Chamber and committees

There were two application rounds for the Islands Business Resilience Fund (IBRF). In round one there were 248 applications received, with 215 approved and 33 unsuccessful, and in round two there were 255 applications received, with 229 approved and 26 unsuccessful. Therefore, in total there were 503 applications with a total of 444 being successful and 59 being unsuccessful.

The Investing in Communities Fund (ICF) operated on an open competition basis available to community led organisations including Housing Associations. Applications were assessed against the funding criteria, with successful projects monitored and evaluated on an individual basis against their stated outcomes. As such the fund is not assessed against the wider role agenda.

New government ministers have just been appointed, and will now begin work to deliver on their manifesto commitments.

Our Programme for Government for 2026-27 will be put to the Parliament in due course. The Scottish Government published the Health and Social Care Service Renewal Framework (SRF) in July 2025. The first Major Change of the SRF includes a specific focus on long term conditions. As part of this we are continuing to engage with the third sector, clinicians and others to develop our approach to long term conditions, including respiratory conditions.

The Scottish Government remains committed to taking action against strategic lawsuits against public participation. We are considering proposals for legislation in light of responses to the recent consultation. At this time the forward legislative programme for the Scottish Government has yet to be agreed and it is therefore not possible to provide an introduction date or estimate a coming into force date for any legislation which is yet to be brought forward.

The Scottish Government is currently consulting on proposals to criminalise creating or requesting the creation of purported intimate images of another person without their consent and to criminalise the production, supply and the offering to supply of digital tools and services designed solely or principally to generate intimate images and videos. This consultation can be found at: Improving protections in the justice system for women and girls: consultation - gov.scot.

As is standard practice, we will set out the timetable for the next legislative programme in due course.

Following the statutory review, Ministers have committed the Scottish Government to a programme of reform of the National Performance Framework (NPF).

Activity to support the review has been undertaken as part of the Scottish Government’s core business and delivered within existing staff and programme budgets. As such, a detailed breakdown of costs is not available, as expenditure is not routinely recorded against the NPF as a separate budget line.

Work to develop proposals for a reformed NPF is ongoing, with detailed options to be considered by Ministers. Subject to this process, we expect to publish a reformed NPF soon. An update will be provided to Parliament in due course.

Since 1 January 2021, a total of 10 planning appeals for renewable energy developments in the Highland and Islands region have been allowed.

The breakdown of that total by year and by planning authority are set out in the following table. The information includes appeals dismissed for context.

I have asked Linda Pollock, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

SPS’ Maternity and Parenting policy was last reviewed in partnership with trade unions in April 2026. It applies to all staff who are entitled to maternity, paternity, adoption and parental leave and forms part of the employee contract of employment and sets out specific rights and benefits when applicable.

The policy is compliant with equalities and employment legislation and has been subject to an Equalities and Human Rights Impact Assessment, which was published alongside the finalised policy.

There are no further plans to review the policy at this stage.

I have asked Linda Pollock, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

SPS welcome and value the continued interest in HMP Barlinnie and we recognise its historic significance, however we believe that a more proportionate and selective approach is required for the site’s viability long-term.

Working in partnership with the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT), SPS has utilised existing funding to lodge an appeal via Montagu Evans. Following any outcome, we will then be in a more informed position to assess the impact of the final decision, including consideration of any potential financial costs and any options for redevelopment of the site.