Chamber and committees

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/.

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.

In late 2025, in line with the process agreed by the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Government issued revised directions to the National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF) for Scotland's share of dormant assets funding. The revised directions include a new focus on financial inclusion, with specific reference to affordable credit.

The NLCF recently undertook a consultation to inform the development of its funding programme for the financial inclusion element of the revised directions. It is now developing a strategic plan outlining how it will deliver against these priorities, which will be presented to the Scottish Government before being laid in the Scottish Parliament.

The Scottish Government expects credit unions and community finance providers to play a key role in supporting people who face barriers to accessing fair and affordable financial services. The NLCF have awarded Social Investment Scotland with a £92,000 development grant to undertake sector-wide consultation and help ensure that future work on affordable credit is informed by lived experience, sector expertise, and practical delivery considerations.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken any specific research comparing the costs of road-building in Scotland with those in other European countries.

However, Transport Scotland monitors the costs of major trunk road projects in Scotland and elsewhere in the UK and considers relevant industry cost information, market conditions and lessons learned from comparable infrastructure projects where appropriate. Transport Scotland also engages with other UK home nation road authorities, which includes discussions on road-building.

Direct comparisons of road-building costs between countries, and even in different locations within Scotland, can be challenging due to many variables, including the differences in type of road (rural, urban, semi-urban); interface with existing roads, railways, rivers and other infrastructure; engineering requirements; terrain and site geology; drainage; environmental mitigation; utility diversions; traffic management; land acquisition costs; legislative frameworks; and market conditions at time of contract award.

Any assessment of road construction costs therefore needs to take account of the particular circumstances of individual projects rather than relying solely on headline cost comparisons.

The latest assessment of Good Environmental Status in UK waters was published in 2026 in UK Marine Strategy Part One: Updated Assessment and Good Environmental Status. This assessment is published by the UK Government, working with the devolved authorities including the Scottish Government. The assessment concluded that Good Environmental Status for seafloor integrity had not yet been achieved across UK waters.

A copy of that assessment can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/marine-strategy-part-one-update

The assessment does not indicate a particular date by which Good Environmental Status is expected to be achieved for sea floor integrity across UK waters. Progress towards Good Environmental Status is anticipated through continued implementation of the UK Marine Strategy Regulations 2010 which establish a cyclical process of assessment, target-setting, monitoring and programmes of measures.

The Scottish Government continues to work with the other governments of the UK, and internationally, to implement measures intended to improve the condition of benthic habitats and seafloor integrity and progress towards Good Environmental Status in UK waters.

The Scottish Government recognises the important role that church buildings play as places of worship and as valued community assets. Responsibility for the maintenance and upkeep of Church of Scotland buildings rests with the Church of Scotland and its congregations.

The Scottish Government welcomes the Scotland's Places of Worship Fund announcement by Historic Environment Scotland (HES) on 18 August 2026. This new pilot scheme for 2026-27 will provide up to £1 million to help eligible listed places of worship across Scotland recover VAT costs associated with repair and conservation works.

The Fund has been developed in direct response to the closure of the UK-wide Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme and is expected to open for applications in autumn 2026.

The Scottish Government and HES have worked closely to explore options to ensure that Scotland's listed places of worship are not disproportionately affected by the withdrawal of the UK-wide scheme. This pilot scheme will help assess demand and gather evidence to inform consideration of future arrangements.

The Scottish Government continues to engage with faith and belief organisations, heritage bodies and other partners on issues affecting places of worship, including the sustainability and preservation of historic church buildings.

Developers’ Supply Chain Development Statement updates include ambitions to go beyond committed spend, which suggests an additional potential £10.5bn manufacturing expenditure in key areas such as foundations, turbine components and electrical infrastructure in Scotland as the supply chain matures.

We are working with developers and the supply chain to grow the economic value from our offshore wind sector, and to maximise investment, jobs and supply chain opportunities within Scotland. We are consistently clear: developers must help build the resilience of our domestic supply chain and deliver on their SCDS commitments.

Our strategic investment in offshore wind is supporting market certainty and helping to de-risk supply chain investment. To date our own investment of over £150 million is crowding in a further £70m from UK public finance institutions and leveraging up to £675 million in private investment.

Our enterprise agencies are also providing targeted support to our growing supply chain, connecting suppliers with developers, and enabling them to bid for – and crucially to win – work in offshore wind.

The 2026 ScotWind Supply Chain Development Statement updates show that overall projected supply chain spend in Scotland has increased between 2023 and 2026 by nearly £2.3bn for the 16 projects included in the updates, from an estimated £23.3bn to an estimated £25.6 billion.

The reported total ScotWind portfolio project expenditure for the 16 projects has increased by £23.4bn between 2023 and 2026 to £88.6bn. Average spend in Scotland per project has increased overall, however the relative proportion committed in Scotland has decreased from 36% to 29%. This information can be verified on the Crown Estate Scotland supply chain dashboard [https://crownestatescotland.com/supply-chain-information].

Legislation and regulations relating to electricity networks are reserved to the UK Government, with security of supply being a reserved matter that the National Energy Systems Operator (NESO) is responsible for. While decisions on security of supply are reserved, Scotland continues to play an important role in enabling the infrastructure needed for a secure and resilient electricity system through planning and consenting decisions for renewable energy projects, electricity networks and energy storage developments.

Since 2019, we have taken a range of actions to increase benefit take-up among older people. This includes promoting Pension Age Disability Payment through advertising campaigns and working with advice services, local authorities, health services and third sector organisations to raise awareness of entitlements through trusted local channels. Pension Age Winter Heating Payment is paid automatically to the vast majority of eligible people, reducing barriers to accessing support.

We also invest in free welfare, debt and income maximisation advice services, including support for Citizens Advice Scotland's Money Talk Team, which supported over 12,000 older people in 2025-26 and helped secure over £5.3 million in financial gains.

Reserved benefits, including Pension Credit remains the responsibility of the UK Government, and the Scottish Government has no formal role in the administration of these payments. While Scotland has the highest take-up rate of Pension Credit in Britain, through our next Benefit Take-Up Strategy, we will continue to tackle barriers to take-up and explore opportunities to raise awareness of this payment to people in Scotland. We continue to urge the UK Government to follow Scotland’s lead by introducing its own Benefit Take-Up Strategy.