Chamber and committees

Reservoirs are an operational matter for Scottish Water. However the Scottish Government is monitoring water levels in reservoirs across Scotland very carefully. It recognises that Whiteadder reservoir, which supplies East Lothian, is low. Scottish Water has used flexibility within the network to move some customers onto other supply networks. Assuming normal weather trends, Whiteadder reservoir is expected to be refilled by the rain over the winter months.

As part of the Programme for Government 2026–2031, the Scottish Government announced the intention to publish a new strategic approach to attracting and securing responsible green data centre investment in Scotland.

This will include clear expectations around environmental sustainability, resource use, community benefit and the economic and strategic value these developments should deliver. We are progressing work to deliver this early in 2027, following the planning guidance that is due to be published in December this year.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has identified resource requirements associated with the implementation of specialist sexual offences courts. Funding requirements for 2027-28 will be considered as part of the normal Scottish Government Budget process.

The Scottish Government and COSLA jointly produced the Preventing Harm, Promoting Recovery: Scotland’s Alcohol and Drugs Strategic Plan in March 2026, which explicitly highlights the need for diagnosis, treatment and recovery as well as longer-term support and care for conditions like alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD). The Plan is backed up with continued funding which is for use by local areas and third sector organisations in the provision of services and support aimed at meeting the needs of their communities.

The Scottish Government expects local areas to take account of the updated Alcohol-related brain damage: Good practice guide which was independently revised and published by the Mental Welfare Commission in July 2026. That guide covers assessment, treatment, care, and support of people with ARBD. The Scottish Government also expects services to deliver care and support in line with Clinical guidelines on alcohol treatment which cover harm reduction and nutritional support in respect of ARBD.

All sudden, unexpected and unexplained neonatal deaths, wherever that death occurs, are a ‘reportable death’ and must be reported to the Crown Office Procurator Fiscal. In hospital it should be reported by the doctor with the most detailed knowledge of the circumstances of the death as soon as possible after the death occurs.

The Procurator Fiscal will determine whether to initiate an investigation into the circumstances of the death.

National guidance and review arrangements are in place to support the investigation infant deaths and to identify learning through the Child Death Review processes. We have also published the Maternity and Neonatal (Perinatal) Adverse Event Review process, which sets out expectations for reviewing adverse events in maternity and neonatal services. All neonatal deaths should also be subject to review via the Perinatal Mortality Review tool and reported to MBRRACE-UK as part of their UK-level perinatal surveillance programme.

All NHS Boards are expected to follow this process, and we monitor implementation through our ongoing engagement with Boards.

In addition, the Scottish Government is working with Healthcare Improvement Scotland and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to improve the quality and timeliness of significant adverse event reviews.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-03704 on 22 October 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 Scottish Government has invested over £70 million in Wave Energy Scotland (WES) since its establishment in 2014, demonstrating a clear commitment to supporting wave energy innovation in Scotland.

The Scottish Government has provided WES with up to £2.3 million of transitional funding in 2026-27 to support delivery of existing projects and manage an orderly transition following the conclusion of its core funding model. Highlands and Islands Enterprise will continue funding these projects to completion in 2027-28.

Further investment is now required from the UK Government and its agencies to build on WES's achievements and support the next stage of development for wave energy technologies. Responsibility for the key policy and funding levers to commercialise emerging technologies such as wave energy rests largely with the UK Government.

Officials are in ongoing discussions regarding the future of WES. It would therefore be premature to comment further at this stage.

In 2025-26, £2.35 million of the £4 million allocated to the Museum Futures programme was awarded to museums outside of the central belt. Geographic equity is a core principle of the Museum Futures programme and continues to inform funding decisions for the current financial year.

I have written to a number of individuals with appropriate expertise and skills inviting them to become members of the independent review panel which will examine the outcome of the 2026 non-domestic property revaluation. Parliament will be informed when the appointments are confirmed.

The Review is independent of Scottish Government and panel members will be asked to report within three months of their appointment. How the panel takes forward the review is a matter for the members to decide.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of raising awareness of falls prevention among older people, their families and carers. This includes the provision of public information through national means such as NHS inform or targeted information such as Scottish Government’s Personal Footcare Guidance released in March 2025. All of which continue to be reviewed and updated as appropriate.

NHS Scotland and Health and Social Care Partnership services also provide falls prevention advice, assessment and support based on individual circumstances. Furthermore, national improvement programmes such as the Scottish Patient Safety Programme support NHS Boards to reduce falls-related harm and promote good practice in falls prevention.

Whilst no national assessment of the effectiveness of measures is undertaken, equipment and adaptations play an important role in enabling people to live independently and safely at home. They can help to reduce the risk of falls and injuries, support people to carry out everyday activities more safely, and maintain confidence in their own abilities. In January 2023, the Scottish Government published revised guidance Equipment and adaptations: guidance on provision - gov.scot to support equitable and timely provision of equipment and adaptations. We also acknowledge the significance of housing adaptations in supporting older people to remain safely and independently in their homes which is why we have protected the Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) Adaptations Programme budget, maintaining this at £20.9 million for 2026-27.