Chamber and committees

Publishing any indicative credit spread prior to an inaugural issuance risks compromising the final pricing that could be achieved. For these reasons, the Scottish Government will not publicly comment on the potential spread of the first bond issuance.

The Scottish Government has received a range of advice over the course of the bond programme to support careful development of its borrowing plans.

The Scottish Government would act responsibly and honour its obligations in the event of constitutional change.

The Scottish Government has a total programme budget of £2.1 million for 2026-27. Costs are expected to remain within this budget.

In any subsequent year in which Scottish Bonds are issued, programme costs are not expected to exceed the 2026-27 requirement.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01604 on 22 July 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

The Scottish Government is responding to ongoing cost of living pressures being felt by households acros , and we are working towards a consultation on the price cap on essential food items within 100 days of this Government.

We continue to invest in free income maximisation support, welfare and debt advice and have maintained investment in the Scottish Welfare Fund, at £41 million this year, alongside £25.5 million of additional investment over the previous two years, helping ensure the Fund remains a vital safety net for households.

There are already extensive permitted development rights for mobile telecommunications infrastructure. These facilitate the deployment of such infrastructure across Scotland without the need for a planning application. The permitted development rights were significantly extended in 2020 following public consultation.

There are no specific plans to further amend the existing permitted development rights at the current time. However, the Scottish Government is engaging with stakeholders to explore how the planning system can act as an enabler of economic growth and investment. This engagement will inform the scope of this Government’s planning reform programme

The Scottish Government remains committed to committed to publishing draft legislative provisions and progressing work on the price cap on essential food items. We have engaged constructively with a range of industry bodies and trade associations, which have shared their views on the proposal. Their expertise and experience are helping to inform our consideration of the policy and will continue to do so as development of the proposal progresses.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01602 on 22 July 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

Helping people with the cost of living is a top priority of this government and we will be taking forward a full consultation on this proposal within the first 100 days. Potential unintended consequences are and mitigations being fully considered as part of the policy development process, informed by engagement and consultation with all relevant stakeholders.

We are engaging constructively with all relevant stakeholders, including trading standards representatives, to support considered and informed discussion on this policy, and to ensure effective implementation that delivers on our core aim of making the weekly shop more affordable.