Chamber and committees

Shipbuilding is a highly competitive global market and is classified as sensitive under the UK Subsidy Control Act. Any direct award must therefore comply fully with both procurement and subsidy control legislation, as these frameworks operate independently but are equally critical to legal defensibility.

Defence and national security remain reserved matters under UK law, and Scotland does not commission independent naval vessels. The design of these replacement vessels reflects operational needs of the Marine Directorate and does not include warship specifications or military capability, which could misrepresent their authority at sea. MPVs are built and operated to merchant-vessel standards, with Crown-servant crews accountable to Scottish Ministers.

As merchant-class vessels, they fall outside the defence-related exemptions referenced by section 45 of the Subsidy Control Act.

As set out in the Circular Economy and Waste Route Map, the Scottish Government will establish an expert advisory group to help develop the most effective way to implement mandatory public reporting for food waste and surplus by businesses, with the intention of developing options from 2025-26. We continue to gather relevant evidence and engage with stakeholders to understand key issues. We will also consider any relevant responses to the consultation on the draft Circular Economy Strategy for Scotland. Options will be developed with stakeholders as part of our engagement with the expert advisory group, once established.

Following publication of the Learning: For All. For Life. report in July 2024, the Scottish Government and COSLA accepted recommendation 1.1 of the report to set up a joint CLD Strategic Leadership Group (SLG) in December 2024. The SLG has made good progress since its inception and has identified taking action on ESOL as an immediate priority.

There are several pieces of work currently being undertaken which will feed into the work of the SLG and will inform the next steps on ESOL. This includes:

• a survey undertaken by COSLA in relation to the provision of ESOL for New Scots across local authorities;
• work being taken forward to address the issue of ESOL access and coordination for New Scots in line with the New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy: Delivery Plan 2024-2026 commitment. This involves engagement with key stakeholders and partners to identify potential solutions for effective ESOL delivery across Scotland. This work is expected to be shared with the SLG in the first half of 2026;
• a thematic inspection of ESOL led by HM Inspectorate of Education and focussed on the experience of learners in accessing provision within communities and colleges as well as how providers respond to demand. A final report will be published in early 2026.

The SLG are also in the process of establishing a working-level Strategic Delivery Group which will take forward tangible actions linked to the priorities identified by the SLG, including on ESOL.

Noting the need for immediate action, and in direct response to recommendation 3.2, since 2024-25, over £1.2M in funding has been made available for a short-term intervention in Glasgow where evidence of high demand for ESOL is documented. In the 2024-25 academic year this enabled over 1000 learners in Glasgow to access English language classes. The aim of the funding in the 2025-26 academic year is to enable 800 learners to access or progress in their learning.

In 2025-26, a further £200,000 has been awarded to ESOL Scotland for a nationwide online ESOL pilot for up to 1,800 learners responding to the demand identified by the review report.

The Scottish Government does not routinely undertake this type of analysis and has no plans to do so. The Scottish Transport Statistics are published yearly with chapters on freight moved by mode and with data on tonnages and distance.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on whether any public bodies receive reports from Peel Ports and The King's Harbour Master regarding the monitoring of container traffic on the River Clyde.

The Scottish Government will consider all viable propositions for securing the long term and sustainable future of Grangemouth industrial cluster including all opportunities that support securing new investment, highly skilled jobs and sustainable economic development.

As the owner of the site, Petroineos holds responsibility for any liabilities associated with remediation and would be expected to work with the relevant authorities to ensure compliance with all applicable environmental, planning and regulatory requirements.

Scottish Government recognise the unique challenges New Scots face, including the recognition of overseas qualifications. This is a known barrier to employment.

Through the New Scots strategy, a strategy involving wider partners including those involved in employability support, a number of partners including third sector and local authorities are working with New Scots to support the recognition of their qualifications.

People displaced from Ukraine who live in Scotland are covered by the Scottish Government’s New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy. Recognition of qualifications is a known barrier to employment for New Scots.

As mentioned in the response to PQ S6W-42431 on 17 December 2025, it is ultimately for the professions’ independent regulators to determine the process for recognition of relevant qualifications and experience for professionally qualified New Scots, including displaced people from Ukraine.

Action 3.4 of the New Scots Delivery Plan covers working with Scottish professional bodies to understand and promote recognition pathways for industries and identified sectors.

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 listing by Historic Environment Scotland (HES) recognises the historical importance of HMP Barlinnie, not only to our prisons and criminal justice system, but to Scotland as a whole.

Following this listing, HES and other relevant bodies will advise on its implications for the future of HMP Barlinnie, its permissible uses and alterations, and the Scottish Prison Service and the Scottish Government will take time to carefully consider this.