Chamber and committees

Supporting Scotland’s workforce to develop the skills needed for the transition to Net Zero is a key priority for this Government, with colleges playing a pivotal role.

To enable delivery, the Scottish Funding Council allocates an annual credit threshold to each college based on established pattern of provision. Colleges use this funding to offer learning opportunities that reflect regional priorities and align with their own business plans. The SFC have also introduced a Curriculum Transformation Framework to allow colleges to use credits flexibly to support skills priorities in their areas. The Scottish Government doesn’t hold information on credit distributions.

Alongside this, this Government funds a range of initiatives to strengthen the college sector’s capacity to deliver the skills required for a Just Transition. For example, the Energy Skills Partnership, the National Energy Skills Accelerator (NESA), and the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) Academy – supported through SFC funding – strengthening connections between colleges and industry, enabling colleges to embed cutting-edge green skills into their curricula and respond quickly to emerging workforce needs.

We are also investing directly in skills development though targeted programmes for a just transition to Net Zero. For example, the Just Transition Fund for the North east and Moray has provided £4.5 million for the Energy Transition Skills Hub in Aberdeen, which will equip North East Scotland workforce for the demands of the energy transition.

Information relating to the number of buildings which have had remedial works carried out as a result of a Single Building Assessment is published on the Scottish Government’s website as Official Statistics in development on a monthly and quarterly basis.

The Scottish Government provides support to individuals facing redundancy through our initiative Partnership Action for Continuing Employment, PACE. By providing skills development and employability support, PACE aims to minimise the time individuals affected by redundancy are out of work and it supports both individuals and employers.

PACE records are available from 2010, and figures requested are in the following table.

The number of homelessness applications from former members of the armed forces, broken down by local authority, is published in Table 2 (T2) of the Veteran homelessness workbook available on the Scottish Government homelessness statistics webpage here:

Homelessness in Scotland: veteran homelessness - gov.scot

Data is not available prior to April 2007 as this is when data collection began.

The Scottish Government, along with all other UK nations, relies on advice about screening programmes from the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), an independent expert advisory group. The UK NSC does not currently recommend prostate screening, and therefore there are no plans at present to introduce a national prostate cancer screening programme.

In its November 2020 review, the committee concluded that the available evidence did not support the introduction of prostate cancer screening, primarily due to the absence of a sufficiently accurate test and single effective treatment for early-stage cases. The UK NSC is currently reviewing the evidence. Should screening be recommended as a result, the organisations that oversee screening will advise Scottish Ministers on how to take that recommendation forward.

In the meantime, following a roundtable discussion with Sir Chris Hoy in August this year, the First Minister has commissioned the Chief Medical Officer for Scotland to chair a clinician-led short life working group to explore how we can support those with prostate cancer in Scotland.

It remains important that men and those with a prostate should speak to their GP if they are concerned they have possible symptoms. There is a list of symptoms available on the NHS website: Prostate cancer - About Prostate Cancer | NHS inform

The Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 (“the 2001 Act”) provides a discretionary power for local authorities to implement local road user charging schemes. It will be for local authorities to undertake any required assessments if they consider a road user charging scheme appropriate to support the outcomes of their local transport strategies. Should any local authority seek to develop any scheme, they are required under the 2001 Act to carry out consultation including with those organisations representing persons or individuals that are likely to be affected by any provisions in any proposed charging scheme.

The Scottish Government continues to support the promotion of improvements to Sheriffhall Roundabout as part of its £300 million commitment to the Edinburgh and South-East Scotland City Region Deal.

Following publication of the draft Orders and Environmental Statement, Transport Scotland received a significant number of representations, including over 2,700 objections, to the proposed scheme. Given the number of objections, a Public Local Inquiry (PLI) was held from 31 January to 8 February 2023 during which the appointed independent Reporter heard evidence from objectors and Transport Scotland (as the Promoter).

The PLI Reporter has submitted her conclusions and recommendations to the Scottish Government, and this is currently under active consideration before advice is provided to and a decision made by Scottish Ministers on whether to complete the statutory process.

Ministers will update Parliament as soon as possible, which will follow the advice of officials and is still awaited. It is only right that my officials take the appropriate time to consider the significant number of objections received, along with the conclusions and recommendations made by the Reporter, prior to providing advice to Ministers.

I am of course keen to see progress made, however, it is essential that due process is followed. The statutory right for individuals to have their say on the proposals, and for these to be fully considered, cannot be set aside.

The Carer’s Assistance (Miscellaneous and Consequential Amendments, Revocation, Transitional and Saving Provisions) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 were passed by Parliament on 5 November 2025. From 15 March 2026, they extend entitlement to Carer Support Payment, Scottish Carer Supplement, and Carer Additional Person Payment for 12 weeks after the cared for person dies. As a result, unpaid carers in Scotland will get over £350 in extra support when compared to people receiving Carer’s Allowance, which is paid for 8 weeks after the cared for person dies, in the rest of the UK.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41574 on 7 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 refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41574 on 7 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.