Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of Financial Education in equipping learners with key life skills. Financial Education is embedded in the curriculum in Scotland through numeracy and mathematics, business studies and personal and social education classes. Financial Education is a key feature of Curriculum for Excellence Experiences and Outcomes for Numeracy and Mathematics, supporting learners to understand concepts including credit, debt, earnings and deductions alongside effective financial management, making appropriate use of technology and understanding the importance of budgeting.

The Money and Pensions Service report in 2023 - UK Children and Young People’s Financial Wellbeing Survey: Financial Foundations | Money and Pensions Service found that children in Scotland were more likely to have received a meaningful financial education than those living in the UK as a whole.

Education Scotland (ES) is currently reviewing the curriculum in line with the Curriculum Improvement Cycle. This work includes reviewing the place of Financial Education within the curriculum. ES are engaging with teachers, academics and a range of stakeholders including representatives from the Money and Pensions Service, Qualifications Scotland, the National Association of Student Money Advisers and Money Ready. As part of this work ES are examining the current landscape of financial education with the aim of supporting a coherent and equitable approach to the subject across Scotland’s schools.

Amey is ultimately responsible for undertaking the viaduct propping works, acting as both Principal Designer and Contractor, under the Network Maintenance Contract (NMC) with Transport Scotland.

Transport Scotland’s Project Team manage Amey’s performance and scrutinise Amey’s programme at weekly meetings. They undertake joint risk reviews with Amey to ensure adequate allowances are made in the programme for any risks to delivery. As a result of scrutinising the programme and risks, a Quantitative Schedule Risk Analysis (QSRA) is produced by Amey. The QSRA provides probabilities for when the project will be completed, which aids planning and communications to the public.

Transport Scotland also utilise the Performance Audit Group (PAG) who audit, monitor and report on the financial, technical and performance aspects of the operating companies who are contracted to manage and maintain Scotland’s trunk roads. In addition, for this project, Transport Scotland have additional support from Turner and Townsend who provide expert scrutiny of the programme and project risks.

As you are aware, Transport Scotland has established a Project Board to provide additional governance and oversight of the project, who regularly receive copies of the programme, and reporting on reasons for any change at regular intervals.

Finally, independent peer reviews, known as Gateway Reviews, have been undertaken at key stages of the project with the support of stakeholders and advisers. These Reviews provide additional assurance and, where required, recommend actions to ensure the project progresses successfully.

I am, therefore, confident Transport Scotland have robust monitoring in place in relation to the programme, reported delays and the reasons for them.

The Scottish Government’s role is to provide strategic leadership for NHS Scotland to ensure a sustainable NHS workforce. Operational matters relating to workforce recruitment and retention, including the neonatal workforce, are the responsibility of individual NHS Boards as employers, and are determined by service needs in line with national, regional and local priorities.

Our Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce was established to help identify gaps and prioritise measures to futureproof our workforce. The Taskforce has agreed a number of recommended actions to ensure nursing and midwifery remain attractive careers and we are working with key stakeholders to implement these. We are also progressing phase 2 of the Future Medical Workforce programme, following publication of the report earlier this year, to help shape the medical workforce going forward.

In addition, the Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce, launched by the Scottish Government in January 2026, provides system-wide strategic oversight of maternity and neonatal services, including workforce concerns.

The Centre for Workforce Supply (CWS) within Public Services Delivery Scotland (PSDS) supports NHS Boards by providing advice and guidance on workforce attraction, recruitment and retention, and by facilitating the sharing of best practice across Boards. In addition, PSDS, in collaboration with the Scottish Neonatal Nurses Group, has developed a national ‘Once for Scotland’ induction and preceptorship package for newly qualified and new-to-specialty neonatal nurses and midwives supporting workforce retention by ensuring consistent skills and knowledge development.

As outlined in our pledge over the first 100 Days of a new government and as set out in the Scottish Budget 2026-27, Scottish Spending Review 2026 and the Infrastructure Delivery Pipeline 2026, published on 13 January, the Scottish Government is fully committed to dualling the whole A96, including a Nairn Bypass. As part of this commitment the Scottish Government is already starting the dualling process from Inverness to Nairn, including Nairn Bypass.

Investment in the trunk road network over the four year Capital Spending Review period to 2029-30 will allow the Scottish Government to make further progress on dualling the A96 between Inverness and Nairn, including the Nairn Bypass. With the land acquired for the scheme in 2025, funding is included in the 2026-27 Budget to commence the delivery of advanced works. This will include vital archaeological investigation works and other key environmental and ecological measures, along with significant work to facilitate complex Public Utility diversions.

In parallel to the advanced works, investment through the Budget in 2026-27 will also allow Transport Scotland to continue to take forward the work to determine the most suitable procurement option for delivering the scheme and further develop the Business Case.

The Scottish Government’s preference would be to deliver the A96 Dualling Inverness to Nairn (including Nairn Bypass) as one project. However, due to the continued fiscal challenges, it is planned that the Scottish Government will take forward a phased approach to delivery, starting with the Nairn Bypass, followed by the remaining sections of the scheme, from Seafield, east of Inverness, to Balloch and then on from Balloch to the Nairn Bypass.

Completion of the preparatory work, including approval of the Business Case, will enable a firm timetable for delivery to be set as part of the annual budget setting process, with a view to commencing procurement of the main works contract for the Nairn Bypass within this Capital Spending Review period.

The Capital Spending Review allows for the commencement of the construction of the Nairn Bypass in 2029-30, subject to business case approval and confirmation of funding beyond the spending review period. Delivery of advanced works for the Seafield to Balloch section of the scheme are also expected to commence during this capital spending review period.

Despite the current fiscal position and following the A96 Dualling Inverness to Nairn (including Nairn Bypass) scheme, the Scottish Government will continue to progress dualling of the A96 eastwards, including an Elgin Bypass.

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 requires that all wild birds are protected. NatureScot has responsibility for the issuing of General Licences under Section 16(1) of the Act, which authorise the killing and taking of certain wild birds including their eggs for one or more of several reasons including public health and safety.

NatureScot held a consultation on General Licences between August and October 2019. Following this consultation, they removed several species, including herring, lesser black-backed and great black-backed gulls, from the 2020 General Licences either on the basis that there was insufficient evidence of the damage they caused; there are other alternative non-lethal solutions; or there are conservation concerns over their population status. Although some species have been removed, authorised persons will still be able to apply to NatureScot for a specific licence to control them or undertake lethal control, including nest and egg destruction.

The Scottish Government does not plan to review the law in relation to the management of seagulls because it is viewed as striking the correct balance between preserving public health and conserving the species.

This is an operational matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). I have asked the Chief Executive of SQA to write to you.