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The Travel Innovation and Strategy budget stream funds a range of transport interventions. The change in budget from financial year 2021-22 of £39.9 million to £21.6 million in 2022-23 reflects a reduction in the capital grant support required for the Glasgow Subway Modernisation programme due to the re-profiling of programmed works by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport. There is no impact on deliverables through this budget movement.

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.

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 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.

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

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”.

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.

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: . 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.

We published our response to the recommendations of the Just Transition Commission’s final report on 7 September 2021 which is available here: This confirms our commitment to implement the recommendations of the Just Transition Commission in full, and includes our national just transition planning framework which is guiding our approach to delivery with partners across Scotland. A list of recommendations made by the Commission in their final report and the associated actions are set out on pages 11 - 28.

As referred to in the document, the Scottish Government will also provide an annual ministerial statement to Parliament. This will give a comprehensive update on actions taken across Government to support a just transition, including progress on the Commission’s recommendations.

We published our response to the recommendations of the Just Transition Commission’s final report on 7 September 2021 which is available here: .

We know that recent energy price rises will cause people to worry. My foremost concern is for households affected by these price rises, particularly those who are in or at risk of fuel poverty. It is worth noting that the setting of tariffs in the gas and electricity markets is reserved to the UK Government and subsequently we have called for action from the UK Government to address these issues. We are committed to using our available powers to support consumers however, that is why we are making £10 million available to help people struggling with their heating costs this Winter.

I would also encourage anyone struggling with their energy bills to get in touch with Home Energy Scotland for advice on how to reduce their fuel costs.