Chamber and committees

The Regeneration Capital Grant Fund for 2024-25 was paused. Funding totalling £9.4 million was provided to support existing projects.

There is no place for antisemitism, Islamophobia or any form of racism or discrimination in Scotland’s education system. Antisemitic statements, behaviour or offensive or threatening material either on line or in person in universities is wrong and not acceptable. Debate on the current conflict must be done in a courteous and respectful manner. We expect universities to have in place measures to safeguard students and staff and continue to build good relations on campus. Jewish students should be able to express their faith and identity openly and without fear.

We are aware of the StandWithUS UK Report and regularly receive reports from the Community Security Trust (CST) which chart the rise in antisemitism since the start of the current conflict in the Middle East.

My officials meet regularly with Universities Scotland, the Union of Jewish Students and the Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh and, at the end of August, met with a range of stakeholders, including Chaplaincy, Community Security Trust, Jewish Council of Scotland, Scottish Funding Council and Universities Scotland. The meeting provided the opportunity for stakeholders to share concerns on antisemitism on campuses, and the roles of key partners including higher education institutions, the Equality and Human Rights Commission and Police Scotland in addressing those.

Any student who has experienced antisemitism should report it to their institutions, the Community Security Trust (CST) and Police Scotland.

The ASH SmokeFree GB Youth survey is an annual survey of a representative sample (by age and gender) of 11–18-year-olds across Great Britain, which has been running since 2013.

The total number of participants aged 11 to 18 from Scotland in 2025 was 856.

The sample size is sufficiently large to report overall prevalence and to monitor progress against key indicators 4(i) and 4(ii) of the Tobacco and Vaping Framework (i.e. smoking and vaping behaviours in children and young people).

The sample is not representative in terms of deprivation as it leans towards higher social grades. The data are not weighted to account for this, and this limitation should be considered when interpreting the results.

Data are collected on social grade and grouped into ABC1 and C2DE categories, which are not directly comparable with the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD).

The Town Centre Capital Fund was only active in 2019-20 and 2020-21, providing funding allocations to all local authorities to support delivery of town centre regeneration

There has been significant investment over recent years in our capital investment programmes, including the Place Based Investment Programme, the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund and the Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme, which have helped to accelerate our ambitions for regeneration activity in town centres.

Place Based Investment Programme (PBIP) funding is allocated directly to Scotland’s 32 local authorities, who are responsible for targeting investment locally in line with the agreed objectives of the fund. As such, the Scottish Government does not receive applications from local organisations for this funding.

Place Based Investment Programme (PBIP) funding is allocated directly to Scotland’s 32 local authorities, who are responsible for targeting investment locally in line with the agreed objectives of the fund. As such, the Scottish Government does not receive applications from local organisations for this funding. A total of £5.465 million was made available to 17 local authorities in 2024-2025 via the Place Based Investment Programme (PBIP) as detailed in the following table:

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-39882 on 1 September 2025. 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 appeal has been recalled for determination by Scottish Ministers under Schedule 4 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, and the document referred to forms part of the internal administrative arrangements to support that process.

The Scottish Law Commission (SLC) agreed to carry out a law reform project to examine whether compulsory owners’ associations for tenement properties could be established and if so what changes in the law may be required.

The SLC is expected to provide the Scottish Government with a Report and draft Bill for consideration in Spring 2026.

Following receipt of SLC Report and draft Bill, the Scottish Government will take the time required to fully consider an appropriate way forward.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-39790 on 1 September 2025. 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 should also be noted however that as the majority of dentists are independent contractors, they are free to decide whether or not they wish to provide NHS services.