Inspections and other measures will promote the highest standards of care and increase public confidence in the funeral sector under draft regulations laid in the Scottish Parliament.
The Burial and Cremation (Inspection) (Scotland) Regulations 2025, if approved, will ensure minimum standards are maintained to safeguard the dignity of the deceased and promote compassionate and professional care for the bereaved.
Inspectors will support any non-compliant business to make the changes needed but can issue enforcement notices with reasonable deadlines for action if necessary.
Public Health Minister Jenni Minto said: “Bereavement can be emotionally overwhelming and being able to engage with the practical issues and funeral arrangements can be very difficult. It is, however, something everyone is likely to experience at some stage in their life, whether it’s the death of a family member, a loved one, or a friend.
“The vast majority of funeral directors and the wider industry provide dignified and professional services, and these reforms will benefit the sector by ensuring it is not unfairly impacted by the failings of a few.
“These reforms have received widespread support within the industry and we will appoint additional inspectors to work with the sector to ensure best practice. Publishing inspection reports will lead to greater transparency and can help improve standards.
“Having confidence in the care and dignity given to our loved ones, along with the compassionate and professional treatment of those bereaved, can go some way to alleviating the sorrow of bereavement.”
More than £1.9 million has been awarded to create the entrepreneurs of the future and to increase access to business careers.
Pupils will have the opportunity to learn about business from primary one to the end of high school for the first time under a new initiative to boost entrepreneurship in Scotland. This follows more than £829,000 being awarded to seven education organisations.
They include Gen+, which is designing lessons that set high school pupils real-world challenges by established entrepreneurs, focused on running aspects of a business, while the University of Strathclyde will provide activity packs that develop entrepreneurial skills in primary school children.
Adults under-represented in business, including women and ethnic minorities, will benefit from £1.08 million awarded to 13 organisations through the Pathways Fund, helping turn their ideas and fledgling businesses into growing enterprises.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes visited pupils at Braes High School in Falkirk to see some of the entrepreneurial projects they have been working on.
Ms Forbes said: “These projects mean that for the first time entrepreneurship will be embedded in Scotland’s classrooms, from P1 to S6. By mainstreaming the subject we aim to give every school leaver the skills, confidence and opportunity to set up their own business.
“This is a continuation of the Scottish Government’s drive to create one of Europe’s leading start-up economies. Existing entrepreneurs are already being supported, including by our successful Techscaler programme. Now, through these two funds, we are developing the next generation.
“I want young people and under-represented groups to be excited by the idea of going into business, to understand it’s something they can do.”
CEO of Gen+ Victoria Vardy said:“At Gen+, we believe education should inspire young people to become adaptable, self-aware, and ready for the future.
“ Our Industry Innovators programme connects classroom learning with insights from real-world business challenges, helping pupils understand and develop the core skills that lead to success across industries.“
By learning directly from industry experts, students gain the confidence and practical skills to turn their ambitions into reality, empowering them to become Scotland’s future entrepreneurs and leaders of tomorrow.”
The Entrepreneurial Education Pathways Fund totals £829,346
Successful recipients of the Entrepreneurial Education Pathways Fund:
University of Strathclyde – Meet the RECCO Family (£80,994): To support the development of illustrated digital educational resources for the development of an entrepreneurial mindset in early primary school children (P1-3).
Daydream Believers – Dreamers and Doers (£146,200): To develop the Dreamers and Doers playlist creating three entrepreneurial challenges to promote creativity, innovation and problem-solving, integrated into the existing SCQF Creative Thinking qualification.
Gen+ – Industry Innovators (£79,834): To equip S1-S3 students with essential entrepreneurial skills, structured around specific skills and aligned with a real-world challenge set by local businesses.
Socialudo – Playing the Pathway to Entrepreneurship (£49,861): To co-produce and develop the game ‘Social Deal’ to provide a creative training package for use in both primary and secondary school level, introducing the different elements of business planning and business models.
Founders4Schools – Role Models for the entrepreneurs of tomorrow (£157,025): To scale their network of role models in Scotland, particularly in under-represented groups and develop their platform to ensure every educator has easy access to a network of entrepreneurs for S1-S6 pupils.
