Chamber and committees

Workforce management and the deployment of Police Officers are operational matters for the Chief Constable, with oversight by the Scottish Police Authority. The Scottish Government does not hold this information.

Part 1 of the Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026 (the 2026 Act), which was passed by the Scottish Parliament in January 2026, places a duty on the Scottish Ministers to set targets in connection with nature restoration.

The work to deliver statutory targets is progressing at pace. The Biodiversity Programme Advisory Group (PAG) has developed scientific recommendations covering species status, habitat condition and extent, and the environmental conditions needed to support nature restoration. Officials are developing target proposals and assessing the delivery, monitoring and reporting arrangements to ensure that targets are robust, measurable and achievable.

I anticipate that Part 1 of the 2026 Act will be commenced during the first half of 2027 and draft regulations, setting out the targets themselves, will be laid before the Scottish Parliament within 12 months of Part 1 of the 2026 Act coming into force. In early 2027, and subject to completion of target proposals, pre-consultation will be undertaken with stakeholders to help develop and refine target proposals and gather their views and expertise to ensure they are supported by the best available evidence.

In addition, the first statutory report on delivery of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy will be published in 2027, providing an opportunity to assess progress towards its outcomes and actions, and to consider evidence from across government and delivery partners as we work collectively towards restoring biodiversity by 2045.

Workforce management and the deployment of Police Officers are operational matters for the Chief Constable, with oversight by the Scottish Police Authority. The Scottish Government does not hold this information.

The Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR) was first introduced to ensure appropriate lifelong management of the risk posed by the highest risk offenders.

An OLR continues to be a valuable sentencing option in Scotland to enable the Court to appropriately sentence these offenders. It is a form of life sentence available only to Scotland’s most senior judges in the High Court, where it is determined that the individual may present a risk of serious harm, as part of a pattern of behaviour.

Use of the OLR has generally been in line with the expectations when the sentence was legislated for in the Scottish Parliament, i.e. as an exceptional sentencing disposal. Since OLRs were introduced in 2006-07, they have been used sparingly by Scottish courts. Upon introduction, it was estimated that approximately 10 to 15 offenders a year would receive an OLR, indicating the very high threshold required for this sentence to be imposed. Since then they have on average been imposed at the rate of approximately 16 a year.

Responsibility for the deployment and management of police resources rests with Police Scotland, supported by the Scottish Police Authority. The Scottish Government continues to work closely with both organisations to support effective workforce planning and the delivery of policing services across Scotland.

I most recently discussed workforce related matters at my regular meeting with the Chief Constable, on 23 June 2026.

The Scottish Government publishes police officer quarterly strength statistics for Scotland. Police Scotland publishes quarterly management information, providing the number of police officers and police staff. These can be found at: Police Scotland Officer Numbers - Police Scotland

Full-Time Equivalent police staff numbers*, as at 30 June each year, since the inception of Police Scotland in 2013, are as follows: .

This financial year the Scottish Government has provided RSABI with grant funding of up to £85,000 to provide emotional, practical, and business support to people living and working in Scotland's agricultural community. The Scottish Government has also committed £50,000 to support the delivery of the Farmstrong programme, which promotes wellbeing and resilience within the farming and crofting sectors. These services are available across Scotland, including to farmers and farming families in southwest Scotland.

The Scottish Government welcomes innovation that can offer women improved care and support.

We are committed to ensuring those living with endometriosis are able to access the best possible care and support and that they benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put women at the centre of their care.

I welcome the development of this draft NICE guidance on technologies for diagnosing endometriosis in primary care. It is an important step towards health technologies which better meet the needs of women.

We will work with the Scottish Health Technologies Group (SHTG) to consider the final guidance and its implications for Scotland, including the potential role of these tests in supporting earlier diagnosis of endometriosis.

In August 2026, we announced £15 million of new funding to enhance flood resilience in Scotland’s most vulnerable communities. The funding will support a range of measures, including community-led projects, nature-based solutions, improved flood data, and targeted local interventions. This investment forms part of our wider Flood Resilience Strategy to create a safer and more resilient Scotland.

Workforce management and the deployment of Police Officers are operational matters for the Chief Constable, with oversight by the Scottish Police Authority. The Scottish Government does not hold this information.