- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Stephen Flynn on 20 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings the minister with responsibility for energy has had with representatives of South of Scotland Enterprise since 2024, on what dates, and what was discussed.
Answer
Information regarding ministerial engagements is available on the Scottish Government website and I would refer the member to the following pages:
https://www.gov.scot/collections/ministerial-engagements-travel-and-gifts/.
The minister with responsibility for energy met with South of Scotland Enterprise on the following occasions:
- The Minister for Energy, Just Transition and Fair Work met the Chair and Chief Executive of South of Scotland Enterprise on 26 June 2024 to discuss South of Scotland Enterprise’s activity and relevant portfolio issues.
- The Minister for Energy, Just Transition and Fair Work met the Chair of South of Scotland Enterprise on 8 July 2024 to discuss rural housing.
- The Minister for Energy, Just Transition and Fair Work met the Chair and Chief Executive of South of Scotland Enterprise on 26 September 2024 to discuss South of Scotland Enterprise’s activity and relevant portfolio issues.
- The Minister for Energy, Just Transition and Fair Work met the Chair of South of Scotland Enterprise on 19 September 2024 to discuss Public Service Reform.
- The Minister for Energy, Just Transition and Fair Work met the Chair of South of Scotland Enterprise and a Director of Kight PowerHub BESS (Scotland) on 29 October 2024 to discuss Kight Powerhub’s work.
- The Minister for Energy, Just Transition and Fair Work met the Business Response Team Leader and Digital Transformation Specialists team of Scottish Enterprise, and the Head of Enterprise and Business of South of Scotland Enterprise, on 31 October 2024 to discuss business resilience.
- The Minister for Energy, Just Transition and Fair Work attended the South of Scotland Enterprise Natural Capital Roundtable on 4 December 2024 to discuss natural capital investment.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Stephen Flynn on 20 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings the minister with responsibility for energy has had with representatives of the Scottish National Investment Bank since 2024, on what dates, and what was discussed.
Answer
There have been two meetings between the minister with responsibility for energy and representatives of the Scottish National Investment Bank since 2024.
11 January 2024: Meeting between Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy and the Bank to discuss strategic priorities.
12 March 2024: Meeting between Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy and the Bank. Introductory meeting with Chair and Chief Executive of the Bank to discuss the Bank’s progress to date and ambitions for the future.
You can find information about Ministerial engagements on the Scottish Government website at the following link:
Ministerial engagements, travel and gifts - gov.scot
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Stephen Flynn on 20 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings the minister with responsibility for energy has had with representatives of Highlands and Islands Enterprise since 2024, on what dates, and what was discussed.
Answer
Information regarding ministerial engagements is available on the Scottish Government website and I would refer the member to the following pages:
https://www.gov.scot/collections/ministerial-engagements-travel-and-gifts/.
The minister with responsibility for energy met with Highlands and Islands Enterprise on the following occasions:
- The Minister for Energy, Just Transition and Fair Work met the Chair and Chief Executive of Highlands and Islands Enterprise on 12 July 2024 to discuss economic development.
- The Minister for Energy, Just Transition and Fair Work met the Chief Executive of Highlands and Islands Enterprise on 23 July 2024 to discuss the space sector.
- The Minister for Energy, Just Transition and Fair Work delivered a virtual speech to the Highlands and Islands Enterprise All-Staff Conference on 29 August 2024.
- The Minister for Energy, Just Transition and Fair Work met Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Maree Todd MSP on 14 August 2024 to discuss early learning and childcare.
- The Minister for Energy, Just Transition and Fair Work met Natalie Don MSP and the Chair of Highlands and Islands Enterprise on 14 August 2024 to discuss rural childcare provision.
- The Minister for Energy, Just Transition and Fair Work recorded a video for the Highlands and Islands Enterprise all-staff conference on 11 September 2024.
- The Minister for Energy, Just Transition and Fair Work met the Chair and Chief Executive of Highlands and Islands Enterprise on 26 September 2024 to discuss the agency’s work.
- The Minister for Energy, Just Transition and Fair Work met Highlands and Islands Enterprise on 10 October 2024 to discuss transport.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Reform UK
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Stephen Flynn on 20 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the requirement for disabled National Entitlement Card holders whose condition is permanent, including people registered severely sight impaired, to renew their card periodically and re-submit evidence of eligibility, noting that cards issued to people aged 60 and over carry no expiry date.
Answer
National Entitlement Cards produced on the grounds of disability have an expiry date, valid up to a maximum of three years, based on the individual’s evidence of eligibility.
