Chamber and committees

Global events continue to reinforce the impact of high energy prices such as Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the crisis in the Middle East. However, other factors are at play such as the UK’s disastrous decision to leave the European Union. This has meant an increase in energy bills.

In an energy-rich nation, no one should struggle to pay their bills.

The Scottish Government continues to support vulnerable households, including those in Glasgow, through our winter heating benefits, with a forecast investment of £205 million in 2026-27. Since 2015, our Warmer Homes Scotland Scheme has invested around £440 million and helped over 51,000 households to live in warmer homes which are more affordable to heat.

We continue to invest in free income maximisation support, welfare and debt advice and have maintained investment in the Scottish Welfare Fund, providing vital support to those in crisis.

It is clear that high energy prices must be addressed. The UK Government must take their responsibility for energy pricing seriously by putting in place robust and effective consumer protections for all fuel users and introducing targeted energy bill discounts to reduce the number of households in fuel poverty.

Through Scotland’s Rare Disease Action Plan, we are taking forward actions to improve support for people with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) and related conditions, including hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD). This includes work to support earlier diagnosis, increase awareness among healthcare professionals, and improve coordination of care and access to services. The Rare Disease Action Plan Progress Report, published on 27 February 2026, provides an update on progress to date.

While the Scottish Government sets the strategic policy direction for the NHS in Scotland, the delivery of healthcare services is the responsibility of local NHS Health Boards, in line with national guidance and population needs.

We have allocated funding to all territorial NHS boards in the Highlands and Islands region as part of the recurring £4.5 million investment to support the development of specialist support for people with long COVID, myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME)/chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and other similar conditions.

While the Scottish Government is responsible for setting the strategic policy for the NHS in Scotland, local NHS boards exercise responsibilities in relation to the planning, commissioning and delivery of healthcare services, and take overall responsibility for the health and wellbeing of the populations they serve.

As outlined in correspondence to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee on 1 October, NHS Highland, NHS Orkney, NHS Shetland and NHS Western Isles have indicated their aspiration to pool resources and collaborate to deliver elements of the support. We understand these boards are engaging with each other in order to scope options for delivery and formalise any necessary partnership agreements.

We will continue to engage with boards to support the allocation of funding and identify any further central support required.

The provision of allotments is the responsibility of local authorities as set out in the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 (“the 2015 Act”), Part 9.

Section 111 of the 2015 Act requires local authorities to maintain a waiting list of persons who ask to lease or sublease an allotment. Section 112 then requires local authorities to take steps to manage the number of persons on that list.

In accordance with section 121 of the 2015 Act, local authorities report annually on the provision of allotments in their areas. The legislation clearly defines the mandatory information to be included in the annual allotment reports which includes;

• the location and size of each allotment site,
• the number of allotments on each allotment site,
• the rent payable,
• the number of people on the waiting list and how many have been waiting 5 years or more,
• the number of allotments on each allotment site that are accessible by a disabled person,
• the number of allotments adjusted to meet the needs of a tenant who is a disabled person,
• the income received, and expenditure incurred, by the authority in connection with allotment sites,
• such other information as may be prescribed.

Annual Allotment Reports are available online from the Glasgow City Council website. Those reports are required to include information on the demand for and supply of allotments in Glasgow. The Scottish Government does not collect this information centrally and does not hold historic data on allotment provision.

GP practices are funded to provide cervical screening services as part of their contractual arrangements with NHS boards, and are responsible for ensuring that services are accessible to patients, including those with disabilities.

Practitioners working with physically disabled patients should be confident and experienced in taking cervical samples, and should consider reasonable adjustments based on a patient’s needs. This can include providing longer appointments, using accessible examination equipment, or arranging for screening to take place in alternative settings, such as clinics with hoisting facilities.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is responsible for ensuring that GP practices and wider services meet these requirements and that appropriate arrangements are in place to support patients requiring additional assistance.

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.

Transport Scotland have a number of measures in place to ensure adequate monitoring of the ongoing costs of the works.

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 with the support of the Performance Audit Group (PAG) who ensure value for money through auditing, monitoring and reporting on the financial and NMC contract performance aspects of these works.

In addition, Turner & Townsend has specifically been engaged by Transport Scotland to provide expert project controls assistance including Cost Management services.

As you are aware, Transport Scotland has established a Project Board to provide additional governance and oversight of the project.

I am, therefore, confident Transport Scotland have robust cost monitoring in place.

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 Scottish Government has accepted the findings of an Independent Review of Audiology Services in Scotland and we published our response to implementing the recommendations of the review in May 2025, which can be found here: Independent Review: Scottish Government report on implementation of recommendations – Audiology Services in NHS Scotland- all-ears.nhs.scot –

NHS Audiology has been re-categorised as a clinical priority area, and work to implement change is being progressed through National Planning and Delivery arrangements. While management of audiology services are the responsibility health boards, the Scottish Government remains focused on bringing down long waits and the 2026-27 Budget provides a record £22.5 billion for Health and Social Care.

As indicated in our 100 days prospectus, the Scottish Government also remains committed to working with its partners to determine how best to shift care into the community, alleviating hospital pressures and better supporting the people of Scotland through development of an integrated and community-based hearing service.

Work is currently underway to evaluate the long-term effects of removing peak fares for good and the Scottish Government expects to be able to share initial findings later this year, allowing time to take account of seasonal variations in travel patterns and atypical events such as adverse weather events, impact of the fire incident at Glasgow Union Street or major planned events like the Commonwealth Games.

The removal of ScotRail peak fares for good is currently saving money for hundreds of thousands of people in Scotland, who travel by rail. For example, passengers in the Member’s constituency travelling from Baillieston to Glasgow save £2.60 (36%) and from Shettleston to Glasgow save £2.30 (43%) each time they purchase a return ticket to travel during the busiest commuting times, when compared with previous Anytime Day Return prices.