Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government remains committed to implementing Part 1 of the Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Act 2021 despite the complex operational challenges that have been identified.

In March 2025 the former Minister for Victims and Community Safety outlined to the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee the proposed next steps. These included establishing a working group with stakeholders including justice agencies and victims’ organisations to consider possible legislative changes to the 2021 Act to enable the protection notice and order scheme to be implemented in a way that is sustainable, deliverable and affordable.

The working group was subsequently established and met five times in total. The working group has developed a number of potential changes to the legislation, with the intention of these informing a consultation in early 2026. However, on further reflection it was considered right that it should be for a new Government, following the election, to determine whether it wished to adopt this approach. In light of the detailed considerations of the working group, we will now look to refine the potential legislative changes further, with a view to a targeted consultation later in 2026. Following any such consultation and analysis of responses I will be able to provide a more detailed update on timelines for bringing forward the necessary legislative changes to enable the domestic abuse protection notice and order scheme to be operationalised.

Scottish Ministers are committed to reforming our public sector to ensure the delivery of excellent public services in a fiscally sustainable manner. Delivering such services is core to the government’s mission. The role of Public Service Reform is to deliver that mission, building confidence that the government is on Scotland’s side and can be trusted to take the next step in our constitutional journey.

The current transport system does many things well but it has evolved incrementally into a complex landscape of national bodies, agencies and local actors, with blurred accountabilities, mixed levels of integration and strategic coherence. And it has not been reviewed for almost twenty years. Further incremental change will not deliver the transformation needed or the outcomes the communities and businesses of Scotland expect. The time is now right to review the entire system of how transport is delivered across Scotland and deliver bold reform with a clear focus on ensuring Scotland’s publicly owned transport bodies support better integration of services and maximise the impact of public investment.

Changes to Transport Scotland and other national transport bodies are part of this reform agenda as set out in our manifesto. I will work with senior officials to take forward this commitment while maintaining a strong focus on excellent delivery of public transport services. Preparation is at an early stage and it will be essential to engage trade unions and ensure staff are involved at all levels as this work progresses.

We recognise the vital role of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) in tackling wildfires and remain committed to sustaining that capability. The SFRS 2026-27 overall budget provides an additional £23.8 million, taking total funding to £436 million, demonstrating the continued support to the Service to deliver the high standard of services required to keep Scotland safe. In addition, the Scottish Government’s Wildfires Strategic Action Plan sets out a coordinated approach to preventing, preparing for and responding to wildfires.

The allocation of SFRS resources to respond to wildfire incidents, including the deployment of specialist wildfire capability, equipment and staffing, is an operational matter for SFRS. The SFRS spend on its wildfire strategy has been circa £1.6 million over the course of its 3 year roll-out. As part of its strategy, SFRS has reviewed and invested in equipment, vehicles and training to strengthen its response to wildfires, particularly in rural areas.

In response to the 2025 wildfire season, SFRS has invested in equipment, including four new wildfire support units with enhanced equipment (Alford, Oban, Galashiels and Dornoch) and two new interim wildfire units (Lockerbie and Thurso), and is also delivering controlled burn training for firefighters. SFRS already has more than 30 fire stations equipped with dedicated wildfire resources, as well as several wildfire tactical advisers who can provide strategic support at incidents.

SFRS also manages the Community Asset Register (CAR) - a Scotland wide database of trained volunteers and equipment – ready and willing to respond and offer support during emergency situations, such as a wildfire incident.

The Scottish Government recognises the serious and escalating threat from wildfires in Scotland due to climate change and the importance of strengthening public awareness of wildfire risks and responsible outdoor behaviour and access.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) produces its own annual wildfire prevention and awareness campaign, aimed at reducing human-caused fires by highlighting these risks.

This year’s campaign was officially launched on Thursday, 5 March, alongside the Scottish Government’s Wildfire Strategic Action Plan. The key message of the campaign is that there is no such thing as a harmless fire. It includes targeted paid promotion, digital content, media engagement, and partnership working to extend its reach.

SFRS also works closely with local authorities, National Park authorities, public bodies and land managers to ensure that clear and consistent public messaging on wildfire risk is conveyed in a timely, effective and coordinated way.

In addition to the SFRS campaign, a multi-channel campaign supporting the new recreational fire byelaw in the Cairngorms National Park has promoted a “no flame, no spark” message through physical road signage, social media advertising, video and influencer activity. It has reached nearly 1.5 million individuals and generated around 4.3 million impressions, with more than 100 businesses and community groups engaging with campaign materials.

For summer 2026, this work will be continued and strengthened through coordinated national and local activity, including targeted awareness campaigns and continued promotion of safe behaviours relating to campfires, disposable barbecues and other wildfire risks.

Similarly, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority continues to deliver sustained public awareness activity through ranger engagement, byelaws, media campaigns and national partnerships with SFRS and others to ensure consistent messaging on wildfire risks. Most recently, it hosted a press conference in Balloch alongside Police Scotland to convey key public safety messages, with coverage across local and national online, print, TV and radio outlets.

These combined efforts demonstrate an ongoing, collaborative approach to strengthening public awareness of wildfire risks in Scotland.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00406 on 2 June 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00062 on 2 June 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00062 on 2 June 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00062 on 2 June 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00062 on 2 June 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00062 on 2 June 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.