partnership. Should membership be declined, marine planning partnerships are required to provide reasons for the decision and the applicant is free to reapply if they wish to do so.

In the case of the Clyde Marine Planning Partnership (“CMPP”), they put on hold the consideration of all membership applications, which included the Clyde Coastal Community Councils’ application considered at the 17 th June 2021 CMPP member’s meeting, because the CMPP was undergoing a full-scale review of its governance structure and was, therefore, unable to consider new applications at that time. Clyde Coastal Community Councils were informed of this decision along with the reasoning behind it and that membership applications would be welcomed and fully considered once the governance review was complete. The review’s recommendations were informed by workshops which the Clyde Coastal Community Councils participated in during January 2022.

The governance review concluded that there is a need for increased community representation on the CMPP and proposes that community council/group representatives, such as from the Clyde Coastal Community Councils, be included in the Steering Group of the new proposed governance structure. Scottish Ministers welcome these proposals to address concerns regarding community representation. The proposed governance structure from this review was discussed and agreed in principle by the CMPP on 7 June 2022 and will be implemented in due course.

The Scottish Government response to the Public Interest Journalism Working Group report, Scotland’s News: Towards A Sustainable Future for Public Interest Journalism , is scheduled to be published on the Scottish Government publications page on Friday 24 June.

The response will set out the Scottish Government’s answer to each of the recommendations, and the next steps for taking them forward.

The Scottish Government is very grateful to the Working Group’s members for their hard work in developing the recommendations within the report.