Tag: Scottish Office

The press release issued by the Scottish Office on 14 February 2023.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said:

“Today’s figures show that – despite economic headwinds – Scotland’s labour market continues to be resilient. We have record numbers of people on the payroll and unemployment remains close to historic lows.

“We cannot be complacent and the Prime Minister has been clear on the UK Government’s priorities to halve inflation, grow the economy and reduce debt. That will ease the cost of living, give people financial security, and achieve sustainable long term growth.

“To deliver more high-quality jobs and level up across Scotland, the UK Government is investing almost £2.3bn in partnership with regional organisations, and has awarded Freeport status to the Inverness and Cromarty Firth and Firth of Forth, which will encourage regeneration to benefit the whole of Scotland.”

The press release issued by the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland on 25 January 2023.

£30 million going to seven new regional projects across the UK to boost innovation in decarbonising roads.

Future roads could be built using asphalt made from grass cuttings and ‘carbon capturing’ cement, supported by £30 million UK Government funding awarded to seven innovative, net zero projects.

North Lanarkshire is one of the schemes spread across the UK to have been awarded funding today through the Live Labs 2: Decarbonising Local Roads competition. The programme supports projects led by Local Highways Authorities focused on tackling the long-term decarbonisation of highways infrastructure, such as streetlights, and transforming local authorities’ approach to decarbonising roads.

Building a decarbonised road network requires materials that can stand up to the requirements and are innovative in combating carbon emissions. North Lanarkshire Council’s project will look to create a centre that will develop a materials testing programme to identify and deploy the latest tech for road construction, in addition to testing and deploying recycled materials from other industries to build roads.

UK Government Minister for Scotland John Lamont said:

It’s great to see Scottish expertise leading the way in developing innovative solutions for our drive to net zero.

Sharing £30 million UK Government investment with six other projects, North Lanarkshire Council – working with partners such as the Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland, Clackmannanshire Council, Ayrshire Roads Alliance and Heriot Watt University – will use its £4.6 million allocation to help the UK become a global leader in making road networks green.

The testing they’ll carry out – including investigating how waste destined for landfill can be recycled – will help reduce the carbon footprint from the production, transportation and maintenance of road surfaces, signage, crash barriers and kerbs.

Roads Minister Richard Holden said:

The UK is a world leader in technology and innovation and we must use that strength to drive decarbonisation and the next generation of high-tech jobs that go alongside it. We are supporting this vital agenda to help level-up through £30 million funding for ground-breaking projects and boosting regional connections to support growth. The Government is determined to create good, well-paid jobs – via innovation and investment across the UK – as we accelerate the road to net zero.

Councillor Jim Logue, Leader of North Lanarkshire Council said:

North Lanarkshire Council, Transport for West Midlands and partners are delighted to be collaborating to create the UK Centre of Excellence for Materials Decarbonisation. This is an enormously important and innovative programme with a major focus on decarbonising all road types, changing how our sector works and reducing our impact on the environment, while meeting our collective objective for a net zero future.

We aim to be leaders in the UK in this field and the reference point for the promotion and knowledge share for decarbonisation in highways materials. As we progress, we hope to provide national standards for other public services and a tangible exportable asset for the UK.

Live Labs 2 is designed to ensure innovations are shared across the whole of the UK and bidders were encouraged to create partnerships across the public and private sector, and academia. As such, North Lanarkshire’s winning project successfully showed to be working across the four interconnected themes:

• A green carbon laboratory: Examining the role that non-operational highways ‘green’ assets can play in providing a source of materials and fuels to decarbonise highway operations, for example, using biomass from green waste to create alternative fuels and asphalt additives.
• A future lighting testbed: Researching the future of lighting for local roads to determine what is needed in the future and how they can be further decarbonised.
• A UK centre of excellence for materials: Providing a centralised hub for research and innovation that would help test construction materials and their use.
• Corridor and place-based decarbonisation: Working to create decarbonisation across specific, wider regions and corridors covering both urban and rural areas.

