Chamber and committees

Employment tribunal matters are independent and administered by HM Courts and Tribunal Service. It is for the Employment Tribunal to determine whether it is appropriate to restrict public scrutiny of a tribunal involving matters of significant public interest. Accordingly, it would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to comment.

The information requested is not routinely gathered or held centrally by the Scottish Government. Any outstanding liabilities to settle equal pay claims will be reflected in a public body's annual accounts. Information of this nature can be obtained by approaching individual public bodies.

To date almost £23 million has been provided by Scottish Government to Falkirk Council to support the development of the Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme.

In 2014, Transport Scotland, supported by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd and CalMac Ferries Ltd (CFL), set out the case to procure two new dual-fuel vessels for the Clyde and Hebrides ferry network which included analysis of fuel emissions and estimated operating costs. In November 2023, Transport Scotland requested a report from CFL on expected carbon emissions relating to Liquified Natural Gas, including end-to-end transportation. CFL completed a detailed assessment and provided their findings to Transport Scotland in a report in January 2024. This report has been released and is available on the Scottish Government website via the following link:

https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/foi-eir-release/2024/06/foi-202400412376/documents/eir-202400412376---information-released---annex-a---c/eir-202400412376---information-released---annex-a---c/govscot%3Adocument/EIR%2B202400412376%2B-%2BInformation%2Breleased%2B-%2BAnnex%2BA%2B-%2BC.pdf

CFL have set out a range of activities and actions around fuel use and emissions monitoring in their 2024 – 2027 Environmental Plan and we will continue to work with them to reduce carbon emissions and improve environmental sustainability of ferry operations in the coming years.

The Scottish Government has no plans to issue additional guidance for universities and research institutions regarding collaboration with Chinese entities that UK intelligence agencies have deemed a security risk.

Universities are autonomous institutions and are responsible for ensuring their alliances and partnerships are safe and appropriate. Ministers expect all institutions to understand and manage the risks associated with international partnerships and conduct appropriate due diligence.

Whilst national security is reserved to the UK Government, we expect universities to comply with relevant legal requirements, including the National Security Act 2023, and National Security and Investment Act 2021. We also expect our universities to carefully consider advice and existing guidance from bodies such as Universities UK, and the UK Government’s Research Collaboration Advice Team, to support them in managing risks of international partnerships.

Scottish higher education institutions are autonomous bodies, and any partnerships they enter are a matter for them and their governing bodies.

The Scottish Government expects Scottish universities to carefully consider and manage the reputational, ethical and security risks associated with any partnerships within global academic networks engaged in defence, surveillance, or dual-use technology research. This includes conducting due diligence, taking into account key sector guidance, and remaining compliant with relevant legal requirements, such as the National Security Act 2023 and National Security and Investment Act 2021.

I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-37241 on 13 May 2025. 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

The Scottish Government’s recently published Programme for Government includes a commitment to begin roll out of Emergency Department opt-out testing for blood borne viruses in NHS Lothian and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, with further expansion considered if emerging evidence supports this. Work is ongoing to evaluate and collate the findings from the pilots in Scotland with the currently available evidence supporting roll-out in areas of higher diagnosed prevalence.

Although universities are autonomous institutions, we expect them to be conducting due diligence on international research agreements - including complying with relevant legal requirements already in place and carefully considering guidance published by Universities UK, and the UK Government’s Research Collaboration Advice Team, to support them in managing risks of international partnerships.

CalMac Ferries Ltd (CFL) expect around 80 deliveries of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) to be required per year to supply MV Glen Sannox. Delivery of LNG will come by road from the Isle of Grain terminal in Kent. The country of origin can vary depending on the global market. In terms of supply security, this is a matter for CFL as the operator; the Scottish Government has no involvement in these contracts.