Chamber and committees

Helping people with the cost of living is a top priority of this government and we will be taking forward consultation on this policy within the first 100 days. Price caps on essential food items will be required of large supermarkets. Specifics will be considered as part of the policy development process, informed by engagement and consultation with all relevant stakeholders.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of minimising unnecessary regulatory burdens on businesses while helping people with the cost of living.

We are engaging constructively with all relevant stakeholders to support informed consideration of this policy and to ensure effective implementation that delivers on our core aim of making the weekly shop more affordable.

The Service Delivery Review consultation responses, were published on 15 June 2026, and are available on the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service website: Service Delivery Review Public Consultation Survey Raw Data | Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Board took decisions on its Service Delivery Review on 22 June 2026.

I met with senior personnel in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service on the following occasions, since the start of this parliament:

1. a - 4 June 2026

b - Stuart Stevens, SFRS Chief Officer

2. a - 11 June 2026

b - Andy Watt, SFRS Deputy Chief Officer and David Farries, SFRS Assistant Chief Officer

All of the Service Delivery Review options were subject to an equality impact assessment and an assessment of their impact on island communities by SFRS. The Equality and Human Rights Impact Assessments (EHRIA) for each proposed option for change were published on the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service website: SFRS Board, 20260622, Papers | Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (link: https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/publications/document/?id=9704).

The information requested is not held centrally.

The data held by Scottish Government (SG) on individuals held on remand is taken from the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) Prisoner Records System. SG do publish information on the number of departures from the remand population and the number of transitions from the remand population into the sentenced population in each financial year here: Supporting documents - Scottish Prison Population Statistics 2024-25 - gov.scot. However, this indicates prisoner movement rather than the outcome of the case/s individuals are involved in. Prisoner records do not contain information on the outcomes of court cases.

The information requested is not held centrally.

The data held by Scottish Government (SG) on individuals held on remand is taken from the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) Prisoner Records System. SG do publish information on the number of departures from the remand population and the number of transitions from the remand population into the sentenced population in each financial year here: Supporting documents - Scottish Prison Population Statistics 2024-25 - gov.scot. However, this indicates prisoner movement rather than the outcome of the case/s individuals are involved in. Prisoner records do not contain information on the outcomes of court cases.

The spend to date forms part of the development of the Monklands Replacement Project and includes the purchase of the Wester Moffat site. This funding has supported essential preparatory activity, including site preparation, ground investigations, surveys, planning and design work, and the approvals required to progress an infrastructure project of this scale and complexity.

Development costs are a normal part of major infrastructure planning and have brought us to an informed decision point. The spend to date, will be used to support the revised proposal on the Wester Moffat site.

In terms of spend to date, NHS Lanarkshire have published a Q&A which includes this detail available here: Reset Phase Q & A | New University Hospital Monklands.

Funding from Transport Scotland to Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) for Dundee Airport in each of the last seven years is:

I have asked Linda Pollock, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

SPS are acutely aware of the threat presented to all contraband entering our establishments and we continue to prioritise the health and wellbeing of those both living and working in our prisons.

Technological and tactical measures such as intelligence led interventions, trace detection equipment and strengthened window grilles form part of a compendium of options that can be utilised to mitigate identified threats.

SPS will continue to work closely with Police Scotland and other partners across the UK and Europe to share best practice and learning to prevent illicit items including alcohol, drugs, weapons and mobile phones from entering our prisons.