Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government recognises the Heriot Watt University report as a valuable contribution to understanding the potential international scale of offshore wind deployment in the North Sea.

The Orkney Ferry Replacement Task Force last met on 29 January 2026 and minutes of that meeting are published on the Transport Scotland website.

The Scottish Government will publish a summary of responses to the compulsory purchase reform consultation shortly, and will provide an update on the reform programme in line with our commitment for the first 100 days of government.

Budgets are set annually by the Scottish Parliament: The Scottish Budget Process | Scottish Parliament Website

The Scottish Budget incorporates all money expected to be received from the Barnett determined block grant, borrowing, taxes raised in Scotland and other sources of income including the expected income from the sale of shared equity, which will include from First Homes Fund. This anticipated income then provides the framework for the spending decisions made by Scottish Ministers and set out in the Scottish budget which is then scrutinised voted on by the Scottish parliament.

The Scottish Budget 2026 to 2027 includes anticipated Financial Transaction (FT) Receipts of £80 million which support the Affordable Housing Supply Programme FT budget of £163.4 million. Please refer to the Housing Tab in the supporting Level 4 Workbooks 2026-27 Supporting documents - Scottish Budget 2026 to 2027 - gov.scot.

174 loans were paid out through the Equity Loan Pilot. 31 have been repaid, leaving 143 to be repaid.

The repayment of a loan provided through the scheme is made when the loanee sells the property or if there is a transfer of ownership.

The following table outlines how many homes are proposed to be built as part of successful applications for the Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme (VDLIP). The VDLIP provides funding to cover capital costs associated with remediating and unblocking long-term vacant and derelict land sites. Additional funding to support the delivery of new homes, where this is part of the project proposals, is considered as a part of the application process by the independent investment panel. Funding also supports place making, infrastructure and public realm as part of wider of housing developments.

The Scottish Government does not hold data about the number of homes sold through matchmaker schemes. This includes the Matchmaker Scheme for Empty Homes in Scotland - Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, launched by the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership last year, as well as local schemes run by some individual local authorities such as Aberdeen City. We are aware that some local schemes are being discontinued in favour of supporting the national scheme.

The Scottish Government continues to engage with road authorities across Scotland to monitor the impact of 20 mph speed limits, including analysing evidence from areas where these limits have been implemented.

Evidence specific to Scotland indicates that 20 mph limits are contributing to reductions in vehicle speeds, collisions and casualties. Findings from early adopters, including Scottish Borders Council, support these conclusions with a 70% reduction in collisions on 20 mph and 30 mph roads. This is demonstrating improved safety outcomes for all road users, particularly vulnerable road users, where limits have been appropriately introduced and assessed.

The Scottish Government will continue to monitor these impacts as part of broader efforts to deliver Scotland’s Road Safety Framework.

Further information on the impact of 20 mph speed limits can be found at: Scottish Borders Council - 20 mph Peer Review - Scotlands Road Safety Framework

The Scottish Government has no evidence that 20 mph speed limits increase fuel consumption. Evidence from Scotland and internationally shows that 20 mph speed limits reduce vehicle speeds. Lower, more consistent speeds can reduce harsh acceleration and braking which can lead to a range of benefits, including smoother traffic flows and a reduction in vehicle emissions.

Local authorities have a duty under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 to manage and maintain local roads and associated infrastructure in their area. The Scottish Government does not make assessments on local authority inspection procedures or hold details of any lapsed inspections or assessments of their infrastructure.