Live Labs 2 is funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) and organised by The Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning & Transport (ADEPT), which represents ‘directors of place’ who are responsible for providing day-to-day services, such as local highways, as well as strategic long-term delivery.

Mark Kemp, President of ADEPT, said:

Tackling the carbon impact of our highways’ infrastructure is critical to our path to net zero but hard to address, so I am pleased that bidding was so competitive. Live Labs 2 has a huge ambition – to fundamentally change how we embed decarbonisation into our decision-making and to share our learning with the wider sector to enable behaviour change. Each project will bring local authority led innovation and a collaborative approach to create a long-lasting transformation of business as usual.  I am looking forward to the opportunity to learn from our successful bidders and taking that into my own organisation.

This programme follows the previous and successful Live Labs 1, a £22.9 million innovation programme that focused on adoption of digital technology across local roads.

The press release issued by the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland on 20 January 2023.

A new ferry for Fair Isle, restoration of Kilmarnock’s historic Palace Theatre, and regeneration in Stirling are just some of the transformational local projects across Scotland awarded a share of £2.1 billion from the UK Government’s landmark Levelling Up Fund.

Major UK Government investment will benefit people across Scotland by spreading opportunity and breathing new life into historically overlooked areas.

A total of 10 projects in Scotland have been allocated more than £177 million from round two of the Levelling Up Fund. The projects will create jobs, drive economic growth, help restore people’s pride in the places where they live and spread opportunity more equally.

This will drive forward the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy by levelling up and provide the foundations for building a better future in communities across the UK. By working together the UK is better able to collectively tackle the individual challenges faced by every region and nation across the country.

Grants include nearly £27 million for a new roll-on, roll-off ferry for Fair Isle. There is also £20 million to fund the refurbishment of Kilmarnock’s 163-year-old Palace Theatre and Grand Hall, and a new park near the town square, as well as more than £19 million towards the regeneration of the Forthside area in Stirling.

In Aberdeenshire, £20 million will transform Peterhead’s disused Arbuthnot House into a new museum, library and cultural hub, while the popular marine aquarium in Macduff will be modernised and expanded.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

Through greater investment in local areas, we can grow the economy, create good jobs and spread opportunity everywhere.

That’s why we are backing a number of projects with new transformational funding to level up local communities in Scotland.

By reaching even more parts of the country than before, we will build a future of optimism and pride in people’s lives and the places they call home.

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said:

We are firing the starting gun on more than a hundred transformational projects in every corner of the UK that will revitalise communities that have historically been overlooked but are bursting with potential.

This new funding will create jobs, drive economic growth, and help to restore local pride. We are delivering on the people’s priorities, levelling up across the UK to ensure that no matter where you are from, you can go as far as your talents will take you.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said:

It’s fantastic to see real momentum gathering as we level up across Scotland. This latest round of UK Government funding will see more than £177 million invested into 10 exciting projects which will breathe new life into communities across Scotland.

Working with local partners we are boosting culture and leisure in Aberdeenshire, Galloway and Kilmarnock; improving connectivity in Shetland and Dundee; regenerating Greenock and Cumbernauld town centres; unlocking huge swathes of land for green development in East Lothian and Stirling; and helping communities in Fife connect with nature.

We must and will continue to invest in initiatives that will make a difference to communities and help grow our economy. So far we have announced more than £2.26 billion – including the two Freeports confirmed last week – to bring prosperity and growth to Scotland that is crucial as we tackle the challenges associated with rising energy prices and the increased cost of living.

Projects in Scotland awarded Levelling Up Fund grants in round 2:

