The Scottish Parliament

Question reference: S7W-02261

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 26 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its proposed mandatory price cap on essential food items, what its response is to the reported concern raised by the Scottish Retail Consortium that a food price cap policy in Hungary led to shortages of some food products, an increase in abuse towards shop workers and food domestically produced losing out to imports.

The Scottish Government is aware of concerns raised regarding the operation of food price controls in other countries. International experience demonstrates that different approaches can have different impacts, depending on the detailed design of the scheme and wider market conditions.

That is why we are engaging constructively with all relevant stakeholders to support considered and informed discussion on this. We intend to consult on draft proposals before any final decisions are taken. The consultation will seek views and evidence from consumers, retailers, producers and other stakeholders on the potential benefits, risks and unintended consequences of any food price cap scheme including impacts on product availability, supply chains and implementation.

Question reference: S7W-02264

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 26 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the number of applications for support through the Strategic Research Programme 2022-27 that it has (a) received and (b) accepted.

A total of 128 project proposals were received and considered for the Strategic Research Programme 2022-27 and 123 projects were accepted. See the following table:

Strategic Research Programme - Projects	Accepted	Rejected
Biomathematics and Statistics (BioSS)	3
Theme A - Plant and animal health	23	4
Theme B - Sustainable food system and supply	58
Theme C - Human impacts on the environment	11
Theme D - Natural resources	22	1
Theme E - Rural futures	6
Total	123	5

The Biomathematics and Statistics Institute (BioSS) provides data analysis, statistics, mathematical modelling and bioinformatics support to the Strategic Research Programme.

Question reference: S7W-02233

Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 26 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many projects across (i) the West Scotland region and (ii) Scotland as a whole that were originally awarded funding through the Places for Everyone programme have subsequently been terminated as a result of the transition to distributing funding through the Active Travel Infrastructure Fund and (b) how much public money has been spent to date on these terminated projects.

Question reference: S7W-02235

Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 26 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what involvement Transport Scotland has had to date in the decision-making process regarding the termination of the proposed Neilston to Uplawmoor link.

Question reference: S7W-02188

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 31 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 26 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the findings of the Scottish Land Commission report, Tax and the Reuse of Scotland's Long-Term Derelict Land, how many of the 466 long-term derelict urban sites identified in the report have received support through the Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme; how much funding has been allocated to those sites, and how many have subsequently been brought back into productive use.

We do not routinely hold this information in the format requested. However, the following table notes all projects supported through VDLIP since its launch, the Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey code if available, how much VDLIP funding has been allocated and where applicable, land that has been brought back into productive use.

