Asked by: Mochan, Carol (Scottish Labour - South Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the value of the work of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust.
Answered by FitzPatrick, Joe - Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning
The Scottish Government’s Regeneration programmes work together to support resilient and sustainable communities, with communities directly involved in decisions on the future of their places. The Scottish Government values Coalfields Regeneration Trust’s (CRT’s) contribution to that approach. Since 1999, the Scottish Government has provided over £28 million in funding to CRT to invest in improving outcomes for coalfield communities.
In 2023/24 funding is being delivered within the context of the most challenging budget settlement since devolution. The Scottish Government is having to make difficult decisions while ensuring it does what is best for communities with the limited resources it has. This is impacting programmes across Government including the Empowering Communities Programme through which CRT is funded and which has been subject to a reduction in budget from 2022-23.
In addition to the dedicated funding for coalfield communities delivered through CRT, the Scottish Government also invests in wider regeneration programmes such as the Investing in Communities Fund and Regeneration Capital Grant Fund. These target our most disadvantaged and fragile communities and continue to support projects in our former coalfield communities.
Mentions:
1: Grahame Morris (Lab - Easington) Hundreds of pensioners from across our coalfield communities marched on Westminster with a clear message - Speech Link
2: William Cash (Con - Stone) Gentleman may not know that I was vice-chair of the all-party group on coalfield communities for some - Speech Link
3: Alex Davies-Jones (Lab - Pontypridd) Coalfield communities have a strong identity. - Speech Link
4: Owen Thompson (SNP - Midlothian) We need funding to shore up our coalfield communities and stop them falling further behind. - Speech Link
5: Liz Twist (Lab - Blaydon) A report from the APPG on coalfield communities, in partnership with the Industrial Communities Alliance - Speech Link
Found: Miners and mining communities
Asked by: Briggs, Miles (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Lothian)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of its decision to reduce the funding for the Coalfields Regeneration Trust on its work in the former coalfield communities.
Answered by FitzPatrick, Joe - Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning
The Scottish Government’s challenging budget position impacts on the budget available for the delivery of the Empowering Communities Programme which supports Coalfield Regeneration Trust’s (CRT’s) grant. Officials advised CRT that we would be unable to deliver funding at the same level as previous years and worked with the Trust to help prioritise their 2023-24 work programme on protecting those elements which have the greatest impact and outcomes for coalfields communities.
Mentions:
1: Ewing, Annabelle (SNP - Cowdenbeath) of the report to support the continued development of former coalfield communities; believes that the - Speech Link
2: FitzPatrick, Joe (SNP - Dundee City West) that are most in need across Scotland, including in coalfield areas.We are not ignoring coalfield communities - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Stephanie Peacock (Lab - Barnsley East) communities more broadly. - Speech Link
2: Justin Tomlinson (Con - North Swindon) Since privatisation, the Government have recognised the need to support former coalfield areas through - Speech Link
3: Grahame Morris (Lab - Easington) My community of Horden, which bid for levelling-up funding, is in the top 1% most deprived communities - Speech Link
Found: Cross -Party Group Registration Form Name of Cross -Party Group Cross -Party Group on Industrial Communities
Asked by: Briggs, Miles (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Lothian)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will support the development of a capital endowment scheme for the Coalfields Regeneration Trust to provide a sustainable income stream to tackle any issues that are facing former coalfield communities without their reliance on the current annual revenue grant.
Answered by FitzPatrick, Joe - Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning
The Deputy First Minister has made clear the very challenging position on the Scottish Government’s capital budget. This is forecast to result in a 9.8% real terms cut in our capital funding over the medium term between 2023-24 and 2027-28.
Through the existing capital investment routes including the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund, we have, over a number of years, encouraged the CRT to work with relevant local authorities to bring forward proposals to develop assets, to support community led regeneration while providing an alternative source of income generation for CRT. This is aimed at reducing the Trust’s reliance on revenue grant.
Asked by: Simpson, Graham (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Central Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government which organisations or interested parties have received funding through the Plugged-in Communities Grant Fund in 2023-24.
Answered by Hyslop, Fiona - Minister for Transport
The Scottish Government provides annual funding to Energy Saving Trust (EST) who are an independent organisation working to address the climate emergency. EST then deliver the Plugged-in Communities (PiC) grant fund on behalf of Scottish Ministers.
EST publish details of all PiC grant recipients along with the grant values on their website, this information can be found here - Plugged-in communities grant fund - Energy Saving Trust .
In 2023-2024 the following organisations received Plugged-in Community funding:
Annandale Community Transport Services
Beannachar Ltd
Caithness Rural Transport
Camphill School Aberdeen
Checkin Works
Coalfield Community Transport
Creich Croick & Kincardine District Day Care Association
Elder Voice
Glasgow Children’s Hospital
Glasgow No.1 Baby and Family Support Service
Handicabs (Lothian)
Healthy and Active in East Kilbride
Homeless Project Scotland
Local Energy Action Plan
Lothian Community Transport Services
Moray Carshare
South Ayrshire Community Transport
Southwest Community Transport
St Madoes and Kinfauns Parish Church
Tagsa Uibhist
The Food Train.