Wednesday, March 13, 2024: In politics today

Number 10 has said comments made by Tory donor Frank Hester about Diane Abbot were "racist and wrong", after originally declining to call Hester's comments racist.

The Guardian revealed earlier this week that Hester reportedly said the MP made him want to "hate all black women", adding that she "should be shot".

The businessman has given £10m to the Conservative Party in the last year. His company's lawyers said the alleged comments were not a true or accurate reflection of TPP or Hester himself.

But Rishi Sunak's spokesperson eventually called Hester's comments "racist and wrong" on Tuesday, adding: "He has now rightly apologised for the offence caused and where remorse is shown it should be accepted."

Pressure is now building from opposing benches for the Tories to return the £10m received in donations from Hester.

Chair of the Labour Party Anneliese Dodds wrote to the Prime Minister calling for the money to be returned, as well as the value of a helicopter ride (£15,900) provided by Mr Sunak to Hester.

Her letter read: "While – in good faith – we assume that your party was not aware of Mr Hester’s views at the time of receiving these donations, it is only right that you and your party take these new revelations into account seriously.

"Accepting and using that money can only be treated as implicitly condoning and overlooking his deeply disturbing comments and the way he has run his business. Anything less than returning the money will be a stain on the Conservative party."

Scottish Parliament:

Today’s business includes:

Portfolio Questions: Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands; NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care

Scottish Labour Party Business: Bringing Down NHS Waiting Lists

Scottish Labour Party Business: Growing Scotland’s Economy

Decision Time

Members’ Business: S6M-12371 International Long Covid Awareness Day 2024 (in the name of Sandesh Gulhane)

The following committees are meeting this morning:

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

UK Parliament:

Today’s business includes:

Prime Minister’s Question Time

Ten Minute Rule Motion: Sites of Special Scientific Interest (Designation)

Motion: National Insurance Contributions (Reduction in Rates) (No.2) Bill: Consideration of an allocation of time Motions

Legislation: National Insurance Contributions (Reduction in Rates) (No.2) Bill: 2^nd reading

Money Resolution: National Insurance Contributions (Reduction in Rates) (No.2) Bill

Legislation: National Insurance Contributions (Reduction in Rates) (No.2) Bill: remaining stages

Westminster Hall debate: Gambling advertising in sport

Oral Questions (Lords): Evidence that power generation from biomass is good value, sustainable and compatible with reaching net zero emissions by 2050

Oral Questions (Lords): Costs and benefits of the enforced lockdowns during the COVID-19 epidemic from March 2020

Oral Questions (Lords): Discussions with the Scottish Government regarding any activities it is undertaking that fall outwith its devolved competences

Oral Questions (Lords): The research by campaign group Pregnant Then Screwed

Legislation (Lords): Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill – report stage (day 2)

Seventh Delegated Legislation Committee – Debate on the draft Occupational Pension Schemes (Funding and Investment Strategy and Amendment) Regulations 2024

Eighth Delegated Legislation Committee – Debate on the draft Electricity Supplier Obligations (Excluded Electricity) (Amendment) Regulations 2024

Home Affairs Committee – Oral evidence session on Fraud

Work and Pensions Committee – Oral evidence session on Norton pension schemes and Fraud Compensation Fund

Science, Innovation and Technology Committee – Oral evidence session on UK Astronomy

Transport Committee – Oral evidence session on the Future of transport data

Energy Security and Net Zero Committee – Oral evidence session on Securing the domestic supply chain

Constitution Committee – Oral evidence session on The Governance of the Union: Consultation, Co-operation and Legislative Consent

International Relations and Defence Committee – Oral evidence session on Implications of the war in Ukraine for UK Defence

European Scrutiny Committee – Oral evidence session on Retained EU law: the progress and mechanics of reform

Energy Security and Net Zero Committee – Oral evidence session on heating our homes

Treasury Committee – Oral evidence session on Budget 2024

Aberdeenshire Council:

