Chamber and committees

The main piece of legislation that controls the sale of alcohol is the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 (“the 2005 Act”) and it covers situations where alcohol is sold online and dispatched from Scottish premises.

While the Scottish Government has responsibility for the overarching legislation, the day to day administration of the licensing regime, as set out in the 2005 Act, is devolved to independent Licensing Boards – in effect the 32 Scottish local authorities. Licensing Boards have wide discretion to determine appropriate licensing arrangements according to local needs and circumstances, and their own legal advice.

The Scottish Government will continue to generally engage with a range of licensing stakeholders to help keep the alcohol licensing framework under review.

The 2005 Act makes provision for the licensing of premises in Scotland where alcohol is sold online and despatched from Scottish premises. Licensing legislation also imposes a requirement for a delivery book or invoice to be held by anyone delivering alcohol. There are offences in relation to delivering without such records, and refusal to co-operate with a constable or local authority Licensing Standards Officer (LSO) if they want to inspect their vehicle (or any other form of transport used to conduct deliveries), or records.

The 2005 Act also prohibits late night deliveries of alcohol to a premises – other than a licensed premise – between the hours of midnight and six am. Any person who delivers alcohol or who knowingly allows the alcohol to be delivered commits an offence.

It is an offence to supply alcohol to an under 18 and delivery companies must verify age when delivering alcohol to avoid committing an offence.

Further information is available in this Scottish Government alcohol licensing guidance document for Licensing Boards and local authorities. I would refer you to Chapter 12 ‘Sale and Supply of Alcohol to Children and Young Persons’ and Chapter 13 ‘Other Offences’: https://www.gov.scot/publications/licensing-scotland-act-2005-section-142-guidance-licensing-boards/

The UK’s telecommunications regulator, Ofcom, regularly publishes information in relation to full fibre and gigabit-capable broadband coverage in Scotland as part of their Connected Nations updates. The most recent update was published on 13 May 2026, showing coverage figures for January 2026.

Latest figures show that, as of January 2026, a total of 35,261 homes across Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley can access a full fibre connection, which equates to 87% of all eligible homes across the constituency.

More detailed information can be found through Ofcom’s interactive dashboard at https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/coverage-and-speeds/connected-nations-update-spring-2026#interactive-report

The Scottish Government does not hold information on the delivery timelines for commercially funded broadband infrastructure projects. However, gigabit-capable full fibre deployment is being delivered in Scotland through Project Gigabit, including within the Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley constituency. Project Gigabit delivery is currently expected to be completed by 2030.

This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who reply in writing within 20 days.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of having a Power of Attorney (PoA) in place and is currently considering implementation options for the recent Audit Scotland recommendation, regarding the promotion of PoA, published in Delayed discharges: A symptom of the challenges facing health and social care, January 2026. Implementation is expected to increase public awareness and uptake.

The Scottish Government has collaborated with NHS 24 to update relevant NHS inform content, which provides guidance on the process and benefits of setting up a Power of Attorney. Available here: https://www.nhsinform.scot/care-support-and-rights/health-rights/access/power-of-attorney-guardianship-and-intervention-orders/

The Scottish Government’s consistent position is that Scotland’s onshore wind capacity should continue to play a central role in delivering a secure, affordable and decarbonised energy system.

We are continuing to engage closely with NESO and the UK Government as the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan is developed and are making the case directly that this plan should make full use of Scotland’s renewable energy resources.

The Scottish Government’s engagement is informed by a wide range of evidence, including industry analysis such as the report commissioned by the Scottish Onshore Wind Developers Forum.

The assertion that the report on Recorded Crime in Scotland 2025-26, indicates that weapons possession made up 18% of total crimes in Scotland is incorrect. Weapons possession accounted for 18% of crimes against society in 2025-2026 which is one of the six crime groups used in the bulletin, and crimes against society accounted for 21% of all recorded crime. Measured against total recorded crime, the correct figure is close to 4%.

Our approach has three strands, education on the danger and unacceptability of carrying a weapon, effective consequences when offences are committed, and sustained school and community engagement.

The Scottish Government has invested over £6 million to support implementation of the Violence Prevention Framework since its publication in May 2023. It has also provided over £2 million over 2026/27 to continue delivery of the violence prevention work. This funding supports a range of targeted prevention and early intervention activity in schools, hospitals and across communities, working with partners to tackle violence and its harms including the use of any form of weapon including knives.

The appointment of financial institutions to the framework supporting the Scottish Government’s multi-year bond programme marks an important milestone as the programme moves into its next phase.

All appointments were made through a procurement process conducted in line with procurement regulations, policy and law. On 25 June 2026, the Scottish Government announced the appointment of nine banks to a framework that will support delivery of its bond programme during this parliamentary term. HSBC, Bank of America, NatWest, and RBC were appointed as joint bookrunners for the inaugural bond issuance.

In response to the situation in Gaza, the Scottish Government has consistently advocated for peace, justice, and human rights, and will continue to do what it can to support a rapid resolution to the conflict and to alleviate the suffering of the most vulnerable. The First Minister met Palestinian Ambassador to the UK, Dr Husam Zomlot, on 27 July and discussed the situation in Gaza and the West Bank. During the meeting, the First Minister announced a further £500,000 funding to support access to food, healthcare, clean water and shelter.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has received a full submission from the marketing authorisation holder, Sanofi, for teplizumab (Tzield®), to delay the onset of Stage 3 type 1 diabetes in adult and paediatric patients 8 years of age and older with Stage 2 type 1 diabetes.

The SMC’s advice in relation to the routine use of teplizumab in the NHS in Scotland is expected to be published in 2027. The medicine product page on the SMC’s website will be updated with the advice, when published.

The Scottish Ministerial Code sets out the standards expected of all members of the Scottish Ministerial team. Paragraph 3.22 of the Code notes that ‘…Ministers should not accept gifts, hospitality or services which would, or might appear to, compromise their judgement or place them under an obligation to people or organisations that might try to influence their work in government.’ It is the personal responsibility of each Minister to determine how any activity would engage with the terms of the Code, based on the circumstances around any specific event or interaction.

The Scottish Government works closely with local authorities to improve public services, deliver local and national priorities, and to support local area growth, investment and regeneration.

The Scottish Government recognises the pressure local services are under and that local authorities and their employees play a crucial role in our communities. That is why the 2026-27 Scottish Budget provides a further real-terms increase in the Local Government Settlement, delivering record funding of £15.7 billion, including a quarter of a billion pounds of unrestricted General Revenue Grant and full flexibility on council tax. In 2026-27, Inverclyde Council will receive £239 million to fund local services which equates to an extra £11.9 million or an additional 5.3% compared to 2025-26.

While decisions on longer term financial plans are matters for individual local authorities, the Scottish Government will continue to work with COSLA and Local Government in the context of Best Value to improve outcomes for communities and strengthen the long-term sustainability of local services.