The Government’s Legislative Programme (Scotland) 2022-23)

Wednesday 11th May 2022 Written Statements

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

The legislative programme for the third Session was outlined at the State Opening of Parliament on Tuesday 10 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.

The UK Government will continue to deliver for people and businesses across Scotland, as part of a strong United Kingdom. The Government’s legislative programme for this Session will boost economic growth across the UK to address the cost of living, helping to create the conditions for more people to have high-wage, high-skill jobs. We will continue to build our recovery from the pandemic, and work to make our country safer.

When we work collaboratively as one United Kingdom we are safer, stronger, more prosperous, and better able to tackle our shared challenges. That is why the UK Government announced the first allocations for many of our UK-wide growth funds, including more than £171 million for eight projects to improve infrastructure in Scotland as part of the levelling up fund and over £1 million for six projects through the community ownership fund to save community assets at risk of being lost, such as the Old Forge pub in the Highlands. In addition, we announced that 56 projects in Scotland would receive a share of more than £18 million through the community renewal fund. The Glasgow city region will become one of three new “innovation accelerators” which will drive-up prosperity and opportunity for local people and backed by a share of £100 million of UK Government funding. A new, £150 million British Business Bank fund in Scotland will support firms, and the Scottish Government are being provided with £1.9 billion for farmers and land managers and £42.2 million to support fisheries over the current spending review period.

To spread economic opportunities more evenly across the UK, Scotland will benefit from the UK shared prosperity fund, with over £212 million provided to level up communities across Scotland over this spending review period. Amongst other things, this includes the multiply programme which will give thousands of adults across the UK the opportunity to develop functional numeracy skills. The new £1.4 billion global Britain investment fund will spread economic opportunities more evenly across the UK by supporting investment in industries including life sciences, offshore wind, and manufacturing.

We are bringing two green freeports to Scotland to support economic growth. These will play a key role in supporting the regeneration of communities, bringing jobs and prosperity. They will also turbo-charge our commitments on net zero and support work to level-up the whole of the United Kingdom.

This is on top of the UK Government’s investment of almost £1.5 billion in Scottish city and region growth deals. Funding was accelerated in seven of these in Scotland to drive forward local economic priorities in Tay cities, Borderlands, Moray and the Scottish Islands (announced in the 2020 spending review), and Ayrshire, Argyll and Bute, and Falkirk (announced in the March 2021 Budget).

The Government are committed to protecting and promoting the strengths of the United Kingdom, building on hundreds of years of partnership between the different parts 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 will extend and apply to Scotland (either in full or in part):

• Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill

• Bill of Rights

• Boycotts, Divestments, and Sanctions Bill

• Brexit Freedoms Bill

• Data Reform Bill

• Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill

• Energy Security Bill

• Financial Services and Markets Bill

• Harbours (Seafarers’ Remuneration) Bill

• High Speed Rail (Crewe-Manchester) Bill

• Infrastructure Bank Bill

• Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill

• Media Bill

• Modern Slavery Bill

• National Security Bill

• Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill

• Online Safety Bill

• Procurement Bill

• Products Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill

• Social Housing Regulation Bill

• Social Security (Special Rules for End of Life) Bill

• Trade (Australia and New Zealand) Bill

• Transport Bill

The Government continue to deliver for Scotland and will continue to work constructively with the Scottish Government to secure the legislative consent of the Scottish Parliament where appropriate.

[HCWS11]