Chamber and committees

The following table sets out the Environment and Forestry Directorate, Strategic Research Programme funding provided annually by Scottish Government for the period 2016-22:

As set out in the answer to question S7W-01822, the Scottish Government is currently improving its understanding of the issues that have been raised regarding the delivery of factoring services and considering what action may be required. The views and experiences of homeowners and property factors will be an important consideration as that work progresses, and the approach to stakeholder engagement will be developed alongside it.

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.

Under the Transport Act 1985 local bus services, which includes request stops and hail-and-ride arrangements must be registered with the Office of the Traffic Commissioner. The registration of services is devolved and subject to the Public Service Vehicles (Registration of Local Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2001. To ensure that all operators are adhering with the regulatory regime, the Office of the Traffic Commissioner produced a guide entitled “Local Bus Services Registration in Scotland: Guide for Operators”, which sets out the procedures for the registration, variation or cancellation of local services.

As part of the regulatory process, operators are required to provide notice of their intention to vary or cancel services to the relevant local authorities in whose area the services have stopping places. This advance notice gives authorities the opportunity to consider whether to take action to support services where they consider them to be socially necessary.

In 2024, Transport Scotland published Best Practice Guidance on Community Engagement, which was developed in collaboration with local authorities, passenger representatives and operators, and sets an expectation that communities should be consulted on changes to bus services. However, there is no statutory requirement for operators to consult passengers or local communities about proposed service changes. Operators must, however, give notice of such changes by displaying the relevant information on board vehicles for a minimum of 21 days.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of healthy soils for food production, climate resilience, biodiversity and Scotland's wider natural capital. We are developing soil indicators and options for soil monitoring through the Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (RESAS) Strategic Research Programme, including work towards a Scottish Soil Monitoring Framework. Proposals are also being developed for the next Strategic Research Programme (2027-2032) that will continue this work.

The Scottish Government remains committed to alignment with the European Union where possible and meaningful to do so. We are monitoring the implementation of the EU Soil Monitoring Law and will consider its provisions and underlying principles, alongside Scottish evidence and policy priorities, as we develop our approach to soil monitoring and assessment.

This information is not held. Public Health Scotland (PHS) holds data on MRI and CT activity through aggregated monthly returns submitted directly by NHS Boards. As this data is not collected or held at an individual week or weekend level, PHS is unable to report the number of MRI or CT scans carried out at weekends.

PHS statistics relating to the eight key diagnostic tests are published with data up to 31 March 2026 and can be found using the following link:

https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/nhs-waiting-times-diagnostics/diagnostic-waiting-times-waits-for-key-diagnostic-tests-26-may-2026/.

The Scottish Government published an initial evaluation of Best Start Grant in December 2020 and Best Start Foods in July 2022, and a further assessment of both policies as part of the Five Family Payments evaluation in September 2025. Findings were based mostly on survey and interview research with recipients. They clearly show the benefits have positively impacted recipients’ finances and helped to reduce material deprivation for low income households. In turn, they are having a range of social and health impacts. For example:

• Most recipients said Best Start Grant helps their children participate in social and educational activities. Examples included family trips to the zoo and annual passes to activity centres.
• Most recipients said Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods improve their own mental wellbeing. Parents described how the payments reduced stress about affording essential items for their children, such as food and one-off larger purchases like prams and furniture.
• Most recipients said Best Start Foods helps their children to eat more healthy foods, and that the payments have meant they do not need to use food banks. Some parents said they would have to cut back on healthy foods without this assistance.

The findings also indicate the benefits have increased economic activity by facilitating additional spend. Some of the further potential economic impacts that were identified would accrue in the longer-term. For example, the benefits could contribute to positive health outcomes for children in later life, thereby lowering the costs of health services.

The Scottish Government does not have any duties under Section 8 of the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003. The duties under section 8 in relation to monitoring of the status of the water environment are placed on SEPA.

The Scottish Government does not currently produce a breakdown of annual take-up rates by age group. Where breakdowns are published for specific groups, this is led by user demand and requires the ability to robustly estimate the number eligible for a benefit in each group.

The Scottish Government publishes annual estimates of take-up for devolved benefits where a robust methodology is available. The most recent publication did not include benefits specifically targeted at older people. We do not currently publish take-up estimates for disability benefits, including Pension Age Disability Payment, but continue to explore how these could be developed.

For reserved benefits, we are reliant on DWP data. Analysis published in October 2025 shows that Scotland had the highest Pension Credit take-up rate in Britain in 2023-24, but this does not allow changes over time to be measured.

In 2025-26 the Crofting Agricultural Grant Scheme (CAGS) received 1,063 applications, of which 777 were approved and 154 were rejected. The remaining 132 applications have a variety of statuses including still to be assessed, withdrawn, or offer letters have been issued but have yet to be returned by the applicant.

Since April 2026, 156 applications have been approved and offered contracts, with 61 of those already accepted. A further 50 applications have either been withdrawn or rejected.

The Scottish Government has worked closely with Motability to understand how its changes might affect customers in Scotland under the Accessible Vehicles and Equipment (AVE) Scheme.

As a result of our engagement Motability has committed to providing additional mileage, on top of its reduced standard allowance, to customers living in very rural and island communities in recognition of their having to drive further to access key services.

Also, customers in any area who for essential purposes need to drive more than 3,000 miles each year above the 10,000 standard annual inclusive mileage will be able to apply for support with the increased excess mileage charge.

The Scottish Government remains committed to the AVE Scheme and to ensuring that all eligible clients can access the right support through it to meet their mobility needs.