Chamber and committees

Please see the Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) interim update provided to the NZET Committee on 1 September 2025 on the delivery progress of MV Isle of Islay and the other vessels currently under construction in Türkiye. The letter has been published and can be found at the attached link - Interim Update on New Vessels for Islay & Little Minch

Since the launch of the RMT People’s CalMac Campaign in 2022 we have been engaging with Trade unions on their aspiration for a CHFS3 of Direct Award to CalMac Ferries. The Scottish Government agrees that a Direct Award is the best and most appropriate way forward. The detailed Contract specification will be published on the Transport Scotland website and reflects the very nature of the contract which is to enable continuous improvements and adjustment in the changed focus of public service delivery, rather than simply meeting contractual requirements, and we would expect ongoing trades unions engagement on this. Trades unions have been active in the formal consultation and in the Roundtable hosted by me as the Cabinet Secretary for that purpose and I have regular meetings with Ferry Trades unions. We will continue to engage productively with Trade unions throughout the term of the new contract to support the hard-working staff providing these services across the CHFS network.

The following table provides data on proceedings and convictions for ‘having an article with a blade or point’. It is not possible to disaggregate these figures by the specific type of weapon involved.

The most recent information on proceedings and convictions is available for the financial year 2022-23.

Number of people prosecuted in Scottish courts for crimes related to having an article with a blade or point, where main charge, 2013-14 to 2022-23.

The battery-electric trains that will be procured for Fife, which will replace the current ScotRail diesel fleet that operates on Fife Circle services, will be deployed on services operating within the North East Fife constituency.

There are currently no plans to introduce direct dermatology referral pathways from community optometry and pharmacy.

Our Digital Dermatology programme has provided GPs across Scotland with access to a new app which allows them to securely use their own mobile device to attach an image to a dermatology referral. This has the potential to significantly reduce the dermatology waiting list by diverting 50% of patients each year either back to their GP with advice or direct to treatment through the creation of a digital triage process in secondary care.

The Scottish Government is deeply concerned by any planned job losses in the North East.

We continue to monitor and consider a range of evidence in relation to Scotland’s energy sector. As part of this approach, we review reports on employment from industry, trade unions and other bodies. We have also commissioned and published independent analysis on Scotland’s Energy System and Just Transition. This analysis considers the economic impact of Scotland’s oil and gas industry, including in terms of employment, during the transition to net zero. A partial update of the baseline data underpinning this analysis was published in April 2025.

The fiscal regime for offshore oil and gas is reserved to the UK Government. However the Scottish Government have been calling on the current UK Government for an expedited end date to the EPL that was introduced by the previous UK Government. At the time of introduction we were clear that this levy singled out a key sector in the Scottish economy and could put jobs at risk.

Key to a successful programme of flipping activity is ensuring that the accommodation is of good quality and meets the needs of the household. In my statement on the housing emergency, I referenced the guidance produced by ALACHO on flipping temporary accommodation to a household’s settled home. This flipping practice note sets out options and considerations for converting a temporary let into a permanent tenancy.

Outcomes from a decision to flip temporary accommodation should be consistent with the council’s overall approach to offering permanent and temporary accommodation. ALACHO has set out various factors to be taken into account in a local authority’s approach to flipping and recommends that any proposal to flip accommodation should:

• meet the council’s statutory obligations to the applicant involved;
• represent a reasonable offer of accommodation;
• be consistent with the needs and wishes of the applicant;
• ensure no reduction in the level of choice or control afforded relative to other applicants;
• provide a sustainable housing outcome;
• not disadvantage either those accepting a flip, those who refuse such an offer and those not in a position to receive such an offer;
• support the council’s ability to meet its duty to offer temporary accommodation;
• ensure that the transition from temporary to settled accommodation is actively managed, including any change to the availability of support services or eligibility for benefits;
• be linked to a clear process for replacing the temporary let if necessary; and
• offer value for money to the council in relation to any replacement of furniture and fittings that are included in the offer of a permanent let.

ALACHO’s flipping practice note should be read alongside the Scottish Government’s Code of Guidance on Homelessness and the Scottish Government’s Temporary Accommodation Standards Framework as well as taking local policies into account.

Up to £4.9 billion will be invested in housing through a mixture of public and privately leveraged investment. The upcoming Scottish Government Budget and Scottish Spending Review will set out further detail.

From 2 September, first-time buyers can apply to the Open Market Shared Equity Scheme (OMSE) alongside the priority access groups. OMSE aims to help those on low to moderate incomes secure a home that they may not otherwise have been able to do.

To date, the Scottish Government has provided grant funding to both the Council and local RSLs to deliver 155 social rented homes through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme in Blindwells with another 52 homes planned for approval this year. Funding has also been provided through the Housing Infrastructure Fund to support expert advice for the Blindwells masterplan.

As I set out in my statement on the Housing Emergency on 2 September, the Scottish Government will work with East Lothian Council and private sector partners to unlock investment and growth of the new town of Blindwells.

The Scottish Government works with local authorities in a way appropriate to their local context in facilitating increased housing.