Chamber and committees

This would be an operational matter for Scottish Water. It publishes information on its website at https://www.scottishwater.co.uk/About-Us/What-We-Do/Urban-Waters-Routemap.

This would be an operational matter for Scottish Water. It publishes information on its website at https://www.scottishwater.co.uk/About-Us/What-We-Do/Urban-Waters-Routemap.

The Scottish Government is committed to giving the people of Scotland the information they need to make an informed choice about their constitutional future. The publications, ‘A Fresh Start with Independence’ and the ‘Building a New Scotland’ series set out this government’s proposals for how Scotland could become independent, and what Scotland could do with the powers of independence. The UK’s approach to managing public finances means that it is paying higher interest rates than other comparable countries.

The full powers of an independent country will give Scotland the opportunity to develop a new economic model, one that is tailored to our circumstances, opportunities and strengths. When Scotland becomes an independent country, our fiscal policy would be designed to support improved economic competitiveness and resilience, underpinned by the principle of fiscal sustainability. As with any independent country, the macroeconomic framework would evolve over time to adapt to changing economic circumstances, but with all fiscal levers in the hands of the people of Scotland.

However, fundamentally, the benefit of an independent Scotland is that decisions about Scotland are made by those who live there and they will be the ultimate arbiters in deciding policy matters with Independence just like other independent states.

Four of the six measures provided for in the Act have been implemented. These are:

• A prohibition on providing or making available fireworks or pyrotechnic articles to children;
• A statutory aggravation for courts sentencing offenders where fireworks were used to attack emergency workers;
• New discretionary powers for local authorities to designate firework control zones; and
• New offences of possession of pyrotechnics in public places and at designated events.

Two remaining measures have not yet been commenced. These are:

• A firework licensing system: whereby anyone who wishes to buy, use or possess fireworks will be required to apply for a licence. As part of the licence application process, applicants will be required to complete a mandatory training course on the safe, lawful and appropriate use of fireworks.
• Restrictions on the days fireworks can be supplied to or used by the public.

Implementation of these measures has been paused in light of the significant challenging financial context and operational and resource implications associated with their introduction. The position remains under review as the Scottish Government continues to consider in the context of how existing measures are impacting the nature and pattern of disorder.

It is not within the power of the Scottish Parliament to legislate for a complete ban on the sale of fireworks as this is reserved to the UK Government and Westminster Parliament.

The assertion that the report on Recorded Crime in Scotland 2025-26, indicates that weapons possession made up 18% of total crimes in Scotland is incorrect. Weapons possession accounted for 18% of crimes against society in 2025-2026 which is one of the six crime groups used in the bulletin, and crimes against society accounted for 21% of all recorded crime. Measured against total recorded crime, the correct figure is close to 4%.

Our approach has three strands, education on the danger and unacceptability of carrying a weapon, effective consequences when offences are committed, and sustained school and community engagement.

The Scottish Government has invested over £6 million to support implementation of the Violence Prevention Framework since its publication in May 2023. It has also provided over £2 million over 2026/27 to continue delivery of the violence prevention work. This funding supports a range of targeted prevention and early intervention activity in schools, hospitals and across communities, working with partners to tackle violence and its harms including the use of any form of weapon including knives.

The UK’s telecommunications regulator, Ofcom, regularly publishes information in relation to full fibre and gigabit-capable broadband coverage in Scotland as part of their Connected Nations updates. The most recent update was published on 13 May 2026, showing coverage figures for January 2026.

Latest figures show that, as of January 2026, a total of 35,261 homes across Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley can access a full fibre connection, which equates to 87% of all eligible homes across the constituency.

More detailed information can be found through Ofcom’s interactive dashboard at https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/coverage-and-speeds/connected-nations-update-spring-2026#interactive-report

The Scottish Government does not hold information on the delivery timelines for commercially funded broadband infrastructure projects. However, gigabit-capable full fibre deployment is being delivered in Scotland through Project Gigabit, including within the Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley constituency. Project Gigabit delivery is currently expected to be completed by 2030.

The Scottish Government’s consistent position is that Scotland’s onshore wind capacity should continue to play a central role in delivering a secure, affordable and decarbonised energy system.

We are continuing to engage closely with NESO and the UK Government as the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan is developed and are making the case directly that this plan should make full use of Scotland’s renewable energy resources.

The Scottish Government’s engagement is informed by a wide range of evidence, including industry analysis such as the report commissioned by the Scottish Onshore Wind Developers Forum.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of having a Power of Attorney (PoA) in place and is currently considering implementation options for the recent Audit Scotland recommendation, regarding the promotion of PoA, published in Delayed discharges: A symptom of the challenges facing health and social care, January 2026. Implementation is expected to increase public awareness and uptake.

The Scottish Government has collaborated with NHS 24 to update relevant NHS inform content, which provides guidance on the process and benefits of setting up a Power of Attorney. Available here: https://www.nhsinform.scot/care-support-and-rights/health-rights/access/power-of-attorney-guardianship-and-intervention-orders/

The Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Act 2026, passed by the Scottish Parliament on 10 February, requires public bodies to work together and actively implement the approach more systematically across Scotland by producing local Community Wealth Building Action Plans, and reporting progress. While Co-operative Development Scotland is not a specified public body in the Act, Scottish Enterprise, of which CDS is a part, must work with local authorities and other public bodies within local ‘community wealth building partnerships’ across Scotland to produce local action plans within three years of commencement of the Act. The local partnerships also have a duty to implement the community wealth building plans and report on progress.

Recommendations regarding the use of tumour profiling tests such as Oncotype DX are developed independently of the Scottish Government. The Scottish Health Technologies Group (SHTG) published their recommendation in October 2023, which has been implemented in full. SHTG have criteria and processes in place to judge whether new evidence is sufficient to revise its existing recommendations.