Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government has not undertaken a national assessment of the remit the member has specifically outlined on data centres. However, we are currently engaging with industry and partner agencies to better understand the cumulative impacts of data centre developments on the environment.

When new planning applications come forward, Scotland’s National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) ensures the potential impacts of proposals, including cumulative impacts, are important considerations in the decision-making process. NPF4 policy 5 (soils) sets out policy protections for peatland and carbon rich soils, including prime agricultural land.

Designated bathing waters are routinely sampled by SEPA during the bathing season and inspections on Scottish Water assets are also carried out pre-bathing and during bathing season (1 June 2026 to 15 September 2026) to ensure compliance.

The Monifieth bathing water is classified as “Excellent”. However, short-term fluctuations in water quality can occur at all bathing waters for a variety of reasons, for example following heavy rain due to a range of pollution sources. Where advice against bathing is issued SEPA investigates to identify and take action to mitigate where possible any sources of pollution.

Heat networks can help to reduce fuel poverty, particularly where they have access to low-cost sources of heat. The Heat Networks(Scotland) Act 2021 includes powers for heat network consents which would scrutinise how proposed new networks are designed and the outcomes that they expect to provide in areas including fuel poverty. Detailed proposals for a heat network consents regime will be bought forward in due course.

Following a Parliamentary motion (S6M-16571) in February 2025, Scottish Enterprise undertook a review of its human rights due diligence checks. The Scottish Government supported this motion, and therefore supported a review undertaken by Scottish Enterprise.

Scottish Government officials remained in close contact with Scottish Enterprise throughout the review, exchanging and providing relevant advice and views where appropriate, including on transparency.

Decisions regarding the publication and disclosure of information held by Scottish Enterprise, including its updated human rights diligence procedure, are ultimately an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise.

It is my understanding however, that Scottish Enterprise does intend to publish its human rights due diligence policy, at a future date.

In 2025-26, the Scottish Government supported a pilot funding the installation of cross-pavement charging solutions to test their practical implementation, with the learning from this work helping to inform future policy and guidance.

To help address this, it provides support through Energy Saving Trust, including grants of up to £400 through the Domestic Charge Point Fund for eligible households installing a home charge point, with support targeting rural and island households facing additional barriers to EV adoption. It also provides grants of up to £3,500 through the Cross-Pavement Charging Grant for approved charging solutions where off-street parking is not available, subject to local authority approval.

The wellbeing and safety of children and young people is paramount. The Scottish Government is clear that restraint should only be used in exceptional circumstances, as a last resort, or when it is the only practicable means of securing the welfare or safety of the child or another person. The statutory guidance will reflect this.

Work is ongoing to plan next steps for implementation and timescales in relation to this important work and the Scottish Government will provide an update about this in due course.

The Scottish Government is funding the Centre for Excellence for Children's Care and Protection (CELCIS), in partnership with the University of Strathclyde, to deliver the “Holding Differently – Containing Distress” project to strengthen the evidence base on efforts to reduce the use of physical restraint in residential child care services. Early findings from this project will inform work on the guidance.

Following a Parliamentary motion (S6M-16571) in February 2025, Scottish Enterprise undertook a review of its human rights due diligence checks. The Scottish Government supported this motion, and therefore supported a review undertaken by Scottish Enterprise.

Scottish Government officials remained in close contact with Scottish Enterprise throughout its review, exchanging and providing relevant advice and views where appropriate. This included in relation to Scottish Government’s own guidance which sets out recommendations on how we, our executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies should undertake appropriate due diligence on companies, including their human rights record, before entering into an "investment relationship" with them. It is however for the accountable officer of each agency and non-departmental public body to ensure that their organisation complies with guidance issued by Scottish ministers.

The former Deputy First Minister updated Parliament in December (S6W-42527 on 11 December 2025) 2025 that Scottish Enterprise had confirmed that its updated human rights due diligence policy and procedure was substantially finalised and being operationalised in a phased manner.

Decisions regarding the publication and disclosure of information held by Scottish Enterprise, including its updated human rights diligence procedure, are ultimately an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise.

It is my understanding however, that Scottish Enterprise does intend to publish its human rights due diligence policy, at a future date.

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-01726 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.

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.