Chamber and committees

There are no tolls or charges for using public roads or bridges in Scotland.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on tolls or charges on public roads in England and Wales. This would be a matter for the UK and Welsh Government respectively.

The UK Government proposal to end free movement will significantly reduce the number of people coming to Scotland to live, work and study. The recently published independent report of the Expert Advisory Group on Migration and Population estimates a reduction in net migration to Scotland of between 30% and 50% over the coming two decades if the UK Government puts in place the measures set out in its White Paper on immigration.

Key services, such as health and social care, depend on EU workers to make up a significant proportion of their workforce. A reduction in migration to Scotland of the level suggested in the White Paper will have severe consequences for Scotland's public services. A 5% decline in Scotland's working age population, as the Expert Advisory Group estimates, will reduce the number of workers available to fill roles, affect the Scottish Government's abilities to raise revenue for public services, and therefore increase the challenge of managing the consequences of an ageing population.

It is important that our work to address social isolation and loneliness is inclusive of rural communities. I was pleased to learn from the member of the great example set by the Retired Farming Social Group in Dumfries and Galloway at the debate last month, and I’m looking forward to hearing some choir singing later in the year too.

We know that social isolation and loneliness manifest themselves in different ways in urban and rural communities. We want to develop our understanding of the differences in rural communities, and will explore this further through engagement with bodies like Scottish Rural Action and Scotland’s National Rural Mental Health Forum as part of our wider work to build a more connected Scotland.

The Scottish Government has today published two reports. Firstly, an independent analysis report [ https://www.gov.scot/ISBN/9781787815797/ ] of the 148 responses submitted to the Barclay Implementation: A consultation on non-domestic rates reform . Secondly, the final report of the Barclay Implementation Advisory Group [ https://www.gov.scot/ISBN/9781787815674/ ]. Where permission has been given to publish a consultation response this can be found on the Scottish Government Consultation Hub [ https://consult.gov.scot/local-government-and-communities/non-domestic-rates/ ].

The Scottish Government aims to introduce the Non Domestic Rates (Scotland) Bill to the Scottish Parliament before Easter Recess. The provisions in the Bill, subject to parliamentary approval will result in a non-domestic rates system that will better support business growth, long term investment and reflect changing market places.

Specifically the Bill will make provision:

• for a Business Growth Accelerator relief;
• for three yearly revaluations - after the next revaluation on 1 April 2022;
• for reforms to improve the appeals system and reduce speculative appeals;
• for an increase in the information gathering powers of the Scottish Assessors through the creation of a new civil penalty with concomitant rights of appeal; and a widening of the category of persons an Assessor can approach for information;
• for an increase in the information gathering powers of Local Authorities through the creation of a new civil penalty with concomitant rights of appeal;
• for local authorities to initiate debt recovery at an earlier stage of the financial year;
• for GAAR (general anti-avoidance regulation) as an additional tool that can be utilised in those cases where abuse cannot be tackled through refinement of existing legislation using existing powers;
• for changes to charity rate relief - mainstream independent schools will no longer be eligible to apply for mandatory charitable rate relief, independent special schools and specialist independent music schools will not be affected by this change;
• by way of an enabling power for the Scottish Ministers to issue statutory guidance to local authorities regarding the granting of sports club relief; and
• the closing down of several tax avoidance tactics identified by the Barclay Review relating to non-domestic reliefs.

Barclay Recommendations that will not be covered by the forthcoming Bill, but had previously been included in the implementation plan:

• An out-of-town levy to charge businesses based predominantly online or out-of-town a business rates supplement. The Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work, confirmed in the Scottish Budget that the Scottish Government would not be taking forward this recommendation; and
• Proposal to impose a 10% supplementary charge on property that has been vacant for over 5 years will not be taken forward; proposal to restrict empty property relief for listed buildings to 2 years will be taken forward but the threshold will be 5 years and this can be dealt with by secondary legislation.
• The proposal to increase the current 42 days rest period for empty property will be progressed and this can be dealt with by secondary legislation.

As a result of the amendments agreed at Stage 2 of the Budget, total spending power for local government will increase by around £620 million in 2019-20 – providing a real terms increase in spending power on both resource and capital for local authorities.

This enhanced settlement for local government has been possible despite the continued impact of UK Government austerity, which means that after removing the uplift in Health funding, the Scottish Government’s total fiscal block grant will be lower in real terms in
‎ 2019-20 compared to 2018-19 .

In June 2018 the Scottish Government announced the outcome of an Inshore Fisheries Pilot consultation. At this time three Inshore Fisheries Pilots were announced.

• A seasonal restriction on mobile gear fishing near Mull;
• A restriction on creel numbers in the Outer Hebrides; and
• Zonal fishing management arrangements in waters off Arbroath and Montrose.

Since then, Marine Scotland officials have worked with local fisherman from the Inner Sound of Skye area, resulting in a revised proposal to test management of the nephrops fisheries in this area.

This proposal has the potential to offer some unique learning opportunities and to help inform our future fisheries strategy. I’m therefore pleased to announce a consultation on this proposal, and encourage all local fishers and stakeholders to respond.

The consultation will be circulated to stakeholders and published on the Scottish Government website later today:

https://consult.gov.scot/marine-scotland/inshore-fisheries-pilot-for-inner-sound-of-skye

I am pleased to announce the publication of Dr Anne MacDonald’s report today. I am very grateful for her work on this issue over the last two years. There is a general consensus that we need to do better and I am delighted that Dr Macdonald’s report gives us and Integration Authorities the information and tools to achieve this. We are committed to considering, with partnerships, how to implement this report and, crucially, committed to improving the lives of these individuals and their families.

We are making good progress with the integrated workforce plan. A draft has already been circulated to stakeholders and we continue to work closely and constructively with them as we develop the plan towards finalisation.

It is important to ensure that the plan’s contents meet with stakeholders’ expectations. To ensure they have sufficient opportunity to comment on and contribute to the plan we are extending our planned engagement period. Consequently, the publication date for the plan is therefore likely to move from December to January 2019.