Chamber and committees

There are multiple routes by which a child may be referred to secure accommodation. The head of each centre retains discretion over whether or not to accept any individual child’s placement.

If a placement is required, and secure accommodation capacity is reached, then all appropriate and safe alternatives will be considered by the relevant decision makers. They will ensure that the bests interests of each child are prioritised and that any risks are managed appropriately to protect each child and the community. The Scottish Government will assist in every appropriate way.

Where a children’s hearing includes a secure accommodation authorisation in their decision, the hearing also needs to decide where a child is to be placed if, for any reason, their secure authorisation cannot be implemented. This may be because of the professional judgement of the chief social work officer or the head of the relevant secure centre, or for other reasons.

An alternative to secure care should therefore have been prepared by the local authority and authorised by the hearing. This position, and its requirements, are unaffected by questions of capacity.

Where a child is remanded by the court to the care of the local authority and a secure place is not available, an alternative place of safety must be identified until a bed becomes available.

Refreshed guidance on community alternatives to the deprivation of liberty for children was published in March. This guidance highlights the importance of exploring alternatives that prioritise children’s rights and welfare, ensuring that secure accommodation is only ever used when absolutely necessary.

Recognising the complexities and demands and pressures this can bring to bear for professionals. The Scottish Government have agreed to fund a dedicated professional secure care lead at Social Work Scotland for the next 12 months.

In line with the Scottish Government’s policy, Scottish Enterprise does not provide support for the manufacture of munitions.

The responsibility for issuing export licenses sits with the UK Government.

The Scottish Government does not routinely hold case-specific information in respect of children’s cases. The principal responsibilities lie variously with the Principal Reporter, the chief social work officer of the implementation authority and the head of the relevant secure unit(s).

The Scottish Government have agreed to fund a dedicated professional secure care lead at Social Work Scotland for the next 12 months. This policy and practice adviser will work alongside Scottish Government officials to enhance our partnership with local government and improve the coordination of relevant services across the country.

The National Smart Ticketing Advisory Board will publish its first annual report in June, including progress on its year one 'Quick Wins'. This includes, for the first time, provision of digital integrated tickets for the Aberdeenshire and Dundee bus to bus schemes, due to launch this summer.

Consideration of a digital platform for our biggest national scheme, free bus travel, is also underway, with the intention of a pilot scheme in 2026, unlocking the use of mobile devices for concessionary travel. This aligns with the milestones as set out in our Smart Delivery Strategy in August 2024.

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting disabled people and carers across Scotland.

This is demonstrated by our record investment of £21.7 billion in health and social care in 2025-26 which includes almost £2.2 billion for social care and integration and £88.4m per year in local carer support through the local authority Carers Act funding.

We will continue to work with Health and Social Care Partnerships, local authorities, and other partners across North East Scotland in the delivery of the NHS Renewal Framework, social care reform and Disability Equality Plan to drive improvements in support for disabled people and carers.

The Scottish Government has set up a short life working group to consider existing policies, guidance and legislation which may be impacted by the recent Supreme Court judgment. This work will position us towards a state of readiness to take all necessary steps when the EHRC’s revised Statutory Code of Practice on services, public functions and associations and updated guidance are published.

All public bodies must comply with the law.

Education Scotland is being refocussed to lead curriculum review and improvement. To support this, the Scottish Government has taken the decision to relocate the Registrar of Independent Schools from Education Scotland to the Scottish Government.

We have considered a range of options in coming to this decision, which also aligns with Professor Muir’s recommendation in his review of the national landscape. As well as supporting the refocusing of Education Scotland, it will ensure continued close working between the Scottish Government and the General Teaching Council for Scotland.

The awarding of contracts to suppliers are matters for Network Rail, ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper.

Due to a change in the system used to record applications to the Scottish Property Factor Register, information on the number of property factors who have applied to join the Register in each year since 2011 is not available.

However, the number of registered property factors at 31 December each year is provided in the following table.

Whilst the number of applications submitted in each year is likely to be higher than the number of registered property factors, due to applications being withdrawn before they are fully assessed, these figures should provide an approximation of the number of applications submitted to the Scottish Property Factor Register.

As of 6 May 2025, there are 368 property factors on the Scottish Property Factor Register.