Health conditions for individuals may change over time as can eligibility for disability benefits which passport to the scheme. Therefore, cardholders renewing their cards need to provide updated evidence to confirm they continue to meet the eligibility criteria and receive the right type of card. This also ensures that the scheme is administered properly and protects the integrity and future sustainability of the scheme.
However, I can confirm that my officials are exploring the potential to improve the alignment between the duration of National Entitlement Card entitlement and the eligibility criteria for the scheme.
- Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
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Date lodged: Monday, 10 August 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 20 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase hospital capacity to accommodate patients with mesothelioma.
Answer
Service delivery, including managing hospital capacity, is a local responsibility for territorial health boards.
The Scottish Government continues to fund the NHS Scotland Cancer Collaborative to host the National Scottish Mesothelioma Network. This network is comprised of clinicians from across Scotland working to share best practice and to provide for high quality clinical care, information and support to all patients wherever they live in the country and ensure all patients have equitable and efficient access to care.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 10 August 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 20 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) MRI scans and (b) CT scans were carried out at weekends in NHS Scotland in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board.
Answer
This information is not held. Public Health Scotland (PHS) holds data on MRI and CT activity through aggregated monthly returns submitted directly by NHS Boards. As this data is not collected or held at an individual week or weekend level, PHS is unable to report the number of MRI or CT scans carried out at weekends.
PHS statistics relating to the eight key diagnostic tests are published with data up to 31 March 2026 and can be found using the following link:
https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/nhs-waiting-times-diagnostics/diagnostic-waiting-times-waits-for-key-diagnostic-tests-26-may-2026/.
- Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 August 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Ben Macpherson on 20 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government who will be eligible for Apprenticeship Accelerator Grants and what the grants will pay for.
Answer
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.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 August 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 20 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S6W-26978 by Paul McLennan on 7 May 2024 and S6W-42254 by Mairi McAllan on 15 December 2025, how (a) much funding has been spent through the National Acquisition Programme and (b) many social homes have been delivered in each local authority area in the year 2025-26.
Answer
In 2025-2026 a total of £118.426 million was spent and a total of 1,683 affordable homes were delivered through acquisitions. The following table provides a breakdown of these figures by local authority area.
Table 1: Acquisition Funding
Local Authority Area | Total Spend (£m) | Total Homes Delivered | Of Which Social Rented | Targeted £80m
only spend | Targeted £80m
only Homes | Of Which Social rented |
Aberdeen City | 0.083 | 11 | 10 | 0.083 | 11 | 10 |
Aberdeenshire | 1.195 | 12 | 12 | 0.155 | 2 | 2 |
Angus | 0.920 | 15 | 15 | 0.184 | 3 | 3 |
Argyll & Bute | 0.413 | 9 | 9 | 0.241 | 4 | 4 |
City of Edinburgh | 28.816 | 374 | 374 | 28.816 | 374 | 374 |
Clackmannanshire | 2.572 | 20 | 20 | 0.302 | 6 | 6 |
Dumfries & Galloway | 0.067 | 2 | 2 | 0.067 | 2 | 2 |
Dundee City | 0.845 | 20 | 20 | 0.845 | 18 | 18 |
East Ayrshire | 4.599 | 65 | 65 | 0.209 | 0 | 0 |
East Dunbartonshire | 0.336 | 4 | 4 | 0.336 | 4 | 4 |
East Lothian | 3.312 | 45 | 33 | 0.746 | 7 | 7 |
East Renfrewshire | 1.359 | 21 | 21 | 0.866 | 11 | 11 |
Falkirk | 4.605 | 81 | 81 | 1.246 | 19 | 19 |
Fife | 5.761 | 76 | 76 | 4.436 | 62 | 62 |
Glasgow City | 20.462 | 129 | 129 | 19.495 | 35 | 35 |
Inverclyde | 0.056 | 12 | 12 | 0.081 | 6 | 6 |
Midlothian | 4.255 | 44 | 44 | 2.401 | 27 | 27 |
Moray | 1.050 | 15 | 15 | 0.174 | 3 | 3 |
na Eilean Siar | 0.000 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0 | 0 |
North Ayrshire | 0.976 | 11 | 11 | 0.134 | 4 | 4 |
North Lanarkshire | 6.634 | 196 | 196 | 1.538 | 33 | 33 |
Orkney Islands | 1.781 | 18 | 18 | 0.388 | 4 | 4 |
Perth & Kinross | 6.136 | 143 | 143 | 0.105 | 2 | 2 |
Renfrewshire | 1.465 | 42 | 42 | 0.346 | 10 | 10 |
Scottish Borders | 0.630 | 12 | 10 | 0.238 | 5 | 5 |
Shetland Islands | 1.279 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0 | 0 |
South Ayrshire | 1.803 | 38 | 38 | 0.503 | 8 | 8 |
South Lanarkshire | 7.220 | 136 | 136 | 3.286 | 80 | 80 |
Stirling | 1.058 | 20 | 15 | 0.826 | 6 | 1 |
The Highland Council | 3.494 | 55 | 40 | 1.322 | 16 | 16 |
West Dunbartonshire | 1.799 | 41 | 41 | 0.629 | 11 | 11 |
West Lothian | 3.444 | 16 | 16 | 2.301 | 16 | 16 |
Total | 118.426 | 1683 | 1648 | 72.298 | 789 | 783 |
Please note:
The figures are local authority and housing association acquisitions only.
