Much of the law on prosecution and punishment of road traffic offences is reserved to the UK Government (UKG). However, the Scottish Government continues to discuss the importance of implementing Road Traffic Diversionary Course (RTDC) which includes Speed Awareness Courses, with the UKG.

Since this area of law is reserved, officials are actively engaging with the UK Government through a dedicated steering group to progress the development of proposals and to introduce these courses in Scotland.

While a date for the commencement of these courses has not yet been finalised, we are committed to working with the UKG to bring forward legislative change as soon as possible.

The Scottish Government is doing everything within its power to ensure that the renewable energy opportunity for Scotland is realised.

In offshore wind, we continue to work to provide investors with policy certainty. We have consulted on proposals to update Scotland’s offshore wind ambition and will publish an updated Offshore Wind Policy Statement setting out an updated ambition for Scotland in 2026. We have committed significant investment to support offshore wind infrastructure and the supply chain in Scotland. To date, we have unlocked almost £900m of investment: our own investment of almost £150 million is crowding in a further £70m from UK public finance institutions and leveraging up to £670 million in private investment.

Where a decision by the UK Government is required to enable manufacturing proposals to move forward, we await the timely outcome of that process.

The Scottish Government engages regularly with companies in the offshore wind supply chain. Our strategic investment in critical enabling infrastructure and supply chain facilities is leveraging significant private investment and crowding in additional funding from UK public finance institutions. Under our Just Transition Fund, our 2025-26 projects have a particular focus on enabling offshore wind infrastructure and the wider supply chain, as does our funding for the Energy Transition Zone.

Our enterprise agencies work closely with companies through innovation accelerators including the Launch Academy and CAN-DO feasibility funding calls as well as through manufacturing factsheets and masterclasses. And our agencies’ demand-led programmes connect offshore wind projects with innovative Scottish floating wind technology and service providers.

Offshore wind developers have made commitments to invest an average of £1.5bn in Scotland per project across the ScotWind projects. We expect developers to honour their Supply Chain Development Statement (SCDS) commitments, which were a condition of their being awarded Lease Option Agreements.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42632 on 13 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.

Locally-led and participatory adaptation is essential to climate justice programming and projects – including our Climate Just Communities project.

During COP30 the Scottish Government announced £100,000 funding to the Regions4 Network to deliver projects aimed at supporting communities in the Global South adapt to climate impacts such as extreme weather or food and water insecurity in a way that tackles existing inequalities.

Officials are currently exploring the next stage of the Climate Justice Fund pending finalised budget – including on how to ensure locally-led adaptation is included as part of future programmes and projects.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42632 on 13 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.

The Scottish Government have made no payments to the Global Disinformation Index (either as a grant or for goods or services) and no contracts have been awarded to this organisation.

It is noted that we do not hold spend data for our electronic Purchasing Card (ePC) – which is used for the purchase of low-value goods and services – for the period 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2019.

A link to the ePC policy is provided below for information:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-government-electronic-purchasing-card-epc-policy-2/

As set out in the Circular Economy and Waste Route Map, the Scottish Government will establish an expert advisory group to help develop the most effective way to implement mandatory public reporting for food waste and surplus by businesses, with the intention of developing options from 2025-26. We continue to gather relevant evidence and engage with stakeholders to understand key issues. We will also consider any relevant responses to the consultation on the draft Circular Economy Strategy for Scotland. Options will be developed with stakeholders as part of our engagement with the expert advisory group, once established.

The Scottish Government accepts the judgment of the Supreme Court. It is the responsibility of employers and service providers to interpret and comply with the Equality Act 2010, and for the regulator - the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) - to enforce the Act.

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting communities experiencing rapid population growth and recognise that inclusive and connected communities are a ‘must-have’ for a resilient, safe and thriving Scotland.

Through our Population Programme’s ‘More Balanced Population’ strand, we also work with partners to monitor demographic changes and support the delivery of sustainable services. This includes targeted funding of £427,500 in the current year for project delivery which responds to local need around key topics such as housing, skills and childcare in areas affected by population decline.

These actions all deliver on Scotland’s Population Strategy and its commitment to balanced growth, ensuring that population change strengthens communities, maintains cohesion and supports long-term resilience.

We are also providing an additional £300,000 this year to support grassroots projects that are uniting people from different backgrounds, cultures and faiths, in addition to £7.9 million already allocated to third sector organisations to support anti-racism work, interfaith dialogue, hate crime prevention and asylum and refugee integration projects.