Chamber and committees

Disposal of privately-prescribed medicines are outside Health Boards’ remit, therefore Scottish Government would not enter discussions with Boards on this topic. Safe disposal of waste associated with privately-prescribed medicines, including sharps, is the responsibility of the Independent Healthcare (IHC) service that has supplied the medicine(s). The IHC service is expected to comply with current waste management legislation, including ensuring that clinical waste (including sharps bins) is appropriately segregated, handled and disposed-of, with the correct European Waste Catalogue (EWC) coding in place.

Catering service provision across the Parliament provides a robust offer around parliamentary business. Service timings for lunch in the Garden Level Restaurant are based on levels of demand, ensuring efficient use of resources in line with parliamentary requirements.  Alternative options are available after 2.30pm at the Coffee Bar where a hot sandwich option can be ordered and in the Public Café where hot food options including soup, baked potatoes and a range of sandwiches (including hot) are on offer until 5pm.  Hot food is also available from 4pm in Queensberry House Lounge.

As previously confirmed to the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee in the last Parliamentary session, the Scottish Government recognises the concerns being raised on this issue.

Local authorities have the flexibility to backdate applications for the council tax disregard for people determined as having a severe mental impairment. However, we are currently considering approaches which might further streamline the availability of this support, including exploring legislative changes. This requires stakeholder input to minimise the risk of unintended consequences.

Work is continuing on proposals following the Scottish Parliament election and an update will be provided when they are at a more advanced stage.

Reporting of progress to the Justice Board was based on one Vision for Justice aim per quarter, commencing around a year after publication of the delivery plan. The need to discuss higher priorities resulted in reporting being delayed.

Aim five, which includes ‘renewing and transforming the justice system’ covered a number of areas of work, so at times elements from this aim were drawn into other reporting.

Over and above reporting on the strategy aims, priority transformational change efforts – much of which comes under aim five, were reported to the Criminal Justice Board.

There is no policy requiring the placement of an accessible defibrillator on every public building, as there is limited evidence that legislation mandating devices in certain locations would improve cardiac arrest outcomes.

Instead, the Scottish Government and Save a Life for Scotland partners use a data-driven, localised approach to increase defibrillator availability and use.

We funded the development of PADmap - Increasing cardiac arrest survival through optimal defibrillator placement, a tool that helps defibrillator guardians identify locations where devices will have the impact. We are also funding the expansion of Cardiac Arrest Rescue Zones (CARe Zones), which support increased defibrillator placement through community engagement.

Since the launch of the £2 bus fare cap pilot in the Highlands and Islands in January 2026, the Scottish Government has received claims relating to 280,907 passenger journeys, with total reimbursement claims of £2,045,740.90 made by participating bus operators. The number of journeys and the value of claims may not align due to the claim validation process.

It is not yet possible to determine the number of additional passenger journeys generated by the scheme, however, the Scottish Government will work with participating operators over the summer to assess the impact of the pilot against comparable baseline data.

All figures are correct as of 2 June 2026.

The Non-Domestic Rates (Liability for Unoccupied Properties) (Scotland) Act 2026 (the Act) clarified the legal basis for local authorities to levy rates on the owners of unoccupied properties, subject to any reliefs that local authorities may choose to put in place, with retrospective effect from 1 April 2023. The Act gives effect to the original policy intention and the system as understood by local authorities and ratepayers, and applied by local authorities.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on any claims for refunds received by local authorities. This matter has not however been raised specifically by local government with the Scottish Government.

As set out in our manifesto, we will work in partnership with others, including administering authorities in the Scottish Local Government Pension Scheme, to progress funding models that safeguard fiduciary duties, provide secure inflation linked returns, and can accelerate the delivery of affordable homes.

The Scottish Government has spent a total of £25,082.4 in the last 5 financial years with Total Politics for the purpose of Women into Leadership conference tickets and training events. £10,752 in Financial Year 24-25 and £14,330.40 in 25-26.

National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) places climate and nature at the centre of our planning system and makes clear our support for all forms of renewable, low-carbon and zero emission technologies, including new and replacement transmission and distribution infrastructure, whilst ensuring that potential impacts on our communities and natural assets, including cumulative impacts, are important considerations in the decision-making process.