Chamber and committees

Eligibility for Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (PAWHP) is determined in respect of the qualifying week in September as set out in regulations. Individuals who reach State Pension age after that week are not eligible for that year's payment.

Separately, there is support available through our Winter Heating Payment (WHP) for those in receipt of a qualifying low-income benefit; people who reach State Pension age following the PAWHP qualifying week may be eligible for WHP, for which the qualifying week is the first full week in November.

Support is also available through the Warm Home Discount, and we continue to invest in the Scottish Welfare Fund to help people facing financial crisis through the Crisis Grant and support people to establish independent living through the Community Care Grant.

The Active Travel Infrastructure Fund (ATIF) is the primary vehicle for the Scottish Government to fund active travel infrastructure. The tiered model for infrastructure delivery increases flexibility and control for partners to meet the active travel needs and priorities of people living and working in their communities. Tier 1 of the Fund is provided directly to Local Authorities through their General Capital Grant and they have the flexibility to use the funding as required. Tier 2 funding, directly managed by Transport Scotland, was open to applications from Local Authorities, Regional Transport Partnerships and National Park Authorities for the funding of larger scale projects most recently at the start of the calendar year 2026. Transport Scotland did not receive an application from East Renfrewshire Council nor Strathclyde Partnership for Transport for this project.

The Berwick Bank offshore wind farm consent and marine licences, granted in July 2025, included export cables to a grid connection point at Branxton, located south-west of Torness Power Station. Following the National Grid Electricity Systems Operator (NGESO) Holistic Network Review in 2022, an additional grid connection at Blyth, Northumberland (referred to as the Cambois connection) was also identified and a separate marine licence application was submitted by SSE Renewables and a marine licence granted in August 2025. No further information was provided through the Section 36/marine licence application process as to the onward use of electricity once exported to the grid.

Environmental Standards Scotland's (ESS) report published on 23 June 2026, Protecting Scotland's seafloor: an assessment of Scottish Ministers' implementation of the Marine Strategy Regulations 2010, contains ESS’ findings and recommendations relating to the Scottish Ministers’ implementation of those Regulations, including regarding timescales for the implementation of measures specified in Part 3 of the UK Marine Strategy.

The Scottish Government is carefully considering the ESS report and will work constructively with ESS to seek to agree an appropriate action plan within the timescale suggested in the report. The Scottish Government's position on the report's findings and recommendations will be set out through that engagement and in its formal response.

Social Security Scotland routinely publishes statistics on the number of parents or carers actively in receipt of Scottish Child Payment. These statistics also include the number and value of payments by local authority and financial year since launch and are available at: Scottish Child Payment statistics to 31 March 2026.

The latest published statistics show that, as of 31 March 2026, 189,620 parents or carers in Scotland were receiving Scottish Child Payment.

The most recent Scottish Government take-up analysis, published on 14 October 2025, estimated that Scottish Child Payment had a take-up rate of 94% among those eligible in Scotland in the financial year 2024-2025. The publication also includes estimated take-up rates for each local authority area and is available at: Take-up rates of Scottish benefits: October 2025.

On 6 August, I announced a financial package worth up to £3 million to provide support to business affected by the fire. The fund will be administered by The Highland Council with a focus on helping businesses recover from the impact of the wildfire, maintain business continuity and support longer-term recovery, while also contributing to the longer-term economic recovery and resilience of the area.

In addition, the Scottish Government funds Crisis Grants through the Scottish Welfare Fund to support individuals to meet immediate short-term needs when an emergency or a disaster has happened, and there would be a risk to wellbeing without a grant. Applications are administered by local authorities, including Highland Council.

Scottish Government will continue to work closely with the Highland Council, HIE and Cairngorms National Park Authority on what further support may be required for the area in the longer term.

To meet the eligibility conditions relating to age for Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, someone must have been born on or before 27 June 1960, for winter 2026-27. People born after this date but before 27 September 1960 would have been eligible under the previous State Pension age, by turning 66 before the end of the qualifying week which ends 27 September 2026. The Scottish Government does not hold details of the number of people who would previously have been eligible. However, National Records of Scotland publish forecasts of the number of people expected to be 66 years old at the mid-point of each year, which could help illustrate an approximate number of people turning 66 between the June and September time-period. These forecast scan be found here https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/publications/projected-population-of-scotland-2024-based/.

Environmental Standards Scotland's (ESS) report published on 23 June 2026, Protecting Scotland's seafloor: an assessment of Scottish Ministers' implementation of the Marine Strategy Regulations 2010, contains ESS’ findings and recommendations relating to the Scottish Ministers’ implementation of those Regulations, including findings and recommendations regarding the contribution of measures in Part 3 of the UK Marine Strategy towards seafloor integrity objectives and targets.

The Scottish Government is carefully considering the ESS report and will work constructively with ESS to seek to agree an appropriate action plan within the timescale suggested in the report. The Scottish Government's position on the report's findings and recommendations will be set out through that engagement and in its formal response.

Transport Scotland officials are engaging with UK Department for Transport regarding potential amendments to the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016, including the introduction of simple ‘paint only’ side road zebra crossings. These crossings have been subject to associated trials on their effectiveness and safety. Transport Scotland will consider the published trial findings when available.

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. In this case, it is anticipated that Transport Scotland would also direct roads authorities and designers to suitable guidance on their use.

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.