To 6 December 2025 (End Of Railway Period 09 2025-26) a total of £24.7 million has been spent on schemes to reduce journey times between Aberdeen and the Central Belt.

Further detail is provided in the following table.

In reaching their decision, Scottish Ministers determine applications made under Sections 36 and 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 in accordance with legislative requirements and relevant policy. Potential impacts on communities are important considerations in the decision-making process and the decision whether to grant consent is taken only after careful consideration of environmental information, consultee responses and public representations.

Scottish Ministers and their officials take great care to comply with all relevant obligations in the administration and determination of applications for energy consents.

As answered in the response to S6W-42239 on 9 December 2025, applications made under sections 36 or 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 do not legally require a Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment, which is the principal method to ensure compliance with United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child requirements.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

Due to the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the privacy policy agreed by applicants to the LEZ Support Fund, we are unable to disclose personal details of the funds recipients.

However, I can advise that in the Aberdeen area 210 households received grants with a total value of £551,427, 73 microbusinesses in the area received a further £156,500 for the disposal of a non-compliant vehicle and 2 microbusinesses received grants totalling £14,066 to retrofit vehicles to meet LEZ standards.

In the Dundee area 261 households received grants with a total value of £646,293, 49 microbusinesses in the area received a total of £107,500 for the disposal of a non-compliant vehicle and 1 microbusiness received a grant of £7,033 to retrofit a vehicle to meet LEZ standards.

In the Edinburgh area 847 households received grants with a total value of £2,203,593, 443 microbusinesses in the area received a total of £1,023,631 for the disposal of a non-compliant vehicle and 146 microbusinesses received grants totalling £1,118,852 to retrofit vehicles to meet LEZ standards.

In the Glasgow area 2241 households received grants with a total value of £5,734,691, 762 microbusinesses in the area received a further £1,723,350 for the disposal of a non-compliant vehicle and 415 microbusinesses received grants totalling £3,345,089 to retrofit vehicles to meet LEZ standards.

Serco Northlink Ferries took the decision to remove their shared cabin offer option due to the health and safety of passengers, however NorthLink are aware that Shetlanders often use local knowledge to share cabins with people they know. Customers can use their concessionary ferry vouchers for free passenger travel and on overnight sailings to partially offset the cost of a cabin for sole use if not travelling with others.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of improving awareness of gastrointestinal conditions, including eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE), across NHS Scotland and is committed to ensuring that people living with these conditions receive safe, effective, person-centred care.

We expect healthcare professionals in both primary and secondary care to remain informed about emerging evidence and best practice for the diagnosis and management of EoE and to maintain and update their clinical knowledge and understanding through continuous professional development.

NHS Education for Scotland provides a range of educational resources and training programmes for healthcare professionals that encompass gastrointestinal conditions, including EoE.

The Scottish Government does not hold any data on the prevalence of eosinophilic oesophagitis in Scotland.

The Scottish Government recognises the impact that Eosinophilic Diseases can have on those affected and their families, and remains committed to ensuring access to safe, effective and person-centred care for people living with these conditions in Scotland.

Whilst we do not currently have any plans to mark Eosinophilic Diseases Awareness Month in May 2026, we welcome and value the work of third sector organisations, such as Guts UK and the EOS Network, whose ongoing awareness raising activities and support for people living with these long-term conditions make an important contribution to improving understanding and supporting those affected.

NHS Education for Scotland provides a range of educational resources and training programmes for healthcare professionals that encompass gastrointestinal conditions, including eosinophilic oesophagitis(EoE).

The Scottish Government expect clinicians and NHS Boards to adhere to current clinical guidelines and follow best practice including from authoritative sources such as the guidelines from British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) and British Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (BSPGHAN) joint consensus guidelines on the diagnosis and management of eosinophilic oesophagitis in children and adults and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Budesonide orodispersible tablet for inducing remission of eosinophilic oesophagitis | Guidance | NICE.

The management of patients includes access to endoscopy for both diagnostic purposes and treatment where appropriate.

The Scottish Government is working through national programmes to improve waiting times and ensure timely access to endoscopy services.

The Rural Affordable Homes for Key Workers Fund is demand-led and requires local authorities and Registered Social Landlords to identify proposals where there is identified need. To date, 25 homes have been delivered through the Fund, with a total of 41 homes having been approved. My officials regularly engage with local authorities and RSLs to encourage proposals to be brought forward.

The Fund complements our broader Affordable Housing Supply Programme which has delivered more than 12,000 homes in rural and island communities between April 2016 and March 2024, including to meet the need for key workers.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42822 on 21 January 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers