Chamber and committees

As More Homes Scotland is currently being established, arrangements for monitoring and evaluating its performance remain under development. Appropriate governance, accountability and scrutiny arrangements will assess the agency’s effectiveness and impact, including its contribution to increasing housing supply, delivering affordable homes and addressing homelessness.

The Scottish Government is carefully considering the findings and recommendations of Environmental Standards Scotland (ESS) contained in its report Protecting Scotland’s Seafloor: an assessment of Scottish Ministers’ implementation of the Marine Strategy Regulations 2010, and will work constructively with ESS to seek to agree an appropriate action plan within the timescale suggested in the report.

The Scottish Government will set out its position on the report's findings and recommendations through that engagement and in its formal response, updating the Scottish Parliament as appropriate in this respect.

The Scottish Government greatly values the contribution made by military veterans and recognises the importance of supporting the Armed Forces community.

Veterans resident in Scotland are eligible to access the existing National Concessionary Travel Schemes where they meet the existing age or disability-related eligibility criteria, including those relating to mobility, injury, or receipt of specific benefits.

Veterans can also access discounted rail travel through the Veterans Railcard, which is available across Great Britain and provides one-third off most rail fares.

As part of the Scottish Government’s response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report, a full review of Section 2 (Fire) of the building standards will strengthen, and not weaken, fire safety standards in Scotland. This review is being informed by a Call for Evidence, undertaken between 16 January and 10 April 2026, which will identify fire safety priorities for review. The review will be advised by an independent expert panel, and supported by targeted research and stakeholder engagement. These measures will ensure that future changes are evidence-based, technically robust and improve fire safety outcomes.

BS 8414 testing and BR 135 assessments were removed as an alternative compliance route for buildings covered by the combustible cladding ban in 2022. BS 8414 remains available for buildings outside the ban’s scope.

In response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report, a wider review of fire safety standards is underway, informed by recent evidence, UK Government research on BS 8414 and developments in fire performance testing.

National Concessionary Travel Schemes reimbursement rates are negotiated annually between Transport Scotland and the Confederation of Passenger Transport on behalf of bus operators, using an agreed economic model. The model is updated annually to take into account the latest developments in fares, operating costs, passenger behaviours and travel demand, to ensure that the rates are set to leave operators financially no better and no worse off for their participation in the schemes. The model uses a weighted average fare, which reflects the fares and relative volume of concessionary journeys made on all services under the scheme.

Transport Scotland officials are engaging with UK Department for Transport regarding its proposed amendments to the UK Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016, including side road zebra crossings as noted in the UK Government’s response to Wendy Chamberlain MP, UIN 469.

Should it be established that side road zebra crossings are appropriate for use in Scotland, their incorporation in Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 as it applies in Scotland is intended. Scottish Ministers are yet to determine what other amendments will be progressed. Any amendments would be subject to consultation.

Transport Scotland is responsible for the management and maintenance of the strategic trunk road network, including motorways, on behalf of Scottish Ministers. It operates a centralised database system for the use of term maintenance contractors to record potholes on the trunk road network.

Local authorities have a duty under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 to manage and maintain local roads in their area and duties under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to secure expeditious, convenient and safe movement of traffic.

Local Authorities hold information on defects recorded on their roads and the Scottish Government has no plans to collect centralised data with regards to the number of potholes on the local road network.

Each project specific Seabird Compensation Plan is considered on case by case basis in line with regulation and relevant guidance – it would not be appropriate to comment further on the content of individual Seabird Compensation Plans until they are submitted. There is nothing in regulations to preclude Seabird Compensation Plans including compensation measures delivered outside Scotland or the UK as long as it can be demonstrated that the compensatory measures proposed benefit the UK Marine Protected Area network.

The recommended community benefit fund level for solar developments will be set out in the refreshed Good Practice Principles for Community Benefits from Onshore Renewable Energy Developments. Decisions on implementation arrangements, including when any revised recommended fund levels should take effect, are subject to Ministerial approval.

The Good Practice Principles are non-statutory guidance and the recommended community benefit fund levels are voluntary. The Scottish Government continues to call on the UK Government to use its reserved powers to mandate community benefits for mature onshore renewable energy technologies.