Chamber and committees

The recording of information on the profile of sexual assault and rape perpetrators is an operational matter for Police Scotland, and any such incident should be reported to them to ensure victims can access the justice they deserve. Beyond this, Health Boards have a legal duty to record data on violence and aggression within their estates, and the Scottish Government expects them to have the necessary reporting systems in place to do this.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of ensuring public services deliver best value and this is at the core of the Public Service Reform strategy.

Public bodies are supported to consider all delivery models, including insourcing where appropriate. However, decisions on whether services are delivered in-house or externally are for individual bodies, based on their assessment of value for money, delivery confidence and outcomes.

The Scottish Government has established and signposts guidance to support best value decisions which includes the Scottish Public Finance Manual and Public Service Reform Frameworks.

There is currently no projected underspend in the 2026-27 Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP).

The AHSP seeks to optimise the positive impact of spend and delivery, and does so by supporting local authorities to deliver fully against its Resource Planning Assumptions (RPAs). Where local authorities are unable to deliver against its RPA the programme will seek to move funding to other areas that are able to deliver. This process is taken forward as part of normal in year programme management, in discussion with local authorities and reported on through annual outturn reports.

Any small business owner who experiences harassment or online abuse can report these matters to the police for consideration of investigation. There are a range of laws which operate that may be relevant depending on the specifics of any harassment and online abuse the business is experiencing such as the threatening or abusive behaviour offence. Operational decisions on criminal investigations are an independent matter for Police Scotland.

All businesses – wherever they are in the country – can access support from a wide variety of public sector organisations through the Find Business Support website.

All businesses – wherever they are in the country – can access support from a wide variety of public sector organisations through the Find Business Support website.

Many civil disputes are settled through alternative dispute resolution mechanisms such as mediation or arbitration. Where court action is necessary, the courts and tribunals system is designed to ensure that disputes are resolved in the most proportionate way possible. This may be through free to the user tribunals or lower cost court actions such as Simple Procedure which is used for disputes with a value of less than £5000 and legal advice is often unnecessary

The Scottish Government recognises that there are health concerns linked with cats with extreme characteristics, such as the Scottish Fold. It acknowledges that breeds such as the Scottish Fold and Munchkin have been found to likely represent a breach in the licencing condition of no breeding should occur if it could have a detrimental effect on the cat’s health or wellbeing.

We will continue to work with industry stakeholders and engage with DEFRA in order to keep pace with advances in science and will be looking at issues of artificial insemination of cats, and the breeding of exotic/wild cat-hybrids in line with the recommendations from the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission.

Reports of rape and sexual assaults in hospitals are very concerning. Such incidents are abhorrent and we encourage all victims to report sexual crime to the police, including those that may have happened some time ago. Health Boards have legal duties to keep staff, patients and visitors safe. Health Boards are expected to record all incidences of assaults using their local reporting systems and escalate to Police Scotland, where appropriate.

Investigation of sexual assault and rape is an operational matter for Police Scotland who are accountable to the Scottish Police Authority.

The Scottish Government is a partner in Transforming Communities Glasgow alongside Glasgow City Council and Wheatley Homes Glasgow.

Partners are working collaboratively to progress the site at Red Road, recognising the challenges relating to viability, remediation and infrastructure. A detailed business plan is being progressed by partners, setting out the preferred delivery model, funding approach and key actions required to unlock the development of the site.

There is a shared commitment among partners to identify a deliverable and sustainable solution that will support the regeneration of Red Road and facilitate the construction of new homes.

Any small business owner who experiences harassment or online abuse can report these to Police Scotland for consideration of investigation.

The Scottish Government engages regularly with key business support agencies, including Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, South of Scotland Enterprise and Business Gateway, to ensure that appropriate advice and support and guidance are available to small and medium-sized enterprises facing a range of challenges.

Guidance has included signposting to cyber resilience and business continuity advice.

Through Scotland’s enterprise and skills agencies, businesses can access advice, digital capability support and resources aimed at strengthening online presence and recovery planning including responding and recovering from cyber incidents.

The Scottish Government is delivering the strongest package of winter support in the UK. Child Winter Heating Payment is an automatic payment unique to Scotland that helps families and carers of disabled children under 19 with winter heating costs. It is paid to those who receive the highest rate of the care component of Child Disability Payment or the enhanced rate of the daily living component of Adult Disability Payment.

Official statistics published on 19 May 2026 shows that as of 31 March 2026, over 44,000 Child Winter Heating Payments were made to eligible clients, with the vast majority paid automatically in December 2025. The information requested for April 2026 is not yet published.

Further details are available on Social Security Scotland’s website at: Winter Heating Benefits: Statistics for Winter 2025/2026 - Social Security Scotland.