Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government recognises that successful deployment of further zero-emission buses requires appropriate depot infrastructure, sufficient grid capacity and vehicle charging infrastructure. Funding through the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB) has supported the deployment of charging infrastructure at bus depots across Scotland to establish the foundations of a wider heavy-duty vehicle charging network. As a result of Scottish Government investment, Scotland has the highest proportion of zero emission buses of any UK nation, according to the most recent data.

The Scottish Government has established a Strategic Transport Electrification Group (STEG) to bring together electricity network operators, the National Energy System Operator and Scottish Futures Trust to support sharing of information and planning so that the energy network is in a position to respond to the changing energy demand from transport. This provides a forum for discussion of future transport energy requirements, including those associated with bus fleet decarbonisation. Bus operators are encouraged to engage directly with network operators at an early stage to ensure depot electricity connections can be secured in the required timescales

Manufacturers and supply chains have a key role to play in supporting the transition to zero-emission transport. The Scottish Government continues to examine opportunities for Scottish firms in vehicle manufacture, adaptation, charging infrastructure and associated engineering services. We continue to engage with manufacturers, operators and industry stakeholders to understand the opportunities and challenges associated with the transition to zero-emission buses.

Of the organisations mentioned, the Scottish Government has engaged with the UK Government’s Advanced Research and Innovation Agency (ARIA) on the issues noted. The engagement, in May 2025 and January 2026, focussed on geo-engineering practices following media coverage highlighting ARIA’s launch of outdoor geoengineering experiments as part of a UK government-funded programme. ARIA confirmed that no projects or outdoor experiments were planned to take place in Scotland.

The following table provides the number of injury road collisions recorded by Police Scotland, by road speed limit for the years 2021 to 2025.

The Scottish Government welcomes initiatives from Police Scotland to target antisocial behaviour and strengthen enforcement of law in this area.

Police Scotland have confirmed the following were seized during Operation Armour: 5 SurRon style electric motorcycles; 19 adapted e-bikes; 15 electric scooters; 5 petrol motorcycles; 1 van; and 1 car. Additionally, drugs and cash were also seized. In total, 50 people were charged with various road traffic offences, which include Dangerous Driving, Disqualified Driving, driving an unregistered vehicle without a licence, driving an unregistered vehicle without insurance, driving on footpaths and not wearing a crash helmet. Four people were also charged with drug supply during the operation.

Legislation regarding PLEVs is reserved to the UK Government.

The Scottish Government is committed to working alongside all of our partners to tackle the antisocial and criminal use of vehicles, including e-bikes. Officials regularly consider actions taken in other jurisdictions to tackle common issues.

Any new restrictions would need to be compatible with the limitations posed by the Scotland Act (such as the reservation of internet services) and the Internal Market Act.

The Scottish Government’s analysis will consider the definition of underused spaces and potential for installing solar panels in these areas in line with NPF4. As part of this analysis we have directed ClimateXChange to investigate the approach taken in other territories and this research will be published within the next year.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-02062 on 19 August 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.

My clear preference, communicated to Creative Scotland, is for the former Centre for Contemporary Arts building to re-open as an important asset for Glasgow and Scotland’s culture and creative sector, and that as soon as possible.

Creative Scotland’s call for expressions of interest in operating the building closed on 12 August, with priority consideration being given to those which best align with the aim of ensuring the building continues to operate as a key asset in Scotland’s culture sector.

I am assured by Creative Scotland that the ongoing cultural value of the building is the key consideration in its consideration and I continue to closely monitor the situation.

I am in regular contact with Creative Scotland on this matter and have been crystal clear that the former Centre for Contemporary Arts building should re-open as an important asset for Glasgow and Scotland’s culture and creative sector as soon as possible. I am assured by Creative Scotland that the ongoing cultural value of the building is the key consideration in it’s process of seeking expressions of interest to see the empty building back open and operating.

The Scottish Government does not hold Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) expenditure information organised in this way. Funding is awarded to projects which deliver benefits across multiple habitats and ecosystems.

Across both the Competitive Fund and Edinburgh Process funding strands, the NRF supports projects under five strategic themes: habitat and species restoration; freshwater restoration, including restoration of natural flows in rural catchments; coastal and marine initiatives; control of invasive non-native species; and urban nature restoration.

The NRF Interim Evaluation Report (2021-24) found that around 50% of the Competitive Fund's budget in its first three years was allocated to projects primarily categorised as freshwater and wetland, or coastal and marine projects.