Lead applicant	Project title	Total Grant Awarded	Site Codes	Project Status	Outcome
City of Edinburgh	Western Villages Granton	£619,661	EC01 Granton Harbour Plot? EC12 West Harbour Road EC37 Granton Harbour 2 EC79 West Granton Rd EC84 West Harbour Rd 2 EC88 West Shore Rd 5 EC88 Waterfront Broadway	COMPLETE	444 houses complete on site.
Clyde Gateway URC	Dalmarnock Riverside Park	£750,000	704 Dalmarnock Riverside	COMPLETE	New community park opened in November 2022.
East Dunbartonshire Council	Kirkintilloch Community Sport Complex	£1,061,075	4.Br7 Work Area	COMPLETE	New sports centre opened in 2024.
East Renfrewshire Council	Levern Water Revival	£1,084,661	3822 Prestwick Street / Levern Bridge Road	COMPLETE	Natural river channel restored to the Levern Water, alongside the creation of a riverside greenspace and path network.
Falkirk Council	Lionthorn Bing Greenspace Project	£582,808	Not available	COMPLETE	Vibrant community greenspace complete.
Glasgow City Council	Transforming Avenue End Road Greenspace	£417,812	Not available	COMPLETE	Established active travel route while protecting the water voles and their habitat.
South Lanarkshire Council	Clyde Cycle Park	£296,000	8445346 Site 22	COMPLETE	Project came to fruition in 2021.
South Lanarkshire Council	ONECarluke Community Growing	£84,150	8376142 ADJ High Mill	COMPLETE	Outdoor learning and growing space
Clyde Gateway	D2 GRIDS	£664,000	8445275 Shawfield 1 8445285 Shawfield 2 8445286 Shawfield 3 8445301 Shawfield 4 8445322 Shawfield Road Rutherglen	COMPLETE	VDLIP works complete to allow installation of 5GDHC heating and cooling systems
East Dunbartonshire Council	Twechar Canal Regeneration Project	£614,925	8.BR1 Canal Side Site	COMPLETE	The outdoor centre part of this project is complete
Glasgow City Council	Hamiltonhill Green Infrastructure Project	£924,911	Not available	COMPLETE	New green infrastructure in place
Glasgow City Council	Ruchazie Greening and Growing project	£670,000	3976 Ruchazie P.S. 4001 St Philip'S P.S.	COMPLETE	Community growing and outdoor community space on site
North Ayrshire Council	Annickbank Innovation Campus, Irvine Enterprise Area	£400,000	539 Annickbank	COMPLETE	New two-storey office pavilion complete
North Lanarkshire Council	Glenmanor Greenspace	£230,911	Not available	COMPLETE	Community asset featuring new paths, outdoor learning spaces and place areas in situ
City of Edinburgh Council	Granton Gasholder	£1,224,410	WEWG3A Waterfront Broadway	COMPLETE	This public park opened in 2025
Clyde Gateway	Shawfield Phase 2 - Remediation	£200,000	8445183 Greggs Site 8445263 Site 1	COMPLETE	Onsite works complete for further developmen
Fife Council	Ravenscraig Skills Hub	£491,582	KAC001 Ravenscraig Gardens East Lodge	COMPLETE	New Skills Hub now operational
Glasgow City Council	Community Net Zero Hub	£182,276	Not available	COMPLETE	Southside Tool Library and new workspace called the Bothy now operational
Glasgow City Council	Govan Graving Docks	£2,368,794	2580 Clyde Dry Docks	COMPLETE	Riverside Park opened in March 2026
Glasgow City Council	Greening Royston	£797,121	3138 20-38 Tharsis Street	COMPLETE	New community garden on site
Highland Council	Cromlet Invergordon	£400,000	Not available	COMPLETE	35 Houses complete to date with additional houses under construction
Highland Council	Longman Park	£2,150,000	319 INV113 Gateway Resort Site	COMPLETE	Ph1 and 2 of modular houses completed
Perth and Kinross Council	Millhaugh - Phase 1	£93,808	1010 Sawmill	COMPLETE	Community asset now open to public.
West Dunbartonshire Council	Residential development at Pappert Bonhill	£1,250,000	Not available	COMPLETE	26 houses constructed
Glasgow City Council	Belle Gro'@ The Meat Market	£450,474	3456 Meat Market (N)	ONGOING
City of Edinburgh Council	Greendykes North affordable housing	£623,713	Not available	ONGOING
Inverclyde	HSCP Community Learning	£990,000	8460350 H McNeil Baths	ONGOING
Clackmannanshire Council	Clacks Community – Growing a new Future	£500,000	ALLOA026 Forthbank ALLOA052 Forthbank Yard	ONGOING
West Dunbartonshire Council	Community Food Growing – Former Bonhill PS	£100,000	8410348 Bonhill PS	ONGOING
Glasgow City Council	Cadder Woods Community Greenspace	£772,700	297 Rear Of 34-50 Vaila Street 298 S Of 6 Vaila Pl.	ONGOING
Glasgow City Council	North Maryhill TRA Green Infrastructure	£1,450,000	270 North Of Shiskine Drive. 3618 2-80 Barrisdale Road. 3722 1-57 Barrisdale Road. 3954 2-64 Lyndale Rd. 3955 831-1201 Kilmun Street. 3956 84 - 214 Kilmun Street. 3957 Knowetap Street/ South Of Railway.	ONGOING
Midlothian Council	All Through Community Learning Campus Shawfair	£3,667,000	VR88 Monktonhall	ONGOING
North Ayrshire Council	The King’s Arms Irvine	£600,000	Not available	ONGOING
City of Edinburgh Council	Powderhall Housing-Led Regeneration	£1,400,000	EC102 Former Powderhall Waste Transfer Station	ONGOING
Clyde Gateway	Cuningar Loop Woodland Park Completion	£500,000	8441094 Cuningar Loop	ONGOING
Dumfries and Galloway Council	Annan Harbour Regeneration - Phase 1	£1,343,683	H400000004 Ministers Merse	ONGOING
Dundee City Council	Placemaking Lochee (DFM Budget Project)	£695,000	2183 Bright Sreet	ONGOING
East Dunbartonshire Council	Lennoxtown Community Greenspace Project	£472,952	5.BR3 Well Lane	ONGOING
Glasgow City Council	Milton Discovery Wood	£655,200	308 North of 118-154 Liddesdale Road	ONGOING
Glasgow City Council	Tureen Street School Conversion	£1,978,441	4371 Tureen St School	ONGOING
North Ayrshire Council	Kyle Road Phase 2 Development	£892,990	Not available	ONGOING
Renfrewshire Council	Ferguslie Green Line – Belltrees	£650,436	Not available	ONGOING
		£35,301,494

