Chamber and committees

Sectoral Skills Assessments (SSAs), produced by Skills Development Scotland (SDS) in partnership with stakeholders, provide a consistent evidence base to inform strategic skills investment planning and understanding of workforce demand and supply across sectors. The most recent Construction SSA was published in October 2025.

Skills Development Scotland routinely assesses demand for apprenticeships throughout the operational year. Modern Apprenticeship places are allocated in line with employer and training provider demand, balanced against Scottish Government priorities. Construction is a priority sector, and Modern Apprenticeship starts in construction frameworks increased in 2025-26 compared to the previous year.

In addition, the Scottish Government has introduced a new skills planning model, being developed with partners, to ensure the post-school education and skills system is more responsive to Scotland’s strategic skills priorities. Construction has been identified as an early area of focus within this model, reflecting current and emerging skills needs and its alignment with national policy priorities.

As confirmed in the answer to S7W-00736 on 16 June 2026, the Scottish Government has not withdrawn from the Wastewater Analysis for Narcotics Detection (WAND) programme.

The latest WAND programme report published by the Home Office – covering a period when Scottish sites were included – did not provide a national estimate of drug consumption for Scotland. The report is available here - Wastewater analysis - estimating drug consumption.

Public Health Scotland do publish statistics relating to drug prevalence in Scotland, the last publication was in March 2026 - Estimated prevalence of opioid dependence in Scotland.

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The Scottish Government has not withdrawn from the Wastewater Analysis for Narcotics Detection (WAND) programme. This was a fully Home Office-funded programme, to which the Scottish Government has not contributed funding. The Home Office decided in late 2025 to withdraw funding for the Scottish sites due to budget constraints.

The Scottish Government continues to engage with road authorities across Scotland to monitor the impact of 20 mph speed limits, including analysing evidence from areas where these limits have been implemented.

Evidence specific to Scotland indicates that 20 mph limits are contributing to reductions in vehicle speeds, collisions and casualties. Findings from early adopters, including Scottish Borders Council, support these conclusions with a 70% reduction in collisions on 20 mph and 30 mph roads. This is demonstrating improved safety outcomes for all road users, particularly vulnerable road users, where limits have been appropriately introduced and assessed.

The Scottish Government will continue to monitor these impacts as part of broader efforts to deliver Scotland’s Road Safety Framework.

Further information on the impact of 20 mph speed limits can be found at: Scottish Borders Council - 20 mph Peer Review - Scotlands Road Safety Framework

We understand the importance of aviation to the Highlands and Islands, which is why the Scottish Government provides funding to support the operations of Highlands and Islands Airport Limited (HIAL). In order to ensure that HIAL can continue to operate safe and regulatory compliant airports, supporting connectivity in the Highlands and Islands, we’re making a budget available to HIAL of £52.3 million in 2026-27. This subsidy is crucial to facilitating the operation of air services by enabling HIAL to set its airport charges at a lower level than they would otherwise, thus lowering costs for airlines.

We also continue to operate the Air Discount Scheme which provides residents of Shetland, Orkney, the Western Isles, Islay, Jura, Colonsay, Caithness and north-west Sutherland with a 50% discount on the core air fare on eligible services. We currently expect the scheme to provide support to registered scheme members of around £15 million in 2026-27.

As confirmed in the answer to S7W-00736 on 16 June 226, the Scottish Government has not withdrawn from the Wastewater Analysis for Narcotics Detection (WAND) programme. This was a fully Home Office-funded programme, to which the Scottish Government has not contributed funding. The Home Office decided in late 2025 to withdraw funding for the Scottish sites due to budget constraints.

The Scottish Government was approached about contributing funding to reinstate the Scottish sites at this time. WAND was primarily useful for being able to provide estimates of drug consumption in the tested area. The conclusion reached by both the Scottish Government and Public Health Scotland was that the specific added value of wastewater analysis remained uncertain when compared with the existing, extensive surveillance system, coordinated via RADAR. On this basis, the Scottish Government determined that it would not be an effective use of limited budget to contribute to the programme.

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 provision of air services is a matter for individual airlines. However the Scottish Government understand the importance of aviation to the Highlands and Islands. The continued provision of the Air Discount Scheme provides significant support to residents of Shetland, Orkney, the Western Isles, Islay, Jura, Colonsay, Caithness and north-west Sutherland with a 50% discount on the core air fare on eligible services. We currently expect the scheme to provide support to registered scheme members of around £15 million in 2026-27.

This is why we provide funding to support the operations of Highlands and Islands Airport Limited (HIAL). In order to ensure that HIAL can continue to operate safe and regulatory compliant airports, supporting connectivity in the Highlands and Islands, we’re making a budget available to HIAL of £52.3 million in 2026-27. HIAL’s strategic plan includes a priority to deliver a safe and sustainable airport operating model to meet the needs of customers, communities and colleagues. HIAL regularly engages with the communities it serves through a variety of fora adapting the engagement to the needs and formats best suited to the wide range of communities it serves.

As set out in the answer to question S7W-00422 on 3 June 2026, Social Security Scotland has the legal powers to undertake enforced deductions and pursue civil recovery where appropriate.

At the time the referenced report was published, recovery activity had been focused on voluntary overpayments because it is always preferable to agree arrangements for repaying with individuals if possible. However, as of January 2026 Social Security Scotland has now expanded its use of available recovery powers in relation to existing and newly accrued debts, including by developing options for enforced recovery and commencing civil recovery through the courts.

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.

Since the launch of the £2 bus fare cap pilot in the Highlands and Islands in January 2026, the Scottish Government has received claims relating to 280,907 passenger journeys, with total reimbursement claims of £2,045,740.90 made by participating bus operators. The number of journeys and the value of claims may not align due to the claim validation process.

It is not yet possible to determine the number of additional passenger journeys generated by the scheme, however, the Scottish Government will work with participating operators over the summer to assess the impact of the pilot against comparable baseline data.

All figures are correct as of 2 June 2026.

The Contracts for Difference scheme is currently reserved to the UK Government. Any future changes to market arrangements will require careful design to support the continued delivery of Scotland’s offshore wind project pipeline and deliver savings for consumers.