Chamber and committees

We are undertaking a comprehensive review of non-domestic rates which will examine improvements and reforms that can be made to the system, and working closely with business to ensure the system provides the clarity, incentive and transparency which businesses need.

The Scottish Government does not support the construction of new nuclear power stations in Scotland under current technologies, including small modular reactors. This position is not impacted by any new or increased source of electricity demand, including data centre development.

Our focus is on renewable energy, which is already delivering clean power and supporting economic growth across Scotland.

Planning authorities are required to determine all planning applications, including retrospective applications, in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

Planning authorities have powers to apply a surcharge (of up to 25% on top of the usual planning application fee) to retrospective planning applications, where development has already commenced or been completed without the necessary permission. The use and level of any such surcharge is a matter for individual planning authorities to set out in a charter.

The Scottish Government has no current plans to issue specific guidance on the determination of retrospective applications for unauthorised alterations to shopfronts.

National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) is clear that Local Development Plans (LDPs) should be place-based and provide clear expectations for design. This includes identifying where more detailed design guidance is expected, which could include design codes.

NPF4 also sets out that planning authorities should use the Place Standard tool when preparing their LDPs and design guidance to engage with communities and other stakeholders.

LDP guidance, published by the Scottish Government, reinforces NPF4 and emphasises the importance of collaboration in high quality design and provides advice on the appropriate scales for different design tools, which can be used by planning authorities.

Due to delays to the UK Government’s implementation timeline for Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) reform in England and Wales, the former Cabinet Secretary for Housing confirmed to the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee on 9 March 2026 that, due to the impact of this delay on introducing EPC reform in Scotland, it would not be appropriate to lay the Private Rented Sector (PRS) Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) regulations during that session of Parliament. The delay would impact landlords’ ability to obtain an EPC certificate which accurately reflects the new Heat Retention Rating. This letter can be found: https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/local-gov/correspondence/2026/epc-reform-and-energy-efficiency-standards_cab-sec-housing-to-lghp_9-march-2026.pdf

The Scottish Government has now laid the draft Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2026 before Parliament, which, if agreed, would see reformed EPCs introduced from April 2028. This new date reflects the UK Government’s revised timeline for EPC reform, to allow time for the roll-out of, and assessor training in, the new Home Energy Model, to be finalised during the second half of 2027. We will confirm the next steps to Parliament as soon as possible on our approach to the PRS MEES regulations.

There is no single and specific retention period for road traffic offence data held by Police Scotland. Retention depends on the type of offence and the policing purpose. Police Scotland applies their formal Records Retention Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), with crime and offence records retained according to risk-based retention rules.

There is no single and specific retention period for road traffic offence data held by Police Scotland. Retention depends on the type of offence and the policing purpose. Police Scotland applies their formal Records Retention Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), with crime and offence records retained according to risk-based retention rules.

The Scottish Government is committed to delivering appropriate advocacy support for children in accessing their rights. Any assessment of need must recognise that advocacy can be delivered in a number of ways and is often dependent on the context of each situation and specific wishes of the child.

Statutory gateways to independent advocacy have been established for specific groups of children, including those involved in the Children's Hearings System, subject to mental health legislation, and care experienced children and young people, reflecting the particular legal processes, decision-making responsibilities and power imbalances that can arise in these circumstances.

The Scottish Government has co-developed a set of core measurements for organisations that children and young people may access for advice and support when they have a concern or want to raise a rights issue. The data gathered will provide insights into their experience of the services they access for support, including independent advocacy. A report will be published in Spring 2027.

Children's participation is a core component of social work practice and is underpinned by the UNCRC, GIRFEC and the SSSC Codes of Practice, which require social work practitioners to seek, listen to and take account of children's views and to have awareness of the statutory pathways to independent advocacy and apply these where appropriate. There is also a range of national and local organisations across Scotland that provide support services for children and young people beyond these statutory entitlements. We will continue to strengthen provision where required but no further reviews to the statutory gateways to independent advocacy are planned at this stage.

The Scottish Government does not hold data relating to seizures of nitazenes and other synthetic opioids. This data is held by Police Scotland.

The Scottish Government supports the activity by Police Scotland and other partners on the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce to remove illicit drugs from our communities and reduce the harm they cause.