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Transport Scotland continues to engage with Glasgow City Council regarding their aspirations for Glasgow City Centre, noting it is they who are responsible for bringing forward land use changes and the associated planning duties. The interests of Transport Scotland lie in the safe and effective operation of the M8.

Transport Scotland has communicated to Glasgow City Council that to take forward potential proposals identified in its District Regeneration Framework for Cowcaddens, a robust assessment of the potential impacts on the M8, access roads and adjacent facilities should be carried out. Officials from Transport Scotland are currently scoping an assessment on the future of the M8.

I also refer the member to the answer to question S6W-27301 on the Broomielaw District Regeneration Framework on 17 May 2024.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

We already work with a range of stakeholders to design heat in buildings policies. The Scottish Government has established a number of expert groups including the Green Heat Finance Taskforce, EPC External Reference Group and the Strategic Advisory Group, who provide independent advice on a range of policies.

Recently, we consulted on proposals for legislation to improve energy efficiency and drive the clean heat agenda in the existing built stock – both homes and non-domestic buildings. A number of stakeholder engagement events were held across Scotland for people to learn and give feedback to the consultation proposals. There were c1650 responses to our consultation from various stakeholders and industries which are now being independently analysed.

We also ran a consultation to invite views on proposals for a new Social Housing Net Zero Standard (SHNZS), which will replace the post-2020 Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing, or EESSH2. Stakeholders from the social rented sector, who are part of the EESSH2 Review Group, will be asked to help consider the final design of the proposed SHNZS policy, based on the consultation analysis.

In addition, the Strategic Public Engagement Delivery Partnership, which will be developed in 2024, will further strengthen those relationships.

The potential impacts, including that of job creation, of the Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (“INTOG”) leasing round are currently being assessed through the sectoral marine planning process. The INTOG sites together with the commercial-scale sites leased by Crown Estate Scotland through the ScotWind leasing round will form the spatial basis for the updated Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy. The planning process includes undertaking a plan-level social and economic impact assessment which will provide an estimate of the positive impacts INTOG developments may have on employment opportunities. The assessment will be made available for public consultation, alongside the draft updated Plan, later this year.

The majority of non-executive appointments to the Boards of Non-Departmental Public Bodies are regulated by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland. This means that the process used to appoint Board members is governed by the 'Revised Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies in Scotland’. Those which are not regulated, choose to adopt the same principles. 

The entities advise Scottish Ministers on their Board’s membership needs, the ScotRail Board determines this themselves, with a focus on diverse boards comprised of members who possess the right skills, experience and knowledge. In addition to other relevant attributes, such as, integrity and commitment. STUC's General Secretary, Roz Foyer, is a non-executive Director on Scottish Rail Holdings’ Board, the parent company of ScotRail Ltd, is appointed to that role with the support of railway trade unions.

As set out in the Industry (Scotland) Act 2002, non-executive Board members appointed by Scottish Ministers are required to have knowledge and experience relevant to the functions of Scottish Water. In addition, one of the non-executive members must have special knowledge of the interests of the employees of Scottish Water.

This information is not held centrally.

Offshore Energies UK (OEUK), a representative membership body for the UK offshore energy industry, estimated in their 2024 Economy and People report that the oil and gas sector supports around 206,000 jobs across the UK in total, including supply chain and wider induced activity.

The following table shows the cash and real terms value of Local Authority General Fund reserves at 31 March 2014 (final audited) and 31 March 2024 (budget estimate). Please note that the information requested on reserves is not held prior to 2007.

Adjustments for inflation have been made using the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) deflators for March 2024 (available at: GDP deflators at market prices, and money GDP - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) ).

Figures for 31 March 2024 will be superseded on 25 June 2024 by data published in Local Government 2023-24 Provisional Outturn and 2024-25 Budget Estimates.

Further information on Local Government Finance Statistics can be found at: Local government finance statistics - gov.scot (www.gov.scot).

The Scottish Government cannot extend the coverage of the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 as it applies to England and Wales only.

The Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 applies a sustainable procurement duty on Scottish public bodies which whilst similar to the general duty found in the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012, is more far reaching The sustainable procurement duty requires a Scottish public body to consider and act on opportunities to: improve the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of its area; facilitate the involvement of SMEs, third sector bodies and supported businesses; and promote innovation.

The legislation in Scotland also includes provisions for oversight, requiring public bodies with an annual procurement spend of £5 million or more to set out in annually reviewed procurement strategies how they will comply with the Act and to publish annual procurement reports setting out how they have complied with their strategies. The content of these reports forms the basis of the Scottish Ministers Annual report on procurement activity in Scotland. For example - Procurement activity: annual report 2021 to 2022 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

The Diving at Work Regulations are enforced by the Health & Safety Executive, a UK Government agency. This is therefore a reserved matter and the Scottish Government do not hold such information.

The Scottish Government continues to work towards meeting 2013 and 2020 household recycling targets.

To help us meet our targets, the Circular Economy Bill and draft Circular Economy and Waste Route Map set out further measures to improve and modernise local recycling services and drive up reuse and recycling rates.

This Bill also includes a commitment – in line with advice from the Climate Change Committee – to set new circular economy targets from 2025 so they are future proofed, support our work to tackle the climate emergency and help us measure progress in reducing emissions.

The teaching funding available to each college/region has been maintained and is unchanged from the funds made available for Academic Year 2023-24. We recognise the range of financial challenges which colleges and universities are managing, and have sought to minimise the impact on frontline allocations for learning and teaching and support for students.