Chamber and committees

It is vital to note that achieving consent is only one of several interconnected factors that determine deliverability and the Scottish Government has not analysed the impact of consenting in isolation. Grid availability and a route to market through Contracts for Difference are key factors outwith the Scottish Government’s control.

The Scottish Government is aware, however, of concerns regarding planning timescales and as set out in the 100 Days of a New SNP Government document, we are consulting with partners to ensure that the planning system acts as an enabler to economic growth and investment.

The Updated Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy is expected to be adopted in Summer 2026.

Significant progress has already been made since our consultation on the draft Plan last year, including completion of the Appropriate Assessment, consultation with Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies, and ongoing work to identify compensatory measures for seabird impacts.

The remaining work relates primarily to finalisation of the Plan and its associated impact assessments including Habitats Regulations Appraisal processes. These documents are currently being finalised and will be submitted for Ministerial consideration in the coming weeks. This includes consideration by UK Ministers.

Subject to Ministerial approval, the Plan will be adopted and all supporting documents will be published.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that the offshore wind opportunity for Scotland is realised, maximising economic growth and creating well-paid jobs in communities across Scotland.

Including the Scottish National Investment Bank's investment in the Port of Ardersier, more than £150 million has been invested in projects to strengthen port infrastructure and supply chain capability. This is leveraging up to £675 million in private investment and £70 million from UK public finance institutions into projects that have the potential to support up to 5,000 jobs.

A list of announced investments can be found on the Scottish Government website.

The Scottish Government continues to prioritise delivery of the Scottish Marine Recovery Fund (MRF) and is undertaking thorough due diligence to ensure the fund is lawfully constituted, financially sustainable, and operationally deliverable.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has an existing empty homes officer, which was originally funded through a matched contribution of just over £38,000 from the Scottish Government. In 2025-2026 the Scottish Government provided £750,000 towards match-funding for additional empty homes officer posts, which resulted in an extra 15 posts within Scottish local authorities. That funding was allocated, and is supported, via the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership and discussions were held with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to explore options for funding to support empty homes work across the islands. These discussions continue (they last met on 24 June 2026) and, as well as the option to recruit an additional officer, include the offer of capital funding in 2026-27, which would contribute towards the creation of a local authority run grant scheme for empty homeowners.

The Scottish Government recognises the pressures facing Local Government and that is why the Local Government Settlement provided record funding of £15.7 billion for 2026-27. Local authorities also have a range of revenue raising powers that are not available to other public services and the ability to borrow to fund their capital programme.

The vast majority of funding allocated by the Scottish Government is provided by means of a block grant and it is then for individual Local Authorities to allocate the total resources available to them, on the basis of local needs and priorities.

The Scottish Government have had to take difficult decisions in light of the disappointing capital settlement from the UK Government’s Spending Review. However, the Scottish Government has a long history of working with COSLA and Local Authorities to make sure Council finances are sustainable and that available resources can meet long-term commitments.

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.

Pay supplements are operational matters for the Scottish Government Civil Service and are, by design, temporary and subject to periodic review. They are typically approved for a fixed term of up to three years and may be continued, varied, or withdrawn based on the outcome of that review. These supplements are attached to specific roles rather than individuals and are used to address recruitment and retention pressures in areas where market conditions require it.

In recent years, the Energy Consents Unit (ECU) has undergone significant recruitment and training to bolster the workforce and match the rising demand in applications. In addition, the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 provided Scottish Ministers with new regulation-making powers that seek to streamline the consenting process. We will consult later this year on how we intend to use these powers, with findings informing secondary legislation. Taken together, these actions will help Ministers meet our ambitions for faster decision-making timescales of onshore wind applications.

The Onshore Wind Sector Deal included the ambition that from 2025 we would aim to determine section 36 applications for new sites and for the re-powering of existing operational sites within 12 months, or 24 months if there is a Public Local Inquiry (PLI). We remain committed to this ambition, ensuring that the energy consenting process delivers timely results and takes a pragmatic approach.

Between January 2025 and June 2026, the ECU received 46 onshore wind applications. By 14 July 2026, at the time of answering:

• none of these applications have been determined
• 27 applications can no longer meet the 12 month determination timescale
• 19 applications remain within 12 month determination timescale
• all applications still remain within the 24 month determination timescale (where a PLI may be required)

This summer, the ECU will publish an Annual Report for the first time which will include data and performance monitoring associated with their work. The report will provide further analysis relating to the factors which impact determination timescales.

Domestic and intimate partner violence, in all its forms, has no place in Scotland. Equally Safe, Scotland’s strategy to prevent and eradicate all forms of violence against women and girls, recognises that men and boys can also be victims of violence and abuse.

We are providing almost £46 million over 2026-2028 through our Delivering Equally Safe Fund, to allow all fund recipients to continue the vital work they undertake to prevent violence and support survivors. In addition, the Victim Centred Approach fund will provide £6 million for specialist advocacy support for survivors of gender-based violence in 2026-27. This includes services which support male survivors -

• Men’s Advice Line, who provide emotional support and practical advice and information for male victims of domestic abuse in Scotland.
• SACRO’s FearFree Project which supports male and LGBTI survivors of domestic violence.
• AMIS, a charity that support men experiencing domestic abuse through their national helpline, website and training services.
• The Scottish Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline to support both male and female victims and survivors.
• ASSIST, who as part of their work provide advocacy support to male survivors of domestic abuse in the West of Scotland and the Lothians.
• LGBT Domestic Abuse project, which works across Scotland to raise awareness and improve service responses of LGBT people's experiences of domestic abuse and other forms of gender based violence.

Our Equally Safe delivery plan commits to the development of a more sustainable funding model aligned to the ambitions of Equally Safe, which will include appropriate national provision of support to male victims of domestic abuse.