Chamber and committees

These are operational matters for Scottish Enterprise. I am advised by Scottish Enterprise that, since 2021-22, Cooperative Development Scotland has provided direct support to a total of 199 employee-owned companies and 94 co-operatives.

The following table shows the number of employee-owned companies and co-operatives that received direct support in each financial year:

Funding allocations within Scottish Enterprise are operational matters for the agency. I am advised by Scottish Enterprise that, through its most recent Letter of Engagement, it has been directed to ensure that it supports social enterprises, co-operatives and employee-owned businesses. Businesses using these models can access wider Scottish Enterprise services, provided they meet the general business criteria for those services.

These are operational matters for Scottish Enterprise. I am advised by Scottish Enterprise that it employs two specialists advisors within the Cooperative Development Scotland team; one for employee ownership and one for co-operative models.

Through our flagship Fair Work First approach, we are applying fair work criteria to public sector grants, other funding and contracts where it is relevant to do so – driving fair work practices across the labour market. As part of this approach, Scottish Enterprise, of which CDS is a part, have committed to Fair Work First principles. There is currently no obligation from Scottish Government for the businesses and organisations supported through CDS to make the same commitment, as CDS does not provide grant funding.

The Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Act 2026, passed by the Scottish Parliament on 10 February, requires public bodies to work together and actively implement the approach more systematically across Scotland by producing local Community Wealth Building Action Plans, and reporting progress. While Co-operative Development Scotland is not a specified public body in the Act, Scottish Enterprise, of which CDS is a part, must work with local authorities and other public bodies within local ‘community wealth building partnerships’ across Scotland to produce local action plans within three years of commencement of the Act. The local partnerships also have a duty to implement the community wealth building plans and report on progress.

I refer the member to the answer to S7W-01438 on 20 July 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01438 on 20 July 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.

Early work on the Commission has begun, with its Chair Fiona Taylor QPM appointed in March 2026.

In terms of next-steps, Ministers will work with Ms Taylor to finalise the Commission’s terms of reference, and a panel of experts will be appointed to support her. The Commission’s first meeting will take place once its members have been appointed. Updates (including the terms of reference) will be provided on the Scottish Government website in due course.

The Commission will undertake its work independently of government.

The Commission will ensure that the value and importance of lived experience is respected and reflected in its approach to gathering and considering evidence to inform its recommendations.

This will include meaningful participation and engagement with people with direct experience of selling/exchanging sex - which will also be reflected in the Commission’s panel of experts.

CMAL, in collaboration with CalMac and Transport Scotland as part of the project working group, are currently reviewing the design and scope of the upgrades required to support the continuation of ferry services to Arran. Based on the current stage of the project; minimal spend is expected within this financial year (2026-27) with increased spend expected within future years from 2027-28 onwards.