Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government recognises the wide range of careers available in the horticultural sector, and the importance of effective training and educational pathways to deliver a workforce equipped with the skills and expertise demanded by the sector.

In 2026-27 the Scottish Government is investing over £2.4 bn in our post-school education and skills system, supporting the delivery of horticulture provision at education providers across the west of Scotland, including Ayrshire College, Glasgow Clyde College, New College Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire College. While colleges and universities operate independently of Government, with responsibility for their own course provision, we recognise and support collaborative work between those sectors and industry to address horticulture skills needs.

The Scottish Government also funds the 2026-27 Lantra workplan, which supports diverse and rewarding career development in the land-based sectors, including horticulture across Scotland, the UK and Ireland. Scottish Government officials continue to attend regular Horticulture Skills Group meetings, which provide an opportunity for further and higher education institutions to connect with employers, local authorities and other organisations.

While the Scottish Government does not currently offer regional specific support for horticulture education provision, we have supported and endorsed the development of Regional Economic Partnerships (REPs). These partnerships will seek to unlock new powers, and design delivery models tailored to local priorities. This could include powers in areas such as skills, further education, economic development and planning.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of healthy soils for food production, climate resilience, biodiversity and Scotland's wider natural capital. We are developing soil indicators and options for soil monitoring through the Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (RESAS) Strategic Research Programme, including work towards a Scottish Soil Monitoring Framework. Proposals are also being developed for the next Strategic Research Programme (2027-2032) that will continue this work.

The Scottish Government remains committed to alignment with the European Union where possible and meaningful to do so. We are monitoring the implementation of the EU Soil Monitoring Law and will consider its provisions and underlying principles, alongside Scottish evidence and policy priorities, as we develop our approach to soil monitoring and assessment.

There has been no interruption to the payment of grants awarded through the Crofting Agricultural Grant Scheme (CAGS). Funds can only be released once the successful applicants have completed the works and submitted their claim, which is then assessed by scheme officials.

Payments to CAGS claimants are issued once a week. The most recent payments were made on 18 August 2026.

The Scottish Government supports the safeguarding of Scotland's cultural heritage through a range of policies, funding programmes and public bodies. Through Scotland's historic environment strategy, Our Past, Our Future, partners across the heritage sector work to sustain and enhance the benefits of the historic environment for communities throughout Scotland, including rural and island communities. The strategy emphasises strengthening community participation, supporting resilient places and recognising the contribution that heritage makes to wellbeing and identity, as well as in the local economy.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken an assessment on the impact that this decision may have on this longstanding tradition in the Western Isles. The hunt is specifically provided for in section 16(2) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (“the 1981 Act”). This activity can only be done under licence, and in accordance with the terms of a licence issued by NatureScot.

One of the main criteria for issuing a licence under Section 16(2) of 1981 Act is that in considering an application for a licence, NatureScot gives consideration as to whether the hunt is sustainable, and by that, whether the activity would have an adverse effect on the conservation status of the species concerned, namely gannets. NatureScot took the decision to refuse a licence was based on what they believed to be the most up-to-date science available and NatureScot concluded that issuing a licence for even 500 gannet chicks this year would likely have an adverse impact on the Sula Sgeir gannet population.

The Scottish Government recognises the challenges associated with emerging contaminants, including microplastics and pharmaceuticals, and intends to keep pace with developments in EU regulation.

Regulation of the practice of applying sewage sludge to land in Scotland was reviewed and amended with the introduction of the Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025. No change to the list of regulated contaminants (“Potentially Toxic Elements”) was made at that time as evidence produced for the review did not support it. However, with the wider environment in mind, the Scottish Government is reviewing changes that the EU has recently made to the EU Priority Substance list under the Water Framework Directive; the contaminants PFAS, microplastics, bisphenol A and pharmaceutical products have all been added to the EU list for the regulation of the water environment.

The Scottish Government does not currently produce a breakdown of annual take-up rates by age group. Where breakdowns are published for specific groups, this is led by user demand and requires the ability to robustly estimate the number eligible for a benefit in each group.

The Scottish Government publishes annual estimates of take-up for devolved benefits where a robust methodology is available. The most recent publication did not include benefits specifically targeted at older people. We do not currently publish take-up estimates for disability benefits, including Pension Age Disability Payment, but continue to explore how these could be developed.

For reserved benefits, we are reliant on DWP data. Analysis published in October 2025 shows that Scotland had the highest Pension Credit take-up rate in Britain in 2023-24, but this does not allow changes over time to be measured.

The number of people recorded as sight or severely sight impaired is held by individual local authorities and/or agents acting on their behalf in line with the Certificate of Visual Impairment (CVI) process.

In order to be registered as sight impaired or severely sight impaired, patients over the age of 16 must first be assessed and certified by an ophthalmologist to determine their level of sight impairment. Once assessed, the ophthalmologist will complete a CVI form and, with the patient's permission, send this to the local authority who maintain registration. Patients with a visual impairment under the age of 16 are not registered and are instead managed through the Visual Impairment Network for Children and Young People (VINCYP).

As the question relates to the number of patients who have gone through the certification process with NHS Orkney and agreed to be registered as sight impaired or severely sight impaired with Orkney Council, this is a matter for those bodies. The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

The following table sets out the Environment and Forestry Directorate, Strategic Research Programme funding provided annually by Scottish Government for the period 2016-22:

The Scottish Government's investment in homelessness prevention and alcohol and drug services is supporting earlier intervention, improved partnership working and more person-centred support for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

When they are brought into force, the new homelessness prevention duties in Part 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Act will require relevant bodies, which include health boards, to identify people at risk of homelessness and take action to help prevent it, creating a collective responsibility across public services to provide earlier and more joined-up support.

Decisions on local service provision, including arrangements for evening and weekend support, are the responsibility of NHS boards, health and social care partnerships and local authorities.

In most parts of Scotland, alcohol and drug services are delivered through integrated arrangements. Our Alcohol and Drugs Strategic Plan highlights the importance of services working together to meet the wider needs of individuals, including mental health, housing and other forms of support.

Scotland's Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Standards provide a national framework for improving consistency and integration. In particular, MAT Standard 8 states that people should have access to advocacy and support for housing, welfare and income needs at the point of treatment.

While there is no national requirement for evening or weekend provision within alcohol and drug services, the MAT Standards emphasise timely access to treatment, proactive outreach to those at greatest risk, and reducing barriers to care.

Scottish Government is continuing to work with Defra on the UK wide PFAS Plan, published on 3 February 2026, which adopts an evidence-led approach based on understanding PFAS sources, tackling pathways and reducing exposure. It specifically recognises the potential environmental and human-health implications of PFAS and other emerging contaminants in sludge.

The Plan records existing Chemicals Investigation Programme monitoring of PFOS, PFOA and PFBS in treated sludge and provides for further work on the fate of contaminants, improved analytical methods, treatment options and wider evidence gaps. Findings from the current phase of the Chemicals Investigation Programme are expected from 2027.