This website is using cookies. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website.
Please choose whether to accept cookies.
22 March 2024
As Scotland seeks to move away from a reliance on fossil fuels, the Scottish Parliament’s Economy and Fair Work Committee, has today published a report looking at the support and incentives for people, communities and businesses in the North East and Moray.
In 2021, the Scottish Government announced a 10-year £500 million Just Transition Fund specifically for the North East and Moray. A key part of the Committee’s work was looking at how the Just Transition Fund is working and whether it is achieving its aims.
The report is calling for the Scottish Government to set out how it will support community capacity building, engagement and representation to build trust in the just transition agenda. Given the Just Transition Fund did not open for new bids in the last financial year and the way in which it is funded this year, it is now extremely difficult for public sector and community groups to access it.
The Committee believes that there is scope for better alignment of the Fund with regional and national Government strategy and policy to ensure funding is coherent.
Speaking as the report published, Committee Convener Claire Baker MSP said:
“The North East and Moray is home to Scotland’s oil and gas production. So, it is vital for the workers and communities based there that the shift away from fossil fuels to renewables happens in a way that benefits local communities, businesses and jobs. This is a just transition.
“Whilst there is clear ambition from the Scottish Government to support the transition, with a 75% budget decrease in the allocation for the Just Transition Fund this year, it is less clear to the Committee how the necessary support will be funded in practice and how communities will be able to stay actively involved.
"The cut of 24% in the Scottish Government’s employability budget spend and the suspension of the Flexible Workforce Development Fund are of concern to our Committee. Over successive reports, we have repeatedly highlighted the need to prioritise spending to support skills development in order to encourage business investment and create a workforce for the future. A call we are repeating in today’s report.
“Scotland needs more investment in its current and future workforce. Whilst we acknowledge the financial pressures being faced, we must know how the Scottish Government intends to support jobs and build skills for the energy transition.”
In December 2022, the Committee agreed to undertake work on a Just Transition in two parts. The first part looked at the Grangemouth area and reported in June 2023. A link to the report can be found below.
The Committee launched its inquiry into the North East and Moray in September 2023 and as part of its consideration, the Committee visited Aberdeen in November 2023.
The Just Transition Fund was established by the Scottish Government in 2021 with a pledge of £500 million over 10 years for the North East and Moray.
More information about the Committee’s work on a Just Transition for the North East and Moray can be found on its webpages. Find out more about the Committee's work
The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body securely processes journalists’ data for the purpose of enabling reporting on the work of the Scottish Parliament, in line with current data protection requirements. You have the right to unsubscribe at any time. For further information, please see our Privacy Notice
Telephone enquiry line: 0800 092 7500 or 0131 348 5395 (Gàidhlig)
Text 07786 209 888
Calls through contactSCOTLAND-BSL for British Sign Language are welcome