Chamber and committees

Transport Scotland has set out a Stage 1 and Stage 2 evaluation of the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme following the first full year of operation. The evaluation will assess the short and medium outcomes and the long term impact of the scheme by comparing conditions at different stages.

During the first year of operation (Stage1), short term outcomes of the scheme such as uptake of entitlement and travel behaviour will be evaluated. Uptake of the scheme will be monitored directly through the application process, which launched on 10 January 2022, and data on usage of the entitlement will be collected through recording of journeys made using the National Entitlement Card. Reports from this evaluation will be published on the Transport Scotland website.

It is an objective of the free bus schemes that bus operators should be financially no better and no worse off as a result of their participation. This objective should mean that there are not subsequent fare pressures on fare paying passengers as a result of the scheme. We have worked with the Confederation of Passenger Transport to arrive at reimbursement rates which seek to meet this aim. Usage of the Young Persons Scheme will be closely monitored to refine the reimbursement model as necessary.

The decrease in financial support required for the Northern Isles Ferry Services reflects a forecast recovery in fare box revenue, a reduction in the forecast fuel consumption costs and the exclusion of year one contract mobilisation costs that will not recur in 2022-23.

The Scottish Government is committed to working closely with all 32 of Scotland’s local authorities to address the climate emergency. Scottish Ministers frequently meet with local authorities to discuss a wide variety of topics encompassing the climate emergency: such as Programme for Government; budgetary matters; a just transition; and biodiversity. It is therefore not possible to give an exact number on how many ministerial meetings since April 2019 contained discussions of local authorities climate emergency planning.

In addition, Climate Change Officials meet with COSLA on a regular basis to discuss a range of shared interests related to the climate emergency. Cabinet Secretary NETZET is due to meet representatives of Dundee City Council and Highland Council to discuss plans to respond to the climate emergency in the coming weeks.

The Scottish energy strategy, published in December 2017, confirmed the Scottish Government’s continued opposition to new nuclear stations under current technologies.

Our priority continues to be to support energy efficiency, develop Scotland’s huge renewable resource and to promote storage and flexibility. The opposition to new nuclear generation takes into account the continued operation of Torness, subject to safety cases being met.

We believe that nuclear power represents poor value for consumers. There remains considerable uncertainty around the economics of new nuclear generation, and the long-term storage of nuclear waste remains a difficult issue. The latest Contracts for Difference (CfD) auction delivered offshore wind at £39.65 per megawatt hour – substantially below the £92.50 awarded to Hinkley. Internal analysis tells us that in 2030 alone Hinkley could add almost £40/year to a consumer bill, whilst the equivalent offshore wind farm would reduce consumer bills by £8/year.

The annual Scottish Greenhouse Gas Statistics publication is the main source of data used to assess territorial emissions of greenhouse gases in Scotland. Although each annual publication is accompanied by a spreadsheet containing all background data at its full resolution, it is not currently possible to distinguish between types of generation or fuels using these data.

There are currently no plans to introduce a “Climate Change Business Bill” within the current parliamentary session.

The First Minister announced on 17 December that funding will be made available to businesses in the food and drink chain supply chain, including food and drink wholesalers, who were affected by hospitality cancellations as a result of the additional public health measures introduced in December.

We are in the process of developing funding criteria and guidance in collaboration with the Scottish Wholesale Association, and we will ensure this information is publicised widely as soon as we can so that businesses can consider whether they may be eligible to apply.

Further to the Level 3 data provided throughout the Budget document, Level 4 data can be accessed via the spreadsheet titled ‘Scottish Budget: 2022-23 - Level 4 Data’, available here: Scottish Budget 2022 to 2023 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) . A breakdown and description of what the £49.1 million for the Climate Action and Just Transition Fund is allocated toward can be found in the NZ, E & T tab on Row 90.

The objectives of the ten-year £500m Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray are to support and accelerate energy transition, create good, green jobs and maximise the region’s future economic potential. This reflects our determination to tackle the climate emergency and mitigate the impacts of that transition for communities across Scotland. We are therefore working at pace to deliver our sectoral, regional and site plans for a just transition.

As this is a new Fund, we are currently undertaking detailed policy design work and implementation planning ahead of the new financial year. The delivery of the Fund will be supported by a programme of engagement with partners, communities and other stakeholders across the North East and Moray and be underpinned by the principle of co-design. Further updates will be shared as this engagement develops.

Spend obtained from the Scottish Procurement Information Hub under the Business Subsector Category of Furniture by each department has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 63098) as a table.

It is not possible to determine from the information contained within the Scottish Procurement Information Hub whether the payment was for “new furniture”.