Funding will provide vital continuity for community projects.

(Article via www.gov.scot)

Over two hundred projects working to promote equality and address discrimination will benefit from more than £20 million investment over the next year.

More than £5 million will be provided to organisations supporting engagement with communities experiencing prejudice on the grounds of age, disability, gender, gender identity, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation – while £2.7 million will go to frontline projects promoting equality and tackling prejudice.

Current funding levels of £11.8 million will be maintained to tackle all forms of violence against women and girls – including domestic abuse, sexual assault, and honour based violence including forced marriage and female genital mutilation. This will include £700,000 for Scotland’s local rape crisis centres to provide specialist services, information and support to rape and sexual abuse survivors.

In addition, a move to providing three year rolling funding over 2017-2020 will give vital reassurance and continuity to these organisations.

At a visit by Equalities Secretary Angela Constance to Fife Migrants Forum, which helps migrants and minority ethnic communities integrate into society and is a beneficiary of this funding, she said:

“We are determined to remove barriers that prevent anybody from making a full contribution to the economic, social and cultural fabric of our society.

“With this funding, we are continuing to support and empower people and groups to tackle inequality and discrimination head-on, helping secure positive and sustained change.

“My visit to Fife Migrants Forum has confirmed just how crucial projects like these are. As a nation with a long history of welcoming people of all nationalities and faiths, integration is essential.

“We want everybody to know that regardless of where they were born, live or what they do, when they live in Scotland they are valued members of our communities.”

Maciek Dokurno, Chair of Fife Migrants Forum said:

“We’re delighted the work Fife Migrants Forum is doing for people who come to live in Fife from outwith the UK is being recognised by the Scottish Government. We see and hear every day in our office about the barriers migrants face to becoming responsible and active members of their new community. The Forum is here to support them in a caring and non-judgemental way on their journey towards a new life whether through conversation cafes, IT skills training, welfare and legal advice or crisis support.

“Promoting equality, diversity and harmony in our communities is equally as important which we also do with our community partners.”

Article Source: https://news.gov.scot/news/gbp-20-million-to-advance-equality-and-tackle-discrimination

Call for urgent meeting to discuss full implications of the funding agreement.

(Article on www.gov.scot)

In a letter to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Finance Secretary Derek Mackay has called for an urgent meeting and highlighted that the Scottish Government will invoke the formal dispute resolution mechanism, if this situation is not satisfactorily resolved by HM Treasury.

Mr Mackay said:

I am writing to you following yesterday’s announcement on the financial implications of the deal reached between the UK Government and the Democratic Unionist Party.

I would like to begin by making clear that the Scottish Government fundamentally disagrees with the way in which this additional funding for Northern Ireland has been allocated. All of the areas to which this £1 billion funding package has been allocated – infrastructure development, health (including mental health), education, broadband, deprivation – are devolved matters to which Barnett should apply.

The UK Government’s argument that there should be no Barnett consequentials for Scotland and Wales (or indeed funding for England) from the financial elements of the agreement is unacceptable and inconsistent with the terms of the Statement of Funding Policy. Paragraph 2.15 of the Statement of Funding Policy, is very clear that the “assessment of whether a programme is unique at a UK level [and thus outside the Barnett arrangements] should be exceptional [and that] any such assessment should be evidence-based, be undertaken in a timely manner, and be considered by Treasury ministers and their counterparts in the devolved administrations to ensure all viewpoints are understood before final decisions are taken.” This deal has not been properly considered in this way and no engagement was undertaken with Scottish (or Welsh) Ministers on the proposal and our viewpoints were not therefore considered. The funding situation is also inconsistent with what the Scottish Government had been led to expect as a result of the Secretary of State for Scotland’s statements last week and in the media.

I have also seen in the media that the Prime Minister has written to her Conservative MPs to explain that the DUP funding package is comparable to the way in which City Deal projects have been funded in Scotland and Wales. Mr Mundell has also indicated that in the UK Government’s view there have been precedents set for this type of funding, including allocations following the Stormont House and Fresh Start Agreements.

The Scottish Government simply does not accept this view about exceptional direct payments, as all the items covered in this deal are part of routine funding channels and not specifically reflective of the unique circumstances of Northern Ireland. Any suggestion that this funding arrangement is analogous to previous funding for City Deals in Scotland is also wrong and not in any way comparable, as City Deal funding is conditional on match funding from the Scottish Government’s own budgets and also requires contributions from Local Authorities and other regional partners in Scotland (again from their own budgets). There is no match funding expectation with the £1 billion offered to Northern Ireland. In addition, the “UK Government Financial Support for Northern Ireland” document published yesterday makes absolutely clear that on top of this £1 billion of additional expenditure, that the UK Government will also work towards “a comprehensive and ambitious set of City Deals for Northern Ireland” – from which the Scottish Government will receive no additional funding. So there is absolutely no direct link between previous City Deals for Scotland (or Wales) and the £1 billion funding arrangement that the UK Government has reached for Northern Ireland.

