Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government remains committed to reducing fares on ferry routes across the Pentland Firth. This work was necessarily paused in March 2020 while Scottish Government resources were pivoted to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, however work has now resumed. I will write to the member as soon as I am able to detail next steps and likely timescales.

Inter-island ferries and the setting of fare levels are the responsibility of Orkney Islands Council and Shetland Islands Council, however an additional £7.7m has been included in the draft 2021-22 Budget for local authority ferries, which, as well as fully funding ferry operations, facilitates the introduction of Road Equivalent Tariff, as well as Sunday services, on Orkney’s inter-island ferries.

Shetland’s inter-island fares are already broadly in line with RET, and this funding allows Shetland Islands Council to maintain these fare levels. This funding delivers a key ask from our local authority partners at a time of unprecedented financial pressure on the Scottish budget.

Those who are entitled to a vaccine will be contacted by their Health Board letting them know where they will receive the vaccine and how to book their appointment.

We are adhering to the priority list devised by the Joint Committee of Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) who have advised an age-based programme will capture those with clinical risk factors as the risk of death is very strongly linked with age, more so than any other factor. A number of care-dependent people who live at home may fall into the priority risk groups set out by the JCVI; these individuals will receive an invitation to their vaccine appointment.

Electricity network policy and pricing is reserved to the UK Government, and is one of a number of areas where the Scottish Government seeks to influence UK ministers’ decisions and to deliver outcomes for Scotland which reflect our distinct circumstances, ambitions and priorities. These priorities include, and are reflected in, the Scottish Government’s work to promote a fair network charging regime for all Scottish energy consumers.

While there have been no specific discussions on the subject with the UK Government, the Scottish Government recognises that national network pricing would redistribute costs between Scottish consumers rather than reduce them.

Network charges in the north of Scotland, despite remaining higher than other areas of Great Britain, continue to be controlled as a result of the Hydro Benefit Replacement Scheme. We responded to the UK Government’s recent review of the this scheme and agreed with its proposal that the scheme should remain in place.

We continue to work and focus on measures to reduce overall energy costs for all Scottish consumers by improving energy efficiency (Energy Efficient Scotland Route Map), for example, and we encourage consumers to switch supplier when they would make savings from doing so (Home Energy Scotland initiative).

We also meet regularly with Scotland’s grid operators, other stakeholders and partners (including Citizens Advice Scotland and Highlands and Islands Enterprise) to discuss network issues, including distribution network charging. This engagement includes matters such as Ofgem's Targeted Charging Review of Residual Charges, which will have an influence on the distribution of network costs across Great Britain.

The Scottish Government has provided £5.5m support to food and drink wholesalers in December 2020 and January 2021 through the Scottish Wholesale Food and Drink Resilience fund to help companies suffering severe hardship as a result of Covid 19 restrictions. This support was available to wholesalers operating in any area of Scotland, regardless of the level of restrictions they were subject to in their Local Authority area.

Furthermore, on 10 February 2021, The Scottish Government announced that we are doubling the discretionary fund from £60 million to £120 million. The discretionary fund empowers local authorities to direct funding to specific groups or sectors within their local economies, including supply chain businesses who are experiencing immediate financial challenges as a result of current restrictions and regulations. Local authorities can use this fund at their discretion, and will undertake their own assessment of need and develop application processes accordingly.

The Scottish Government is continuing to review the impact of restrictions on different sectors and available support for businesses. We would encourage all businesses who feel they are in need of support to initially contact their trade body and/or continue to monitor the guidance, advice and tools for all sectors across Scotland which is available at: https://findbusinesssupport.gov.scot/

We understand the significant impact that Covid and related restrictions have had on many businesses across Scotland including those linked to hospitality. Since the start of the pandemic, our support for business and the economy has totalled more than £3 billion. 100% Non Domestic Rates relief has been provided for all retail, leisure and hospitality premises. The issues for distilleries are different to those for brewers, whose product has been wasted as a result of Covid restrictions, but we are speaking with industry representatives about what support might be possible.

The £40m Community and Third Sector Recovery Programme was launched on 21 September 2020 and provides funding for community and third sector organisations as they continue to respond to the ongoing impact of the pandemic and to adapt and re-start delivery of their community services/activities. The programme also provides business support and investment to help organisations adapt their operations and income generation to increase sustainability. Further information can be found at: https://scvo.scot/support/coronavirus/funding/scottish-government/community-recovery .

The Programme also now includes a small grant fund which aims to support grassroot community focussed organisations. The £500k Enabling Neighbourhoods and Communities Fund, being delivered by The Corra Foundation, opened on 10 February 2021 and will typically provide grants of £1,000 to £2,000 up to a maximum of £5,000. More information about the fund can be found at: https://www.corra.scot/grants/enabling-neighbourhoods/ .

The draft Scottish 2021-22 budget assumes that £500 million will come to the Scottish Government from the £21 billion UK COVID reserve next year, and while we await certainty on what further funding will be made available we are considering what additional support is needed for our communities.

When work on the Fuel Poverty Strategy recommences, notes of meetings with stakeholders will be published in line with normal procedures. In the interim I can advise the member that I met virtually with Ann Loughery, the Independent Chair of the Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel on 8 December to discuss the Advisory Panel’s 2019 Annual Report, which is available on the Scottish Government's website.

Work on the Fuel Poverty Strategy was paused in March 2020 and remains on hold. Since then my officials have been focused on the immediate support needs of those facing difficulties in meeting fuel costs during the pandemic, including most recently disbursing £7 million of funding as part of the Winter Support Fund announced by the First Minister late last year. Additionally work has been progressing on our 20 year housing strategy, Housing to 2040, the Heat in Buildings Strategy and the Climate Change Plan Update, all of which will contribute to our ability to meet our targets to reduce fuel poverty, whilst ensuring Scotland plays its part in tackling the global climate emergency.