Commonwealth Games, Eurovision & Other UK Government News from the week

Below is this week's round-up of activity from the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland?and UK Government. This week's update includes:

• Economy & Trade
• Innovation & Net Zero
• Other UKG News

Economy & Trade

Scottish Secretary Responds to May 2022 GDP

Responding to the?latest estimate for Scottish GDP, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said:?

“Seeing the economy growing is a good sign, but we recognise there are challenges ahead and we remain focused on supporting families with the rising cost of living. That’s why we’ve put in place a ￡37 billion support package to help those who need it most."

Read the full statement?here.

New Register to Tackle Corrupt Oligarchs and Elites Laundering Money

A first of its kind register, designed to root out corrupt oligarchs and elites attempting to hide ill-gotten gains through UK property, has come into force.

The ‘Register of Overseas Entities’ will require anonymous foreign companies owning or seeking to buy UK land to reveal their true owners, ensuring criminals cannot hide behind secretive chains of shell companies.

The reforms will support government efforts to root out Russian oligarchs and kleptocrats using UK land to hide illicit wealth.

Innovation & Net Zero

￡16 Million for Innovative Defence Programme

A?￡16 million programme?to boost small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) defence innovation has been launched.?Individual grants of up to 50% of a project’s value – to a maximum of ￡500,000 per grant - will be available through DTEP for collaborative projects between SMEs and larger suppliers.

UK Government Minister for Scotland Iain Stewart said:?

"Defence contracts already support thousands of highly-skilled private sector jobs in Scotland and across the UK, and [this] announcement is great news for small to medium-sized businesses who want to join the supply chain."

Ofgem’s Strategic Innovation Fund

Ofgem’s?Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF)?will invest around ￡8 million across 18 innovative projects, as part of the ￡450 million Strategic Innovation Fund.?

Projects focus on clean forms of heat, zero emission transport, data and digitalisation, and whole system integration.

Funding for Sustainable Fisheries

Projects?to help minimise the impact of lost fishing nets on the environment, and innovative research into new trawl designs to reduce the number of other species accidentally caught by fishermen (bycatch), are among those to receive funding from the ￡100 million?UK Seafood Fund.

UK Government Minister for Scotland Malcolm Offord said:

"It's fantastic to see four Scottish projects benefiting from nearly ￡270,000 of UK Government investment. It will not only cement our fishing industry's reputation as one of the best in the world, but also elevate its potential even further."

Funding for Renewable?Energy

Innovative biomass projects?across the UK have been awarded ￡37 million in funding, as the UK Government drives forward its plan to scale up domestic renewable energy, including from biomass.

There are two Scottish projects receiving funding;

• The University of Aberdeen is receiving ￡220,239 to develop an innovative and sustainable process to obtain hydrogen from the organic matter present in different types of waste
• Wood Group UK Ltd, Aberdeen, is receiving ￡249,051 for a bio hydrogen demonstrator, using Wood’s steam methane reformer technology, fed and fuelled by renewable biological liquid feedstocks.

Other UKG News

Call for Evidence: Tax / Welfare Funding Arrangements

The UK Government and Scottish Government have jointly commissioned an independent report to consider the funding arrangements for tax and welfare devolution.

Both governments are now seeking views and evidence?on behalf of the report’s authors to support their independent assessment of these arrangements. Respondents will find an information sheet provided by the authors at the start of the survey, to help with answering the questions.

New Pension Scheme

The?pensions sector has received an injection of innovation as a?brand new type of pension scheme?officially opened for applications in Great Britain.

Collective Defined Contribution pension schemes, or CDCs for short, will offer an alternative to the UK’s two primary pension scheme models, Defined Contribution (DC) and Defined Benefit (DB).

Commonwealth Games 2022

The?biggest ever Commonwealth Games?and the largest sporting event to be held in the West Midlands has opened in Birmingham on time and on budget.?

Backed by ￡778 million of public funding, including ￡594 million from central government, Birmingham 2022 is the most significant investment in a major sporting event since the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.?

Read Scottish Secretary Alister Jack's statement?here.

Eurovision 2023

It has been announced?that the UK will host Eurovision 2023.?

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said:

“It’s a privilege for the UK to host Eurovision 2023, which will honour the people, culture and creativity of Ukraine. With our rich musical history, great venues and friendly spirit, Scotland would be a fantastic place to hold the contest."

Supreme Court Statement

The Scottish Government have?published their?written submission?to the Supreme Court in relation to the reference by the Scottish Government’s Lord Advocate under paragraph 34 of schedule 6 to the Scotland Act 1998.

A UK Government spokesperson said:

“People across Scotland want both their governments to be working together on the issues that matter to them and their families, not talking about another independence referendum.”

“We preparing our written case on the preliminary points we have noted, as well as the substantive issue, and will submit them to the Court in accordance with its timetable.

“On the question of legislative competence, the UK Government’s clear view remains that a Bill legislating for a referendum on independence would be outside the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament.”

Sign-up?to receive these updates directly into your inbox each week.