• nearly £27 million has been guaranteed for a new roll-on, roll-off ferry for Fair Isle. The service is a lifeline for the island, supporting its residents, visitors and supply chains, and without its replacement the community will become further isolated.
• in Aberdeenshire, £20 million will transform Peterhead’s disused Arbuthnot House into a new museum, library and cultural hub, while the popular marine aquarium in Macduff will be modernised and expanded.
• there is £20 million to fund the refurbishment of 163-year-old Palace Theatre and Grand Hall, and a new park near the town square in Kilmarnock.
• in Dundee, £14 million will go towards redeveloping a dated multi-storey car park into a sustainable transport hub, creating 350 electrical vehicle charging points, car share spaces, and an e-bike hire scheme.
• nearly £20 million will help demolish and reroute the A78 dual carriageway to reconnect and transform Greenock town centre into a modern, vibrant hub based around public squares and green spaces.
• in Stirling, more than £19 million will go towards the regeneration of the Forthside area, helping to create 1,000 new jobs.
• more than £19.4 million to accelerate the regeneration of Riverside Park in Fife and improve access to the River Leven with new walking routes.
• in Cumbernauld, more than £9 million will support the demolition and regeneration of two failing shopping centres and a vacant office block, helping to bring education, employment and homes into the heart of North Lanarkshire’s largest town.
• in East Lothian, nearly £11.3 million of funding will help free up land at a former coal fired power station for future, green regeneration.
• almost £18 million will help Dumfries and Galloway turn redundant spaces and buildings into exciting new cultural and leisure opportunities.

The major investment announced follows the allocation of £1.7 billion to 105 projects from round one of the Levelling Up Fund in 2021– taking the total allocated so far from the fund to £3.8 billion. In Scotland there was an allocation of £172 million to 8 Scottish projects from round one of the Levelling Up Fund in 2021– taking the total allocated so far from the fund to £349 million. The UK Government’s levelling up projects across Scotland can be explored on this map.

The UK Government has also confirmed there will be a further round of the Levelling Up Fund, providing more opportunity to level up places across the UK.

The press release issued by the Scottish Office on 30 December 2022.

The Scottish Secretary has congratulated the many people from across Scottish society who have been recognised in the New Year Honours List published today.

Alister Jack said:

This year’s New Year Honours List underlines the outstanding contributions made by Scots to the life of the nation, from public service, through entertaining us and contributing to our cultural heritage, to assisting in Scotland’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic and supporting business growth.

It’s great to see recognition of our men’s football captain Andy Robertson [MBE], not just for his efforts on the pitch but for his work with young people. The UK’s Scottish Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Christine Middlemiss [CB] has been deservedly honoured for her work on behalf of the veterinary and farming industries, as has Dr Julie Maxton [DBE], the first female executive director of the Royal Society in its history of over 350 years.

Many Scots have been recognised for their contributions to our cultural landscape. These include Sinclair Barbour from Dumfriesshire [BEM], who for more than four decades has inspired people to participate in and learn the skills of Scottish country dancing; James McEwan from Islay [MBE], four times Master Distiller of the Year and inductee to the Whisky Hall of Fame; and David Sutherland from Dundee [OBE], for services to illustrating the Beano.

This is also, however, an important opportunity to acknowledge the dedication of those who selflessly serve the needs of others in our communities. Among those to have been honoured today are 28-year-old Lucy Lintott from Moray [BEM], for her tireless campaigning and fundraising in aid of tackling Motor Neurone Disease; and 79-year-old Joyce Murray from East Dunbartonshire [BEM] who has served her community for more than five decades – 50 years as a Boys’ Brigade officer and the last twenty years as a trusted school crossing patrol attendant.

My sincerest congratulations go to all who have been recognised today.

The press release issued by the Scottish Office on 30 December 2022.

Scottish Secretary says the UK Government policy of regional investment is delivering real dividends for communities across Scotland.

The press release issued by the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland on 21 December 2022.

Alister Jack says the focus must remain on driving down inflation and achieving sustainable economic recovery in the face of global challenges.

The GDP figures for October 2022 in Scotland have been published here this morning.

Scotland’s onshore GDP is estimated to have grown by 0.4% in October, after falling 0.4% in September.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said:

It’s encouraging to see some growth in today’s figures, but the UK is not immune to the global aftershocks of the pandemic and Putin’s illegal war with Ukraine. Our focus remains firmly on driving down inflation to achieve a solid and sustainable economic recovery.

For hard-working families and the most vulnerable in our communities, the UK Government is doing all it can – helping with energy bills and increasing benefits and pensions in line with inflation. There’s also been a rise to the National Living Wage and protection for Scotland’s public services with the Scottish Government receiving an extra £1.5billion on top of the record block grant.

