Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government has spent a total of £25,082.4 in the last 5 financial years with Total Politics for the purpose of Women into Leadership conference tickets and training events. £10,752 in Financial Year 24-25 and £14,330.40 in 25-26.

Scotland’s Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Strategy 2021-2026 sets out a national approach to improving survival from cardiac arrest, including work to improve access to defibrillators. We are working with our Save a Life for Scotland partners to improve access to defibrillators by ensuring that they are publicly accessible, registered and to take a data driven approach to their placement.

As part of this strategy, the First Minister has announced an investment of £2.5 million to strengthen local response to cardiac arrest. This includes placing an additional 1,000 – 1,250 defibrillators in areas of greatest need.

The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. The emergency services may be able to provide this information.

The Scottish Government holds no records of any communication between the First Minister’s office and the Scottish National Party headquarters in March 2020 regarding Covid-19 public messaging, including on panic buying, supermarket shortages or public behaviour.

Ministers did not receive any internal advice or briefing marked “official sensitive”, or a similar classification marking, before 9 March 2020 relating to panic buying, supermarket shortages or supply-chain pressures.

The proposed total purchase price for the properties by Fife Council is expected to be £3.333 million which includes a discount on the home report valuation. This is based on information provided to date ahead of finalisation of the purchase by Fife Council.

There is no record of information marked “official sensitive”, or of a similar classification marking or handling restrictions, relating to Covid-19 public messaging, panic buying, supermarket shortages or supply-chain pressures being shared with the Scottish National Party, or any SNP staff or officials in March 2020.

Scottish ministers and special advisers will likely have received any relevant Covid-19 public messaging information in March 2020, as part of dealing with the pandemic.

In March 2020, external sharing of any information including, briefings, plans and communication lines to take was governed by the general Information Governance Policies and Guidance in place for the Scottish Government at the time. These included the Records Management Plan, Data Protection Policy, Security Policy and Government Security classifications and our IT code of conduct.

The Scottish Government offers a range of support to businesses facing declining footfall, antisocial behaviour and rising costs. In the Scottish Budget, property rates have been reduced in 2026-27 alongside a package of reliefs forecast to save ratepayers over £870 million. Eligible retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in mainland Scotland can receive 15% rates relief, with licensed hospitality venues and music venues eligible for an additional 25%, bringing total relief to 40%. This is capped at £110,000 per business annually and guaranteed in Budget 2026-27 for three years to 2028-29. The Small Business Bonus Scheme (SBBS) will be maintained at current rates and thresholds, also guaranteed in Budget 2026-27 for three years. Over 100,000 properties remain eligible for SBBS, which remains the most generous of its kind in the UK.

As the strategic housing authority for the area, Fife Council assessed the situation and took a strategic decision to redirect Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP) (2026-27) funds in Fife to purchase these homes. Due to funding commitments for other projects, Fife Council requested additional support from Scottish Government to ensure the purchase could be supported quickly, without creating pressure on existing AHSP projects. The AHSP already allows for the purchase of homes with tenants in situ where this meets a clear strategic purpose and where the tenant is at risk of homelessness, as set out in published guidance. Guidance+and+Procedures+-+MHDGN+2023-01+-+Affordable+Housing+Supply+Programme+%28AHSP%29+Process+and+Procedures.pdf.