Powering Futures – Challenge for Education (£250,000): To deliver three programmes to enhance the understanding of the entrepreneurial mindset and the pathway to embed this work in future generations.
High School of Glasgow – START (£65,405): To develop a pilot for an interdisciplinary learning programme for Scottish schools. Teams of S6 pupils will be guided from problem solving to seed investment pitch and the pilot programme will take place in a select group of local authority schools in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
The Pathways Fund totals £1.08 million
Successful recipients of the Pathways Fund:
Business Women Scotland – Programme for Growth (£40,000): Support for women in business, addressing the challenges they face in achieving significant growth through a comprehensive 2-day seminar and personalised guidance from
GrowBiz – Developing Women’s Rural Enterprises (£106,505): Supporting women and other underrepresented groups across rural and island areas of Scotland who are either considering self-employment, seeking to grow a venture, or considering ways of becoming a greener business.
Orkney Island Council – Entrepreneurial Islands project (£65,350): A coaching and mentoring programme for the Orkney islands to access tailored support, building enthusiasm and encouraging new business start-ups, while assisting business funding applications.
Investing Women Ltd – AccelerateHER (£200,000): This project delivers educational programmes and networking opportunities across Scotland to tackle the gender gap in accessing investment, by providing female business founders with relevant knowledge, skillsets, connections and opportunities needed to grow and scale their businesses.
Rebel Business School (Enjoy Training Ltd) – How to Start & Scale a Business for Female Founders (£49,970): Workshop programme will be delivered both virtually and in Glasgow to support women begin their journey.
Together Reaching Higher – Entrepreneurial Empowerment Pathways Hub (£52,590): This will transform a temporary simple drop-in service into a permanent, sustainable resource Hub for ethnic minorities in Glasgow, focusing on women. This will support aspiring entrepreneurs with mentorship, training, and resources to develop their social enterprises.
Inspirent Ltd – Women Can Grow! Bootcamp (£129,200): Building on from the success of Women Can! in 2023/24 this programme will provide women with practical support to move their startup beyond the initial planning, or early stage, to implementation within Glasgow, North and South Lanarkshire.
Challenges Catalyst – Ready to RISE (Readiness & Incubation for the Social Economy) (£96,974): This programme, delivered in suburban areas of the central belt and Tayside, is aimed at mothers and others whose work prospects have been impacted by a career break because of caring responsibilities, migration, or health issues.
Edinburgh Chambers of Commerce – Women in Business: Entrepreneurial Growth Programme (£57,575): A programme to empower female founders with established businesses to expand, grow, and attract investment through training, coaching, and opportunities to connect with fellow female entrepreneurs in the Edinburgh region.
PeoplePlus – Supporting Women in Enterprise (£74,037): Supporting women within marginalised communities in Glasgow through a 12-week programme where Business Advisers will provide tailored business advice, training, and networking opportunities.
Robert Gordon University – RGU Women in Business: Starting up (£55,292): A 7-week flexible online enterprise programme offering expert consultancy support, and networking opportunities based in Aberdeenshire, tailored to the needs of mothers and care-givers.
Business Gateway East Renfrewshire – Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Business Accelerator For East Renfrewshire (£95,850): Seminars, workshops, events and direct 1-2-1 support to businesses within the Black and Asian Minority and Ethnic community in East Renfrewshire.
West Lothian Council – Women Entrepreneurs Growth Programme (£57,630): Workshops to support women in West Lothian from pre-start to pre-investment, providing networking and commercial pop-up shop opportunities.
The multi-million-pound Falkirk and Grangemouth Growth Deal has been signed by UK and Scottish Governments as well as Falkirk Council as part of a package that will strengthen the local economy and create more than a thousand jobs over the next 10 years.
Up to 1660 jobs and £628m worth of economic benefits are expected to flow into the area as a result of the delivery of the Deal which was signed yesterday (Thursday 14 November).
