Chamber and committees

Developing evidence-based and effective fisheries management measures for more than 160 sites and areas within the inshore region has been a challenging process.

Social Security Scotland regularly publishes statistics on Adult Disability Payment statistics to 31 January 2026 - Social Security Scotland.

However, information on the number of people in receipt of Adult Disability Payment where anxiety is recorded as the principal qualifying condition, broken down by age, sex and local authority area, is not available. Published statistics provide data on primary disabling conditions at a broader level.

Latest figures, published on 17 March 2026, show that as of 31 January 2026, 88,315 people were recorded in the sub-category neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders (F40–F48), which includes anxiety. Breakdowns by age, sex and local authority area are available for the overall caseload, but not for individual conditions or sub-categories.

As you may be aware, the UK Government decided to rule out zonal pricing in July last year. However, the Scottish Government has been clear that the current wholesale electricity market is unfit for purpose, and leaves Scottish consumers exposed to high energy costs, driven by volatile natural gas prices.

The levers to effect change such as energy price setting and market reform lie with the UK Government. We have repeatedly called on them to use the opportunities offered by reformed national pricing to bring forward measures that tackle fuel poverty, responds to global price shocks, and strengthens long-term energy security.

In an energy-rich country like Scotland, people should not be struggling to pay their bills.

Global events continue to reinforce the impact of high energy prices with the crisis in the Middle East significantly increasing the cost of heating oil and liquid petroleum gas ("LPG"). That is why the Scottish Government launched the Scottish Emergency Heating Oil Scheme on 1 April, more than doubling the support made available from the UK Government. Eligible households can apply for support of £300 towards the cost of heating oil or LPG.

The Scottish Government also proactively supports vulnerable households through our energy efficiency schemes, winter heating benefits, investment in free income maximisation support, welfare and debt advice. We have maintained investment in the Scottish Welfare Fund, providing vital support to those in crisis.

However, energy pricing and regulation is fully reserved to the UK Government, and that is why the Scottish Parliament recently passed a motion calling for energy powers to be immediately devolved to the Scottish Parliament.

The UK Government must take their responsibilities seriously by putting in place robust and effective consumer protections and introducing targeted energy bill discounts, available to all fuel users, to reduce the number of households in fuel poverty.

The Scottish Government is committed to reforming the energy consenting process to ensure it delivers timely results and takes a pragmatic approach. We continue to maintain a robust consenting regime, working to existing commitments for faster decision-making timescales. This includes the ambitions set out in the Onshore Wind Sector Deal and the Priority Applications for Transmission Infrastructure Guidance to determine applications within 52 weeks where possible.

The Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 provided Scottish Ministers with new regulation-making powers, including mandating pre-application engagement, introducing an acceptance stage, and streamlining the consenting process by establishing clearer statutory timescales.

Ministers will consult later this year on how these powers should be used to improve the consenting process for all stakeholders, with findings informing secondary legislation.

The Scottish Government recognises the serious and escalating threat from wildfires in Scotland due to climate change and the importance of strengthening public awareness of wildfire risks and responsible outdoor behaviour and access.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) produces its own annual wildfire prevention and awareness campaign, aimed at reducing human-caused fires by highlighting these risks.

This year’s campaign was officially launched on Thursday, 5 March, alongside the Scottish Government’s Wildfire Strategic Action Plan. The key message of the campaign is that there is no such thing as a harmless fire. It includes targeted paid promotion, digital content, media engagement, and partnership working to extend its reach.

SFRS also works closely with local authorities, National Park authorities, public bodies and land managers to ensure that clear and consistent public messaging on wildfire risk is conveyed in a timely, effective and coordinated way.

In addition to the SFRS campaign, a multi-channel campaign supporting the new recreational fire byelaw in the Cairngorms National Park has promoted a “no flame, no spark” message through physical road signage, social media advertising, video and influencer activity. It has reached nearly 1.5 million individuals and generated around 4.3 million impressions, with more than 100 businesses and community groups engaging with campaign materials.

For summer 2026, this work will be continued and strengthened through coordinated national and local activity, including targeted awareness campaigns and continued promotion of safe behaviours relating to campfires, disposable barbecues and other wildfire risks.

Similarly, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority continues to deliver sustained public awareness activity through ranger engagement, byelaws, media campaigns and national partnerships with SFRS and others to ensure consistent messaging on wildfire risks. Most recently, it hosted a press conference in Balloch alongside Police Scotland to convey key public safety messages, with coverage across local and national online, print, TV and radio outlets.

These combined efforts demonstrate an ongoing, collaborative approach to strengthening public awareness of wildfire risks in Scotland.

A full review of the biodiversity duty reporting procedures is currently in progress.

Any proposed changes to the reporting process will be subject to consultation before being implemented through secondary legislation. We will engage with public bodies throughout the review process and write to them to advise of planned changes.

The current three-year biodiversity duty reporting cycle covers 2024-2026 inclusive, and reports for this period are due at the end of December 2026. We do not intend to make any changes to the reporting process before the end of this cycle, as this would not allow sufficient time for public bodies to consider and implement the changes. We will be writing to public bodies shortly to provide an update on the review process and reporting requirements for 2024-26.

We recognise the vital role of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) in tackling wildfires and remain committed to sustaining that capability. The SFRS 2026-27 overall budget provides an additional £23.8 million, taking total funding to £436 million, demonstrating the continued support to the Service to deliver the high standard of services required to keep Scotland safe. In addition, the Scottish Government’s Wildfires Strategic Action Plan sets out a coordinated approach to preventing, preparing for and responding to wildfires.

The allocation of SFRS resources to respond to wildfire incidents, including the deployment of specialist wildfire capability, equipment and staffing, is an operational matter for SFRS. The SFRS spend on its wildfire strategy has been circa £1.6 million over the course of its 3 year roll-out. As part of its strategy, SFRS has reviewed and invested in equipment, vehicles and training to strengthen its response to wildfires, particularly in rural areas.

In response to the 2025 wildfire season, SFRS has invested in equipment, including four new wildfire support units with enhanced equipment (Alford, Oban, Galashiels and Dornoch) and two new interim wildfire units (Lockerbie and Thurso), and is also delivering controlled burn training for firefighters. SFRS already has more than 30 fire stations equipped with dedicated wildfire resources, as well as several wildfire tactical advisers who can provide strategic support at incidents.

SFRS also manages the Community Asset Register (CAR) - a Scotland wide database of trained volunteers and equipment – ready and willing to respond and offer support during emergency situations, such as a wildfire incident.

We will establish a ScotWind Wealth Fund by the end of this Parliament to ensure that Scotland’s future generations can benefit from our wealth of renewables.

The failure of successive UK governments to establish a dedicated Oil and Gas wealth fund means Scotland has not fully benefited from our wealth of natural resources.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00272 on 3 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.