Chamber and committees

Four adverts were created to increase public awareness of the government’s programme;

- Programme for Government – overall summary

- Programme for Government – Parental focus

- Programme for Government – Health focus

- Programme for Government - Net Zero focus

Each had a video and a static, so eight adverts in total.

The 52-week ambition discussed in Committee evidence relates to onshore wind farm applications under the Onshore Wind Sector Deal. The position for offshore wind projects is different and is set out below.

Best efforts are made to meet determination timeline of 12 months from initial application, excluding time taken to receive and consult upon Additional Information, as required under the EIA regulations. We are clear that more complex applications may take longer. Of the current live offshore windfarm applications, 10 of 13 are currently projected to be determined within 12 months, excluding time to receive and consult upon Additional Information and resolution of other complexities.

The 52-week ambition discussed in Committee evidence relates to onshore wind farm applications under the Onshore Wind Sector Deal. The position for offshore wind projects is different and is set out below.

The average determination timeline for the 15 offshore windfarm applications determined by Scottish Ministers since 2015 is 11 months excluding any time taken to receive and consult upon Additional Information, as required under the EIA regulations. The average determination time for applications that exceeded 12 months was 17 months, excluding any time taken to receive and consult upon Additional Information.

The ownership and operation of gas distribution infrastructure are the responsibility of gas network operators, subject to the relevant regulatory framework.

Neither the Scottish Government nor its Warmer Homes Scotland managing agent, Warmworks, collects or holds information on whether properties that withdraw from the scheme have looped electricity service connections.

Information on the economic status of those aged 16 to 24 is available from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Annual Population Survey. The latest data on the economic inactivity rates for 16 to 24 year olds was published in the latest Scotland’s Labour Market Insights publication. This shows that an estimated 37.7% of 16 to 24 year olds in Scotland were economically inactive in April 2025 to March 2026. This equates to around 210,800 young people aged 16 to 24.

The ONS Annual Population Survey also indicates that an estimated 74.0% of economically inactive 16 to 24 year olds were classed as students in April 2025 to March 2026.

The latest Scotland’s Labour Market Insights report can be accessed on the Scottish Government website:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/scotlands-labour-market-insights-july-2026/

Information on the economic status of those aged 20 to 24 is available from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Annual Population Survey. These estimates have greater volatility compared to those for 16 to 24 year olds estimates due to smaller sample sizes for this age group. The latest data indicates that an estimated 27.3% of 20 to 24 year olds in Scotland were economically inactive in April 2025 to March 2026. This was similar to the inactivity rate in April 2024 to March 2025 (27.4%).

The Skills Development Scotland (SDS) 16+ Participation Portal holds up-to-date participation information on 16 to 24-year-olds that can be shared securely between partners for service delivery purposes, including Local Authorities, Colleges, the Scottish Funding Council, the Student Awards Agency Scotland and the Department for Work and Pensions. The information is used for operational purposes to monitor and support young people aged 16 to 24, and allows key partners to coordinate services targeting young people who are at risk of disengaging from education, training or the labour market.

The Scottish Government is committed to reducing the number of young people aged 16 to 24 who are not in employment, education or training (NEET) by helping them access the opportunities and support they need to achieve positive and sustainable outcomes.

We can confirm that the remit for the study is as follows: a high-level desk top based feasibility study focussing on the technical challenges and opportunities for running tram trains on the South-Suburban line.

The outputs of the study will be published when complete.

The Terms of Reference for this feasibility study will be published in due course.

We would expect the outcome of the feasibility study to be published by May 2027. The recently announced feasibility study into the use of tram trains on the Edinburgh Suburban Line is planned to take 9 months to complete.