Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government is supporting work led by the Prison Pharmacy Group to develop a Prison Pharmaceutical Care Package that will help identify and manage risks associated with polypharmacy, drug interactions and medicines-related harm within prisons.

In addition, prescribing guidance developed jointly by prison pharmacists, GPs and nursing leaders supports the safe prescribing and management of medicines, including addressing risks associated with poly-substance use and the diversion of prescribed drugs.

The Scottish Government has also supported the implementation of long-acting injectable buprenorphine (Buvidal) across prisons, reducing reliance on medicines that are more vulnerable to diversion.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of ensuring that gill net fisheries operate in a sustainable manner and minimise unintended impacts on the marine environment, including interactions with non-target species.

The current permitted soak time of up to 72 hours reflects existing management arrangements. However, we keep all fisheries management measures under review and consider the best available scientific evidence, stakeholder views and operational considerations when assessing whether changes are required.

Any proposal to amend soak-time limits would require careful assessment of the likely environmental, economic, and practical impacts on affected fisheries and coastal communities.

At present, the Scottish Government has not taken a decision to reduce the permitted soak time from 72 hours to 36 hours, but we will continue to consider emerging evidence and engage with stakeholders as part of our ongoing fisheries management work.

My officials completed a scoping exercise and considered evidence on: accommodation conditions and the results of engagement with farm employers, local authorities, Scotland’s Rural College, the Workers Support Centre and the National Farmers Union of Scotland.

Following consideration of this work, the previous Cabinet Secretary for Housing wrote to COSLA on 13 March 2026 stating her expectations that local authorities should use the powers granted them to introduce byelaws suited to their areas and the specific circumstances relating to seasonal workers in their area’.

These powers are given to local authorities in Section 315 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987.

Following the letter being sent, an initial meeting took place between officials and COSLA to reiterate the Scottish Government’s expectations.

Deployment of resources and crewing arrangements are operational matters for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS). It has the ability to mobilise resources nationally for any wildfire incident.

As part of the SFRS Wildfire Strategy, which was launched in 2023, 37 community fire stations across Scotland now provide enhanced wildfire response capability. While this forms the specialist wildfire response capability all other operational community fire station personnel are able to respond to wildfire incidents and support operational activity.

The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government and has responsibility for operation of prisons including staffing.

Information on health outcomes is not held by SPS as responsibility for prison healthcare services rests with NHS Boards.

SPS has worked proactively in partnership with the Trade Union Side to develop and implement protocols designed to support and protect staff who may encounter situations involving potential exposure to unknown substances. This collaborative approach helps ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for staff and supports a consistent operational response across the prison estate. SPS continues to review how such incidents are recorded with a strong focus on staff safety, welfare and support.

Community benefits from renewable energy developments are voluntary arrangements between developers and local communities. Around £40 million in community benefits were offered to communities across Scotland in the last year, supported by the Scottish Government’s Good Practice Principles, which are currently being refreshed.

Appropriate governance and oversight mechanisms will depend on the nature of a review and the scope of its recommendations. For example, following Lady Dorrian’s 2021 review on Improving the Management of Sexual Offence Cases the Scottish Government established the Lady Dorrian Review Governance Group to consider approaches to implementing the review’s recommendations. Many of the recommendations requiring legislation were taken forward in the Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill, which was enacted last year, and the Group remained active throughout the Bill’s passage.

For internal reviews, responsibility lies with the relevant organisation. For example, in 2021 the then Lord Advocate, Dorothy Bain KC, commissioned Susanne Tanner KC to carry out a review of how prosecutors deal with reports of sexual offences. The report, which was published in December 2025, is being considered by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

There are also regular cross-sector forums where key issues relating to the prosecution of sexual offence cases may be reviewed and discussed as necessary, including the Victims Taskforce, which I co-chair with the Lord Advocate. Details of the Taskforce’s meetings and work can be found here: Victims Taskforce - gov.scot.

The Scottish Government supports Ferguson Marine through the provision of parent company guarantees when these are required to support new vessel and steel fabrication contracts. Scottish shipyards can also utilise the Shipbuilding Credit Guarantee Scheme delivered by UK Export Finance that provides a partial guarantee to a lender making a loan to a ship-buyer or operator, so that new vessels, or refits, retrofits or repairs of existing vessels can be procured from UK. Commercial shipyards and financial institutions in Scotland have not raised the Spanish tax lease system or the use of other international tax leasing frameworks with the Scottish Government.

The formation of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service as a single national organisation was intended to provide efficiencies through the reduction in duplication of the 8 legacy fire and rescue services. The Annual budget for SFRS has been set each year to provide the funding SFRS needs to keep communities safe.

The Scottish Government supports Ferguson Marine through the provision of parent company guarantees when these are required to support new vessel and steel fabrication contracts. Scottish shipyards can also utilise the Shipbuilding Credit Guarantee Scheme delivered by UK Export Finance that provides a partial guarantee to a lender making a loan to a ship-buyer or operator, so that new vessels, or refits, retrofits or repairs of existing vessels can be procured from UK. Commercial shipyards and financial institutions in Scotland have not raised the Spanish tax lease system or the use of other international tax leasing frameworks with the Scottish Government.