Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government is providing increased funding of £14.6m in 2026-27 financial year to support local authorities to maintain the School Clothing Grant. This includes a £400k inflationary increase on the previous year’s funding and represents an increase of £2.8m since 2021-22. We have committed to uprating funding in line with inflation during this Parliament.

Scotland's Fisheries Management Strategy highlights the importance of working in partnership with stakeholders and coastal communities to support sustainable fisheries and strengthen the communities whose livelihoods and wellbeing are closely linked to the sea. Building on the Scottish Government’s 2025 Call for Evidence, our consultation on the Inshore Fisheries Management Improvement (IFMI) Programme will explore a more regional model of inshore fisheries management, designed to support sustainable fisheries, thriving coastal communities and greater local involvement.

In developing the updated Scottish National Marine Plan (“NMP2”) we have been listening to the diversity of views shared to shape the draft plan and gather information on the different issues, opportunities and priorities for planning around our varied coastline. This is summarised in the Howell Marine Consulting NMP2 Community engagement analysis report: We are considering the recommendations from the report and exploring how an updated planning framework can support consideration of views from communities in decision-making as well as working to build a stronger evidence base to inform future spatial planning and management where possible.

Scottish Government’s expectations regarding Caledonian Sleeper performance are set out in https://www.sleeper.scot/media/rerpktgb/caledonian-sleeper-grant-agreement-current.pdf.

In addition, Caledonian Sleeper agrees its business plans annually with Scottish Rail Holdings (SRH), who manages and oversees Caledonian Sleeper services on behalf of Scottish Ministers and is required to hold Caledonian Sleeper to account for meeting its agreed targets. The Member may wish to contact SRH for this information.

Scottish Government Ministers have raised the unfair distribution of funds from the Fisheries and Coastal Growth Fund with UK Ministers on many occasions, most recently in the letter of 28 July from the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Regrettably, UK Ministers have shown very little interest and have indicated they believe the matter is closed.

However, Scottish Government Ministers will continue to raise this topic until a satisfactory resolution is achieved.

The Scottish Government has not made any specific assessment of the impact of the non-domestic rates regime in Scotland on environmental horticulture businesses, however the Scottish Budget 2026-27 delivered a competitive rates package including decreasing the Basic, Intermediate and Higher Property Rates in 2026-27, delivering the lowest Basic Property Rate since 2018. The Budget also continues to support businesses and communities with a strong relief package worth over £870 million, including the Small Business Bonus Scheme, which remains the most generous of its kind in the UK. We estimate that over 100,000 properties will remain eligible for the Small Business Bonus Scheme in 2026-27.

Marine Directorate - Licensing Operations Team (MD-LOT) has concluded enquiries into the possible pollution incident at Loch Hourn. The outcome is currently under review and findings will be confirmed by the end of August 2026.

The Scottish Government has regular engagement with the environmental horticulture sector and recognises the important role of environmental horticulture in the development of green landscaping and infrastructure. Horticultural businesses and expertise are integral to the supply of trees and plants, and are well-placed to help address environmental challenges, as well as contribute to the Scottish population’s mental and physical health, through the creation of gardens and greenspaces. These benefits are set out in the Horticulture Trades Association’s Scottish Environmental Horticulture Manifesto, which the Scottish Government welcomed in autumn 2025. The Scottish Government looks forward to continued constructive work with the environmental horticulture sector to ensure that the shared ambitions for green growth and for a healthy and climate resilient nation are achieved.

Caledonian Sleeper Limited (CSL) performance is primarily monitored by Scottish Rail Holdings (SRH), who oversees CSL’s operations. The member may wish to contact CSL or SRH directly for the information requested.

In addition, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) publishes statistical information on performance data regularly. Information starting from 2022-23 can be accessed here: https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/performance/passenger-rail-performance/.

Statistics on performance in years prior to that, can be found in the National Archives here: https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20200503203004/https:/orr.gov.uk

Please find the following tables setting out Environment and Forestry Directorate research funding provided by Scottish Government to our Main Research Providers, The James Hutton Institute, Moredun Research Institute, Scotland's Rural College and The Rowett Institute in each of the last 10 years. Also provided is proposed allocations for the Scottish Government’s 5 year Strategic Research Programme 2027-32. It should be noted that additional Scottish Government funding has and will be available in future to agricultural institutes through wider initiatives including, but not limited to, City Deals and the Just Transition fund.

Strategic Research Funding 2016-26 (£)

The Scottish Government regularly engages with CalMac on ferry services. CalMac has advised that there are currently no plans to reintroduce non-landing tickets on the Mallaig-Small Isles service. With the initial decision having been made in response to growing concerns about the impact these sailings were having on the availability of passenger capacity for local residents and visitors travelling to and from the islands.