Chamber and committees

NatureScot is leading work to help Scotland achieve the target of protecting and conserving 30% of land for nature by 2030 (known as 30 by 30). The first Nature30 sites were recognised in 2025, marking Scotland’s first new area-based conservation measure in decades and providing a voluntary mechanism to recognise the contribution of land managers and communities to nature recovery.

Following the launch of Nature30, NatureScot is working with a growing number of public, private and third sector and community landowner/managers to support Nature30 recognition. We expect significant growth in the area effectively managed for nature over the coming year, with momentum increasing towards 2030. We recognise that pace is critical and we will continue to work with NatureScot and others to help support delivery and encourage recognition of new sites.

30 by 30 will also be delivered through protected areas and NatureScot is continuing to work with landowners/managers to designate new sites as well as ensuring that existing ones are managed effectively.

The Scotland Legacy Group was established in 2025 and tasked by the Royal Household and the Scottish Government to advise on an appropriate Scottish memorial to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II.

The Group's role is advisory. It will shortly be undertaking a programme of public and stakeholder engagement to inform its recommendations and has not yet reached conclusions on the form, location or design of any future memorial. Individuals and organisations who wish to express views or ideas on the Scottish memorial will be encouraged to feed those views into that engagement programme.

The detail of any next steps will be advised in due course.

Firefighter training is an operational matter for SFRS. The information requested is not held centrally. The member may wish to contact the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service directly.

This is a matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. The information requested is not held centrally. The member may wish to contact the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service directly.

The Scottish Government does not procure buses. Bus services are predominantly provided by commercial operators, with local authorities and other public bodies procuring or supporting services where appropriate. As these organisations are autonomous contracting authorities, they are responsible for their own procurement activity and for determining the approach to individual procurements.

Where the Scottish Government provides support through subsidy schemes, including ScotZEB, funding arrangements must comply with the UK Subsidy Control Act 2022. The Act prohibits subsidies that are contingent on the use of domestic goods or services. Consequently, the location of manufacturing activity cannot be used as a preferential condition for the award of subsidy funding.

ScotZEB3 was assessed against published criteria focused on matters such as deliverability, market development and wider community benefits. The Scottish Government remains committed to supporting Scotland's economy, fair work and the transition to net zero through measures set out in the Programme for Government and through investment in sustainable public transport.

Supply lists are managed by each local authority, independently, and according to their needs as the employers of teachers. The Scottish Government has no control over these lists, and it is at the discretion of individual employers how they chose to advertise and manage their lists, in accordance with Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) ‘Code of Practice on Short Term Supply.’

Scottish Government officials are working with partners through the SNCT’s newly established ‘working group on short term supply’ to consider ways in which we can support improvements to supply across the country, which may include recommending measures to improve consistency in the way supply lists are managed and work is advertised across local authorities.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-02949 on 17 September 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/questions-and-answers .

The Government is pursuing a suite of action to protect young people from online harm. By way of example, by late Autumn 2026, Education Scotland will commence a focused programme of work to support educators in learning about online harms and online safety, the identification of risks and how they can respond to concerns. The work will involve pre and post participation evaluation to assess participant understanding of the online harms that young people are facing, and of their confidence to recognise and escalate concerns appropriately through established child protection procedures.

Education Scotland currently supports educators through providing information and links to resources via their Safegaurding and Child Protection webpages, one of which is specifically focused on Online Abuse and Exploitation. They also link closely with partners across child protection agencies, law enforcement and the third sector to ensure that their networks are provided with timely information and advice in relation to emerging threats and current online harms.

Work on the Commission continues to progress well. This includes agreement between the Chair, Fiona Taylor, and the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, of the Commission’s Remit and Terms of Reference. These were published on 26 August 2026 and are available at Criminalisation of the Purchase of Sex in Scotland: Independent Commission - terms of reference - gov.scot

Work is actively underway for the consideration and appointment of expert panel members to the Commission. The Commission’s substantive work and first meeting will take place once members have been appointed. Updates will be provided to the Commission’s website in due course.

The Commission will undertake its work independently of government.

Ten child patients and their families arrived in Scotland in Autumn 2025, under the UK Government medevac scheme and are receiving NHS treatment. Some of the 27 siblings who accompanied them have also required NHS treatment since arriving in the UK.

Scotland has committed to supporting up to 20 child patients and their families and we stand ready to receive further arrivals. The Programme for Government 2026 – 2031 also commits the Scottish Government to providing continued support for the people of Palestine.