The formula used to distribute funding between Scotland’s 32 Local Authorities is agreed with COSLA on behalf of all 32 councils each year. The formula is kept under constant review and any changes in quantum or distribution are discussed and agreed through COSLA’s formal financial governance process including the jointly attended Data Issues Working Group (DIWG) who make recommendations to the Settlement Distribution Group (SDG), who in turn make principle-based recommendations to COSLA Leaders.

SDG is a jointly chaired Scottish Government and COSLA officer group. Members are drawn from Directors of Finance across Scotland and their role is to make professional, principle-based officer recommendations. The SDG is not a decision-making body but provides evidence-based recommendations to COSLA Leaders on issues impacting the Local Government Settlement.

DIWG is a technical advisory group including representation from local authorities that exists to support the work of the SDG and to provide assurance over the quality, completeness and reliability of the data used in the formula. Where required, it provides technical advice and recommendations on the practical application of distribution and settlement issues and has a key role in making recommendations to the SDG. The DIWG is jointly administered between the Scottish Government and COSLA, with members from local authorities across Scotland who will scrutinise the merits of data sources.

It is the agreed approach of DIWG, SDG and COSLA leaders that all decisions on the funding formula be made on the basis of principle. Neither COSLA nor Councils are therefore formally advised of the impact on individual authorities as part of the recommendation process although it may be possible for council officials to estimate the impact of individual decisions.

The distribution formula considers over 140 service areas including Education, Social Care, Leisure, Roads, Waste and Housing. Further information on the funding formula can be found at the following link.

Local government finance statistics - gov.scot

The availability of the 2022 Census data for the first time has seen a number of indicators (GAEs) updated substantively in the last 18-24 months. In addition, DIWG routinely assesses the underpinning formula to ensure it most appropriately aligns funding with need.

Meaningful budget engagement with COSLA and Councils has been a cornerstone of the preparations for the Scottish Budget 2026-27. Over the summer and following extensive consultation with councils, SDG considered three papers on the indicators used to distribute funding for Personal & Nursing Care for the Elderly, Residential Care for the Elderly and Services for Home-based Elderly respectively.

Alongside the papers that were considered by the DIWG and SDG, Scottish Government officials also provided council and COSLA finance officers with a presentation on the impact of the updated indicators to ensure the issues were widely and clearly understood and have continued to support councils and respond to any questions raised throughout the process. On 16 and 18 December 2025, in line with the commitments set out in the Fiscal Framework between Scottish Government and Local Government, Scottish Government officials also provided training to council finance officials on the Local Government Settlement more generally ahead of the Scottish Budget.

The Scottish Government plays no role in providing advice to COSLA Leaders following the recommendations of SDG but at their meeting on 31 October 2026, COSLA Leaders agreed the SDG recommendations regarding the distributions for Personal and Nursing Care for the Elderly, Residential Care for the Elderly and Services for Home-based Elderly.

The changes do not involve the use of any new indicators, and so there are no new concerns around data quality or suitability. The indicators used – 2022 Population Census data, NRS death rates and population estimates, Council Tax data and DWP Pension Credit data – are those used previously, but have, as always, been updated with the latest available year’s data and are all Accredited Official Statistics.

The strengths and weakness of each variable for modelling the need for elderly social care were noted during consultation, which is one reason why a range of variables are used rather than any one indicator. While none of the variables exactly match the need for elderly social care, all having strengths and weaknesses, the six variables that continue to be used were confirmed as being suitable prior to proposals going to COSLA leaders. The revision has related to the weightings given to each indicator, which has used mathematical modelling to more accurately reflect the drivers of need-to-spend. No link to rurality was found in the modelling, however this is to be revisited during 2026.

Population Census data that are more recent than the 2011 data only became available in 2025, and this is what led to the update of the methodology this year. It was agreed by the Settlement and Distribution Group in 2015 that some 2001 Population Census data continue to be used even though 2011 data were available. Officials have therefore always been aware of this, and have continued to implement that decision.

Due to the complexity of the distribution formula, looking at individual changes in isolation can be misleading particularly given the interactions with the relevant funding floor arrangements.

To protect against funding volatility, the needs-based formula applies a main funding floor which protects councils with falling needs from the equivalent fall in funding, in line with average changes across all authorities to ensure stability over time. The formula also includes an 85% funding floor to ensure no local authority receives less than 85% of the Scottish average funding on a per capita basis.

The combined impact of all the indicators interacting is only known once the Local Government Settlement is finalised. In the meantime, in order to assist authorities in their planning, we have provided authorities with an initial estimate of the changes and the effect of the Floor. As with previous years, the provisional individual council level allocations will be set out in a Local Government Finance Circular following the publication of the Scottish Budget on 13 January.

The Scottish Government works closely with the housing sector to monitor delivery on the ground and to overcome issues where they may arise. Brexit and inflation have had a significantly depressing effect on the economy as a whole and on housebuilding as part of this. Our response to the housing emergency takes a whole-system approach, maximising growth and investment, to alleviate pressures on households to build the capacity needed to deliver.

Our Housing Emergency Action Plan, launched in September sets out our ambition to increase all tenure housing delivery by 10% per annum over the next three years committing up to £4.9bn over the next four years to deliver around 36,000 affordable homes.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42760 on 16 January 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 S6W-42760 on 16 January 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 S6W-42760 on 16 January 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

Section 315 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 provisions are already in force which allows a local authority to take forward byelaws for the standard of accommodation for seasonal workers within its area should it decide it is the most appropriate route for its local area.

The draft Circular Economy Strategy provides a high-level framework for Scotland’s transition to a circular economy, setting out a broad vision and outcomes as well as priorities across policy mechanisms, priority sectors, product stewardship and a monitoring and indicator framework to help us continue to cut waste levels, create consistent and easy to use waste services across Scotland, and drive the sustainable use of plastic and other resources.

The draft Strategy takes a sector-led, not a materials-led, approach which allows consideration of interventions that can tackle the impact of material use, including plastics, along supply chains via multiple mechanisms.

It is important that plastics are considered alongside the broader issues and impacts relating to material use and that the full impact of a product’s design, use and disposal can be considered within the system within which it will be used.

All consultation responses will be considered when finalising the Strategy.

The Scottish Government’s long-held position, which mirrors the UK Government’s, is that it does not regard it as appropriate to engage in public comment in respect of live court proceedings. That is different from saying that the position is that Scottish Government cannot comment or is prevented from commenting generally on live litigation, although there will be cases in which the Contempt of Court Act 1981 is engaged to that effect - and additionally cases in which there are legal prohibitions that must be adhered to - to ensure there is no risk of impediment or prejudice to the proceedings. In all cases, the Scottish Government is mindful of the obligation to uphold the independence of the judiciary.

The Scottish Government is asked why it is choosing not to comment on this particular litigation. The answer to that applies to the Scottish Government’s approach to all live litigation. The appropriate forum for discussions on matters live before the court is in the court and that ensures that the proper respect is afforded to the judiciary and also to the litigants.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42760 on 16 January 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 S6W-42760 on 16 January 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