The Scottish Government recognises the importance of ensuring equitable access to electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure as we transition to a net zero transport system. Approximately 40% of households in Scotland do not have access to off-street parking, and we are committed to supporting innovative solutions such as cross-pavement charging to address this challenge.

The installation of cross pavement charging is complex, covering road works permissions, neighbourhood relations, pedestrian safety and ongoing maintenance, liabilities and responsibilities for residents and local authorities. This is why we are working closely with the Scottish Collaboration of Transport Specialists (SCOTS) – a strategic collaborative body representing Scotland’s 32 local authorities and seven regional transport partnerships - to develop Scottish specific guidance for local authorities. The draft guidance will be issued to stakeholders for consultation in autumn 2025.

This summer Scottish Ministers will also launch a new ‘cross pavement charging’ pilot scheme that will offer financial support to eligible residents without off-street parking in participating local authority areas. In order to ensure a just transition, it is critical that as many households as possible can access lower-cost home charging. The learning from the pilot scheme will complement the work with SCOTS, to demonstrate safe and legal ways of rolling out cross-pavement charging infrastructure across all of Scotland’s local authorities. More information will be made available on the Energy Savings Trust website later this month.

Ensuring a fair and just transition to sustainable transport is central the Scottish Government’s net zero ambitions; this is reflected in Scottish Ministers’ visionfor the future of public EV charging and the accompanying Draft Implementation Plan, which set out a clear direction for the future of EV infrastructure in Scotland. Through our £30 million EV Infrastructure Fund, we are also continuing to support local authorities to work in partnership with the private sector to expand public EV charging across Scotland.

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In accordance with current guidance, the Scottish Government’s position is that the assessment process for new pedestrian crossings should address the three main objectives of safety, convenience and accessibility for the most at-risk users. The PV2 assessment process, which identifies suitable crossing facilities based on pedestrian and vehicle numbers at a location, was superseded in 1995. Decisions on suitable pedestrian crossing facilities require a more qualitative approach addressing a variety of site-specific factors. Data relating to pedestrian and vehicle numbers will have relevance to these considerations, but must be viewed in the wider context and should not be used as the sole basis for decisions.

The responsibility for energy security is reserved to the UK Government, as is any contingency planning. However, the Scottish Government works closely with the UK Government on a range of issues to ensure Scotland’s needs are met.

I refer the member to the answer to questions S6W-30034 on 3 October 2024 and S6W-32189 on 23 December 2024. 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.

Scotland’s Marine Protected Area (MPA) network covers 37% of our seas, meeting the globally agreed target to conserve at least 30% of marine areas through protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures by 2030.

In addition to existing management arrangements, the Scottish Government is committed to introducing fisheries management measures within MPAs where such measures are required but not yet in place. This commitment also extends to a selection of Priority Marine Features (PMFs) located outside the MPA network.

Implementation of fisheries management measures for MPAs in offshore waters (beyond 12 nautical miles) is scheduled for 2025. A public consultation on proposed measures for MPAs and PMFs in inshore waters (within 12 nautical miles) is planned to commence in November 2025.

Scottish Government officials informed the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), Prospect and FDA unions on the morning of 12 June 2025 that a provider to operate the VQ nursery had not been secured and outlined the support being made available to the current nursery operator, North Edinburgh Childcare Enterprise Ltd, and parents. A further briefing on the nursery was made available to Trade Unions on the afternoon of 12 June 2025 which was attended by PCS. Subsequently, officials have been in regular communication with PCS representatives, including on the support available to Scottish Government staff.

A full tender exercise was conducted and during the final stages of consideration, the only bidder, North Edinburgh Childcare Enterprise Ltd (NECEL) informed us on 9 May 2025 of their decision to withdraw from the tender process following their review of the economic case – this was done so after consultation with their Board and is a decision independent of the Scottish Government. There were no other bidders, therefore the procurement exercise was unsuccessful.

Scottish Government officials communicated the position on the closure of the nursery on 13 June 2025. This was at the same time as NECEL also informed their staff and issued their own communication to impacted families.

A transition period is supporting continued provision at the Victoria Quay (VQ) nursery until 10 October 2025. This period will support parents to source alternative childcare provision.

The current operator of the VQ nursery, North Edinburgh Childcare Enterprise Ltd, has offered all parents, including those on the waiting list, places at their sister nursery. Where families are currently accessing their child’s funded ELC hours at the VQ nursery, the City of Edinburgh Council’s Early Years team can support parents to find alternative funded provision.

Scottish Government staff will continue to be supported during any period of disruption as they source alternative childcare provision, including access to the existing Special Leave policy and flexible working patterns which can accommodate individual circumstances.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-39369 on 11 August 2025. 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.

The nursery at Victoria Quay is a commercial entity and operates under a concession contract and is not subsidised by the Scottish Government. Procurement of the nursery contract has taken place routinely since the nursery was first established. The previous contract ran from 2020–2025. During the most recent extension period a full procurement exercise was progressed in line with procurement rules.