Providing this vital support in these challenging times, along with our ambitious levelling up agenda in Scotland, will ensure future long-term growth for the benefit of everyone across the UK.

The press release issued by the Secretary of State for Scotland on 13 December 2022.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said:

Scotland’s labour market continues to demonstrate its resilience, with unemployment remaining close to historic lows and the number of employees on the payroll continuing to rise.

The UK Government is committed to helping people find and progress in work, and to drive sustainable economic growth. The Chancellor set out a number of measures in the Autumn Statement to put public finances on a secure footing and to promote economic growth – steps that are already making a positive contribution to tackling inflationary pressures.

Background

Figures from the ONS show unemployment in Scotland at 3.3 per cent in Scotland, down 0.8 p.p since the same time last year. Scotland’s employment rate is at 75.9 per cent, an increase of 1.4 p.p over the last year.

The press release issued by the Secretary of State for Scotland on 12 December 2022.

Projects in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Falkirk and Isle of Arran to receive share of the UK Government’s Community Ownership Fund.

Across Scotland community venues at risk of being lost forever have been rescued and placed into the hands of the local community with over £800,000 from the Community Ownership Fund.

The UK Government has allocated shares of the multimillion pound Community Ownership Fund to help community groups take ownership of local institutions falling into disrepair and give them a new lease of life so they can continue to provide vital services, create more opportunities for local people and boost local economies

Successful projects include the transformation of an old primary school into a vibrant community hub, funding to open the Lochranza Hotel bar on the Isle of Arran and money for a grass roots sports club in Falkirk.

Levelling Up Minister Dehenna Davison said:

This announcement will help people across Scotland restore the cherished pillars of community that bring people together and provide vital services for local people. With government backing these places will continue to thrive, run by the local community for the local community from Falkirk to the Isle of Arran.

UK Government Minister for Scotland Malcolm Offord said:

Congratulations to the latest four Scottish projects being awarded a share of the UK Government Community Ownership Fund. Ten venues serving communities across Scotland are now being supported by £2 million investment from the fund. In total, our levelling up agenda is seeing more than £2 billion directly invested in Scotland by the UK Government.

Mark Crawford, Vice President, Falkirk RFC said:

The fund will help us to create an attractive, modern hub which will be used by a new adult women’s team. With the funding, we plan to install a new sustainable heating system and create fit-for-purpose changing and showering facilities, a new physio suite, gym and a flexible teaching area. We plan to deliver a variety of sport, health and wellbeing focused programmes from the facility, with partner organisations like FDAMH, Falkirk’s mental health association, and we believe the new facility will help address a lot of high-priority local needs beyond sport.

Successful projects include:

• ‘The Heart’ in Edinburgh, a former primary school and listed building will be transformed into a vibrant community hub offering activities, learning and services to local families, with £300,000 in funding.
• The doors of the Lochranza Hotel on the remote Isle of Arran will fly open again to welcome punters into the warm hearth to enjoy their selection of malt whiskies, thanks to a £300,000 grant. The hotel was at risk of being lost forever after closing due to the pandemic.
• Falkirk Rugby Football and Sports Club will use its £115,000 grant to transform dilapidated changing pavilions into modern, inclusive, multi-purpose facilities in a boost for local girl’s and women’s teams.
• The historic Albert Park in Glasgow’s Southside will also benefit from £100,000 of levelling up cash to restore the clubhouse and pavilion so that locals can enjoy them for generations to come.

The move forms part of the UK Government’s drive to level up local communities across the country, create more opportunities for local people and boost local economies as a result.

Combined with round one projects, this additional funding takes our overall total to £16.74m for 70 projects, with £2.0m allocated to Scotland.

The press release issued by the Secretary of State for Scotland on 5 December 2022.