The Growth Deal was signed at the newly restored Rosebank Distillery in Falkirk. Although not a recipient of Growth Deal funding, Rosebank exemplifies the type of regeneration and economic stimulus that the Deal aims to achieve.
The restoration of Rosebank is a model of high-quality, sensitive development that aligns with the Growth Deal’s vision for sustainable growth. As an internationally recognised brand, Rosebank is putting Falkirk on the global map, drawing attention and visitors from around the world.
The agreement means 11 projects can be taken forward that include the development of a Carbon Dioxide Utilisation Centre and a Bioeconomy Accelerator Pilot Plant in Grangemouth; a new Canal Centre and workshop at Loch 16 in Camelon; a Skills Transition Centre at Forth Valley College, Falkirk; and the transformation of unused land at three sites in Grangemouth to create development-ready investment opportunities.
The £80 million Growth Deal is jointly funded from the UK and Scottish Governments and is complemented by a further £10 million from the UK Government (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) for future energy related projects in Grangemouth and £10 million allocated to the Greener Grangemouth programme from the Scottish Government. With Falkirk Council investing £45m and Scottish Canals investing £3.7m, the overall Growth Deal investment is £148.7m.
The Growth Deal was signed at the new Rosebank Distillery in Falkirk by the Rt Hon Ian Murray MP Secretary of State for Scotland and Kate Forbes, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic, and Councillor Cecil Meiklejohn, Leader of Falkirk Council.
Kate Forbes, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic said: “The Falkirk and Grangemouth region has a rich history with a strong industrial heritage, a proud community and significant tourist attractions.
“The Scottish Government’s £50 million investment will deliver projects to ensure the area continues to thrive, bringing jobs, active travel links, future skills training and new arts and cultural spaces.
“The Growth Deal will support the region to grasp the opportunities of the transition to net zero and remain at the forefront of innovation and manufacturing in Scotland, complemented by a community-led programme of projects in Grangemouth.”
Ian Murray, Secretary of State for Scotland, said: “The signing of this deal shows our commitment to the Falkirk and Grangemouth area as it delivers £50 million in UK Government funding. It is part of the £1.4 billion the UK Government is investing in Scottish growth projects over the next decade.
“Growth is a key mission for the UK Government and a top priority of the Scotland Office. Our funding, coupled with investment from the other partners, will drive renewal and generate more than 1,000 jobs and hundreds of millions of pounds of economic benefits for these communities.
“The area’s economic potential is huge and I look forward to seeing this and many other examples of partnership working deliver growth for Scotland.”
Councillor Cecil Meiklejohn, Leader of Falkirk Council said: “The Growth Deal is a turning point for our community, bringing jobs, investment, and sustainable development. We are proud to partner in this project, which will elevate Falkirk and Grangemouth as vibrant, connected, and forward-looking areas for residents, businesses, and visitors alike.
“It is one of a suite of programmes and major investment opportunities set for delivery in 2025. The Growth Deal Skills Transition Centre, Canal Centre and Falkirk Arts Centre will progress at pace in 2025, the Falkirk Tax Incremental Finance programme is already delivering results with projects such as the A9/Grandsable Road junction completed earlier this year, and the Forth Green Freeport now open for business and actively promoting investment opportunities in the area. It is an exciting time for the Falkirk Council area”
Growth Deal projects
The 11 projects that will be delivered as part of the Falkirk and Grangemouth Growth Deal, and complementary investments, are split under two themes – Creating Great Places and Innovative Industry.
Creating Great Places
The Falkirk Arts Centre – £6 million (£3m UKG/£3m SG) will be allocated to the construction of a new Arts Centre in Falkirk Town Centre.
Scotland’s Canal Centre – Led by Scottish Canals, the £7.7m project (£4m from the Deal) will revitalise a neglected area of the canal network, restoring three derelict warehouses and building a new operational hub.
Scotland’s Art Park – Working in partnership, Scottish Canals and Falkirk Council will use £3 million to create an Art Park trail along the Forth and Clyde Canal.
Falkirk Central Sustainable Transport Network– £21m will be invested in two interconnected projects – Rail Station and Interchange Hub and the Green Cycling and Pedestrian Network – to improve Falkirk’s public and active travel infrastructure.
