Chamber and committees

Further to the answer provided to question S5W-13401 on
9 January 2018, the following table details how many apprentices started their apprenticeships in each sector and quarter since April 2016.

Breakdown of Modern Apprenticeship Starts by sector 1st April 2016 to
31 December 2017

Please note the * indicates that Disclosure control has been applied where figures are less than 5 or where such small numbers can be identified through differencing.

Live music venues are crucial to supporting emerging and established talent and maintaining the vibrancy of our town centres. I recognise the campaign that has been led by the Musicians Union, Music Venues Trust and the owners of some of our leading music venues. I am happy to commit to including the Agent of Change principle in the next revision of the National Planning Framework and Scottish Planning Policy, work on which will begin this year. Our Planning Bill will combine these documents and enhance their status as part of the development plan, giving them greater weight in planning decisions. In the meantime I have asked the Chief Planner to write to all planning authorities highlighting this commitment and asking them to act now to ensure that the potential impact on existing music venues is taken into account when assessing planning applications for new development. The Planning Bill does not need an amendment to reflect the Agent of Change principle.

The decision on where to decommissioning semi-submersible drilling rigs is a commercial matter for the owner, regulated by strict environmental and waste regulations. The Scottish Government are committed to maximising the economic benefits available from decommissioning, and supporting Scottish industry to win valuable contracts. Our Decommissioning Action Plan supported by the Decommissioning Challenge Fund, aims to secure new investment in ports and harbours to ensure Scotland is in a position to win these contracts. We will continue work to ensure the Scottish supply chain understands the potential of the market going forwards, to enable effective planning for these opportunities.

Onshore decommissioning at Scottish Ports is undertaken in line with the principals of a circular economy, which promotes reuse of material over recycling and disposal where possible. Where reuse of material is not possible, only then are materials recycled.

The Scottish supply chain is already securing a significant amount of work, all while meeting stringent safety and environmental standards. We would expect this success to continue to grow in each of the next seven years, not least as a result of the successful development of projects we are supporting through the Decommissioning Challenge Fund and through our Programme for Government commitment to support further port activity that will widen the range of decommissioning that can take place in Scotland and to firmly establish Scotland as the centre for excellence in the North Sea.

Clearly, given that the location of end of life decommissioning is a commercial decision for operators it is not possible to predict how much of this will be secured by businesses in Scotland, but we will work with the supply chain and those operating key ports and harbours to evaluate the opportunities and ensure the best chance for Scottish Suppliers to win the work.

£5m Decommissioning Challenge Fund, aims to secure new investment in ports and harbours in Scotland.

SEPA are currently undertaking investigations to establish whether movement of the vessels would be in accordance with, or contravene, European Commission Regulations for waste shipments. On 12 January SEPA issued an immediate direction on preventing movement of the vessels until SEPA are satisfied that there would be no breach of regulations. It is not possible to comment on the decommissioning plans for these rigs or associated employment impacts until this process is finalised.

The Scottish Government has a strong relationship with the SSA and appreciates the independent role they play and the support they provide to Scottish Sporting Governing Bodies (SGBs)

Yesterday I held a meeting with the SSA and representatives of the Cross Party Group on Sport to discuss developing a sustainable financial future for the SSA. I will consider this, and other representations I have received, before making a final decision on this matter.

The Scottish Trauma Network Steering Group agreed a phased national implementation plan over the next 5 years (2017-22). This was delivered by the end of 2017 as the Cabinet Secretary pledged. The Scottish Trauma Network intends to publish its five-year National Implementation Plan on its website www.traumacare.scot during January 2018.