Chamber and committees

No, people who do not install or use the planned digital public services app will still be able to access all relevant public services through alternative channels.

I refer the member to the answers to questions S6W-42039 and S6W-42047 on 1 December 2025.

We are analysing the output from the consultation on the next NIFS contract and will publish this in due course, including the responses in relation to fares, which will help inform future fares policy.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that children and young people in Scotland are safe and supported in their online lives. We recognise the significant risks posed by harmful online content and the importance of robust regulation to protect children from exploitation, abuse, and exposure to inappropriate material.

We also recognise that real progress can only be achieved through partnership working, bringing together the knowledge, skills and expertise required to prevent and reduce the effects of online harm, informed by lived experience.

To help prevent violence, including online, and reduce its harm, the Scottish Government supports the work of multiple cross sector partnerships with justice, education, health and across communities. This includes the work of the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit, Medics Against Violence and Youthlink Scotland, who have collaborated to create a Quit Fighting for Likes campaign to support front line practitioners working with young people, to encourage conversations about their online experiences, including discussions on the impact of filming and sharing harmful violent content online.

In 2024, the Scottish Government established the National Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Strategic Group - gov.scot, which comprises of operational partners, including Police Scotland, and other expert stakeholders from the statutory, third-sector, academic and service delivery organisations, to review current actions and agree where additional focus is needed to better protect children from abuse and exploitation, including online-enabled harm. This group’s overarching priority is prevention and will work together to identify priorities and actions to more effectively prevent, disrupt and provide support to victims of child sexual abuse and their families, including those facing online harms.

In January 2025, I announced the establishment of an Online Safety Taskforce to strengthen our approach to keeping children safe online, providing oversight and direction to work being undertaken across Scottish Government, and identifying what more can be done to protect children and young people. A responsibility that I and the Minister for Victims and Community Safety as Ministerial leads take very seriously.

The Taskforce is currently considering how engagement on the government’s overarching approach to online harm can be enhanced further to support a more joined up dialogue with stakeholders including the third sector and those with lived experience.

The Scottish Government do not hold the information being requested. Building owners or those responsible for its management have the responsibility for maintenance and repair, including as a consequence of storm damage.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

SPS work collaboratively with key partners such as Scottish Drugs Forum, Crew 2000 and Scottish Recovery Consortium to enhance and develop approaches to deliver consistent recovery pathways and diversionary activities that support integration back into our communities.

The SPS Alcohol & Drug Strategy, published in January 2025, provides a framework for improving outcomes for those living in prison through the prevention and reduction of alcohol and drug related harm to inspire positive change.

Furthermore, NHS and SPS Staff continue to work together to promote and support access to the Prison to Rehab Pathway, ensuring that people in our care are aware of innovative projects and structured programmes designed to support them on their recovery journey.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41817 on 25 November 2025. 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 have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

The healthcare provisions within Scottish Prisons have been the responsibility of NHS since 2011, this includes but is not limited to, the delivery of Alcohol and Drug services and all clinical assessments used to develop individual care plans or referrals. SPS are therefore unable to provide the information required.

SPS do however work collaboratively with key partners such as NHS, Scottish Drugs Forum, Crew 2000 and Scottish Recovery Consortium to enhance and develop approaches to deliver consistent recovery pathways that support integration back into our communities.

Furthermore, NHS and SPS Staff continue to work together to promote and support access to the Prison to Rehab Pathway, ensuring that people in our care are aware of innovative projects and structured programmes designed to support them on their recovery journey.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

The Scottish Prison Service does not record instances of drug misuse. Included in the following table are incidents of Drug Possession:

I refer the member to the answer to S6W-36643 on 2 May 2025 for further information on Scottish Water’s investment strategy.

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.