The Scottish Government’s Vision for Justice clearly sets out the priorities we have for the whole of the justice system, ensuring it serves everyone fairly and effectively, with a focus on creating safer communities.

Police Scotland remain focused on keeping our communities safe, with the Scottish Government investing a record £1.64 billion in policing in 2025-26 – an increase of £90 million when compared to the 2024-25 published budget. Scotland has more police officers per head than England or Wales, and recorded crime is down almost 40% since 2006-07.

We are working closely with the Scottish Police Authority and Police Scotland to understand their 2026-27 budget requirements

The Scottish Government processes section 36 and 37 applications in accordance with the relevant legislation and regulatory frameworks. Our Good Practice Guidance for developers, which is available to view on Scottish Government webpages, sets out procedures and advice for projects requiring an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). As part of the EIA process, developers are required to identify and assess any private water supplies in the vicinity of the proposed development that could potentially be affected by the works.

Scotland’s Circular Economy and Waste Route Map, published in December 2024, includes a priority action to develop an intervention plan to guide long-term work on household food waste reduction behaviour change by 2026-27. Zero Waste Scotland (ZWS) is leading the development of the intervention plan. ZWS has begun collating available evidence to understand the variety of food waste reduction behaviour change interventions needed to tackle food waste and recently published research on behavioural challenges associated with this issue. In addition, ZWS has developed a data strategy and identified stakeholder engagement and skills development opportunities to increase awareness and understanding of the plan, and ways to tackle household food waste. ZWS is working with an expert advisory group and will continue to engage with WRAP’s UK Food and Drink Pact to support the development of the plan.

As outlined in the Circular Economy and Waste Route Map and our consultation on ‘A Draft Circular Economy Strategy for Scotland’, published 21 October 2025, our intention is to work with stakeholders to develop effective options to implement mandatory reporting of food waste and surplus from 2025/26. We will also consider the findings of the UK Government’s Circular Economy Taskforce when they are available as we recognise the importance of a cohesive approach for businesses operating across all of the UK.

Our consultation on a Draft Circular Economy Strategy is available on the Scottish Government website at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/draft-circular-economy-strategy-scotland/.

Social Security Scotland publishes benefit specific information on overpayments in their Annual Report and Accounts. It does not publish data on the number of occasions, or the amounts, where individual recipients of Winter Heating Payment have been required to repay either part or all of the payment. As such, this information is not available broken down by year or local authority area.

Social Security Scotland publishes benefit specific information on overpayments in their Annual Report and Accounts. It does not publish data on the number of occasions, or the amounts, where individual recipients of the Best Start Grant School Age Payment have been required to repay either part or all of the payment. As such, this information is not available broken down by year or local authority area.

Social Security Scotland publishes benefit specific information on overpayments in their Annual Report and Accounts. It does not publish data on the number of occasions, or the amounts, where individual recipients of the Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment have been required to repay either part or all of the payment. As such, this information is not available broken down by year or local authority area.

Social Security Scotland publishes benefit specific information on overpayments in their Annual Report and Accounts. It does not publish data on the number of occasions, or the amounts, where individual recipients of Carer Support Payment have been required to repay either part or all of the payment. As such, this information is not available broken down by year or local authority area.

Social Security Scotland publishes benefit specific information on overpayments in their Annual Report and Accounts. It does not publish data on the number of occasions, or the amounts, where individual recipients of Funeral Support Payment have been required to repay either part or all of the payment. As such, this information is not available broken down by year or local authority area.

Social Security Scotland publishes benefit specific information on overpayments in their Annual Report and Accounts. It does not publish data on the number of occasions, or the amounts, where individual recipients of Scottish Child Payment have been required to repay either part or all of the payment. As such, this information is not available broken down by year or local authority area.

Social Security Scotland publishes benefit specific information on overpayments in their Annual Report and Accounts. It does not publish data on the number of occasions, or the amounts, where individual recipients of Young Carer Grant have been required to repay either part or all of the payment. As such, this information is not available broken down by year or local authority area.