Seòmar agus comataidhean

The Scottish Government works closely on a four nations basis to ensure that vaccination records can be updated where required. In line with General Data Protection Regulations health records and associated systems can only be accessed by health officials from the same country within which an individual resides.

With Covid vaccinations, if a resident of Scotland is vaccinated in England and provides a Scottish address, this information is automatically transmitted to NHS Scotland records.

NHS Inform also provides a vaccination record update service for those who have received one of their Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations outwith Scotland, allowing them to upload proof of vaccination from another country to their Scottish vaccination record.

This is a question for the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland (RoS). She advises me that RoS does not hold information on transfers which may have occurred but for which no registration application has been submitted.

In relation to registrations in each of the last 10 years the position is given in the following table.

These numbers include transfers for value (sales) and transfers which are not for value (such as succession), but do not include voluntary registrations (where a property owner voluntarily moves their property from the Register of Sasines to the Land Register with no change in ownership).

As at 24 August 2022, in total there are 545 titles with an area over 2000 hectares registered in the Land Register of Scotland. A further 61 titles with a provisional extent over 2000 hectares are currently undergoing first registration.

The Bus Decarbonisation Taskforce was a short-life working group, which worked to achieve the aims set out in its vision (copied below) by bringing together the top leadership from each sector with a role in transitioning fleets to zero emissions. The Taskforce was not vested with powers to exercise any statutory functions, nor did it handle any funds.

The Bus Decarbonisation Taskforce has delivered on its remit to identify and establish commitments to address the hurdles and opportunities in transitioning to a zero emission bus fleet.

Bus Decarbonisation Taskforce Vision Statement:

In the context of wider decarbonisation of the transport and energy sectors and the broader vision as set out in the Scottish National Transport Strategy, central to which is a vibrant bus sector with increased bus usage as people choose to travel by bus instead of car, the guiding vision of the Bus Decarbonisation Taskforce is a future where:

• Bus operators are exclusively running zero-emission battery-electric and hydrogen fuel-cell buses;
• The bus sector provides an excellent service meeting passengers’ day-to-day needs;
• People enjoy travelling on buses and knowing that doing so is one of the most climate-friendly choices they can make;
• There are vibrant ownership and leasing markets for buses which benefits operators, manufacturers and the finance sector;
• The smart technology on buses enables them to be operated in the most energy efficient way;
• There is an even stronger and diverse domestic manufacturing sector and supply-chain comprised of high-quality skilled jobs with continued innovation reducing manufacturing and supply chain emissions;
• Energy networks, bus operators and Local Government are used to working together to ensure depots are powered/fuelled and all potential users are able to benefit from the energy provision centred at depots and on-route charging infrastructure;
• Buses and infrastructure are fully recycled at the end of asset life contributing to the circular economy, reducing waste and supporting further decarbonisation efforts;
• After an important period of support, the Government has ceased subsidising battery-electric and hydrogen fuel-cell buses, but continue to support innovation in new zero-emission fuels and technologies of the future;
• Scotland is recognised the world over as a leader in the design, manufacture and operation of high quality zero-emission buses and other large road vehicles, alongside associated green finance solutions.

Scottish Ministers and officials regularly meet with representatives of the financial services sector, including lenders, to discuss a range of matters including measures to support households and businesses.

The Deputy First Minister met with the financial services sector (the quarterly Financial Services Growth and Development Board (FISGAD)) on 30 August 2022. Details of the membership of the Board can be found at https://www.gov.scot/groups/financial-services-growth-and-development-board/

Officials also regularly engage with UK Finance (representative body for the banking and Finance Industry). Details of UK Finance membership can be found at https://www.ukfinance.org.uk/

Attendees at such meetings vary according to representatives' availability.

The Scottish Government Environment Strategy (2020) recognises the urgent need for action at all levels, in tackling the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change. Sadly, the evidence tells us that in common with the rest of the world, Scotland has not yet done enough to prevent the continuing decline in biodiversity. We recently consulted on our new biodiversity strategy, which sets out our ambition to halt nature loss by 2030 and reverse it by 2045. The consultation closed on 12 September and we are currently analysing responses.

The Scottish Government is committed to deliver 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, of which at least 70% will be available for social rent and 10% will be in our remote, rural and island communities. This is backed by £3.6bn funding available in this Parliamentary term including support of up to £30 million for the continuation of the demand-led Rural and Island Housing Fund.

SMEs play an important role in the delivery of affordable homes in all areas of Scotland both as developing landlords, contractors and the wider supply chain.

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.

These are operational matters for Scottish Canals. Scottish Canals receives Grant in Aid for its core duties of operating and maintaining the waterways for which it is responsible as navigation authority .

Scottish Canals has benefitted from significant increases in grant in aid awards in recent years. Since 2019, the Organisation’s capital grant from the Scottish Government has increased by 87% and it has received an annual uplift in resource funding since 2020.

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.

The Deputy First Minister met with the financial services sector at the quarterly Financial Services Growth and Development Board (FISGAD) on 30 August 2022 and discussed measures industry and government can partner on to support households and businesses in Scotland.

Officials also regularly engage with UK Finance (representative body for the banking and Finance Industry) to discuss a range of issues affecting the mortgage sector including at their quarterly Board meetings in Scotland, last held on 10 June 2022, and on 1 September 2022 where discussions included the cost crisis, and the support lenders can offer customers in difficulty.

The Scottish Government remain in contact with the financial services sector on a regular basis in the current period and expect to engage regularly in the future.