Chamber and committees

More Homes Scotland is in its design phase: its powers and functions will be confirmed once this work is complete. I refer the Member to the answer to question S6W-43955 on 11 March 2026.

I will update Parliament in March on the ongoing process to design the agency’s functions and operating model.

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.

We expect set-up costs to be incurred over the period 2026-27 to 2028-29, when the agency is expected to be operational, and estimate these costs to be around £2 million, although this will depend on the scope of its design and operating model.

The projected annual budget, the proportion representing new rather than reallocated funding, and the agency’s ongoing administrative costs are still to be determined as part of this ongoing design process.

The Scottish Government relies on the independent analysis provided by the Scottish Fiscal Commission, including its forecasts of the number of taxpayers in each band in future years. These are published as part of its regular economic and fiscal forecasts.

These forecasts, which include the effects of the latest policy decisions, are set out here: Scotland’s Economic and Fiscal Forecasts – January 2026, and form an important part of our understanding of how the tax system may evolve.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43954 on 11 March 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.

The Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government has responsibility for the operational running of the organisation, including the workforce related hybrid working policy.

A full Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) was undertaken during the internal review of the hybrid working policy (June 2024–March 2025) to inform policy development for core Scottish Government staff in roles compatible with hybrid working. The EQIA was published on the Scottish Government’s intranet on 28 July 2025 and is maintained as a live document. Engagement with Staff Equality Networks helped ensure the needs and experiences of colleagues were reflected.

I would encourage the member to direct any further questions on this matter to the Permanent Secretary.

The Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government has responsibility for the operational running of the organisation, including the workforce related location and resourcing policies.

All internal Civil Service vacancies within the Scottish Government are advertised through the internal jobs portal and are open to all eligible staff. While posts may indicate a preferred location, there are no restrictions preventing employees from applying for any internal role, regardless of their current place of work.

Work to clarify a location policy for Scottish Government core staff will consider a range of relevant factors and benefit from consultation with trade unions and engagement with staff and diversity networks across the organisation. Until the location policy has been reviewed, interim arrangements are in place for people who live distant from their contractual work location.

I would encourage the member to direct any further questions on this matter to the Permanent Secretary.

The Government’s position is that the provision of organised visits to the Thistle supports transparency, accountability and an informed understanding of the service as a publicly funded health intervention.

The Scottish Government’s position is that expenditure must be assessed against demonstrable outcomes, particularly where interventions are designed to address complex public health harms. At the Committee hearing on 2 October, representatives from Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), Calton Community Council and Morrisons supermarket provided positive evidence of local impact. Morrisons reported a reduction of over 90% in needle collections in the vicinity since the Thistle facility opened.

We expect the agency to start operating from 2027-28 and to be fully functional in 2028-29. Insofar as this question concerns the legal status of the new housing agency, I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43954 on 11 March 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.

In Scotland, concessionary travel on rail is the responsibility of local authorities, which have discretionary powers under the Transport Act 1985 to provide and fund local concessionary travel schemes for residents. The extent and terms of any such scheme are for individual local authorities to consider and decide upon.

ScotRail currently offers discounted travel for those aged 16, 17 or 18 (or up to 25 years old and a full-time volunteer), who have a Young Scot National Entitlement Card. Eligible passengers receive 1/3 off most rail fares when travelling with ScotRail and 50% off weekly, monthly and annual tickets. Unlike the scheme the Member is referring to, ScotRail’s offer does not require the £35 upfront annual fee.