Chamber and committees

Our commitment to the university sector is clear. Our overall 2026-27 investment will exceed £1.4bn, which includes a combined increase of over £55m in resource and capital funding for universities via the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) - equivalent to a 5% uplift on last year’s budget. We also continue our collaborative project between Scottish Government and Universities Scotland on the Framework for Sustainability and Success of Scotland’s Universities launched in December 2025. This will explore options that will ensure our universities are sustainable and well positioned to respond to current and future challenges. I am grateful to cross-party colleagues for their engagement in this work, which I hope will continue as we consider these complex long-term issues.

The Scottish Government position on the responsibility for addressing the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) has not changed. RAAC is primarily a building maintenance issue and responsibility lies with the owner of the building.

The SFC continues to engage with colleges and universities on estate-related matters, including issues relating to RAAC, and keeps the Scottish Government informed of significant sector-wide developments. Institutions are expected to take a risk-based approach to identifying, managing and mitigating any risks associated with RAAC, taking account of relevant professional guidance. The Scottish Government remains in regular contact with the SFC regarding estate-related risks affecting the tertiary education sector and will continue to monitor the position.

On 4 September 2023, the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) provided the Scottish Government with details of institutions where reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) had been identified. Edinburgh Napier University was reported as having RAAC in one building on its Merchiston Campus, with its removal planned as part of the university’s wider campus redevelopment programme.

Responsibility for the management, maintenance and safety of university buildings rests with the institution as the owner of the estate. As part of its outcomes framework and assurance model the SFC engages directly with institutions on estate matters and has maintained oversight of issues relating to RAAC across the tertiary education sector.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken a separate assessment of the extent of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) within university estates.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01597 on 30 July 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.

Scottish Universities, as with all those with responsibility for building ownership and property management, should follow the advice and guidance on the identification, management and mitigation of risks associated with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) provided by professional organisations such as the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE).

The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) continues to engage with colleges and universities on estate-related matters, including issues relating to RAAC, and keeps the Scottish Government informed of sector-wide developments.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01597 on 30 July 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.

Responsibility for the management, maintenance and safety of university buildings rests with the institution as the owner of the estate. Responsibility for engagement with institutions on these matters lies with the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). As part of its outcomes framework and assurance model the SFC engages directly with institutions on estate matters and has maintained oversight of issues relating to RAAC across the tertiary education sector.

The Scottish Government remains in regular contact with the SFC regarding it’s assessment of sector-wide risks, issues and impacts.

Turnout at the most recent Scottish Parliament election in May 2026 was 53.2%, down 10% on 2021. The Scottish Government has sought to remove barriers to voting by improving accessibility, focusing in 2026 on those with sight loss. Through the Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Act 2025 we have created opportunities to pilot improved registration of voters, and to improve democratic engagement with the overall aim of increasing turnout.

Food insecurity is driven by insufficient and insecure household income and no one should have to compromise on food or other essentials. Helping people with the cost of living is a top priority of this government and we’re investing around £3.5 billion in 2026-27 to support this, including reducing the costs of travel and helping people find and stay in work. This offers the most comprehensive cost of living support package in the UK while strengthening our public services.

Advice services are critical to Scotland’s communities, maximising incomes and helping to reduce poverty, which is why in 2026-27 we have allocated more than £18 million for the provision of free income maximisation support, welfare and debt advice.

There are appropriate channels where issues and complaints can be raised and addressed independently, both through St Mary's Kenmure’s internal complaints process and complaints raised directly with either a placing authority, or the Care Inspectorate.

The care manager for the child must be notified immediately when a formal complaint has been raised in any aspect of the child's care.

Independent advocacy is also provided to every child residing at St Mary's to enable them to express views, raise issues, make complaints or representations to ensure that their rights are promoted and upheld.

St Mary's, like all secure centres, is inspected at least once a year on an unannounced basis. The Care Inspectorate has a responsibility to ensure that the service is upholding, protecting and promoting the rights of children. The Care Inspectorate inspectors are responsible for working alongside the secure providers to ensure that children get the care and support they need while living in secure.

As work is undertaken to enhance secure care in Scotland, consideration of the CPT’s findings – including those on children’s confidence in internal complaints processes – alongside a range of other evidence will be taken into account.

Local Authorities are legally required to set a balanced budget for each upcoming financial year and all 32 councils agreed balanced budgets for 2026-27, ahead of the statutory deadline of 11 March 2026.

The Scottish Government recognise the pressures facing Local Government and that is why the Local Government Settlement provided record funding of £15.7 billion for 2026-27, including a quarter of a billion pounds of unrestricted General Revenue Grant and full flexibility on council tax.

Decisions on future Local Government Settlements will be the subject of negotiations with COSLA on behalf of all 32 Local Authorities and announced as part of the outcome of future Scottish Budgets.

The Scottish Government ran a public consultation on the future of secure care between January and April 2026. We expect to receive independent analysis of the consultation responses and outputs over the coming weeks. Consideration will be given over the autumn to next steps and action to be taken. Future Government action will also be informed by the findings from the Committee for the Prevention of Torture and other key information sources.