Innovative Industry
Skills Transition Centre – Led by Forth Valley College, the £4m project will establish the STC, bringing together partners to develop the skills needed to support the transition to Net Zero.
Strategic Sites – Addressing a shortage of development-ready strategic investment sites, the project will use £10 million from the UK government to improve and prepare currently unused land at potentially three key sites.
Grangemouth Sustainable Manufacturing Campus(GSMC) includes two linked projects:
Carbon Dioxide Utilisation Centre – £10m (£9m UKG/£1m SG) will be invested to establish the CDU Centre that will capture CO2 to manufacture more sustainable products and aid the transition to net zero.
Bioeconomy Accelerator Pilot Plant – £10m (£9m UKG/£1m SG) will be invested to develop new sustainable processes using feedstocks such as food processing and whisky by-products.
Transport, Renewables and Career Exploration Hub– Investing £10m (£9m UKG/£1m SG) to create the Hub that will serve as a focal point for industry and education, enhancing local skills and advancing green growth ambitions.
Future Energy Related Projects – £10m will be invested to support the Grangemouth economy as it transitions.
Furthermore, the 10-year Greener Grangemouth Programme sits alongside the Deals’ main themes and aims to put community wellbeing at the heart of Grangemouth’s Just transition.
New guidance focuses on ‘prevention, response and inclusivity’
The Scottish Government has published new guidance to support schools and organisations working with children and young people to develop comprehensive anti-bullying policies and improve behaviour and relationships.
‘Respect for all’ includes updates for staff on how to deal with specific incidents of bullying, including online bullying. The guidance sets out that online bullying should be seen as related to where the bullying occurs, rather than as a different behaviour type – and that online bullying must be responded to with the same level of seriousness as any other form of bullying.
It also highlights the responsibility of schools and organisations to support the wellbeing of children and young people, even when there is not a responsibility to investigate the incident itself.
The definition of bullying on which the guidance is focused has also been strengthened following feedback from children and young people, parents and practitioners. This has a renewed focus on the emotional, social and physical impacts caused by bullying, recognising that not all bullying is an intentional act and that it does not need to be repeated for it to have an impact.
The guidance has been published as Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth visited Cowie Primary School, in Stirling, to learn more about its inclusive approach to tackling bullying during Anti-Bullying Week 2024.
All local authorities, schools and organisations that work with children and young people will now be tasked with developing and implementing anti-bullying policies in line with Respect for All.
Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “Bullying of any kind is never acceptable and can have a lasting impact on a child or young person’s life. It is vital that incidents of bullying, both online and offline, are addressed promptly and robustly.
“The Scottish Government has worked with schools, organisations and local authorities to introduce a range of measures over the last year to improve behaviour and relationships in schools.
“I am pleased to build on this work with the launch of Respect for All, which focuses on prevention, response and inclusivity. It reflects the pressures facing young people, including the increase in social media use, and we expect all stakeholders in Scotland delivering services for children and young people to develop and implement an anti-bullying policy in line with the new guidance.”
Lorraine Glass, Director of respectme, said: “”respectme welcomes the publication of this vital guidance, perfectly timed to coincide with Anti-Bullying Week 2024. We look forward to working with colleagues across Scotland to further embed the policy and practice necessary for the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people.
“This week, over 700 schools from every Scottish local authority area have engaged with our annual campaign on what ‘respect’ means to them. It’s been a phenomenal response and a testament to the commitment and energy of teachers, parents and youth workers to bring safety and happiness to young lives.”
Respect for All has been developed in conjunction with Scotland’s national anti-bullying service, respectme, local authorities, teaching unions, children’s organisations and a parents’ representative.
The introduction of rent controls has received support from the majority of the Scottish Parliament’s Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee.
The Housing (Scotland) Bill aims to improve housing outcomes for people who live in private rented accommodation and ensure a fair balance between protection for tenants and the rights of landlords. It comes as the Scottish Government and an increasing number of councils have declared housing emergencies.