This UK Government deal prioritises expenditure in Northern Ireland at the cost of all other parts of the UK and leaves Scotland almost £3 billion worse off than it would be if funding had been allocated using the well-established arrangements set out in the Statement of Funding Policy.

During our introductory telephone conversation last Wednesday you made clear that you wanted to continue the process of constructive engagement with the three devolved Finance Ministers and that you were keen to arrange an early meeting.

As this situation is of significant importance to both the Scottish and Welsh Governments, I would request that an urgent meeting be arranged to allow both myself and the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government from the Welsh Government, to meet with you to discuss the full implications of the funding agreement that was announced yesterday. This is in full accordance with the procedures set out in the Memorandum of Understanding (para A3.8) in relation to financial disputes.

It is my hope that we will be able to reach a satisfactory resolution to this situation which results in a funding allocation across Scotland, Wales and the rest of the UK that is fair and reasonable for all. However, as this is an issue of such significance to the Scottish Government, if we cannot agree we will look to pursue a more formal mechanism to resolve the situation by invoking the formal dispute resolution mechanism.

The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills spoke with the Secretary of State for Scotland yesterday to make clear the Scottish Government’s dissatisfaction with the deal that has been struck. The Secretary of State has agreed to relay the points made by the Deputy First Minister to the Treasury and I would hope that this will bring additional weight to the points that I have made in this letter.

I am copying this letter to the Secretary of State for Scotland and to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance & Local Government in Wales.

Article Source: https://news.gov.scot/news/uk-governmentdup-deal

Investment for homes in the Highlands

(Article by www.gov.scot)

A £10 million fund to build affordable homes across the Highlands has been announced by Housing Minister Kevin Stewart today (23rd June).

The Highland Infrastructure Fund is a partnership with The Highland Council and will support and accelerate the delivery of affordable housing across the region.

The government will provide £9 million of the fund with the council providing the additional £1 million.

It will allow the council to provide support in the form of either an infrastructure grant or loan to facilitate housing sites to move forward to construction.

The fund is part of the Inverness and Highland City Region Deal which also includes plans to improve transport networks, digital connectivity and the creation of a hub to encourage innovation of high growth businesses.

Mr Stewart said the fund will support the government’s ambitious commitment of delivering 50,000 affordable homes, including 35,000 for social rent by 2021.

He said:

“Increasing the supply of affordable homes is a key commitment and vital to our ambition of tackling poverty and inequality in our society.

“Recent figures show encouraging signs of activity within the sector as a whole and we want to keep that momentum going through continued investment.

“This fund will support the delivery of new housing in the Highlands and means

the council can plan for new affordable homes now.

“It’s a great example of how partnership working can deliver good quality homes in rural areas that suit the needs of local people, allowing them to remain within their communities.”

Leader of the Council, Margaret Davidson said:

“Availability of affordable housing is fundamentally important to the sustainability of communities in the Highlands. The Highland Council is committed, with our partners, through the City-Region Deal, to provide quality affordable homes which will help to retain a young and vibrant workforce and give our young people the best possible opportunities.”

Article Source: https://news.gov.scot/news/gbp-10-million-for-affordable-housing

EU withdrawal must not see reduction in devolved competence.

(Article on www.gov.scot)

The UK Government must provide greater clarity on its Brexit plans, Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland’s Place in Europe Michael Russell has said, following the publication of the Queen’s Speech.

Mr Russell added that Brexit must not see the UK Government attempt to reduce devolved competence or attempt to avoid the need for legislative consent from Holyrood. The UK Government has indicated that it intends EU withdrawal would see all repatriated EU competences initially being exercised solely by Westminster, as part of a “transitional arrangement” ahead of discussions with devolved administrations on where powers should lie.

Commenting on today’s Queen’s Speech, Mr Russell said:

“The bulk of the Queen’s speech concerns the legislation necessary for the UK to withdraw from the European Union, demonstrating that as well as being harmful to the country, Brexit is set to take up all the UK government’s resources, forcing other important issues to be sidelined.

“The Scottish Government expects to be closely involved with the UK Government on proposed legislation that affects Scotland and it is time for far more transparency and openness from the UK Government and a joint co-operative approach.

“We expect that the Repeal Bill will require a Legislative Consent Motion, meaning that the Scottish Parliament will be able to express its view on Brexit. However, despite the imminent introduction of the Repeal Bill, the Scottish Government has not seen any of its draft provisions nor do we know the detail of the UK Government’s proposals. I urge the UK Government to share the bill with the Scottish Government as soon as possible”

Mr Russell added:

“The Scottish Government has been consistently clear that repatriated EU competences must return to the Scottish Parliament in areas where it is wholly or partly responsible, such as agriculture, fisheries environmental policy and justice.

“There can be absolutely no question of the UK Government attempting to reserve powers in devolved areas and the Scottish Government would not recommend the Scottish Parliament consents to such proposals. Where it is sensible or desirable to introduce a common UK framework to replace that provided by EU law, this must be achieved through agreement and negotiation.