Question reference: S7W-02125

Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 26 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to recent surveys by Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) Fife, which indicate that safe and essential educational provision has been compromised by restrictive school budgets across Fife, and whether it plans to provide emergency support to local authorities experiencing difficulties in supplying basic education supplies for classrooms, including jotters and chairs.

The Scottish Government provided record funding of £15.7 billion in the Local Government Settlement for 2026-27, including a quarter of a billion pounds of unrestricted General Revenue Grant and full flexibility on council tax.

In 2026-27, Fife Council will receive £998.3 million to fund local services which equates to an extra £49.7 million or an additional 5.2% compared to 2025-26.

However, it is the responsibility of individual local authorities to manage their own budgets and to allocate the total financial resources available to them, including on education, on the basis of local needs and priorities, having first fulfilled their statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities.

Question reference: S7W-02672

Asked by: Karen Adam, MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 August 2026
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Mairi McAllan on 25 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the publication of the consultation on restricting mobile phones in schools.

I can confirm that the consultation on restricting mobile phones in Scotland’s schools has been published and is open for responses until 17 November 2026. I would like to take this opportunity to invite MSPs, and their constituents, to respond to the consultation here: Restricting mobile phones in Scotland’s schools.

The consultation will provide an important opportunity to hear a range of views from children, young people, parents and carers, school staff, education authorities and interested organisations, and enable their voices to shape future action.

Question reference: S7W-02572

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 25 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7W-01240 by Màiri McAllan on 10 July 2026, in which it stated that the consultation on legislative approach to restrictions on mobile phones in schools would be launched within its first 100 days, for what reason the consultation has not yet been launched and when it expects it to open.

I can confirm that the consultation on restricting mobile phones in Scotland’s schools has been published and is open for responses until 17 November 2026. I would like to take this opportunity to invite MSPs, and their constituents, to respond to the consultation here: Restricting mobile phones in Scotland’s schools.

The consultation will provide an important opportunity to hear a range of views from children, young people, parents and carers, school staff, education authorities and interested organisations, and enable their voices to shape future action.

Question reference: S7W-02090

Asked by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 25 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings ministers or officials have held with ScotWind developers since January 2023 regarding supply chain commitments and what discussions have taken place on increasing the proportion of project expenditure retained within Scotland.

There has been clear growth in the offshore wind sector over the past decade, with increasing employment opportunities across a broad range of roles driven by continued investment in infrastructure, manufacturing, and skills development.

The latest edition of Scotland’s Marine Economy Statistics (published December 2025) provides an estimate of 4,400 people directly employed by the Scottish offshore wind sector in 2023, in comparison to 3,900 people in 2022 (published November 2024). These figures capture only direct employment and do not reflect the sector's significant wider economic and social impacts, including the supply chain growth and induced employment opportunities that are expected to be derived from ScotWind projects.

The Draft Updated Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy Social and Economic Impact Assessment (2025) estimated cumulative potential employment impacts for ScotWind, INTOG and Test & Demonstration sites. It reported an estimated maximum number of FTEs generated or supported nationally as 18,000 (direct employment only in a low installed capacity scenario) up to 41,000 (direct and upstream supply chain employment impacts in a high installed capacity scenario).

These estimates are further supported by the Offshore Wind Industry Council Skills Intelligence Model, which reports that at its peak, the offshore sector in Scotland could support up to 49,000 jobs in 2031.

Question reference: S7W-02101

Asked by: Alyn Smith, MSP for Stirling, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 25 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will provide an updated code of conduct on the treatment of passengers and staff using public transport, as outlined in the National Bus Travel Concession Schemes (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Order 2026.

By setting out clear standards of behaviour for users of the National Concessionary Travel Schemes, the Code of Conduct will support the safety of passengers and staff across Scotland's bus network. Working closely with stakeholders, plans are currently being finalised for the launch of the Code, and the underpinning processes that will support the suspension of access to free travel if it is breached. Subject to completion of this work, the Code is expected to be published later in 2026.

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