In its report, the majority of the Committee welcomes the ambition in the provisions to re-balance the private rental sector and improve affordability for tenants. However, despite recent announcements from the Scottish Government about how the rent cap would operate in practice, the Committee has called for further clarity noting that continued uncertainty could impact investment within the sector, in turn impacting on choice and affordability for tenants.
The report also recognises that, in isolation, the Bill in itself is not the answer to the housing emergency, which has been caused by a range of factors, including the shortage of affordable and social housing, increased rents in the private sector, high inflation, freeze of housing allowance rates, labour shortages linked to Brexit, and cuts in Scotland’s capital funding settlement from the UK Government.
However, the Bill does have a role to play in better balancing tenants’ rights with landlords’ needs.
Speaking as the report launched yesterday, Committee Convener Ariane Burgess MSP said:“We are currently in the midst of a housing emergency and this Bill is an important part of the solution to address that by redressing the imbalance in the relationship between tenants and landlords.
“For rent controls to be effective, however, there is a need for certainty for both tenants and landlords about measures within the Bill and how the proposals will work. It’s disappointing that it was only last week that the Housing Minister made an announcement about how rent controls might work.
“The Bill before us does not provide detail on many aspects of how the legislation will operate, and with consultation on some aspects of the Bill continuing until 2025, there will be little room for parliamentary scrutiny in an area which is critical to get right for the long-term sustainability of the private rental sector.”
https://twitter.com/i/status/1857000722153214066
The Bill also puts in place requirements for the collection of data from private landlords in order to make a case for the creation of local rent control area . But with the onus on local authorities to collect and monitor the data, the Committee is concerned that there is a lack of resource to deliver that requirement which could hinder the effective use of rent control areas.
The Convener continued:“For rent controls to work, there must be accurate data but the Bill before us has no clear plans for robust data collection. This is why our report recommends that there is a national approach to data collection to help assess rental markets.
“We would also like to see the onus put on landlords by creating a requirement for them to routinely provide data rather than only respond to requests from local authorities.”
The Committee also welcomed measures within the Bill which support tenants’ rights to personalise their homes and their right to own pets.
It also makes recommendations for there to be more support for tenants in exercising their rights, and for landlords too to help them better understand their duties, saying that legislation is not enough on its own to achieve the necessary balance between tenants and landlords’ rights.
More than 329,000 children receive vital support from Scottish Child Payment
Social Security Scotland has published its Annual Report and Accounts, which shows that it made £1.9 billion in payments to people in Scotland from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. The payments were made across 14 Scottish benefits, seven of which are not available anywhere else in the UK.
This includes £942 million for Adult Disability Payment which now supports more than 300,000 disabled people in Scotland. Social Security Scotland also paid £463 million to help families on low incomes with their living costs through five family payments, which includes Scottish Child Payment, which was benefitting more than 329,000 children and young people by the end of March 2024.
Winter Heating Payment was paid to 400,000 people by February this year to help towards the cost of heating homes and Carer Support Payment which offers help to people who do so much for others began a phased rollout in the Western Isles, Dundee City and Perth and Kinross last year and is now available across Scotland. Eligible people who get benefits include carers, disabled people and families, pensioners, young people starting jobs and people who need help paying for a funeral.
We’ve published our Annual Report and Accounts.
We paid £1.9 billion to people across Scotland from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.
The payments were made across 14 Scottish benefits, seven of which are completely new forms of support not available anywhere else in the UK. pic.twitter.com/O2WtIvY6Nn
The results of the organisation’s annual Client Survey have also been published, showing that 90% of respondents who received a payment from Social Security Scotland say their overall experience was ‘very good’ or ‘good’.
Among those who responded to the survey, 85% said their experience with staff was also ‘very good’ or ‘good’, 89% said they were treated with kindness while 85% of people surveyed felt they were listened to.
95% of people with experience of Scottish Child Payment rated their overall experience as ‘very good’ or ‘good’.
In total, the combination of direct payments made by Social Security Scotland and those paid through Agency Agreements with the Department for Work and Pensions saw the Scottish Government invest over £5.2 billion in benefits across Scotland.
Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Shirley-Anne Somerville, said: “We are committed to tackling poverty and supporting people throughout Scotland. At a time when families are struggling with the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, we have been delivering 14 benefits, seven of which are only available in Scotland.
“Winter Heating Payment is a reliable annual payment to people on low incomes in Scotland, including pensioners receiving Pension Credit. We continue to offer vital support to families through our five family payments, including Scottish Child Payment which was helping to support more than 329,000 children and young people by the end of financial year 2023-24.”
“We are focused on ensuring people get the money they are entitled to and that we deliver these payments while treating people with dignity, fairness and respect.”
Our Chief Executive David Wallace spoke about a year of significant expansion at Social Security Scotland where the number of people we serve has grown.
Social Security Scotland Chief Executive, David Wallace, said:“While our service has continued to expand significantly, our clients remain at the heart of everything we do.
“We have focused on delivering new payments to people across Scotland including Carer Support Payment, while ensuring we give our clients an improved experience. This year, we have reduced call waiting and processing times and made it easier for people to submit supporting information for disability benefit applications.
“As the number of people we serve grows, I am delighted we have maintained high client satisfaction rates with our annual Client Survey showing 90% of people who received a payment from us saying their overall experience was ‘very good’ or ‘good’.”
Scottish Government urged to prioritise investment in essential services for older people
HANOVER Scotland’s CEO, Angela Currie, is urging the Scottish Government to allocate part of the new £3.4 billion funding from the UK Budget towards critical investments in social care and housing.
The budget announcement from Chancellor Rachel Reeves marked a significant increase in devolved funds, and Angela emphasises that a strategic portion of this must be directed towards empowering older adults to live safely and independently.
With a rapidly aging population, Angela warns that overlooking these essential services will only exacerbate existing pressures on Scotland’s healthcare and social systems.
Angela said: “Our first priority must be restoring the adaptation budget to its previous levels. This funding is essential for making homes safer and accessible for older adults.
“Secondly is to close the gap in subsidies for new-build social housing, enabling us to construct more affordable homes.
“Lastly, we need robust investment in social care, which is crucial for supporting our aging communities and preventing undue strain on health services.
“Investing wisely in these areas is not just beneficial but essential for a sustainable and compassionate future.”
Angela highlights that this comprehensive approach will have a long-term impact, reducing the costly burden on the NHS and enhancing the quality of life for older adults.
The need for investment is underscored by recent budget cuts that have severely impacted housing adaptation funding. The Scottish Government slashed this budget by 25%, from £11 million to £8.245 million, leaving housing associations like Hanover Scotland in a difficult position.
This reduction means older and disabled residents risk being trapped in unsafe homes or hospital beds, contributing to bed-blocking and intensifying pressure on healthcare services.
Angela said: “The modest investment required to make homes safe pales in comparison to the enormous cost of hospital stays and long-term care.
“Without adequate funding, we risk further overwhelming our health and social care systems.
“Our mission is to empower older adults to live with dignity and independence, but the current funding situation is making that increasingly difficult.
“We are calling on the Scottish Government to act now and prioritise social care and housing. This isn’t just about housing; it’s about health, safety, and the wellbeing of our communities.”
Hanover Scotland, which manages more than 4,500 homes, has been a trusted provider of housing for older adults since 1979. The organisation has been at the forefront of innovation, from pioneering sheltered accommodation to participating in urban renewal projects that promote independent living.
Wood-burning stoves, bioenergy and peat heating will now be permitted in new homes and buildings following a review of the New Build Heat Standard commissioned by ministers earlier this year.
An amendment to regulations made today permits the installation of bioenergy and peat main heating systems – and any type of secondary heating systems – in new buildings from 1 January 2025, while maintaining the prohibition on mains gas and oil boilers as a main heating system.
Alasdair Allan, Acting Minister for Climate Action said: “The New Build Heat Standard is crucial to help reduce emissions from new buildings, preventing the need for retrofit in the future and ensuring a cleaner and greener Scotland.
