Chamber and committees

Following a Parliamentary motion (S6M-16571) in February 2025, Scottish Enterprise undertook a review of its human rights due diligence checks. The Scottish Government supported this motion, and therefore supported a review undertaken by Scottish Enterprise.

Scottish Government officials remained in close contact with Scottish Enterprise throughout its review, exchanging and providing relevant advice and views where appropriate. This included in relation to Scottish Government’s own guidance which sets out recommendations on how we, our executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies should undertake appropriate due diligence on companies, including their human rights record, before entering into an "investment relationship" with them. It is however for the accountable officer of each agency and non-departmental public body to ensure that their organisation complies with guidance issued by Scottish ministers.

The former Deputy First Minister updated Parliament in December (S6W-42527 on 11 December 2025) 2025 that Scottish Enterprise had confirmed that its updated human rights due diligence policy and procedure was substantially finalised and being operationalised in a phased manner.

Decisions regarding the publication and disclosure of information held by Scottish Enterprise, including its updated human rights diligence procedure, are ultimately an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise.

It is my understanding however, that Scottish Enterprise does intend to publish its human rights due diligence policy, at a future date.

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.

We will take forward our Heat in Buildings Bill in this Parliamentary session to support homeowners, landlords and tenants to transition to clean heating in a fair and affordable way.

We recognise that data centres are a rapidly evolving sector. In a response to Gillian MacKay MSP on Thursday 25 June, the First Minister set out that he is giving active consideration on whether the Scottish Government should provide planning guidance to balance the rapid expansion of hyperscale data centres with national energy and climate goals which are vital to our future prosperity.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken a national assessment of the remit the member has specifically outlined on data centres. However, we are currently engaging with industry and partner agencies to better understand the cumulative impacts of data centre developments on the environment.

Current legislation does not provide a basis for the Scottish Government to develop national guidance. Decisions on cross-pavement charging installations are the responsibility of Scotland’s local authorities, not Scottish Ministers.

In 2025-26, the Scottish Government supported a pilot funding the installation of cross-pavement charging solutions to test their practical implementation, with the learning from this work helping to inform future policy and guidance.

Following a Parliamentary motion (S6M-16571) in February 2025, Scottish Enterprise undertook a review of its human rights due diligence checks. The Scottish Government supported this motion, and therefore supported a review undertaken by Scottish Enterprise.

Scottish Government officials remained in close contact with Scottish Enterprise throughout the review, exchanging and providing relevant advice and views where appropriate, including on transparency.

Decisions regarding the publication and disclosure of information held by Scottish Enterprise, including its updated human rights diligence procedure, are ultimately an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise.

It is my understanding however, that Scottish Enterprise does intend to publish its human rights due diligence policy, at a future date.

Designated bathing waters are routinely sampled by SEPA during the bathing season and inspections on Scottish Water assets are also carried out pre-bathing and during bathing season (1 June 2026 to 15 September 2026) to ensure compliance.

The Monifieth bathing water is classified as “Excellent”. However, short-term fluctuations in water quality can occur at all bathing waters for a variety of reasons, for example following heavy rain due to a range of pollution sources. Where advice against bathing is issued SEPA investigates to identify and take action to mitigate where possible any sources of pollution.

The wellbeing and safety of children and young people is paramount. The Scottish Government is clear that restraint should only be used in exceptional circumstances, as a last resort, or when it is the only practicable means of securing the welfare or safety of the child or another person. The statutory guidance will reflect this.

Work is ongoing to plan next steps for implementation and timescales in relation to this important work and the Scottish Government will provide an update about this in due course.

The Scottish Government is funding the Centre for Excellence for Children's Care and Protection (CELCIS), in partnership with the University of Strathclyde, to deliver the “Holding Differently – Containing Distress” project to strengthen the evidence base on efforts to reduce the use of physical restraint in residential child care services. Early findings from this project will inform work on the guidance.

Our consultation on proposals for a new installation and maintenance licence to grant heat network organisations statutory rights and powers ran from 13 March to 5 June 2026. We are now analysing responses, and a full report will be published in due course. The consultation paper sets out our intention to include the necessary provisions in the Heat in Buildings Bill later this parliamentary session. The consultation paper can be found at:https://www.gov.scot/publications/installation-maintenance-licence-heat-networks/