Today’s business includes:

School Placings and Exclusions Appeals Committee

Aberdeen City Council:

Today’s business includes:

Finance and Resources Committee

News/Funding/Consultations:

• NEW: Consultation: Review of electricity market arrangements (REMA). This consultation seeks views on a narrowed range of options to deliver an enduring electricity market framework that will work for businesses, industry, and households. For more information, or to respond to the consultation, please click here. The closing date for responses is 7^th May.
• NEW: Consultation: Fairer Food Labelling. Evidence shows that consumers want to buy high-quality food, however, it can be difficult for them to clearly identify where food comes from and how it is produced. The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs want to make it easier for consumers to make informed decisions when purchasing food and allow them to choose products that align with their values. This consultation seeks views on proposals to improve transparency and consistency through improved country of origin, and animal welfare labelling in the UK. For more information, or to respond to the consultation, please click here. The closing date for responses is 7^th May.
• NEW: Consultation: Improving the effectiveness of the Money Laundering Regulations. HM Treasury has published a consultation on improving the effectiveness of the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 (the ‘MLRs’), which place requirements onto a range of businesses to identify and prevent money laundering and terrorist financing. The consultation considers changes to the existing legislation to improve the Money Laundering Regulations while minimising the burden on legitimate customers. For more information, or to respond to the consultation, please click here. The closing date for responses is 9^th June.
• NEW: Consultation: Disclosure Scotland fees: discounting, waivers and accredited bodies consultation. This consultation seeks views to enable Disclosure Scotland to consider fee discounts for certain groups applying for Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme membership disclosures and views on the fees applied to organisations acting as accredited bodies. For more information, or to respond to the consultation, please click here. The closing date for responses is 28^th May.
• DEADLINE APPROACHING: Consultation: Renewable transport fuel obligation: addressing multiple incentives. This technical consultation identifies and seeks views on the proposals to update the existing legislation for multiple incentives for fuel production under the renewable transport fuel obligation (RTFO). For more information, or to respond to the consultation, please click here. The closing date for responses is 18^th March.
• Consultation: Development plan amendment regulations. The Scottish Government are seeking views on their proposed approach to regulations on the processes for amending the National Planning Framework and Local Development Plans. For more information, or to respond to the consultation, please click here. The closing date for responses is 22^nd May.
• Consultation: Masterplan consent area regulations. The Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 introduced MCAs, which will have expanded powers building upon Simplified Planning Zones. They will allow planning authorities to take a place leadership role, by proactively consenting the type and quality of development they wish to see in their places. Planning authorities will be able to prepare a MCA ‘Scheme’ setting out what they are giving consent for, through the scheme. MCAs allow for frontloading scrutiny and streamlining consents, as MCAs will be broader in scope than SPZs, being able grant planning permission, plus roads construction, listed building and conservation area consent – where provided for in the particular MCA scheme. MCAs will help to facilitate investment in places, by providing certainty and direction to investors. Once the MCA is ‘made’ (adopted) development could be brought forward without the need for an application providing it is in line with the scheme. The 2019 Act established the principle for establishing MCAs, and the Scottish Government is now consulting on the proposals for the detail of the regulations. For more information, or to respond to the consultation, please click here. The closing date for responses is 22^nd May.
