Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government recognises that Multiple Sclerosis is a lifelong condition which can affect people differently and can progress over time.

Our person-centred approach accounts for fluctuating and progressive conditions. Adult Disability Payment reviews are tailored to people’s circumstances, making sure they receive the appropriate support for their level of need. Existing information is considered, along with any new information gathered at review, to support the right decisions being made first time.

We have also introduced indefinite awards for people with the highest level of needs which are highly unlikely to change. This helps to avoid the stress and anxiety associated with reviews while providing long-term financial security.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00433 on 9 June 2026 which sets out our planned enhancements to the disability benefit review process. 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.

This is a matter for ScotRail, as the train operator. The member may wish to contact ScotRail directly to request this information.

The Scottish Government recognises the wide range of careers available in the horticultural sector, and the importance of effective training and educational pathways to deliver a workforce equipped with the skills and expertise demanded by the sector.

In 2026-27 the Scottish Government is investing over £2.4 bn in our post-school education and skills system, supporting the delivery of horticulture provision at education providers across the west of Scotland, including Ayrshire College, Glasgow Clyde College, New College Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire College. While colleges and universities operate independently of Government, with responsibility for their own course provision, we recognise and support collaborative work between those sectors and industry to address horticulture skills needs.

The Scottish Government also funds the 2026-27 Lantra workplan, which supports diverse and rewarding career development in the land-based sectors, including horticulture across Scotland, the UK and Ireland. Scottish Government officials continue to attend regular Horticulture Skills Group meetings, which provide an opportunity for further and higher education institutions to connect with employers, local authorities and other organisations.

While the Scottish Government does not currently offer regional specific support for horticulture education provision, we have supported and endorsed the development of Regional Economic Partnerships (REPs). These partnerships will seek to unlock new powers, and design delivery models tailored to local priorities. This could include powers in areas such as skills, further education, economic development and planning.

The Scottish Government recognises the role that journalism plays in supporting democratic participation, informing communities and holding public bodies and institutions to account.

That is why in 2021, the Scottish Government established the Public Interest Journalism Working Group to consider the long-term sustainability of public interest journalism in Scotland.

Following this, a Steering Group was established with the aim of transitioning into a Scottish Public Interest Journalism Initiative, with a remit to support and grow the sector. The Initiative has now been registered at Companies House, enabling it to commission research, develop partnerships and explore potential funding opportunities. The Group's membership comprises representatives from across the public interest news sector and is supported by a Scottish Government secretariat.

While there are currently no plans to establish a Scottish equivalent of the UK Government's Local News Fund, the Scottish Government remains committed to supporting a diverse, sustainable and representative media landscape and will continue to engage with the sector on opportunities to strengthen and support public interest journalism in Scotland.

The Digital, Data and Technology (DDAT) pay supplement was replaced following a review with a new Government Digital and Data (GDD) pay supplement aligned to the UK Civil Service profession framework. Pay supplements are temporary measures, subject to regular review, and are retained, amended or withdrawn based on evidence of recruitment and retention pressures. The review concluded that pay supplements should continue to be applied where there is evidence of recruitment and retention challenges linked to market conditions. As a result, roles where higher external salaries create difficulties in attracting and retaining suitably skilled staff continue to attract a pay supplement at an appropriate market rate.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken a feasibility study for a Demolition Levy. The Scottish Government currently has no plans to introduce a Demolition Levy and while the Scottish Government share concerns around carbon emissions from demolition and the preservation of the built environment, the Scottish Government believes the most straight forward response would be for the UK Government to address any VAT imbalances which disincentivise reuse, retrofitting and refurbishment.

I refer the Member to answers to the previous Parliamentary Questions: S6W-35719 published on 26 March 2025, and S6O-03838 published on 10 October 2024. All answers to Parliamentary Questions are available on the Scottish Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

The Scottish Government is continuing preparations for a consultation on electoral reform to be published in the autumn of this year.

The appointment of financial institutions to the framework supporting the Scottish Government’s multi-year bond programme marks an important milestone as the programme moves into its next phase.

All appointments were made through a procurement process conducted in line with procurement regulations, policy and law. On 25 June 2026, the Scottish Government announced the appointment of nine banks to a framework that will support delivery of its bond programme during this parliamentary term. HSBC, Bank of America, NatWest, and RBC were appointed as joint bookrunners for the inaugural bond issuance.

In response to the situation in Gaza, the Scottish Government has consistently advocated for peace, justice, and human rights, and will continue to do what it can to support a rapid resolution to the conflict and to alleviate the suffering of the most vulnerable. The First Minister met Palestinian Ambassador to the UK, Dr Husam Zomlot, on 27 July and discussed the situation in Gaza and the West Bank. During the meeting, the First Minister announced a further £500,000 funding to support access to food, healthcare, clean water and shelter.

Pay supplements are operational matters for the Scottish Government Civil Service and are, by design, temporary and subject to periodic review. They are typically approved for a fixed term of up to three years and may be continued, varied, or withdrawn based on the outcome of that review. These supplements are attached to specific roles rather than individuals and are used to address recruitment and retention pressures in areas where market conditions require it.