Chamber and committees

Transport Scotland has not issued guidance to local authorities regarding the installation of Reverse Speed Discrimination Traffic Signals, such as the ones in Springholm on the A75 in Dumfries and Galloway. These were introduced as a trial. For Reverse Speed Discrimination Signals to be used as a speed management measure at other locations on the trunk road network or on local authority roads, as they currently are at Springholm, this will require amendment of the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD) 2016 to make these signals enforceable like other traffic signals.

Our Programme for Government 2026 – 2031 sets out our commitment to strengthen support for children with long-term conditions. We will work closely with our partners and colleagues across the wider health and care system and third sector as this progresses, and will ensure we use a wide range of methods to support engagement as we take forward our work in this area.

In 2018, the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) raised the threshold for paramedic registration to degree-level education. This change came into effect from September 2021 and now means individuals must successfully complete an approved degree programme to register as a paramedic. The two-year diploma route no longer exists.

The Scottish Government currently sets an intake target for paramedic education programmes at 335 Scottish domiciled students. A package of support for eligible students includes the annual £10,000 bursary as well as free tuition and funding for placement expenses – this includes travel and where appropriate accommodation expenses. Furthermore, uniforms, disclosure and health checks are also provided free of charge.

There is currently no Earn as You Learn route for technicians to become paramedics and therefore no dedicated funding is provided for this pathway. However, the Scottish Government provided £40,000 to the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) to explore a technician-to-paramedic progression pathway. An initial business case was developed but SAS subsequently decided not to proceed at this time.

SAS continues to support ambulance technicians who wish to train as paramedics at university while remaining in employment, including through flexible working arrangements. Some universities may grant eligible technicians advanced entry to a degree course, subject to meeting specific university requirements.

We have not issued instructions on the timing or determination of data centre applications. Through the notification direction we issued during the summer we are closely monitoring live applications and their intended timescales. We do not anticipate any applications will be determined by planning authorities before our planning guidance on Data Centres is issued later this year.

As I said in Parliament on 16 September, we will publish planning guidance before Christmas. In the meantime, the National Planning Hub continues to work with planning authorities to share knowledge and understanding of this rapidly emerging sector.

The Scottish Government holds information on the environmental health workforce provided by The Society of Chief Officers of Environmental Health in Scotland (SOCOEHS).

The most recent workforce information provided to the Scottish Government indicates that in 2026, there were approximately 370 full-time equivalent Environmental Health Officers in post within Scottish local authorities, with approximately 54 full-time equivalent vacancies.

The Scottish Government is aware of workforce pressures affecting the profession. Information provided by stakeholders highlights the ongoing challenges surrounding recruitment, education and training.

The Scottish Government continues to work with SOCOEHS, COSLA, the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland (REHIS) and other key stakeholders, through the Environmental Health Co-ordination Group to address these issues and support the sustainability of the profession.

Having examined the possible service, vessel and infrastructure options, it has become clear that any reinstatement would present significant challenges in terms of network resilience, vessel availability, affordability, value for money and longer-term sustainability. The difficult decision has therefore been taken that the Campbeltown ferry service should not be reinstated for Summer 2027. Longer term reinstatement will depend on future consideration of fleet renewal and port infrastructure investment. I have asked officials to work towards developing options for delivering a service in future years beyond 2027.

On 1 September 2026, as part of the Programme for Government, the First Minister announced the Scottish Government’s intention to simplify the NHS by replacing the current 14 territorial Health Boards with two Strategic Health Boards and build on planned reforms to further reduce the number of special Health Boards.

We will set out a transparent approach to fair and equitable recruitment in due course, in line with existing NHS Scotland policies which have been agreed in partnership with trade unions.

The following organisations were invited to the first of a number of events held on 26 August 2026: Association of Transport Coordinating Officers, Confederation of Passenger Transport Scotland, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, Bus Users UK, Transport Focus, Community Transport Association, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, South West of Scotland Transport Partnership, North-East of Scotland Transport Partnership, Stagecoach South Scotland, McGills, Lothian Buses, First Bus, Citylink and West Coast Motors.

The discussion enabled some stakeholders to provide views on our initial proposals and identify options to be explored further as the programme develops. A note of the meeting will be published in due course.

The proposal to establish a ferry service between Rosyth and Dunkirk was led by commercial partners. The Scottish Government supported efforts, including addressing Border Control Post requirements through the Official Controls (Location of Border Control Posts) (Scotland) Regulations 2026.

An application from the proposed operator under the Scottish Government's Waterborne Freight Grant scheme was under consideration, but no grant award was made before Forth Ports Ltd announced its withdrawal from the project.

Accordingly, the Scottish Government has not provided any funding for the Rosyth-Dunkirk ferry service. The only public resources committed were those associated with developing and implementing the Border Control Post regulations and assessing potential funding applications, such as staff time and administrative activity.

We do not anticipate any applications will be determined by planning authorities before our planning guidance on data centres is issued later this year. Through the notification direction we issued during the summer we are actively monitoring live applications and their intended timescales for determination.

Before making a decision on a planning application, it is for the planning authority to interpret and implement all relevant planning legislation, policies and guidance as it deems appropriate, given the circumstances in each case, and to ensure that the provisions of the planning system are applied properly.