Chamber and committees

The First Minister and I had ministerial oversight for the campaign.

The total spend on billboard advertising was £63,207.

None.

The campaign spend for social media adverts was £61,084 on Meta only.

The spend on advertising slots on linear TV, broken down by broadcaster is as follows -

STV £156,027

ITV Breakfast Scot £8,260

C4 Scotland £13,992

The reallocation of ministerial responsibility for determining energy consents occurred as follows:

On 17 December 2025 I wrote to the First Minister, stating that I would be able to more effectively engage with communities on onshore energy policy if the ministerial responsibility for determining consents was transferred to the Minister for Public Finance.

On 18 December 2025 the First Minister replied in agreement and confirmed the transfer of ministerial responsibility.

On 19 December 2025 I wrote to the Convener of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee to inform the Committee of the transfer of ministerial responsibility.

Executive Pay in Scottish Water is a decision for its Board. In their decision making they take into consideration public sector pay policy, including Scottish Government’s pay policy for Chief Executives. Executive pay rates are published within Scottish Water's annual accounts which are publicly available.

A report was laid before the Scottish Parliament in June 2024 regarding the operation of the administrative arrangements that the Scottish Ministers have made for the carrying out of their forestry functions under the Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Act 2018. A copy of the report can be found here: Administrative arrangements made by Scottish Ministers for the carrying out of their functions under the Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Act 2018 | Scottish Forestry

The report sets out the history and reconfirms the arrangements for and operation of the two separate executive agencies, Scottish Forestry and Forestry and Land Scotland, including their respective duties and functions.

As at 1 June 2025, and based on the Billing System Snapshot, an annual property-level data return provided to the Scottish Government by councils, it does not appear that any Small Business Bonus Scheme relief was awarded to any shootings or deer forests held by Forestry Land Scotland, National Trust Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, NatureScot, Crown Estate Scotland, local authorities or other public agencies. We do not therefore anticipate any material impact on these bodies from removing eligibility for Small Business Bonus Scheme relief for shootings and deer forests (subject to prescribed exceptions).

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43079 on 29 January 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