Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government continues to monitor and consider a range of evidence in relation to the energy sector.

As part of this, we commissioned and published independent analysis on Scotland’s Energy System and Just Transition in 2023. An update, published in 2025, to the baseline data for this analysis found that the oil and gas sector supported an estimated 53,000 direct and indirect jobs in Scotland in 2022.

Local authorities hold statutory responsibility for managing and maintaining their school estate, and we expect them to provide safe environments for all school users.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on the number of schools with panic alarm or emergency alert systems centrally. Local authorities may hold this information.

Data on vacancy rates for medical and dental consultants, nursing and midwifery, and allied health professionals are collected quarterly and made publicly available through Turas Data Intelligence on the Official workforce statistics website - NHS Scotland Workforce Data. Data on vacancy rates for other groups are not held centrally.

The Scottish Government intend to deliver four further new major vessels, in addition to the two already deployed. These six major vessels in total along with the seven new small vessels will mean that this government has invested to renew over a third of CalMac’s entire fleet.

To improve services in the short term we have also extended the charter of MV Alfred to the end of the summer timetable.

As the recruitment and deployment of police officers are matters for the Chief Constable, it for her to determine the minimum establishment number of police officers. The Chief Constable has indicated that the current establishment model is based around 16,500 police officers.

The Scottish Government is investing a record funding of over £1.7 billion in policing in 2026-27, a total increase of £81.5 million compared to the 2025-26 budget. The Chief Constable has confirmed that this allows her to maintain the establishment figure of around 16,500 police officers.

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 information regarding the total amount paid out by each local authority in compensation claims relating to vehicle damage caused by potholes.

The Scottish Government has pursued two approaches to assess Scottish bracken area since the HSE decision not to authorise the emergency use of Asulox in 2023. The first was to commission the creation of a Scottish bracken map to provide a baseline from which future changes in coverage can be assessed. The second was to conduct a survey of upland hill farmers, gathering information on current bracken coverage and impact, change over time and treatment. Both outputs are due to be published in summer 2026.

On 27 May, the Scottish Government announced that the first round of applications for the First Homes Fund will open by the end of June, providing first-time buyers with a £10,000 contribution towards a deposit on their first home at a property value of up to £300,000.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on the lease arrangements for Shettleston Police Station.

The management of the Police Scotland estate is an operational matter, and is the responsibility of the Chief Constable under the scrutiny of the Scottish Police Authority.

The 2026-27 Scottish Police Authority budget is over £1.7 billion. This includes £86.3 million capital budget, an uplift of £16.3 million compared to the published 2025-26 Autumn Budget Revision budget, which will ensure that Police Scotland can continue to invest in essential infrastructure and to deliver its Estates Masterplan.