Chamber and committees

In line with the public health approach to addressing VAWG outlined in our Equally Safe strategy, using a wide range of data and evidence is central to informing policy and practice, monitoring progress, and identifying areas for future improvement.

These include official statistics, such as the domestic abuse statistics recorded by the police in Scotland and the findings on partner abuse from the Scottish Crime and Justice survey; academic research, such as that commissioned to shape our approach to challenging men’s demand for prostitution; literature produced by human rights bodies; and the views of experts by experience and profession. We also gather data by leading and participating in various groups and forums where evidence is shared.

We are also currently working with partners and academics to develop a measurement framework that can be used to monitor progress against the activities and outcomes outlined in the strategy.

Furthermore, the Equally Safe Delivery Plan includes commitments to develop a primary prevention framework, test an evidence-based implementation approach, and establish an Implementation Forum to build awareness and capacity of how to implement a public health approach to the prevention of VAWG at a local level. This work is ongoing in partnership with Public Health Scotland and the Improvement Service.

An evidence based approach was used to develop the tackling misogyny campaign, which launched in February 2026, aimed at boys aged 11-18 to make them aware of the impact of sexist content online and to parents to educate them on the scale of online misogyny and encourage conversations with their children around the harms of online misogynistic content, resulting in an effective campaign.

The Scottish Government engages regularly with the UK Government and the National Energy System Operator on development of the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) through formal governance groups and bilateral meetings. Through that engagement the Scottish Government is continuing to press for Scotland’s offshore wind potential being fully reflected in the future SSEP.

The Scottish Government has had no discussions with the UK Government regarding the findings of its technical report.

The report is a high-level technical desktop study about the in-principle suitability of sites in Scotland.

It provides no new information or evidence that would change the Government’s long-standing opposition to the development of new nuclear power stations in Scotland.

The Scottish Government has an important role in managing Scotland’s marine space, ensuring the interests of all marine users are appropriately considered. We want to see a prosperous future for the offshore wind and fisheries sectors.

The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

The Scottish Government regularly reviews Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) resourcing to ensure it can effectively discharge its statutory functions.

This review is consistent with the wider principles of the public service reform strategy that aims to deliver a more collaborative and efficient public service across Scotland.

Alongside its existing workload, the DPEA has experienced a significant increase in renewable energy-related casework, particularly in relation to onshore wind developments, strategic electricity transmission infrastructure, and associated wayleave and anticipated compulsory purchase order cases.

DPEA has implemented a range of operational improvements to support increasing workloads. These include enhanced forecasting and case management, strengthened engagement with consenting colleagues and transmission operators, the early allocation of reporters to priority cases, expansion of its pool of consultant reporter's, to help manage increasing volumes efficiently, increased use of digital processes, and ongoing review of procedures and guidance. Together, these measures are designed to ensure cases are handled as efficiently and proportionately as possible whilst maintaining the quality and robustness of decision-making.

The Scottish Government will continue to keep DPEA's resource requirements under review, within the principles of the wider public service reform strategy, to ensure it is able to support the timely determination of planning and energy infrastructure projects that are critical to delivering Scotland's net zero targets and long-term energy security.

The £36.9 million Alcohol and Drugs Fund is not additional to the funding announced in the Scottish Budget 2026-27. When the Alcohol and Drugs Strategic Plan 2026-35 was published in March 2026, it was confirmed that delivery would be supported by funding of more than £160 million in 2026-27, including the launch of a new fund for frontline services and organisations working with people affected by alcohol and drugs.

The Fund will provide £36.9 million over the next three years, supporting prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery for people affected by alcohol and drugs.

The Scottish Government is committed to accelerating the growth of Scotland’s offshore wind sector, and to maximising the economic opportunity from the transition to net zero, including through delivery of the Sectoral Marine Plan (SMP) and establishment of a Scottish Marine Recovery Fund (MRF).

The Scottish Government engages regularly with the UK Government and the National Energy System Operator on development of the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) through formal governance groups and bilateral meetings. Through that engagement the Scottish Government is seeking to ensure that Scotland’s onshore wind potential is appropriately reflected in the future SSEP.

The 2026-27 Budget provides almost £22.5 billion investment in health and social care services, exceeding consequentials and providing a real terms uplift to enable more sustainable and resilient services, including those for interventional radiology. Delivery of individual services is the responsibility of each NHS Scotland Health Board. The Scottish Government expects NHS Boards to provide high quality care, including interventional radiology services that are safe, effective and person-centred.