Chamber and committees

Reports of rape and sexual assaults in hospitals are very concerning. Such incidents are abhorrent and we encourage all victims to report sexual crime to the police, including those that may have happened some time ago. Health Boards have legal duties to keep staff, patients and visitors safe. Health Boards are expected to record all incidences of assaults using their local reporting systems and escalate to Police Scotland, where appropriate.

Investigation of sexual assault and rape is an operational matter for Police Scotland who are accountable to the Scottish Police Authority.

Any small business owner who experiences harassment or online abuse can report these matters to the police for consideration of investigation. There are a range of laws which operate that may be relevant depending on the specifics of any harassment and online abuse the business is experiencing such as the threatening or abusive behaviour offence. Operational decisions on criminal investigations are an independent matter for Police Scotland.

All businesses – wherever they are in the country – can access support from a wide variety of public sector organisations through the Find Business Support website.

The recording of information on the profile of sexual assault and rape perpetrators is an operational matter for Police Scotland, and any such incident should be reported to them to ensure victims can access the justice they deserve. Beyond this, Health Boards have a legal duty to record data on violence and aggression within their estates, and the Scottish Government expects them to have the necessary reporting systems in place to do this.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of ensuring public services deliver best value and this is at the core of the Public Service Reform strategy.

Public bodies are supported to consider all delivery models, including insourcing where appropriate. However, decisions on whether services are delivered in-house or externally are for individual bodies, based on their assessment of value for money, delivery confidence and outcomes.

The Scottish Government has established and signposts guidance to support best value decisions which includes the Scottish Public Finance Manual and Public Service Reform Frameworks.

It would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to comment on the merits of any proposals.

A number of factors can impact on the ability of individuals to secure legal assistance, for example the type of case and the existing workload of a solicitor. Being registered to provide legal aid does not require a solicitor to take an individual case that is a matter for the individual solicitor, and it is not possible to compel them to take a case. The Scottish Government recognises that this can be frustrating and has taken some steps to provide additional support to that provided by private solicitors.

The Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) monitors the availability and accessibility of legal services, and The Civil Legal Assistance Offices (CLAO) can provide certain types of legal service to people who are eligible for legal assistance. CLAO both offers a casework service and also refers people other sources of advice and support, including solicitors who offer services funded by legal aid.

Solicitors can take on cases in other areas and applicants are able to instruct solicitors outside their own council area. This reflects both the flexibility of the legal assistance schemes and the willingness of solicitors to travel to rural and remote parts of Scotland to provide services where local provision is limited, meaning that individuals do not have to rely on local provision alone when seeking publicly funded legal assistance.

Funding this year is provided to provide specific support to Scottish Women’s Aid of up to £160,498 and the Scottish Women’s Rights Centre of up to £239,200 to provide bespoke legal advice and representation. A series of grants of £2 million to third sector organisations across the country has been provided to support early advice and resolution in communities.

In addition, the Scottish Government is providing funding of up to £1.5 million to support up to 40 additional legal aid trainees through the Legal Aid Traineeship Fund. Further information is available on the Law Society of Scotland’s website: https://www.lawscot.org.uk/qualifying-and-education/qualifying-as-a-scottish-solicitor/the-traineeship/scottish-government-legal-aid-traineeship-fund-2026/.

The recent Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2025 removes restrictions which previously prevented charities, law centres and Citizens advice bodies from directly employing solicitors to provide certain legal services. Commenced on 5 March 2026, this change enables third sector organisations to deliver reserved legal services, including representation of vulnerable clients in court, without reliance on external law firms.

Legal aid fees were also increased by 13% from 1 September in regulations passed by the Scottish Parliament in February 2026. Regulations recently passed also made changes to criminal and children’s legal aid to make the process less complex, support early resolution, and guarantee timely representation for those most in need.

Finally, the Scottish Government is bringing forward a consultation on a Legal Aid Bill within the first 100 days of this parliament to explore how the legal aid system can become more responsive and user centred, and how it can better deliver outcomes in line with what we expect of a modern public service, while ensuring transparency and accountability in the use of public funds. Responses will shape the content of the Bill and inform the timing of its introduction.

Train ownership and operational costs over the asset’s lifespan constitute a substantially greater share of total expenditure than the initial purchase price. It is therefore essential to explore a range of financing and procurement options to ensure best value for money and long-term affordability.

As the First Minister has set out in the previous government, we are making good progress towards initiating a programme of bond issuances from 2026-27, with a total programme of around £1.5 billion over the next parliamentary term, subject to market conditions.

As set out in the published outline business case (https://www.gov.scot/policies/investment-finance/scottish-government-bonds), this programme will support capital investment within our existing borrowing powers and limits. Any proceeds will be used exclusively for capital spending and infrastructure, in line with our legal powers.

The business case considers a range of borrowing options, including continued use of the National Loans Fund and other sources, and concludes that a bond programme can represent value for money while supporting our wider economic objectives.

ASLEF’s recent report on Green Bonds provided a useful contribution, and we remain open to further discussion and analysis alongside current Scottish Government policy for the procurement of significant contracts in the future.

In terms of bond structures, we are keeping our options open, including the potential use of green bonds alongside conventional or unlabelled issuances.

Assessors, who are responsible for the valuation of domestic and non-domestic properties, are independent of Scottish Government and Local Government. They are all chartered surveyors accountable to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, and are accountable for individual valuation decisions through the appeals function delivered by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals System.

Assessors use the established legal framework to determine premises’ rateable values based on the notional rental value that they could be expected to attract on the open market if they were vacant and to let. They follow applicable statute and case law in making their decisions on non-domestic property valuations

The Scottish Government supports the principle of assessor independence and the value of a property valuation system that is founded on local knowledge and expertise. A property valuation system based primarily on rental values is likely to produce valuations that reflect evidenced differences in rents in different parts of Scotland.

We recognise, however, the disquiet expressed by some business sectors about non-domestic rates. We will soon undertake a comprehensive review of non-domestic rates which builds on our commitment to examine the impact and configuration of all our reliefs in advance of the next revaluation on 1 April 2029, and we will engage with businesses, working with them to shape the rates system into the future.

The Scottish Government is a partner in Transforming Communities Glasgow alongside Glasgow City Council and Wheatley Homes Glasgow.

Partners are working collaboratively to progress the site at Red Road, recognising the challenges relating to viability, remediation and infrastructure. A detailed business plan is being progressed by partners, setting out the preferred delivery model, funding approach and key actions required to unlock the development of the site.

There is a shared commitment among partners to identify a deliverable and sustainable solution that will support the regeneration of Red Road and facilitate the construction of new homes.

Any small business owner who experiences harassment or online abuse can report these to Police Scotland for consideration of investigation.

The Scottish Government engages regularly with key business support agencies, including Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, South of Scotland Enterprise and Business Gateway, to ensure that appropriate advice and support and guidance are available to small and medium-sized enterprises facing a range of challenges.

Guidance has included signposting to cyber resilience and business continuity advice.

Through Scotland’s enterprise and skills agencies, businesses can access advice, digital capability support and resources aimed at strengthening online presence and recovery planning including responding and recovering from cyber incidents.