UK Government unlocks £2.6 billion in funding to level up the country by approving local areas’ plans to spend UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

• UKSPF matches and succeeds old EU funding, slashing bureaucracy and allowing local leaders to invest in things their communities truly want and need
• All plans submitted by Scottish local authorities now approved by the UK Government

Communities across Scotland will benefit from £212 million of investment in skills, improved high streets, support for local business and more green spaces as the UK takes back control and approves spending plans for funding previously run by the European Union.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund succeeds EU structural funding but instead of Brussels deciding how and where the money is spent, the UK Government has been working closely with local leaders in Scotland to direct funding where it is most needed.

Under the investment plans approved today, Scotland is receiving at least as much funding as it did before, with projects now free from bureaucratic EU processes and local people having a greater say in how the money is used.

Councils across Scotland have drawn up plans over the summer which include supporting local arts projects, improved sports facilities, export grants for Scottish companies and helping people with core skills such as maths.

The UK Government’s approval of these plans will kickstart delivery across all parts of the country.

Levelling Up Minister Dehenna Davison said:

I am thrilled that all Scottish plans have been approved and I would like to thank the Scottish Government for their engagement on this vital work.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund will deliver real benefits for every corner of the country. We look forward to working with Scottish councils to deliver the things that their local communities truly want and need.

UK Government Minister for Scotland Malcolm Offord said:

This is great news for communities across Scotland who will now see £212 million invested to strengthen businesses, create jobs and make lives better. The UK Government is delivering on its commitments that the UK Shared Prosperity Fund will at least match EU structural funding – and giving local people control of how the money is spent.

Such close working with councils, local partners and the Scottish Government is crucial to overcoming the economic headwinds we are being buffeted by. This collaboration builds on the hugely successful approach established in delivering city-region and growth deals across Scotland. Our levelling up agenda is now seeing more than £2 billion directly invested in Scotland by the UK Government.

Across the UK, the money will be spent on levelling up in three key areas:

• Communities and place: projects could include improving parks and green spaces, sports facilities and access to arts and culture to foster a greater sense of pride in place.
• Supporting local business: this include support for entrepreneurs, as well as research and development grants for local businesses to help develop innovative products and services.
• People and skills: projects could include specialist support for people with a health condition facing additional barriers into decent jobs. This may include basic life skills, digital training and education in English and maths. As part of the Fund, a multi-million pound adult numeracy programme, Multiply, has been allocated across the UK to support people with no or low-level maths skills to improve their economic and life prospects.

The UK Government’s flexible approach also means that councils and local partners will have the opportunity to adapt each plan to reflect new economic priorities over the period to 2025.

Funding for the UKSPF will be £2.6 billion between 2022 and 2025, with this figure reaching £1.5 billion per year by March 2025, delivering on the UK Government’s commitment to match EU structural funds for each nation.

The press release issued by the Scottish Office on 2 December 2022.

The Secretary of State met UK and French businesses, as well as France’s trade minister, diplomatic staff and parliamentarians. He visited Chanel to see how they have used tweed and other Scottish materials throughout their history, including in their latest range. And he jointly hosted a St Andrew’s night dinner with the British Ambassador to France, Dame Menna Rawlings.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said:

“Scotland and France have historic and enduring links, and St Andrew’s Day is the perfect time to celebrate and strengthen those ties.

A fantastic example of that relationship is the 100-year-old creative partnership between Paris’ Chanel fashion house and Scotland’s beautiful tweed, and it was fascinating to hear more about that.

The UK and France are important trade partners, and we must build on that. The French market is worth billions to Scottish businesses, with huge potential to grow. While in Paris I was hard at work promoting Scottish businesses, as the UK Government does every day, right around the world.”

Total trade in goods and services [exports plus imports] between the UK and France is worth £78.3 billion a year. Scotland’s exports to France are worth nearly £3 billion a year, ranging from whisky to renewable energy expertise. The Secretary of State hosted a lunch for French businesses representing these sectors, as well as meeting the French Government’s International Trade Minister, Olivier Becht.

The UK Government has one of the world’s largest diplomatic networks in the world. It is committed to promoting Scottish interests across foreign policy, security, defence, international trade, investment, culture, education and the arts – as well as providing vital consular assistance.