• Consultation: Investing in Planning: a consultation on resourcing Scotland’s planning system. The Scottish Government recognise that there are no simple answers to the challenge of resourcing planning. We live in financially constrained times and even if money was to be found, there is a complex set of circumstances to address. This consultation explores a range of solutions to support resourcing of the planning system. It sets out options which have the potential to improve the capacity of the Scottish planning system, in particular in planning authorities, in the coming years. It responds to current and future challenges, with a view to identifying a set of short and medium term actions that could improve the capacity of the planning system by helping build resilience and strengthening cross sector collaboration. For more information, or to respond to the consultation, please click here. The closing date for responses is 31^st May.
• Consultation: Restricting promotions of food and drink high in fat, sugar or salt – Consultation on the detail of proposed regulations. The Scottish Government is consulting on the detail of proposed regulations to restrict HFSS (high fat, salt or sugar food) promotions including: targeted foods within the scope of restrictions; price promotions within the scope of restrictions, including meal deals and temporary price promotions; the approach to placement restrictions of targeted foods in store or online; the qualifying businesses within the scope of restrictions, including the proposed exemptions; and the proposed approach to enforcement and implementation. For more information, or to respond to the consultation, please click here. The closing date for responses is 21^st May.
• Consultation: Options for Defined Benefit Schemes. The aim of this consultation is to introduce reforms to the private sector Defined Benefit pensions system that jointly benefit scheme members, sponsoring employers and the wider economy. Although pension schemes are in surplus, under current legislation it is difficult and costly for many scheme trustees to share this upside with employers and scheme members. This consultation proposes a number of new measures intended to balance enhanced options for trustees with prioritising the security of member benefits. For more information, or to respond to the consultation, please click here. The closing date for responses is 19^th April.
• Consultation: Provisional registration for overseas-qualified dentists. This consultation seeks views on The Dentists Act 1984 (Provisional Registration of Dentists) (Amendment) Order 2024 (‘the draft order’) that aims to give the General Dental Council (GDC) the necessary powers and duties to provisionally register dentists who have qualified overseas and have not yet satisfied the GDC’s requirements for full registration. Provisional registration would allow an overseas-qualified dentist to practise in any dental setting, including high street dental practices, under the supervision of a dentist who has full registration on GDC’s dentists register. For more information, or to respond to the consultation, please click here. The closing date for responses is 16^th May.
• LAST CHANCE TO RESPOND: Consultation: 'Not for EU’ labelling for retail products across Great Britain. This consultation seeks views on the government’s proposals to implement ‘not for EU’ labelling requirements for goods across Great Britain. For more information, or to respond to the consultation, please click here. The closing date for responses is 15^th March.
• Consultation: Alternative routes to market for new nuclear projects. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is seeking views to understand how government can support investment in advanced nuclear technologies and enable high value projects to be taken forward. For more information, or to respond to the consultation, please click here. The closing date for responses is 4^th April.
• Consultation: Guidance on inclusive design for town centres and busy streets. Our town centres and streets provide facilities and amenities which play a vital role in supporting the needs of our communities and in developing a positive sense of local identity. Ensuring that all members of Scotland’s communities irrespective of age, ability or gender have the ability to access these areas safely and confidently without obstruction is an important part of delivering an inclusive society. The Scottish Government is seeking views from a variety of stakeholders on the proposed guidance. For more information, or to respond to the consultation, please click here. The closing date for responses is 29^th March.

