Chamber and committees

Transport Scotland holds a quarterly Strategic Transport Electrification Group with the two Scottish electricity network operators, the National Energy System Operator (NESO) and Scottish Futures Trust. This seeks to co-ordinate research and analysis and ensure the electricity networks are aware of the overall requirements for energy infrastructure to support decarbonised transport, as well as existing data to inform business planning. Fleet operators should discuss specific future power requirements directly with electricity networks to secure appropriate connections in good time.

Transport Scotland has undertaken significant research to identify where charging will be required for zero emission road transport. This has been shared with the Scottish electricity network operators and NESO, as well as fleet infrastructure providers, trade bodies and commercial investors. The next iteration into charging requirements for zero emission heavy goods vehicles will be published in September, based on an substantially increased sample of vehicle data and incorporating an interactive tool to help infrastructure providers, fleet operators and others to make investment decisions. COSLA and Regional Transport Partnerships are aware of this work, the current version of which can be found at Towards Zero Emission HGV Infrastructure in Scotland: Phase 2 Report | Transport Scotland.

The Scottish Government welcomes initiatives from Police Scotland to target antisocial behaviour and strengthen enforcement of law in this area.

Police Scotland have confirmed the following were seized during Operation Armour: 5 SurRon style electric motorcycles; 19 adapted e-bikes; 15 electric scooters; 5 petrol motorcycles; 1 van; and 1 car. Additionally, drugs and cash were also seized. In total, 50 people were charged with various road traffic offences, which include Dangerous Driving, Disqualified Driving, driving an unregistered vehicle without a licence, driving an unregistered vehicle without insurance, driving on footpaths and not wearing a crash helmet. Four people were also charged with drug supply during the operation.

Legislation regarding PLEVs is reserved to the UK Government.

The Scottish Government recognises the important contribution that nature-based solutions can make to improving flood and drought resilience. Our policy and investment supports nature-based solutions in both rural and urban areas.

Our Sustainable Flood Risk Management guidance supports a catchment-based approach to flood management and our national Flood Resilience Strategy sets out the importance of restoring and maintaining our natural environment to create flood resilient places. In addition, the Water Resilient Places Policy Framework supports the delivery of blue-green infrastructure and has informed the work of urban drainage partnerships in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee.

We support both the Eddleston Water and Allan Water projects to develop and implement nature-based solutions. Evidence from these projects indicates that nature-based solutions can help to delay flood peaks and hold water in the catchment to mitigate water scarcity.

We fund research through the Centre of Expertise on Water and the James Hutton Institute to assess the effectiveness of nature-based solutions and our five year Strategic Research Programme (2022-2027) is funding the “Achieving Multi-Purpose Nature-Based Solutions” research project to explore how to work at scale and across sectors to deliver urban and rural nature-based solutions.

Since 2016, the Scottish Government has provided £612 million to local authorities to support the delivery of flood resilience activities. We also fund environmental improvements with co-benefits for flood and drought resilience through the Water Environment Fund, Peatland Restoration Fund, Nature Restoration Fund and Forestry Grants Scheme.

The Scottish Government recognises that successful deployment of further zero-emission buses requires appropriate depot infrastructure, sufficient grid capacity and vehicle charging infrastructure. Funding through the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB) has supported the deployment of charging infrastructure at bus depots across Scotland to establish the foundations of a wider heavy-duty vehicle charging network. As a result of Scottish Government investment, Scotland has the highest proportion of zero emission buses of any UK nation, according to the most recent data.

The Scottish Government has established a Strategic Transport Electrification Group (STEG) to bring together electricity network operators, the National Energy System Operator and Scottish Futures Trust to support sharing of information and planning so that the energy network is in a position to respond to the changing energy demand from transport. This provides a forum for discussion of future transport energy requirements, including those associated with bus fleet decarbonisation. Bus operators are encouraged to engage directly with network operators at an early stage to ensure depot electricity connections can be secured in the required timescales

Manufacturers and supply chains have a key role to play in supporting the transition to zero-emission transport. The Scottish Government continues to examine opportunities for Scottish firms in vehicle manufacture, adaptation, charging infrastructure and associated engineering services. We continue to engage with manufacturers, operators and industry stakeholders to understand the opportunities and challenges associated with the transition to zero-emission buses.

Under the Additional Support for Learning (Scotland) Act 2004, education authorities are responsible for identifying and meeting the additional support needs of children in early learning and childcare (ELC) settings. In line with the National Standard, local authorities and settings are expected to work together to support children with additional support needs to access their funded ELC entitlement. Settings must provide appropriate support, including reasonable adjustments, to ensure that children’s disabilities or additional support needs do not present a barrier to participation.

The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) has recently reviewed the National Occupational Standards for Early Learning and Childcare. This work is informing the redevelopment of qualifications and learning resources to help ensure that the workforce has the knowledge and skills required to support children with diverse and additional support needs.

As we take forward our approach to childcare expansion, we will continue to build on evidence and experience to ensure that the needs of children with additional support needs, and their families, are understood and reflected in future delivery.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-02107 on 17 August 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-02175 on 18 August 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01681 on 10 August 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

In line with commitments in the Relationships and Behaviour in Schools Action Plan 2024–27, the next wave of the Behaviour in Scottish Schools Research (BISSR) is currently underway and the final report will be published in early 2027.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-02175 on 18 August 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.