Chamber and committees

Scottish Ministers do not routinely cancel meetings with their UK Ministerial counterparts. Scheduling of meetings is subject to normal diary considerations.

Since September 2025, there have been five meetings between Scottish and UK ministers in which the UK Budget was covered. In these meeting, Scottish Ministers have raised the implications of the UK Budget for the Scottish Budget.

The Scottish Government is consistent in requesting early and meaningful engagement with the UK Government on matters of significant importance for Scotland, particularly where there is a clear devolved read-across such as the UK Budget.

Changes to Local Connection in 2022 did not impact the ability of a Scottish Local Authority to refer a homeless household back to a local authority in England or in Wales in which they have a local connection (residence, employment, family or special circumstances). The 2022 changes related only to referrals between Scottish Local Authorities. Statistical analysis and extensive stakeholder engagement informed the decision to suspend referrals between Scottish local authorities for homeless households based on their local connection status. In the three years since, the number of homeless households presenting as homeless to a local authority in Scotland where they have no local connection remains low. The most recent publication (16 September 2025) shows that rates of households that were eligible for referral before November 2022 is 4%, which is consistent with previous years’ rates (the average of which is 3%) and similar to pre-legislative figures.

The meeting referred to was reconvened and I was pleased to meet with Minister McCluskey on 3 December to discuss the Warm Home Discount and the UK Government’s proposed Warm Homes Plan.

The comment about difficulties in establishing communication referred directly to inter-ministerial discussion on the contents of the UK Budget. The meeting between the UK Minister for Energy Consumers and I was reconvened and I was pleased to meet with Minister McCluskey on 3 December to discuss the Warm Home Discount and the UK Government’s proposed Warm Homes Plan.

A clear framework for the transition to clean heating will give industry and homeowners the certainty they need to invest, boost heat network development and set a long-term direction of travel that is deliverable and affordable. However, repeated delays to the UK Government’s Warm Homes Plan have left key questions unanswered. It is vital that we have a fully informed debate on the Bill when it is brought forward, with proper scrutiny that includes UK plans and affordability impacts.

Meanwhile, we are taking the steps that we can and preparing the ground for a robust, future-proofed approach that serves Scotland’s long-term interests. We have published the draft Bill and explanatory notes, and we are engaging with stakeholders.

The changes to local connection legislation made in 2022 only suspended referrals of homeless households to another local authority in Scotland on the basis of local connection. It made no change to referrals for households with a local connection to a local authority in England or Wales, and the legislation did not change rules for refugee households who have left asylum accommodation.

An increase in demand for homelessness services in Scotland from households with recent positive leave to remain decisions, including households travelling from other parts of the UK, are not the fault of refugees, who continue to be valuable members of our communities. Instead, pressures on housing and services have been driven by successive UK governments’ mismanagement of asylum policy, inadequate planning and a lack of financial assistance, which places people at risk of homelessness and destitution.

We remain focused on a heat transition that is feasible, affordable and delivers tangible benefits for people. Levels of fuel poverty in Scotland remain unacceptably high with the reserved issue of energy bills being the great factor. The Scottish Government is committed to tackling this, but the main levers for addressing this, such as energy prices and market reform, sit with UK Government.

We are supporting those in or at risk of being in fuel poverty by continuing to fund energy efficiency measures and clean heating systems. However, the UK Government must provide urgent clarity on reforms to the electricity market, including rebalancing, and a social tariff in the form of an automatic and targeted unit rate discount to support the most vulnerable consumers.

We continue to consider relevant evidence and analysis as part of the development of a Buildings (Heating and Energy Performance) and Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill but will not ask the Scottish Parliament to legislate for vitally important laws which affect our population without a full understanding of awaited UK Government action.

The Scottish Government continues to consider clean heat deployment, and costs thereof, as part of the development of our updated Heat in Buildings Strategy and Delivery Plan to be published by the end of 2026.