These figures do not include voids.
Inverclyde spend figure includes a receipt.
Figures are based on management information and may be subject to update.
Due to the way the Affordable Housing Supply Programme operates, grant payments can be drawn down across multiple financial years. As a result, expenditure in any given year does not necessarily correspond to the number of homes completed in the same year, as homes are only recorded as complete once the entire project has concluded.
We will continue to provide updates on delivery through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme as part of the published quarterly housing statistics.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 August 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 20 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the acquisitions and voids funding package that it announced to reduce homelessness, how much funding was (a) allocated and (b) spent on voids activity in each local authority area in (i) 2024-25 and (ii) 2025-26, and how many social rented homes were brought back into use through that funding, broken down by (A) local authority area and (B) year.
Answer
In 2024-25 the Scottish Government announced £40 million for acquisitions and voids, followed by a further £80 million in 2025-26, bringing the total funding commitment to £120 million. This funding is being delivered through local authority Resource Planning Assumptions (RPAs). No separate allocation was made specifically for voids.
The following tables provides details on how much funding was spent on voids in each local authority area in (i) 2024 and (ii) 2025-26.
Table 1: Voids 2024-2025
Local Authority Area | Acquisitions targeted £40m spend - VOID SPEND ONLY £(M) | Acquisitions targeted £40m spend - VOID HOMES ONLY | Of which Social rented |
City of Edinburgh | 4.000 | 565 | 565 |
Glasgow City | 1.382 | | |
West Lothian | 0.400 | 50 | 50 |
Total | 5.782 | 615 | 615 |
Table 2: Voids 2025-2026
Local Authority Area | Acquisitions targeted £80m spend - VOID SPEND ONLY £(M) | Acquisitions targeted £80m spend - VOID HOMES ONLY | Of which Social rented |
Glasgow City | 0.934 | 5 | 5 |
Stirling | 0.081 | | |
Total | 1.015 | 5 | 5 |
Please note:
Figures are based on management information and subject to minor change.
These figures do not include acquisitions.
Due to the way the Affordable Housing Supply Programme operates, grant payments can be drawn down across multiple financial years. As a result, expenditure in any given year does not necessarily correspond to the number of homes completed in the same year, as homes are only recorded as complete once the entire project has concluded.
- Asked by: Jamie Langan, MSP for South Scotland, Reform UK
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 August 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 20 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of NatureScot’s refusal to grant a license for the 2026 Guga Hunt, what action is being taken to safeguard Scotland’s rural cultural heritage and what assessment it has made of any impact that this decision may have on this longstanding tradition in the Western Isles.
Answer
The Scottish Government supports the safeguarding of Scotland's cultural heritage through a range of policies, funding programmes and public bodies. Through Scotland's historic environment strategy, Our Past, Our Future, partners across the heritage sector work to sustain and enhance the benefits of the historic environment for communities throughout Scotland, including rural and island communities. The strategy emphasises strengthening community participation, supporting resilient places and recognising the contribution that heritage makes to wellbeing and identity, as well as in the local economy.
The Scottish Government has not undertaken an assessment on the impact that this decision may have on this longstanding tradition in the Western Isles. The hunt is specifically provided for in section 16(2) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (“the 1981 Act”). This activity can only be done under licence, and in accordance with the terms of a licence issued by NatureScot.
One of the main criteria for issuing a licence under Section 16(2) of 1981 Act is that in considering an application for a licence, NatureScot gives consideration as to whether the hunt is sustainable, and by that, whether the activity would have an adverse effect on the conservation status of the species concerned, namely gannets. NatureScot took the decision to refuse a licence was based on what they believed to be the most up-to-date science available and NatureScot concluded that issuing a licence for even 500 gannet chicks this year would likely have an adverse impact on the Sula Sgeir gannet population.
