Chamber and committees

As I set out in my previous response, the UK Government did not provide a detailed policy design or a full assessment of the potential impacts of zonal pricing on consumers, communities and businesses in Scotland.

We engaged with a broad range of stakeholders and noted that the available evidence on the impact of introducing zonal pricing was mixed. Some organisations highlighted the potential for zonal pricing to reduce electricity costs in parts of Scotland – but this would not materialise for another 10 years. Renewable energy developers and wider industry stakeholders raised significant concerns about the potential impact on investor confidence and associated risk premium which could erode any benefit.

Given these competing considerations, and the absence of a clear, evidence-based policy framework from the UK Government, the Scottish Government has not adopted a formal position either in support of or against the introduction of zonal pricing. Rather the Scottish Government calls on the UK Government to take immediate action to reduce the high cost of energy bills today – for example through introducing a social tariff.

The responses provided to previous questions reflect this position and are in line with the commitment in the Scottish Ministerial Code to be as open as possible with Parliament, setting out both the limits of the available evidence and the basis on which the Scottish Government has engaged on this issue.

The Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 includes the option to introduce an authorisation scheme through regulations as set out in Section 5 of the Act, to allow the use, supply or possession of glue traps. However, we have received no evidence to date that introducing an authorisation scheme is necessary.

British Heart Foundation (BHF) Scotland chaired Long Term Conditions Advisory Group 1 on cardiometabolic and kidney conditions. We are grateful to all the third sector organisations, including BHF Scotland, who have engaged with our work to date and welcome continued engagement with BHF Scotland as our work on long term conditions develops.

The consultation carried out as part of the compulsory purchase reform programme included questions on Compulsory Sale Orders and responses are currently being analysed. The Scottish Government will publish a summary of responses to that consultation and associated analysis report, as well as an update on the compulsory purchase reform programme shortly.

A press release regarding the upcoming ban on rodent glue board traps in Scotland was issued on 24 June 2026 to the Press Association and included our main national media, local media and environment lists. Stakeholder organisations were notified as referenced in the answer to question S7W-01330 on 13 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.

Information on the ban has been published on the Scottish Government’s website: https://www.gov.scot/news/glue-trap-ban-comes-into-force/.

Promotional materials, including flyers highlighting the ban were displayed and distributed from the Scottish Government’s Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW) Scotland Stand at the Royal Highland Show and GWCT Scottish Game Fair.

Furthermore, Scottish Government officials met with the British Pest Control Association (BPCA) in the months prior to the ban, which enabled the BPCA to produce communication material for their members in advance of the ban.

CMAL, in collaboration with CalMac and Transport Scotland as part of the project working group, are currently reviewing the design and scope of the upgrades required to support the continuation of ferry services to Arran. Based on the current stage of the project; minimal spend is expected within this financial year (2026-27) with increased spend expected within future years from 2027-28 onwards.

Youth work falls within the scope of The Requirements for Community Learning and Development (Scotland) Regulations 2013. This regulation, in effect, requires local authorities to identify need and plan provision of Community Learning and Development in their areas.

As the regulatory requirements for Community Learning and Development are placed with education authorities, the Scottish Government does not collate this information.

The evaluation of the recent pilot is being finalised. This will help determine if the pilot supported people seeking asylum to integrate into society in line with the New Scots refugee integration strategy, and understand how free bus travel has impacted the daily lives of people seeking asylum in Scotland. I will consider these findings in determining next steps.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information. Responsibility for health and safety in colleges rests with individual institutions, with enforcement of legislation undertaken by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

As the statutory regulator, the HSE is responsible for investigating concerns, determining compliance with health and safety legislation, and taking any enforcement action where necessary.

Responsibility for health and safety arrangements rests with individual colleges, which are required to meet their legal obligations and maintain safe environments for staff and learners.

Whilst health and safety regulation and enforcement is a matter for the Health and Safety Executive, the Scottish Government expects colleges to have robust policies and procedures in place.

The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) seeks assurance on this through its ongoing engagement and monitoring of the sector.