Chamber and committees

As per The Tenancy Deposit Schemes (Scotland) Regulations 2011, any accumulated interest must be held by the respective deposit scheme in a designated account.

The interest can be withdrawn from designated accounts to meet the costs of the scheme, improve the quality of service provided by the scheme or to distribute, apply or invest interest, where investment will not adversely affect the viability of the scheme. The self-financing scheme model allows for the tenancy deposit schemes to provide their services free of charge to tenants, landlords and letting agents.

The Freight Facilities Grant (FFG) is intended to bring about a number of benefits from the removal of freight from roads to other modes of transport. These include environmental and social effects including improved public health through reduced local air pollution; increased road safety through reduced volumes of heavy vehicle traffic; improved traffic flows through reduced congestion; and lower overall emissions from moving freight from heavy goods vehicles to lower-emitting forms of transport.

We remain committed to delivery of the 10% and 1% spending targets, for mental health services and CAMHS respectively.

Latest data published by Public Health Scotland on 25 February 2025 shows total spend on mental health in Scotland has increased by £179.6 million to £1.486 billion in 2023-24. That is 9.03% of total net NHS expenditure, up from 8.53% in 2022-23. Spend on child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) has increased by nearly £19.4 million to over £134 million. This is 0.82% of total spend, up from 0.75% in 2022-23.

The latest data shows good progress is being made towards delivering the targets, however, as we all know, there are continued and unprecedented challenge to the public finances. That means that achieving the targets in practice will depend on the outcome of future budgets.

NHS Boards will allocate funding for local mental health services from the overall funds provided to them by the Scottish Government. Boards have responsibility for working with their partners to ensure local budget decisions deliver local and national priorities, including for mental health.

We will continue to closely monitor our progress towards both the 10% and 1% over the remainder of the Parliamentary term.

The following data shows the expenditure on Contingent Workers, of which Contractor would be a subset, but in conjunction with other categories of contingent workers. It is not possible to isolate Contractor expenditure within this data set.

The Scottish Government moved to Oracle Cloud in October 2024 and further data reconciliation is required. YTD data is therefore provided until September 2024.

The Joint Working Group on Sources of Local Government Funding and Council Tax Reform continues to consider the analysis pertaining to all aspects of the Consultation on the Council Tax Treatment of Second and long-term Empty Homes, and whether there could be further increases to the Council Tax premium, which would require primary legislation. I will keep Parliament updated on those considerations.

The Group also intends to review the data collected on second and & long term empty homes. The Council Tax premium on second homes was introduced on 1 April 2024, and therefore has only been in effect for 10 months. Information on second homes and empty properties (as at September 2025) will be collected and published later in the year.

Social Security Scotland routinely publishes information on Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods applications and payments. Information on the number of awards made to people with no recourse to public funds is not held within the system used to process applications and therefore not available for publication.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of all people with mental health problems, including those with Huntington disease, getting the right help, at the right time, and in the right place.

The core mental health standards set clear expectations for health boards to ensure referrals to community health teams and psychiatry are equitable, clear and prioritise those most in need. They also require services to reduce barriers to access, provide clear referral criteria, and ensure collaboration between staff and agencies to support individuals with complex conditions like Huntington’s disease.

Decisions on referrals may consider clinical appropriateness and service-specific criteria. Where referrals are declined from general psychiatry or community mental health teams a full explanation should be offered for this decision, and alternative pathways offered wherever possible and appropriate.

Cases of alleged food fraud reported to Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) by FSS:

2019: 1

2020: 1

2021: 1

Since January 2024, Energy Saving Trust (EST) as the scheme administrators have processed 97% of applications and 98% of payments across grant and loan schemes within the required 10 working days from receipt of complete documentation.

Outwith this timeframe is the length of time taken to access bespoke advice from Home Energy Scotland or for applicants to provide all required documentation for an application or claim submission. This stage is where the majority of delays occur, and officials have worked with EST to reduce the occurrence of these, where any elements are within EST’s control. This includes implementing a new application and claim system, which delivers significant improvements to the process, including the submission of documents and claims directly to the portal.

In line with feedback from stakeholders, including applicants and installers, the Scottish Government recognises the need for continuous improvement in funding administration, and is considering future developments, whilst balancing the need for consumer protection and counter fraud measures.

One of the key roles of our enterprise agencies is to support job creation, through the advice and assistance they provide to businesses and projects and by attracting investment into their regions. They have a keen focus on maximising opportunities for young people.

For example, South of Scotland Enterprise is delivering a pioneering pathways project that will support young entrepreneurs to bring their business visions to life through coaching, advice and financial support. Since September 2024, the project has resulted in 409 enquiries, with 267 young people receiving place-based enterprise coaching support. To date, 41 young people on the programme have started to trade. In addition, South of Scotland Enterprise has engaged with 2100 young people at its pop up enterprise events across the South of Scotland since April 2024 (up 170% on last year).

HIE’s Graduate Placement Programme 2024-27 aims to create around 40 graduate placements in businesses and social enterprises across the Highlands and Islands, with at least 50% of the placements in remote and rural island areas.

Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) Regional Groupsworks with pupils and schools across Scotland to raise awareness of the breadth of job opportunities and career pathways available, including in their local area. Young people can also access careers advice from Skills Development Scotland, which has a qualified Careers Adviser based in each secondary school in the country.

Our agencies work closely with employers, colleges, universities and training providers to strengthen training provision in growth sectors and create opportunity for work based learning with industry. Skills Development Scotland works with DYW to promote apprenticeships across each region and supports modern apprenticeship provision in island and rural areas via a Rural Uplift payment.