The statutory guidance to local authorities sets out how they should exercise their powers under the Act to implement Firework Control Zones lawfully. It takes into consideration wider legal requirements than just the Firework Control Zone provisions in the Act as passed by Parliament.

The guidance notes that the geographic size and area of a zone must be evidence-based and proportionate. It states that firework control zones have not been designed as a measure to cover a whole local authority area, or to cover extensive parts of a local authority area.

The Scottish Government has already designated the Mental Welfare Commission to undertake national monitoring and reporting on the use of restrictive practices in inpatient mental health units. NHS Boards were notified of this on 30 October 2025.

The regulation for the licensing, safety and efficacy of medicines is currently reserved to the UK Government and is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. As a result, the Scottish Government has no plans to assess the reasons for three states in the United States of America legalising psilocybin for the treatment of major treatment-resistant depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance-use disorders and in end-of-life care.

The Scottish Government will revise the Code of Practice under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 to add guidance on the use of restrictive practices in inpatient mental health wards against children, young people and adults. This will include minimum expectations for reporting, and will be aligned to the new role for the Mental Welfare Commission with regards to national monitoring and reporting on the use of restraint. The Code of Practice will be revised before the end of October 2026.

The total amount of carbon levy collected in each of the last three financial years is as follows. The levy is calculated and paid back annually by the Scottish Governments travel provider. It is not broken down by Ministerial portfolio.

2024-25 - £8,704

2023-24 - £9,658

2022-23 - 11,148

I last met with representatives from the Royal College of Midwives on the 11 September 2025.

Concerns about staffing was not the focus of discussion. Staff skill mix was raised, however it is the responsibility of Health Boards to ensure the appropriate staff skill mix of services. No actions were noted pertaining to concerns about staffing.

The Scottish Government carbon levy is collected annually and is accumulated until there is enough available funds to invest in carbon reduction projects on the core estate. In the last three financial years no carbon levy money has been spent.

Scottish Government officials met with representatives of Alexander Dennis on 12 September and 14 September. The First Minister then visited the Alexander Dennis site at Larbert on 15 September to announce Scottish Government support for the company’s furlough scheme. Papers relating to the meetings will be available upon appropriate request in due course.

The carbon levy collected in respect of Ministerial and official travel is listed in the following table. The levy is applied to Ministerial and official travel booked via the Scottish Governments travel agent.

The Scottish Government understands that some local authorities will have their own protocols and processes for reporting graffiti that may constitute a hate crime. We would strongly encourage local authorities to ensure that hate crime is reported to Police Scotland.