Chamber and committees

I will be holding discussions with my Officials in the coming months to determine how best to organise and evaluate additional funding for local roads maintenance. As with all areas of Local Government funding, substantive details around funding allocations and accountability will be considered through the joint COSLA and Scottish Government Settlement and Distribution Group (SDG) prior to recommendations being provided to COSLA Leaders and Scottish Ministers.

In the meantime, local authorities have a duty under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 to manage and maintain local roads in their area and duties under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to secure the expeditious, convenient and safe movement of traffic. The Scottish Government does not hold specific information on any maintenance backlogs on these roads, though this will be discussed with local authorities and COSLA as part of the work on the additional funding.

Some Scottish local authorities had previously expressed interest in participating in the Department for Transport’s shared e-scooter trials, and we had planned to support them. However, the short application window offered by DfT for participation in the final round of trials did not allow sufficient time for the introduction of the necessary devolved legislation, meaning that Scottish local authorities are unable to participate.

Recognising the potential e-scooters and other micromobility vehicles have to boost local connectivity and reduce emissions, we continue to engage closely with DfT on their plans for legislation, including input to their forthcoming consultation on e-scooter regulations, and continue to develop the evidence base and policy position on e-scooters in Scotland. In the meantime, officials are exploring the potential for trials of e-scooter share schemes on private land in Scotland.

To ensure capital funding is targeted effectively, we are working with all health boards to develop a whole-system NHS infrastructure plan for Scotland, which will inform future investment priorities.

As part of this, we are taking forward a primary care infrastructure investment strategy, as set out in the Infrastructure Delivery Pipeline published on 13 January 2026. An initial tranche of 12 priority areas has been identified, based on health needs, population demographics and the condition of the existing estate, with work on three projects commencing immediately. This programme includes the development of a sustainable revenue funding model to support further investment in primary and community care infrastructure, including a network of local care and wellbeing centres across Scotland. To accelerate delivery, business case development and the revenue model will be progressed in parallel.

On current assumptions, construction is expected to begin from around 2031.

The second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) appraised a potential new rail link between the Highland Main Line (HML) and the West Highland Line (WHL). However, this option did not progress beyond the Preliminary Appraisal stage, and there are currently no plans to develop a direct connection between the two lines. Further information on STPR2 recommendations is available at:

Final technical report - December 2022 - STPR2 | Transport Scotlandappendix-g-groupings-related-to-recommendations-december-2022-stpr2.pdf

Transport Scotland continually reviews its programme of works against priorities in the context of available funding. This ensures it can deliver the right projects at the right time as it seeks to progress its rolling programme of decarbonisation, whilst also delivering rail passenger and freight services that meet user expectation.

Local authorities are encouraged to consider any specific housing requirements relating to key workers in the area. The definition of key workers is determined by individual local authorities based on local priorities. Local Housing Strategy Guidance sets out how local authorities are expected to take the needs of Key workers into account including through specific policies, including allocations. There is no one size fits all approach and it is for local authorities to set their own policies. Key workers can include doctors, nurses, teachers and police officers but also extends to private sector businesses, both temporary and permanent staff.

The Scottish Government would expect to see support for key workers set out in a local authority’s Local Housing Strategy and Strategic Housing Investment Plan, including any projects to be delivered through the Rural Affordable Homes for Key Workers Fund.

The Scottish Government is concerned by the reports raised in the BBC Documentary “Cashing in on Care” and sympathises with the families involved however deposit fees form part of the private contract between the provider and the individual - the Scottish Government is not a party in these contracts.

Families in Scotland can contact their local trading standards team who will investigate any breach of contract which was the issue in the cases raised in the BBC documentary. The Competition and Markets Authority - which is a statutory body and accountable to the UK Parliament - has guidance for care homes on deposits and fees. This requires care home providers to provide details of any upfront payments required, such as the amount of any deposit, how it will be protected, and refunding arrangements.

We expect all providers operating in Scotland to abide by the guidance clearly set out by the CMA fully.

A business case was submitted to the Scottish Government requesting funding for the provision of MRI services at Dr Gray’s Hospital under the National Treatment Centre (NTC) programme. The Business case process was subsequently paused in line with the decision in early 2024, due to capital funding constraints to pause all new capital infrastructure projects that were not already under construction including NTC projects.

The Scottish Government is working with all Health Boards to develop a Whole System Infrastructure Plan (WSIP), which will identify investment priorities across NHS Scotland. Projects previously paused, such as the MRI scanner at Dr Gray’s, will be considered within this process, with priorities determined through a national strategic assessment of the NHS estate and linked to capital funding availability. Ministers are expected to decide priorities next year, once this process concludes.

We have already invested an additional £100 million in 2026-27 to support delivery of commitments set out in the 25–26 Operational Improvement Plan, including action to reduce waiting times.

This funding is being allocated to Health Boards to support increased activity, including delivery of the commitment to undertake at least 50,000 operations and procedures within the first 100 days. Boards have flexibility to target this funding towards the specialties and services where waiting times are most challenged.

Information on the breakdown of these additional operations and procedures by specialty and location is not held centrally, as decisions on service delivery are made locally by Health Boards to reflect differing pressures and capacity across Scotland.

Thanks to investment from the Scottish Government, the East Kilbride line has recently been electrified, with the majority of services now operated by modern electric trains - delivering enhanced reliability, comfort and excellent value for money for passengers, further strengthened by our decision to remove peak fares for good and a 12-month ScotRail fare freeze from 1 April 2026.

This investment also included double tracking of part of the line which enables the resilient delivery of 4 trains per hour in the peaks.

The current timetable provides 2 trains per hour throughout the day, all week, increasing to 4 trains per hour in the peaks. Since December, the evening service has been increased to 2 trains per hour, taking it back to pre-Covid levels. The current provision meets passenger demand well.

ScotRail monitors patronage on individual routes on an ongoing basis and adjusts services accordingly, where resources allow.

The occupancy rights those living as property guardians have depend on the circumstances of the case and the type of occupancy arrangement in place.

These types of arrangements usually offer a licence agreement to occupy the property rather than a tenancy, and the rights and protection they have will be determined by that contract. Licence agreements usually offer less security of tenure than afforded by a private residential tenancy (PRT) under the Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016 (the Act). However, if it is agreed that the guardian has exclusive possession for a specified period of time in return for the payment of rent, they could legally have a tenancy agreement.

A private residential tenancy exists where the property is let to a tenant as a separate dwelling, the tenant lives in it as their only or main home, and the tenancy isn't excluded under schedule 1 of the Act.

Under these conditions, a tenant will have a private residential tenancy even if they have signed a licence to occupy.

It is important that anyone considering entering into a property guardianship arrangement considers carefully the conditions, rights, and responsibilities proposed under the agreement. If a property guardian believes they may have a private residential tenancy agreement, they can seek legal advice.