Chamber and committees

Public bodies are required to ensure delivery models achieve best value and meet the needs of the communities they serve. Decisions on whether services are delivered in-house or outsourced are a strategic matter for Scottish public bodies, taken through established commissioning and business planning processes.

While there is no single mandated public interest test in Scotland presently, the underlying principle of early, evidence-based assessment of delivery options are reflected in existing frameworks, with the Scottish Public Finance Manual and business case development processes supporting evidence-based decisions. These include consideration of value for money, affordability, risk, skills, capacity and wider impacts.

The Scottish Government keeps its approach to service delivery under review as part of its wider programme of public service reform. As part of this, we are currently exploring the opportunity to introduce a public interest test to further support make or buy decisions.

There are various national policies and guidance documents currently in place which require NHS Health Boards to appropriately record and report incidents of violence and aggression, including sexual assault. This includes the Work-related Violence and Aggression Policy, and accompanying guides, which details the responsibilities of staff and managers, the procedures for reporting incidents and the support available to those affected. We have also published the NHS Public Protection Accountability and Assurance Framework, which sets out exemplar evidence of high-quality, safe and effective services that promote the protection of adults and children. Where there is concern about potential harm to a child, the National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland makes clear that all concerns that a child has been abused or is at risk of abuse must be reported to the police or social work.

Sexual assaults occurring in our hospitals is unacceptable, and all Health Boards are expected to uphold their legal duties as employers to keep staff, patients and visitors safe. All crimes and instances of violent behaviour, including sexual assaults, should be reported to Police Scotland. The courts have extensive powers to deal robustly with sexual offending.

The Scottish Government respects the independence of Local Government and the role of individual local authorities – as independent corporate bodies with their own powers and responsibilities – to manage their own budgets and workforce, including in relation to outsourcing of specific roles or services. As such, the Scottish Government has not made any assessment of the impact of outsourcing by local authorities. However, the Scottish Government would expect all local authorities to make decisions that meet their responsibility to secure value for money.

Reports of rape and sexual assaults in hospitals are very concerning. Such incidents are abhorrent and we encourage all victims to report sexual crime to the police, including those that may have happened some time ago. Health Boards have legal duties to keep staff, patients and visitors safe. Health Boards are expected to record all incidences of assaults using their local reporting systems and escalate to Police Scotland, where appropriate.

Investigation of sexual assault and rape is an operational matter for Police Scotland who are accountable to the Scottish Police Authority.

The recording of information on the profile of sexual assault and rape perpetrators is an operational matter for Police Scotland, and any such incident should be reported to them to ensure victims can access the justice they deserve. Beyond this, Health Boards have a legal duty to record data on violence and aggression within their estates, and the Scottish Government expects them to have the necessary reporting systems in place to do this.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of ensuring public services deliver best value and this is at the core of the Public Service Reform strategy.

Public bodies are supported to consider all delivery models, including insourcing where appropriate. However, decisions on whether services are delivered in-house or externally are for individual bodies, based on their assessment of value for money, delivery confidence and outcomes.

The Scottish Government has established and signposts guidance to support best value decisions which includes the Scottish Public Finance Manual and Public Service Reform Frameworks.

The Oil and Gas Transition Training Fund (TTF), currently in its 2025-26 pilot phase and delivered by Skills Development Scotland, supports eligible oil and gas workers with careers advice and funding for training to access roles across a range of sustainable energy sectors. This includes roles in electricity grids, distribution and transmission.

It is for individuals applying to the TTF to set the overall direction of their application and therefore the sector(s) they may wish to access following training. This flexibility allows workers to assess their options, supported by expert careers advice, based on their experience, existing skill set, aspirations and the availability of jobs in their area.

In October 2025, the Scottish and UK Governments announced joint funding of up to £18 million to extend and expand the TTF over financial years 2026-27, 2027-28 and 2028-29.

The Scottish Government does not routinely provide financial support to SSE plc or its subsidiaries. Electricity networks are a regulated industry, with Ofgem, the GB energy regulator, responsible for regulation.

The Scottish Government understands that SSEN has now put in place its frameworks with contract partners. These frameworks will enable partners to bid for specific projects. This process will define the precise nature and the grade of roles created.