Chamber and committees

Scotland remains committed to being a leader and bridge builder on climate justice. This includes by convening and influencing at international events, to champion climate justice and amplify Global South voices.

We have previously incorporated debt justice within our climate justice advocacy positions: advocating prior to, during and after COP29 for a proportion of the UNFCCC Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage to be ringfenced so as to make finance directly available to communities in the form of grants, not loans. As a government we are currently scoping opportunities to increase the strength and reach of our advocacy on the issue of the global climate debt crisis, including at key upcoming international events.

Scotland remains committed to being a leader and bridge builder on climate justice. This includes by convening and influencing at international events, to champion climate justice and amplify Global South voices.

We have previously incorporated debt justice within our climate justice advocacy positions: advocating prior to, during and after COP29 for a proportion of the UNFCCC Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage to be ringfenced so as to make finance directly available to communities in the form of grants, not loans. As a government we are currently scoping opportunities to increase the strength and reach of our advocacy on the issue of the global climate debt crisis, including at key upcoming international events.

Scotland remains committed to being a leader and bridge builder on climate justice. This includes by convening and influencing at international events, to champion climate justice and amplify Global South voices.

We have previously incorporated debt justice within our climate justice advocacy positions: advocating prior to, during and after COP29 for a proportion of the UNFCCC Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage to be ringfenced so as to make finance directly available to communities in the form of grants, not loans. As a government we are currently scoping opportunities to increase the strength and reach of our advocacy on the issue of the global climate debt crisis, including at key upcoming international events.

Scotland remains committed to being a leader and bridge builder on climate justice. This includes by convening and influencing at international events, to champion climate justice and amplify Global South voices.

We have previously incorporated debt justice within our climate justice advocacy positions: advocating prior to, during and after COP29 for a proportion of the UNFCCC Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage to be ringfenced so as to make finance directly available to communities in the form of grants, not loans. As a government we are currently scoping opportunities to increase the strength and reach of our advocacy on the issue of the global climate debt crisis, including at key upcoming international events.

The Scottish Government has yet to make a decision whether to attend the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) in Seville, Spain between 30 June and 3 July 2025. Scotland recognises the importance of international cooperation and collaboration to drive progress towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in the current geopolitical environment. As a government we continue to scope for opportunities to increase the strength and reach of our advocacy on emerging global challenges and contribute to the fight against poverty, injustice and inequality internationally, including at key upcoming international events.

Scotland aims to maintain strong leadership in our commitment to good global citizenship and our solidarity with communities acutely affected by climate disasters, disease and conflict around the world through its International Development and Climate Justice programmes, as evidenced by the maintenance of existing commitments in the current Programme for Government.

Officials spoke with Glasgow City Council on 27 February 2025 following the decision to retract the proposal to close the Glasgow School of Sport. The Scottish Government understands that the proposal is no longer under active consideration.

In 2020-2021, there was a total of £118.9m spent on accommodation-based services for children and young people. A breakdown by provider is not available for this year.

In 2021-2022 there was a total of £133.4 million spent on accommodation-based services for children and young people. This can be broken down to £110.5 million for care homes run by the council and £22.9 million for care homes not run by the council. A further breakdown by voluntary and private providers is not available.

In 2022-2023 there was a total of £139.6 million spent on accommodation-based services for children and young people. This can be broken down to £115 million for care homes run by the council and £24.6 million for care homes not run by the council. A further breakdown by voluntary and private providers is not available.

The data for 2023-2024 will be published in February 2025.

The Care Inspectorate publish quarterly statistics which includes the numbers of registered care services in Scotland. The link to the most recent statistics, published on 15 August 2024, can be found here:

https://www.careinspectorate.com/index.php/publications-statistics/219-statistics-and-data/statistics/quarterly-statistical-reports/quarterly-statistical-summary-report-qtr-1-2024-25

These show that, as at 30 June 2024, there are 353 residential care services in Scotland (to note this does not include residential schools). This is made up of 115 local authority services, 166 private services, 71 voluntary/not for profit services and 1 health board.

Fostering services in Scotland can be owned and operated by local authorities, or third sector not-for-profit organisations. The Care Inspectorate publish quarterly statistics, which includes the number of registered fostering agencies in Scotland. The most recent data was published on 15 August 2024, there are 57 fostering services in Scotland registered with the Care Inspectorate, made up of 32 local authority services and 25 voluntary/not-for-profit organisations.

The link to the most recent statistics is here:

Quarterly Statistical Summary Report - Qtr 1 (2024/25) (careinspectorate.com)

I am giving careful consideration into how remaining ScotWind funding should be deployed in both the current and future years. Through our emergency controls and savings announced on 3 September, I will seek to minimise usage of ScotWind in 2024-25.

Successive Scottish budgets have demonstrated Scotland’s commitment to addressing the climate change crisis, using all the power and resources at our disposal to accelerate the just transition to a net zero, climate-resilient and biodiverse Scotland.

Funding and spending decisions for 2025-26 will be set out in the 2025-26 Scottish Budget in December.