“It is deeply concerning that the UK Government seems to intend that repatriated powers in devolved areas like agriculture should go by default to Westminster, with no clear recognition of the need for the consent of the Scottish Parliament under the Sewel Convention for such changes. This is clearly unacceptable.”

Article Source: https://news.gov.scot/news/queens-speech-more-brexit-clarity-needed

UK’s devolved administrations should be involved in negotiations.

Article via gov.scot website

The Scottish and Welsh Governments have written jointly to the Brexit Secretary David Davis to ensure the UK’s devolved administrations are properly involved in the forthcoming Brexit negotiations.

Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland’s Place in Europe, Michael Russell, and Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Mark Drakeford, set out a series of practical steps to improve engagement between the UK’s four governments.

They said the joint committee set up to provide oversight of the negotiations needed to be re-set so that meaningful discussions could take place and the committee’s remit could be met.

Text of the letter is as follows:

Dear David

JOINT MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE (EU NEGOTIATIONS)

Congratulations on your reappointment as Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union. We look forward to working with you over the next few years, which are critical for the future prosperity of all parts of the United Kingdom.

It was inevitable that there would be a pause in the work of the JMC (EN) during the General Election campaign. In our view, now the Election is over, it is vital that we use the opportunity to re-set the work of the Committee, using the agreed Terms of Reference.

Our respective First Ministers have written to the Prime Minister asking for an urgent meeting of the JMC. We are now writing to provide further detail on how the process could move forward without prejudice to any more radical reshaping of the UK Government’s approach to building a broad-based consensus on the approach to the Brexit negotiations.

In our view, we need to:
•Agree how the Devolved Administrations will be represented in the negotiations. As you will know, both the Scottish and Welsh Governments believe that we should be at the table when devolved issues are discussed and in the room for other sessions.
•Resume our meetings at the earliest possibility: while we understand that the unresolved issues in Northern Ireland may be a difficulty, we strongly believe this should not prevent a meeting taking place and we note that a JMC (E) meeting has been arranged for 21 June despite the situation in Northern Ireland.
•Agree a forward programme of regular meetings of JMC (EN), scheduled to fit in with the cycle of negotiating meetings agreed with the European Commission and timed in such a way as to ensure that we both have meaningful discussions on the outcome of the most recent session and can collectively shape the UK’s negotiating position in advance of the subsequent session, in line with the terms of reference. This would allow us to fulfil our remit to provide oversight of the negotiations and to agree the approach to, and objectives for the negotiations.
•Set a clear forward agenda, which, alongside the items directly related to the negotiations, would address our remit to consider issues arising from the negotiation process which may impact on the Devolved Administrations.
•This should include:
•The proposed response to the EU Negotiation Guidelines and Directives;
•Full discussion of future constitutional arrangements around any joint frameworks which may be necessary and replacement funding for streams including EU Structural Funds and those under the Common Agricultural Policy;
•Future immigration policy; and
•Analysis of the economic impact of various scenarios, including ‘no deal’ and of reverting to WTO rules (which we both believe would be disastrous); leaving the Single Market and withdrawing from the Customs Union.

Alongside the JMC (EN) process involving all four administrations it will also be important to have bilateral meetings to discuss specific issues.

We also believe there are practical steps to improve the work of the JMC (EN). These include ensuring that agendas for each meeting are agreed at the previous meeting (in accordance with the overall work programme, which again should be agreed by all four administrations) and that papers are circulated at least five days in advance; and significantly reducing the number of attendees from the UK Government.

It is essential that the UK Government trust the Devolved Administrations to respect the confidential inter-governmental space that the JMC should fill. We want to use JMC (EN) as a forum in which we can have meaningful discussions of key issues, aimed at reaching agreement rather than an opportunity to rehearse well-established public positions. Unfortunately, this was not our experience of the way the Committee operated prior to the Election.

Finally, we need to reiterate that we are deeply concerned about the lack of engagement on the proposed Great Repeal Bill: we would welcome your assurances that we will have the opportunity to see and comment on any Bill well in advance of publication and be consulted more generally in advance about the content of both this Bill and other Brexit-related Bills e.g. on Trade, Customs and Migration).

We hope that this is useful in setting out our approach to the future work of the JMC (EN). We look forward to meeting again soon, and to getting started on this crucial work.

Yours sincerely

Mark Drakeford AM/AC / Michael Russell MSP

Article Source: https://news.gov.scot/news/scottish-and-welsh-governments-writes-to-brexit-secretary-david-davis

FM: Brexit negotiating team must include devolved governments.

Six days ahead of Brexit negotiations beginning, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has written to Prime Minister Theresa May to express the Scottish Government’s concerns over the UK’s current Brexit plans.

The First Minister has called for membership of the European Single Market and the EU Customs Union to be protected and for the negotiating team to include representation from the devolved governments.

She has also called for the UK government to immediately guarantee the rights of EU nationals to remain in the UK beyond the date of the UK’s exit from the EU.

Text of the letter is as follows: