Chamber and committees

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publish estimates of the number of children living in workless households by region from the ONS Annual Population Survey (APS) household datasets. A workless household is defined as a household containing at least one person aged 16 to 64 in which all persons aged 16 and over are either unemployed or economically inactive.

The latest available estimates are for January to December 2024.

The estimated number of children living in workless households in Scotland was 112,200 in 2024, 12.7% of children living in all households in Scotland.

Source: Annual Population Survey Household dataset, ONS

Office for National Statistics (ONS), published 29 October 2025, ONS website, statistical bulletin, Children living in long-term workless households in the UK: 2024

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00484 on 8 June 2026. 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.

Transport Scotland continues to work with Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), Glasgow City Council and other regional partners in the development of Clyde Metro. The ongoing stage of the development process, known as the Case for Investment, is being led by SPT, with Transport Scotland providing a project assurance role.

As part of its project assurance role on Clyde Metro, Transport Scotland engages with Glasgow City Council on a regular basis. Most recently, Transport Scotland officials attended the Clyde Metro Programme Steering Group on 23 April 2026, and senior officials met with the Chief Executive of Glasgow City Council on 11 May 2026 to discuss Clyde Metro.

Six GP walk-in centres are currently operational, with the first delivered in February. Three of those are already operating seven days a week, with the remainder open on a phased basis, but all will move to full hours in due course. The intention of a phased basis opening was to deliver new services as quickly as possible for patients.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00537. on 8 June 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found athttps://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

In 2023, Glasgow City Council last raised the issue with the Scottish Government of the rising cost of maintaining the Clyde Tunnel and the possibility of it becoming a trunk road. The request was made by the Glasgow City Council - Convener for Neighbourhood Services and Assets.

The Private Jet Tax will be implemented as higher rates of Air Departure Tax (ADT)which will apply to the carriage of passengers by air on private jet flights from Scottish airports.

The information requested on how many whole-time equivalent NHS podiatrists have been employed in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board can be found on the TURAS NHS Education for Scotland workforce statistics site at: NHS Scotland workforce | Turas Data Intelligence

Workforce planning for podiatry is taken forward as part of the wider Allied Health Professions workforce. The Allied Health Professions Education and Workforce Policy Review (2023) set out actions to ensure a sustainable workforce, and an advisory board is overseeing implementation. This includes expanding and diversifying routes into careers, such as “earn as you learn” models, and supporting initiatives like the PREPARE programme, which enables podiatrists to train while employed. These actions are designed to strengthen the training pipeline and support recruitment and retention.

Transport Scotland regularly report to Ministers on the timelines and related completion and planned readiness for deployment activities of the remaining ferries being constructed at the Cemre yard in Turkey. My initial meetings with Transport Scotland senior management have included updates on ferries projects, including these vessels.

CMAL will shortly provide a further update to the relevant Scottish Parliament committee, following on from the previous updates which were provided to the Net Zero, Economy and Transport committee.

Scottish Ministers are committed to reforming the public sector to deliver high-quality services in a fiscally sustainable way. Public Service Reform is central to this, with an increased focus on accelerating change and strengthening the delivery of key services, including ferry operations.

In this context, Scottish Ministers will consider structural reforms to improve accountability, transparency and efficiency within lifeline ferry services, as part of a wider approach to better integrate publicly owned transport bodies and maximise public investment. Communities and businesses remain central to this, with an emphasis on reliability, resilience and value for money.

While no final decisions have been taken on the nature or timing of reforms, engagement will continue with CalMac, CMAL, island stakeholders and trade unions as this work progresses.