Tag: Deputy First Minister

Deputy First Minister outlines steps towards financing a green future

A range of measures to transform how Scotland attracts and supports capital investment into the country have been unveiled

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes will take on a cross-government leadership role as the Scottish Government’s ‘Investment Champion’ to deliver a national pipeline of strategic investment opportunities and a seamless, co-ordinated approach to building relationships with investors and developers.

Practical steps being delivered include an Investment Unit to identify and tackle barriers to investment; the creation of a single portal for investment inquiries and another detailing investment opportunities; and a new Cabinet sub-committee to co-ordinate activity.

The Scottish Government will also explore new financing models including how public sector guarantees could be used, a potential Scottish Bond, and public-private partnerships.

Addressing the Investment Association Conference in Edinburgh Ms Forbes said: “Increasing the level of private investment into Scotland’s economy is essential to our ambitions – for growth, for jobs, for reaching net-zero, and for improving our public services. Without investment and the growth it can catalyse, we can achieve none of those goals. 

“I will be working to tackle barriers and blockers; and to ensure that the system as a whole works cohesively, effectively, and quickly, to support investors and to deal with issues as and when they arise. 

“Scotland has the talent, skills and resources in abundance to be a major player in the energy transition and secure a prosperous and sustainable future. We need to work better, smarter, and quicker to ensure that we can create an investor-friendly environment and seize the many opportunities which lie ahead. ”

The Deputy First Minister’s speech.

Council funding crisis: COSLA seek urgent meeting with DFM

Following a special meeting yesterday (Friday 9th February) Council Leaders are seeking an urgent further meeting with the Deputy First Minister in relation to the Budget settlement for Scottish Local Government, highlighting the dire consequences of the Government’s current spending plans on communities throughout Scotland.

Commenting following the meeting the COSLA Resources Spokesperson Councillor Katie Hagmann said: “Leaders were clear today that an urgent meeting with the Deputy First Minister is a priority.

“Leaders expressed anger at the Budget setting timetable which has left Councils unable to set their budgets due to a lack of certainty from Scottish Government and as a result of having to wait until UK Government Spring Statement before knowing what additional funding could be passed on.

“In addition, there was a clear direction from Leaders to seek restoration of the £63m cut to the core Local Government budget on behalf of their communities and the essential services they rely on at the meeting with the DFM.

“Leaders also agreed that the council tax freeze should be on a voluntary basis with agreement that the £147m, already earmarked by Scottish Government for this purpose, is distributed to all Councils with flexibility to raise Council Tax by up to 5%. There should also be no penalty or reduction in funding in line with the principles of the Verity House Agreement.

“Leaders were clear that Councils should be given full flexibility of funding to deploy within Schools, and the wider community, to provide the right support for the diverse needs of children and young people across Scotland, therefore recognising that a wide range of people who contribute to a child’s education.

“Finally, Leaders agreed to seek a guarantee that the £45m Barnett consequentials resulting from the UK Government’s recent announcement will be passed in full to councils, also in accordance with the Verity House Agreement so it can be used to address local priorities.”

New role for John Swinney

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has appointed John Swinney as Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery, as she begins the appointment of a new Scottish Government.

Mr Swinney, who has served as Deputy First Minister since 2014, will take responsibility for driving cross government action on Covid Recovery.

The role will see Mr Swinney mobilise the Scottish Government and wider public, private and third sectors to ensure a strong recovery.  He will chair a cross party steering group on Covid recovery which is expected to hold its first meeting next week.

Mr Swinney will also take the lead on inter-governmental relations, public service reform, including within government, and the delivery of a number of transformational projects across government and wider society. This includes the incorporation of the UN Human Rights treaties and the delivery of The Promise to care experienced young people.

He will be supported by the Minister for Parliamentary Business.

Further cabinet and ministerial appointments will be made today.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Our first priority as a government is to lead the country through the pandemic and into a recovery that supports our NHS, protects and creates jobs, backs our young people and contributes to our ambition to be a net zero nation.

“Appointing John Swinney to drive cross government work on Covid Recovery is a key step in getting Scotland’s recovery off to the right start.  

“How we begin our recovery is crucial to the kind of country we can become, and that means ensuring everyone, whether in government, the public sector, the business community or wider society is pulling in the same direction.”

Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery John Swinney said: “Recovery in our schools, our health service, our economy and across our wider society is this government’s immediate priority and I am honoured to have been asked to lead that mission.

“I am determined that government will bring the same urgency that we applied to the actions we took to protect public health, to the actions we need to take to secure a fair and just recovery. 

“I will be bringing opposition parties together next week to hear their contributions and to set out how I believe we can all work together to secure a strong recovery.

“As we recover we must also remember our commitments to improve the lives of people across our society and it is a privilege to continue to lead the work across government to deliver on the incorporation of UN charters and to deliver The Promise for our care experienced young people.”

The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery will have the following responsibilities:

  • Government strategy
  • Inter-governmental relations
  • Cross government coordination of Covid Recovery policies
  • Cross government co-ordination on Covid-19 recovery & Covid-19 strategic reviews
  • Delivery and outcomes across portfolios
  • Public service reform
  • Cross government co-ordination on UN treaty incorporation
  • Resilience
  • Government statistics
  • Office of the Chief Researcher
  • Local Government Boundary Commission
  • National Performance Framework
  • Historical abuse inquiry
  • Local governance review and democratic renewal 
  • Efficient Government
  • Cross-Government delivery of ‘The Promise’ to Care Experienced Young People

Making maths fun: John Swinney launches Christmas Maths Challenge

Primary pupils across Scotland received a series of festive-themed maths puzzles to take home for the school holiday as part of a drive to encourage more positive attitudes towards numeracy and maths. The five puzzles are aimed at Primary Six pupils and their families to complete over the holidays as a fun way of exploring maths outside the classroom.   Continue reading Making maths fun: John Swinney launches Christmas Maths Challenge