Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government is in regular contact with local authorities around matters of air quality, and used these communications channels to inform authorities of the updated guidance when it was published in March 2026. Local authorities were also closely involved in the drafting of the updated guidance.

The latest assessment of Good Environmental Status in UK waters was published in 2026 in UK Marine Strategy Part One: Updated Assessment and Good Environmental Status. This assessment is published by the UK Government, working with the devolved authorities including the Scottish Government. The assessment concluded that Good Environmental Status for seafloor integrity had not yet been achieved across UK waters.

A copy of that assessment can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/marine-strategy-part-one-update

The assessment does not indicate a particular date by which Good Environmental Status is expected to be achieved for sea floor integrity across UK waters. Progress towards Good Environmental Status is anticipated through continued implementation of the UK Marine Strategy Regulations 2010 which establish a cyclical process of assessment, target-setting, monitoring and programmes of measures.

The Scottish Government continues to work with the other governments of the UK, and internationally, to implement measures intended to improve the condition of benthic habitats and seafloor integrity and progress towards Good Environmental Status in UK waters.

Environmental Standards Scotland's (ESS) report published on 23 June 2026, Protecting Scotland's seafloor: an assessment of Scottish Ministers' implementation of the Marine Strategy Regulations 2010, contains ESS’ findings and recommendations relating to the Scottish Ministers’ implementation of those Regulations, including regarding timescales for the implementation of measures specified in Part 3 of the UK Marine Strategy.

The Scottish Government is carefully considering the ESS report and will work constructively with ESS to seek to agree an appropriate action plan within the timescale suggested in the report. The Scottish Government's position on the report's findings and recommendations will be set out through that engagement and in its formal response.

The 2026 ScotWind Supply Chain Development Statement updates show that overall projected supply chain spend in Scotland has increased between 2023 and 2026 by nearly £2.3bn for the 16 projects included in the updates, from an estimated £23.3bn to an estimated £25.6 billion.

The reported total ScotWind portfolio project expenditure for the 16 projects has increased by £23.4bn between 2023 and 2026 to £88.6bn. Average spend in Scotland per project has increased overall, however the relative proportion committed in Scotland has decreased from 36% to 29%. This information can be verified on the Crown Estate Scotland supply chain dashboard [https://crownestatescotland.com/supply-chain-information].

Legislation and regulations relating to electricity networks are reserved to the UK Government, with security of supply being a reserved matter that the National Energy Systems Operator (NESO) is responsible for. While decisions on security of supply are reserved, Scotland continues to play an important role in enabling the infrastructure needed for a secure and resilient electricity system through planning and consenting decisions for renewable energy projects, electricity networks and energy storage developments.

The Scottish Government recognises the continuing pressure that cost-of-living challenges place on low-income households and is allocating around £3.5 billion in 2026-27 to policies that tackle poverty and support household incomes. This includes investment in a range of targeted measures, such as Best Start Foods and the Scottish Welfare Fund.

SEPA’s findings relate to the presence of PFAS in the wider water environment rather than compliance with drinking water standards, and no detections exceeded applicable environmental or groundwater standards. Similarly, the recent EU measures referenced concern environmental and groundwater standards rather than changes to drinking water standards. While the UK Government has committed to consulting on the introduction of a statutory limit for PFAS in public drinking water supplies in England, it has not yet published proposed limits or compounds that may be covered.

The figures contained within the Supply Chain Development Statements (SCDS) are expected to change across the term of the lease options as projects mature and the supply chain develops.

Compared with the last updates in 2023, developers have maintained or increased their commitments in Scotland with only two projects reducing commitments. The CampionWind project has returned its site option to Crown Estate Scotland as has Arven South.

We continue to work with CES, developers and industry to identify trends which can help Scottish Government and our delivery partners target support where it can have the greatest impact and maximise value to Scotland.

These questions relate to the procurement, specification, quality assurance, performance monitoring and contract management of hearing aid batteries supplied through National Procurement arrangements. This is a matter for Public Services Delivery Scotland (PSDS) and NHS Boards and the information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

Prior to 1 April 2026, these functions were undertaken by National Services Scotland and now sit within PSDS. While the Scottish Government sponsors PSDS and provides strategic oversight, operational responsibility for procurement and contract management rests with PSDS, while the delivery of audiology services is a matter for NHS Boards.

PSDS has advised that NHS Boards may raise supplier or product performance concerns through National Procurement's complaints process where products supplied under the framework do not meet the required standards. PSDS has also advised that it holds no record of a formal complaint relating to hearing aid battery performance under the current framework agreement that has resulted in contractual remedies being exercised since the commencement of the contract.

At present, there are no plans to review the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (PAWHP) eligibility rules. The delivery of PAWHP relies on data received annually from the Department for Work and Pensions and Ministry of Defence. The qualifying week is set out in regulations and supports the efficient delivery of automatic payments by ensuring eligible individuals can be identified ahead of winter period.

People who reach State Pension age after the qualifying week are not entitled to PAWHP for that winter and will become eligible from the following year. We recognise that the increase in State Pension age means some people will not reach pensionable age by the end of the qualifying week and therefore not qualify for a payment that year.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-02285 on 21 August 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.