Chamber and committees

Ministers regularly meet with Police Scotland to discuss a range of matters. Meetings between Ministers and Police Scotland since 1 January 2026 exclusively focused on the antisocial use of vehicles and the powers available to officers to address these issues took place on 24 February 2026, 4 March 2026, and 21 July 2026. I will write to the Member with summary notes of these meetings. A copy of that correspondence will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. Number 66816). Separately, Scottish Government officials meet regularly with Police Scotland colleagues, including the Head of Roads Policing, to discuss a range of issues, including the antisocial and criminal use of vehicles.

The following table provides the number of injury road collisions recorded by Police Scotland, by road speed limit for the years 2021 to 2025.

The Scottish Government notes the contents of, and welcomes the effort that Nourish Scotland has put into better understanding public diners through their Public Diners: By The Public report.

We understand that a pilot scheme and further research is being undertaken in Dundee to better understand the real-world impacts of public diners. The Scottish Government is looking forward to seeing the findings of this project, in particular evidence on the feasibility and sustainability within a Scottish setting.

I have asked Richard Dennis, the Accountant in Bankruptcy and Agency Chief Executive, to respond. His response is as follows:

Under section 200 of the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 2016, the Accountant in Bankruptcy has the general function of supervising the performance of trustees in sequestration cases. Accountant in Bankruptcy hold records in relation to this function in line with our retention and destruction policy.

I am in regular contact with Creative Scotland on this matter and have been crystal clear that the former Centre for Contemporary Arts building should re-open as an important asset for Glasgow and Scotland’s culture and creative sector as soon as possible. I am assured by Creative Scotland that the ongoing cultural value of the building is the key consideration in it’s process of seeking expressions of interest to see the empty building back open and operating.

The Scottish Government is committed to working alongside all of our partners to tackle the antisocial and criminal use of vehicles, including e-bikes. Officials regularly consider actions taken in other jurisdictions to tackle common issues.

Any new restrictions would need to be compatible with the limitations posed by the Scotland Act (such as the reservation of internet services) and the Internal Market Act.

While there is no legislation specific to (i) rivers, (ii) lochs, (iii) coastal waters and (iv) other bodies of water, rivers, lochs and coastal waters are within the definition of surface water, in the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003, which implements the EU Water Framework Directive. We keep all applicable legislation under review.

The Scottish Government’s analysis will consider the definition of underused spaces and potential for installing solar panels in these areas in line with NPF4. As part of this analysis we have directed ClimateXChange to investigate the approach taken in other territories and this research will be published within the next year.

There have been a number of significant developments since we consulted on our draft Solar Vision in 2023, including the UK Government’s Clean Power 2030 Action Plan and Warm Homes Plan.

We have also co-commissioned the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan, which will provide an updated assessment of Scotland’s future energy system needs.

Given these developments will inform the Scottish Government’s position on solar it would not be appropriate to publish a final policy position until they are complete.

I have asked Richard Dennis, the Accountant in Bankruptcy and Agency Chief Executive, to respond. His response is as follows:

The regulation of insolvency practitioners is reserved under head C2 of Schedule 5 to the Scotland Act 1998. If Accountant in Bankruptcy had concerns that an individual was acting as trustee in a sequestration without meeting the necessary requirements, this would be reported to the trustee’s recognised professional body and the UK Insolvency Service.