Chamber and committees

Environmental Standards Scotland's (ESS) report published on 23 June 2026, Protecting Scotland's seafloor: an assessment of Scottish Ministers' implementation of the Marine Strategy Regulations 2010, contains ESS’ findings and recommendations relating to the Scottish Ministers’ implementation of those Regulations, including regarding timescales for the implementation of measures specified in Part 3 of the UK Marine Strategy.

The Scottish Government is carefully considering the ESS report and will work constructively with ESS to seek to agree an appropriate action plan within the timescale suggested in the report. The Scottish Government's position on the report's findings and recommendations will be set out through that engagement and in its formal response.

The Scottish Government is carefully considering Environmental Standards Scotland’s (ESS) report Protecting Scotland’s Seafloor: as assessment of Scottish Ministers’ implementation of the Marine Strategy Regulations 2010, and will work constructively with ESS to seek to agree an appropriate action plan within the timescale suggested in the report.

The 2026 ScotWind Supply Chain Development Statement updates show that overall projected supply chain spend in Scotland has increased between 2023 and 2026 by nearly £2.3bn for the 16 projects included in the updates, from an estimated £23.3bn to an estimated £25.6 billion.

The reported total ScotWind portfolio project expenditure for the 16 projects has increased by £23.4bn between 2023 and 2026 to £88.6bn. Average spend in Scotland per project has increased overall, however the relative proportion committed in Scotland has decreased from 36% to 29%. This information can be verified on the Crown Estate Scotland supply chain dashboard [https://crownestatescotland.com/supply-chain-information].

Legislation and regulations relating to electricity networks are reserved to the UK Government, with security of supply being a reserved matter that the National Energy Systems Operator (NESO) is responsible for. While decisions on security of supply are reserved, Scotland continues to play an important role in enabling the infrastructure needed for a secure and resilient electricity system through planning and consenting decisions for renewable energy projects, electricity networks and energy storage developments.

The recommended community benefit fund level for solar developments will be set out in the refreshed Good Practice Principles for Community Benefits from Onshore Renewable Energy Developments. Decisions on implementation arrangements, including when any revised recommended fund levels should take effect, are subject to Ministerial approval.

The Good Practice Principles are non-statutory guidance and the recommended community benefit fund levels are voluntary. The Scottish Government continues to call on the UK Government to use its reserved powers to mandate community benefits for mature onshore renewable energy technologies.

In late 2025, in line with the process agreed by the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Government issued revised directions to the National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF) for Scotland's share of dormant assets funding. The revised directions include a new focus on financial inclusion, with specific reference to affordable credit.

The NLCF recently undertook a consultation to inform the development of its funding programme for the financial inclusion element of the revised directions. It is now developing a strategic plan outlining how it will deliver against these priorities, which will be presented to the Scottish Government before being laid in the Scottish Parliament.

The Scottish Government expects credit unions and community finance providers to play a key role in supporting people who face barriers to accessing fair and affordable financial services. The NLCF have awarded Social Investment Scotland with a £92,000 development grant to undertake sector-wide consultation and help ensure that future work on affordable credit is informed by lived experience, sector expertise, and practical delivery considerations.

As More Homes Scotland is currently being established, arrangements for monitoring and evaluating its performance remain under development. Appropriate governance, accountability and scrutiny arrangements will assess the agency’s effectiveness and impact, including its contribution to increasing housing supply, delivering affordable homes and addressing homelessness.

The Scottish Government recognises the continuing pressure that cost-of-living challenges place on low-income households and is allocating around £3.5 billion in 2026-27 to policies that tackle poverty and support household incomes. This includes investment in a range of targeted measures, such as Best Start Foods and the Scottish Welfare Fund.

The Active Travel Infrastructure Fund (ATIF) is the primary vehicle for the Scottish Government to fund active travel infrastructure. The tiered model for infrastructure delivery increases flexibility and control for partners to meet the active travel needs and priorities of people living and working in their communities. Tier 1 of the Fund is provided directly to Local Authorities through their General Capital Grant and they have the flexibility to use the funding as required. Tier 2 funding, directly managed by Transport Scotland, was open to applications from Local Authorities, Regional Transport Partnerships and National Park Authorities for the funding of larger scale projects most recently at the start of the calendar year 2026. Transport Scotland did not receive an application from East Renfrewshire Council nor Strathclyde Partnership for Transport for this project.

The total claimed from Sustrans through the Transport Scotland funded Places for Everyone Fund for the Neilston to Uplawmoor link was £199,274, of which £28,932 was claimed for Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Plan of Work stages 0-2 and £170,342 for stages 3-4.

No consideration has been given to recovering or repurposing the funding, as the £199,274 provided was expended for the purposes for which it was awarded, namely development and design work associated with the proposed Neilston to Uplawmoor link.

Since 2019, we have taken a range of actions to increase benefit take-up among older people. This includes promoting Pension Age Disability Payment through advertising campaigns and working with advice services, local authorities, health services and third sector organisations to raise awareness of entitlements through trusted local channels. Pension Age Winter Heating Payment is paid automatically to the vast majority of eligible people, reducing barriers to accessing support.

We also invest in free welfare, debt and income maximisation advice services, including support for Citizens Advice Scotland's Money Talk Team, which supported over 12,000 older people in 2025-26 and helped secure over £5.3 million in financial gains.

Reserved benefits, including Pension Credit remains the responsibility of the UK Government, and the Scottish Government has no formal role in the administration of these payments. While Scotland has the highest take-up rate of Pension Credit in Britain, through our next Benefit Take-Up Strategy, we will continue to tackle barriers to take-up and explore opportunities to raise awareness of this payment to people in Scotland. We continue to urge the UK Government to follow Scotland’s lead by introducing its own Benefit Take-Up Strategy.