• Support: Develop your workforce with Skills for Growth. Skills for Growth is a diagnostic service that helps you identify skills gaps in your business and find ways to fill them. Skills Development Scotland (SDS) will work with you to understand the skills your business needs, help you create a detailed people skills action plan and direct you to the right support. For more information or to apply, please click here.
• Support: Techscaler. Techscaler is a Scottish Government programme that helps people to start and scale tech businesses. Techscaler membership provides tailored support for founders and leaders of tech start-ups. For more information or to apply, please click here.
• Support: DigitalBoost Health Check. Take a Digital Health Check to find out how your business could improve its digital performance. Just answer 12 questions about your current approach to discover where you could do more with technology and how to boost your online presence. For more information, or to do your own check, please click here.

• Support/Training: The Princes Trust Explore Enterprise Course. The Prince’s Trust Explore Enterprise Course consists of up to seven online sessions providing information and support on the basics of self-employment, HMRC and finance, pricing and sales, marketing, networking, cashflows, and business plans. These sessions are open to individuals aged between 18-30, who are resident in Scotland and been trading for less than 2 years. For more information, or to sign up, please click here.
• Support/Funding: Guidance on how to apply for Innovate UK funding opportunities. Innovate UK provides grant funding, loans and procurements for UK-based businesses to support research, development and innovation. This guidance explains what types of funding opportunities are available and how to apply through their Innovation Funding Service. For more information, or to access the guidance, please click here. Details on the various live funding options are available here.
• Support/Funding: UK Tradeshow Programme. The UK Tradeshow Programme offers government support to help UK businesses attend or exhibit at overseas trade shows more effectively. For more information, or to apply, please click here.

• Funding: Low Emission Zone Support Fund for Businesses. Eligible Scottish micro businesses and sole traders can apply for a £2,000 grant when they dispose of a vehicle that is not compliant with the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) standards in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee. For more information or to apply, please click here. The closing date for applications is 31^st March 2024.
• Funding: Scottish Co-Investment Fund. The Scottish Co-investment Fund (SCF) is designed to address a finance gap (up to £1.5million) alongside Scottish Enterprise's accredited co-investment partners. This fund is designed for Scottish start-up, early-stage or growing companies seeking investment to develop products and/or markets. For more information, or to apply, please click here.
• Funding: Innovation Funding Service. Innovate UK supports UK-based businesses to invest in research, development and innovation through grant funding, loans or procurements. A variety of innovation competitions are currently open, with the full list and details of eligibility available here.
• Funding: Foresight Scottish Growth Fund. The Scottish Growth Scheme is a package of financial support of up to £500 million for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Scotland. Backed by the Scottish Government, it aims to help businesses grow. This equity funding can be used for a variety of purposes, including working capital, capital expenditure and growth funding. For more information or to apply, please click here.
• Funding: SME Loan Scheme. This loan is for small to medium-sized businesses in Scotland and can be used for the installation of energy-efficient measures such as lighting and heating upgrades, double glazing, insulation and more. For more information or to apply, please click here.
• Funding: UMi Debt Finance Scotland. This funding is managed by UMi Debt Finance Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government and provides loans of £25,000 to £250,000 to eligible small and medium enterprises to help them grow. Loans can be used for a variety of purposes including working capital, capital expenditure and growth funding. For more information or to apply, please click here.
• Funding: District Heating Loan Fund. The District Heating Loan Fund is managed by the Energy Saving Trust on behalf of the Scottish Government. It provides capital loan funding of more than £1 million to organisations in Scotland that use renewables technologies to build out heat networks. For more information, or to apply, please click here.
• Funding: Heat Network Fund. This Scottish Government fund encourages commercial interest and investment that will help make the most of Scotland's vast potential in the low carbon sector and contribute to the positive progress already made in reducing Scotland's greenhouse gas emissions. Eligible projects must be large-scale and based in Scotland. As well as helping reduce emissions, successful projects should also have positive social and economic benefits for Scotland. For more information or to apply, please click here.
• Funding: Workforce Innovation Voucher. The Workforce Innovation Voucher scheme can be used to support innovation to develop a company’s workforce in partnership with a college or university – for example, a new or enhanced workplace business processes, workplace practice or innovative business expertise. Interface provides support with finding a suitable academic partner who has the right specialist expertise to progress your Research and Development project. For more information, or to apply, please click here.
• Funding: National Lottery Open Fund of Organisations – Creative Scotland. The National Lottery Open Fund for Organisations is a funding programme for artistic, creative and cultural organisations based in Scotland. Organisations can apply for between £1,000 and £100,000 to support creative activity that lasts up to 18 months. For more information, or to apply, please click here.
• Funding: Green Heat Innovation Support Programme. The Green Heat Innovation Support Programme provides grant funding, competitive procurement and other forms of support to help Scottish-based companies or companies looking to invest in Scotland develop innovative products, services or business models that address the challenges of green heating. For more information, or to apply, please click here.