“Heat from our homes and buildings makes up almost a fifth of Scotland’s carbon emissions so we must tackle the most polluting forms of domestic heating to reach net zero.
“We have listened to concerns from rural and island communities about resilience in times of bad weather or power outages, as well as the wider use of bioenergy and peat for other reasons. These changes address these concerns whilst retaining the spirit of the original legislation, which aims to eradicate polluting gas and oil boilers from new homes and buildings.
“I would like to thank all of those who submitted evidence and views, particularly those from rural and island communities – their input has been vital in delivering his positive outcome.”
Luke Fraser, Vice Chair of the Scottish Islands Federation said: ‘The Scottish Islands Federation is delighted that the points raised by our members and others, as part of the review of the New Build Heat Standard, have been taken into account.
“We believe there is a need to help sustain and support the resilience of households in rural and island communities through the use of wood burning stoves and burning of peat, and the changes to the NBHS announced today have taken this on board.
“While we are in support of the need for climate action, progress must be made in tandem with developing and enhancing the resilience and sustainability of our communities, not at their expense. This change is a positive step in that direction.’
Grangemouth’s industrial workforce and community are being asked to contribute their views on the future of the area.
A draft plan has been published as part of work to support a just transition to net zero and support the growth of the area towards a decarbonised economy.
The regional just transition plan is the first of its kind. It sets out the Scottish Government’s vision for the future of the Grangemouth industrial cluster and how the local community could benefit as a result.
By successfully decarbonising, Grangemouth can become a global leader in sustainable manufacturing and production, attracting investment and supporting both the existing and future workforce, and the community, long into the future.
The Scottish Government has worked in partnership with the Grangemouth Future Industry Board to develop the Grangemouth Industrial Just Transition Plan which supports industrial decarbonisation, low-carbon manufacturing, net zero community wealth building and reskilling and developing the local workforce.
Proposed actions include:
developing an industry-led technical and commercial investment strategy which includes a decarbonisation pathway to secure investment for scale up
creating a Grangemouth Industrial Skills offer to help tailor training needs for the existing and future workforce
improving the co-ordination of initiatives across the Forth Valley to ensure targeted interventions match needs
funding a recognised Community Engagement and Participation Manager as a first step in supporting the community to play a role in decision making
establishing a Grangemouth Regulatory Hub to support a just transition and understand how regulation can unlock industrial decarbonisation
Acting Minister for Climate Action Alasdair Allan said: “Grangemouth has long played a vital role as Scotland’s leading industrial cluster and it is right that the area continues to help lead the way in our journey to net zero by 2045.
“Our first regional Just Transition plan published today sets out our approach to support the growth of a decarbonised economy that puts local communities at its heart. It makes clear our vision for the future and gives specific actions across a number of areas to help achieve a just transition for Grangemouth.
“The plan complements our ongoing activity focused around Grangemouth, including our support package in response to the proposed closure of the refinery and the work we are doing to explore low carbon transition opportunities for the refinery workforce.
“We are working hard to secure a sustainable, long-term future for the wider industrial cluster and its skilled workforce, and this plan will be vital in helping us to deliver this.
“The consultation is an opportunity to help shape the development of the plan, and Grangemouth’s future. I encourage all who have a vested interest to participate.”
CVS Falkirk and District Chief Executive Officer, Victoria McRae said: “The voice of local communities must be heard in relation to the plans for a Just Transition for Grangemouth.
“As the Third Sector Interface for the local area, CVS Falkirk and District are pleased to be able to take forward, support and facilitate these important conversations. We look forward to hearing a range of views and we have opened a Hub in Grangemouth’s Town Centre to provide a base for this discussion and engagement.”
Syngenta Head of Corporate Affairs UK, Luke Gibbs said: “Syngenta is a large scale fine chemical manufacturer anchoring the Grangemouth Chemical Cluster.
“We believe that the Grangemouth Just Transition Plan is an important part of achieving a sustainable future across the range of activities that together form the wider Grangemouth industrial area – fine chemicals, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology.
“As such, this consultation provides a key opportunity for companies in Grangemouth to input their views and highlight needs, and collectively achieve a sustainable, enabling, investable, and viable future for all.”
