The Government’s Legislative Programme (Scotland) 2021-22

Wednesday 12th May 2021 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr Alister Jack)]

The legislative programme for the second Session was outlined by Her Majesty on 11 May. This statement provides a summary of the programme and its application to Scotland. It does not include draft Bills, Law Commission Bills or finance Bills.

This Government will continue to deliver for people and businesses across Scotland, as part of a strong United Kingdom. The UK Government have ensured citizens and businesses across the UK benefit from our £352 billion package of support since the start of the pandemic, which has supported one in three Scottish jobs, as well as providing access to tests and key medicines and ensuring every part of the UK continues to receive its fair share of one of the world’s largest and most diverse vaccine portfolios.

The legislative programme for this Session will support our collective covid-19 recovery, ensuring the whole of the UK can build back better by focusing on increasing job opportunities, productivity and long-term investment in people.

To help with this recovery, we are boosting funding for communities in all parts of the UK. Our community renewal fund will invest £220 million in local areas ahead of the launch of the UK shared prosperity fund in 2022. We have also set up the £4.8 million UK levelling-up fund which will invest in infrastructure which improves everyday life across the UK. We are committed to levelling up across the whole of the United Kingdom, to ensure that no community is left behind as we recover from the covid-19 pandemic.

We will build back greener, and we are committed to leading the way in tackling climate change and to see the low-carbon economy support up to 2 million green jobs by 2030 as part of the Prime Minister’s green industrial revolution. This legislative programme will combine our ambitious plans to level up across the country with making strides towards the UK’s net zero by 2050. We are working with local authorities, businesses, and citizens across the UK to inspire action ahead of hosting the COP26 summit in Glasgow in November. COP26 will be the moment we secure our path to global net zero emissions by 2050 and define the next decade of tackling climate change.

The Government are committed to protecting and promoting the strengths of the United Kingdom, building on hundreds of years of partnership between the regions of our country, the most successful political and economic union in history and the foundation upon which all our businesses and citizens are able to thrive and prosper.

The following Bills would apply to Scotland (either in full or in part).

Advance Research and Invention Agency Bill

Armed Forces Bill

Animals Abroad Bill

Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill

Borders Bill

Building Safety Bill

Counter-State Threats Bill

Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill

Dormant Assets Bill

Electoral Integrity Bill

Environment Bill

Health and Care Bill

Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill

High Speed Rail (Crewe-Manchester) Bill

Judicial Review Bill

Kept Animals Bill

National Insurance Contributions Bill

Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill

Planning Bill

Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill

Procurement Bill

Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill

Professional Qualifications Bill

Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Bill

Subsidy Control Bill

Skills and Post-16 Education Bill

Telecommunications (Security) Bill

In line with the Sewel convention and associated practices, the Government will continue to work constructively with the Scottish Government to secure the legislative consent of the Scottish Parliament where appropriate.

[HCWS13]