Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government routinely engages with a broad range of stakeholders and is committed to sustaining meaningful and constructive engagement throughout the policy making process.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00062 on 2 June 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00263 on 2 June 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.

It is vital that planning authorities have sufficient capacity to support economic growth. We have already invested £850,000 to reverse the decline of planners and boost public sector capacity. This has secured a path into planning for 48 new student planners through our award winning Future Planners Programme, and our Planning Bursary Scheme which is supporting students as they undertake professionally accredited planning degrees. Our National Planning Hub is directly supporting planning authorities in the short term to increase capacity. It is providing surge support, expert brokerage and sharing learning and knowledge to bridge any skills gaps.

Alongside increasing capacity we are also working to streamline, simplify and accelerate the planning system.

We will continue to work in partnership with planning authorities and other stakeholders to deliver innovative solutions to increase our resilience.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00263 on 2 June 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.

The Investing in Communities Fund (ICF) operated on an open competition basis available to community led organisations including Housing Associations. Applications were assessed against the funding criteria, with successful projects monitored and evaluated on an individual basis against their stated outcomes. As such the fund is not assessed against the wider role agenda.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00062 on 2 June 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00062 on 2 June 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00062 on 2 June 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.

The Sexual Offences Court was legislated for as part of the landmark Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025. The Act makes a range of significant reforms to the justice system to deliver meaningful improvements for victims and witnesses. Implementation of its provisions is being phased, reflecting the constrained financial environment and the time needed by justice partners to plan and deliver fundamental change in an effective and managed way.

The establishment of the Court will be led by the judiciary and the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service and will involve close collaboration with a range of stakeholders. Given the scale and complexity of this change, when the transformational court will become operational will be determined by a range of factors including the capacity of the partners and agencies involved in delivering this milestone reform. The Scottish Government will work closely with all those involved to support the effective implementation of the Court. Ministers will keep Parliament updated on anticipated timescales for the establishment of the Court.