Join Unite on Thursday 28 November 2024 and help Save Scotland’s last oil refinery.
Get your work colleagues, friends and family to come too. From the Workplace to the Capital, join the rally on Thursday 28 November 2024.
Assemble at 10:00 at Johnston Terrace (top end), Edinburgh, EH1 2PW and at 10.20 march to Holyrood for a rally with Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary.
KEEP Scotland Beautiful (KSB) has shared key points from their drafted submission to the ongoing Scottish Government public consultation on single-use cup charge – which remains open until 14 November 2024 …
OUR public perception data shows just how much single-use cups contribute to Scotland’s litter emergency – with 53% of people frequently spotting single-use (hot and cold) beverage containers littered across our country.
This is why for the past seven years we have been carrying out research, delivering campaigns and testing innovative solutions with partners to tackle our problem with single-use cups through Cup Movement®.
As an environmental charity we want to see more done to help people move away from their reliance on single-use items, and to reduce the valuable raw materials and CO2 emissions used in creating and disposing of them.
Paul Wallace, our Head of Operations, said: “Our key priority is to see a charge introduced. We’ve been pushing hard for action to be taken to reduce our consumption of single-use cups for many years and were pleased to see measures brought forward in the Circular Economy Bill.
“One thing we are sure of is that no single measure will be effective in changing behaviour on its own, but a charge will encourage people to reduce their reliance on single-use items and raise awareness of consumption habits and promote individual responsibility.
“We believe the charge offers a once in a lifetime opportunity to invest any proceeds generated to set up improved recycling infrastructure and support the development of effective and integrated borrow and reuse infrastructure making it easier for consumers and businesses to choose to do the right thing and help eliminate single-use cup consumption in most situations.”
In our response we are calling for:
The introduction of a charge on all single-use cups as soon as possible.
Proceeds from a charge to be used to make it easy for people to recycle effectively and/or to develop infrastructure which makes it the norm for people to borrow and return or use reusable alternatives.
The level of charge to be no less than 25p as outlined in the EPECOM report in 2018; that the charge should be consistent across all suppliers; and, that the charge be at a level that is visible to the customer. This is necessary to drive shifts in habit. Additionally, we recommend that the charge level is monitored and reviewed regularly over time to assess its impact in levering behaviour change.
There should be as few exemptions as possible with regards to the single-use cup charge and so it is important to note that we believe exemptions, if given, should not be permanent and should be scoped out further once a charge is in place. There is an opportunity for proceeds from the charge to be invested in testing and trialling systems in exemption environments to capture learning and make it possible to remove the exemption at a later date.
We believe funds generated from the charge, and any non-compliance fines, must be used to support, as far as possible, the phasing out of single-use cups through the promotion of behaviour change, encouragement of reuse and the facilitation of recycling, where appropriate.
We strongly support the introduction of a charge; however, we have concerns about allowing retailers and businesses to retain the funds, as was the case with the carrier bag charge. While the carrier bag charge has positively influenced consumption habits and reduced the use of plastic bags, we believe its full potential was not realised.
Should proceeds from a charge be retained by businesses and encouraged to be donated to good causes on a voluntary basis, as per the Single-Use Carrier Bag Charge (Scotland) Regulations 2014, we recommend that the Scottish Government commits to an annual ‘temperature check’ evaluation review to monitor:
– Effectiveness of charge in driving behaviour change of consumers;
– Implementation by businesses and retailers and cost incurred;
– The number of cups charged for; and
– Where proceeds of the charge have been used to do good.
Additionally, we would call for donations to be made to environmental good causes, not just good causes, in order to support a move away from single-use cups to a more circular economy model.
We are concerned that the current capacity and capabilities of local authorities will mean that the number of Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) issued will be low, as will payment rates, as we have seen with other FPNs for environmental incivilities such as littering and dog fouling.
You can find out more about the work of Cup Movement® and read our reports if you want more information.
We encourage everyone – consumers and businesses – to have their say on this important issue. The consultation is open until 14 November and you can click here to respond to the consultation.
