FOI/202600502667 · FOI/EIR · released
SNP manifesto 2021 fulfilment query: FOI release
Information requested
I would like to ask if the following commitments made in the 2021 SNP manifesto have been fulfilled by the Scottish Government. Please provide as much detail on the progress of each pledge:
We will introduce a new Housing Standard, set in law by 2025. We will set a national objective to increase the amount of housing within town centres and high streets, both through use of existing stock and new developments. We will lock in that change by spending - by the end of the parliament - 10% of the transport capital budget on walking, cycling and wheeling. We will create, repair and improve a Scotland-wide active travel network to ensure that every town has access to a high quality and separated walking and cycling network. To make bus travel a more attractive and reliable option, we will invest over £500 million to improve bus infrastructure and tackle congestion. We will remove the majority of fossil fuel buses from public transport in Scotland by 2023. Connecting Scotland will now support 60,000 people to get online by the end of this year backed by over £48 million. Over the next Parliament, we will go further and with £200 million of investment will support up to 300,000 households get the devices, data and skills to Connect. every home and business in South and Central Scotland will have access by 2023, with work in the North of Scotland completed in the next five years. We will extend the current 10-year rates relief on new fibre broadband investment for a further 5 years. we will deliver a National Challenge competition, providing funding of up to £50 million to the project or projects with the greatest potential to transform Scotland. We will invest an additional £500 million over the next parliament to support new jobs and reskill people for the jobs of the future. Over the next five years we will invest £100 million in our Green Jobs fund, investing alongside businesses and organisations to support new and increased opportunities for green job creation across Scotland. We will also invest £60 million to decarbonise our industrial and manufacturing sectors.
Response
1. We will introduce a new Housing Standard, set in law by 2025
In light of a housing emergency being declared in May 2024, and following engagement with stakeholders, in October 2024, a decision was taken to pause the work on the tenure-neutral housing standard.
2. We will set a national objective to increase the amount of housing within town centres and high streets, both through use of existing stock and new developments
All of the information you have requested is available from Housing to 2040, National Planning Framework 4 - gov.scot, and Affordable Housing Supply Programme. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.
We report quarterly on the delivery of homes through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme but not below local authority area level.
3. We will lock in that change by spending - by the end of the parliament - 10% of the transport capital budget on walking, cycling and wheeling
The information you have requested is available from Transport Scotland breakdown of spend on active travel: FOI release - gov.scot, and Scottish Budget 2025-26 - gov.scot, where you can also find previous budget publications. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.
4. We will create, repair and improve a Scotland-wide active travel network to ensure that every town has access to a high quality and separated walking and cycling network
All of the information you have requested is available from Transforming Active Travel | Transport Scotland and Active Travel | Transport Scotland. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.
5. To make bus travel a more attractive and reliable option, we will invest over £500 million to improve bus infrastructure and tackle congestion
All of the information you have requested is available from Bus Partnership Fund: EIR release - gov.scot and Bus Infrastructure Fund | Transport Scotland. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.
6. We will remove the majority of fossil fuel buses from public transport in Scotland by 2023
Progress has been made through our Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB), and predecessor Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme (SULEBS).
To date, through these schemes we have provided over £150 million in capital funding to support delivery of 800 low or zero emission buses in Scotland.
ScotZEB is now in its third and final phase with a further £45 million of capital funding being made available over 2026-27 and 2027-28.
The ScotZEB model has successfully:
Brought in new financiers, manufacturers and consortium models, Leveraged £3.20 of private investment for every £1 of public subsidy, Catalysed collaboration across operators, energy companies and local authorities. According to the most up-to-date Department for Transport figures, as at 31 March 2024, 18.4% of public service buses in Scotland were battery electric.
7. Connecting Scotland will now support 60,000 people to get online by the end of this year backed by over £48 million. Over the next Parliament, we will go further and with £200 million of investment will support up to 300,000 households get the devices, data and skills to Connect
The information you have requested can be found here, which sets out how the current phase of Connecting Scotland is following recommendations of the FBC for Connecting Scotland. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.
8. Every home and business in South and Central Scotland will have access by 2023, with work in the North of Scotland completed in the next five years
Through a combination of the three strands of activity that make up the Reaching 100% (R100) programme – over £600 million in R100 contracts, our Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (SBVS) and ongoing expansion of commercial coverage – every home and business in Scotland had the ability to access at least a superfast broadband connection by the end of 2021. Further information - including progress against the three R100 contracts - is available here: Data insights - Digital Connectivity.
9. We will extend the current 10-year rates relief on new fibre broadband investment for a further 5 years
All of the information you have requested is available from New fibre relief - Local government finance circular 5/2023: non-domestic rates relief guidance - gov.scot. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.
10. We will deliver a National Challenge competition, providing funding of up to £50 million to the project or projects with the greatest potential to transform Scotland
All of the information you have requested is available from National Strategy for Economic Transformation: third annual report. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.
11. We will invest an additional £500 million over the next parliament to support new jobs and reskill people for the jobs of the future
Government. However, the following Level 4 budget lines taken from Scottish Budget Documents for 2023-24 and 2026-27 are particularly relevant. They demonstrate that nominal expenditure has been consistently above the baseline year of 2021-22.
2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 2026-27 Employability & Training 56.2 124.6 135.1 Employability 98.6 101.7 104.6 Enterprise, Trade & Investment 446.6 480.6 423.1 426.9 419.6 397.7 Scottish Funding Council 1,911.0 1,973.8 2,012.6 2,029.9 1.987.7 2,046.7 Lifelong Learning 20.6 22.9 22.7 Skills & Training 277.2 271.9 262.2 Lifelong Learning & Skills 251.3 258.7 256.4 Climate Action & Just Transition Fund 29.6 49.1 79.5 Energy Transitions 20.5 72.0 39.7 Just Transition Fund 29.1 15.9 15.9 TOTAL £2741.2 £2922.9 £2935.2 £2856.3 £2855.6 £2861.0
Supporting documents - Scottish Budget: 2023 to 2024 - gov.scot Supporting documents - Scottish Budget 2026 to 2027 - gov.scot
12. Over the next five years we will invest £100 million in our Green Jobs fund, investing alongside businesses and organisations to support new and increased opportunities for green job creation across Scotland
All of the information you have requested is available from Written question and answer: S6W-38804 | Scottish Parliament Website. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.
13. We will also invest £60 million to decarbonise our industrial and manufacturing sectors
Some of the information you have requested is available from Low Carbon Manufacturing Challenge Fund, Scottish Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (SIETF), Investment to help industry decarbonise, Companies receive £9.4m to help cut carbon, and Driving sustainable, climate-friendly growth. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.
As part of the difficult Scottish Budget review, the decision was taken to discontinue the LCMCF, outlined in the first link listed, from 2024/25 onwards, and the fund was closed to further expressions of interest on 9 January 2024. During its operation, the LCMCF has committed to fund 18 projects. These have, and are being, funded, through a total of £7 million of investment from Scottish Government and a continued commitment of £13 million from Scottish Enterprise’s future years budget. The Scottish Government continue to support the decarbonisation of industry and create opportunities in the manufacturing sector via the opportunities presented by our efforts to anchor a new offshore wind supply chain in Scotland, supported by an initial £66.9 million initial investment, and total commitment of up to £500 million.
About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.
Contact Please quote the FOI reference Central Correspondence Unit Email: contactus@gov.scot Phone: 0300 244 4000 The Scottish Government St Andrew's House Regent Road Edinburgh EH1 3DG
Detected exemption language
Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you.
Attachments
No attachments found.