Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government will deliver this commitment through a refresh of the Good Practice Principles for Community Benefits from Onshore Renewable Developments (GPPs), building on proposals set out in the working paper Onshore renewable energy: refreshing the Good Practice Principles for community benefits, published on 18 February 2026. These proposals include updated recommendations on community benefit fund levels, clearer expectations across different technologies and development types, and measures to strengthen the guidance, tools and support available to communities. Officials are currently considering feedback received on these proposals. Subject to the completion of this work, the Scottish Government plans to publish the refreshed Good Practice Principles before the end of 2026.

The Scottish Government is committed to strengthening Scotland’s international presence, in line with commitments set out in the manifesto, with the number of Scotland Houses expanded to over forty by the end of the Parliament.

An expanded Scotland House network will play an important role in attracting investment, supporting jobs and economic growth, and promoting Scottish Government priorities while helping Scottish businesses and key sectors access international opportunities.

Work is underway to develop options for delivery of these commitments, including consideration of future Scotland House locations. Decisions will be announced, and projected costs will be published, in due course.

Since taking up the post of Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport, I have met formally with the STUC and some of their affiliated trade unions.

I attended a meeting with GMB and Unite on 2 July and with GMB on 8 July in relation to economic development. On 22 July I met with Unite to discuss matters related to energy industries. I met with ASLEF, RMT, TSSA, Unite and STUC on 29 July in relation to rail. On the same day I also attended an introductory meeting with Rozanne Foyer, STUC General Secretary.

Additionally, trade unions are often represented on many other forums I engage with such as the recently established National Council for Economic Growth, which last met on 4 August 2026. My Ministerial colleagues also meet regularly with trade unions and the STUC, reflecting their important role as key social and economic partners.

The information provided in this answer is correct at the time of answering but may not reflect any urgent meetings or engagements involving trade union representatives that take place before publication. Information on ministerial engagements is routinely published on the Scottish Government website as part of the Ministerial Engagements publications.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken any specific research comparing the costs of road-building in Scotland with those in other European countries.

However, Transport Scotland monitors the costs of major trunk road projects in Scotland and elsewhere in the UK and considers relevant industry cost information, market conditions and lessons learned from comparable infrastructure projects where appropriate. Transport Scotland also engages with other UK home nation road authorities, which includes discussions on road-building.

Direct comparisons of road-building costs between countries, and even in different locations within Scotland, can be challenging due to many variables, including the differences in type of road (rural, urban, semi-urban); interface with existing roads, railways, rivers and other infrastructure; engineering requirements; terrain and site geology; drainage; environmental mitigation; utility diversions; traffic management; land acquisition costs; legislative frameworks; and market conditions at time of contract award.

Any assessment of road construction costs therefore needs to take account of the particular circumstances of individual projects rather than relying solely on headline cost comparisons.

Information about how the Apprenticeship Accelerator Grant scheme will operate will be set out in due course. Funding for the Apprenticeship Accelerator Grant will be considered as part of preparation for the Scottish Budget 2027-28.

The Scottish Government has not realised a direct financial return from NHS NPD projects, as these projects were procured to deliver infrastructure and services rather than generate investment returns. Any project-specific surplus sharing, refinancing gains or other contractual receipts are managed in accordance with the relevant project agreements and do not result in a direct financial return to the Scottish Government.

Following a Parliamentary motion (S6M-16571) in February 2025, Scottish Enterprise undertook a review of its human rights due diligence checks. The Scottish Government supported this motion, and therefore supported a review undertaken by Scottish Enterprise.

Scottish Government officials remained in close contact with Scottish Enterprise throughout the review, exchanging and providing relevant advice and views where appropriate, including on transparency.

Decisions regarding the publication and disclosure of information held by Scottish Enterprise, including its updated human rights diligence procedure, are ultimately an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise.

It is my understanding however, that Scottish Enterprise does intend to publish its human rights due diligence policy, at a future date.

Following a Parliamentary motion (S6M-16571) in February 2025, Scottish Enterprise undertook a review of its human rights due diligence checks. The Scottish Government supported this motion, and therefore supported a review undertaken by Scottish Enterprise.

Scottish Government officials remained in close contact with Scottish Enterprise throughout its review, exchanging and providing relevant advice and views where appropriate. This included in relation to Scottish Government’s own guidance which sets out recommendations on how we, our executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies should undertake appropriate due diligence on companies, including their human rights record, before entering into an "investment relationship" with them. It is however for the accountable officer of each agency and non-departmental public body to ensure that their organisation complies with guidance issued by Scottish ministers.

The former Deputy First Minister updated Parliament in December (S6W-42527 on 11 December 2025) 2025 that Scottish Enterprise had confirmed that its updated human rights due diligence policy and procedure was substantially finalised and being operationalised in a phased manner.

Decisions regarding the publication and disclosure of information held by Scottish Enterprise, including its updated human rights diligence procedure, are ultimately an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise.

It is my understanding however, that Scottish Enterprise does intend to publish its human rights due diligence policy, at a future date.

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.

As of 14 July 2026, at the time of answering, the Energy Consents Unit (ECU) has the following live caseload of development applications which are yet to be determined:

I refer the member to the answers to questions S7W-01423 and S7W-01517 on 28 July 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