Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government is not currently considering establishing a national advisory council on men and boys. Gender inequality affects everyone in Scotland and we are committed to addressing misogyny, challenging stereotypes and promoting positive masculinity. This is key to tackling violence against women and girls and realising a gender equal Scotland.

Earlier this year we ran a campaign to challenge misogynistic attitudes and behaviours among boys, helping them recognise the link between online content and real-world harm, and empowering them to take action to prevent it. We will continue to work with men and boys, including those in leadership positions, to promote positive masculinity and help tackle the causes of gender-based abuse.

We also recognise the importance of improving health outcomes for men and boys. Improving population health and reducing health inequalities, including those experienced by men, remains a key priority for the Scottish Government. We published the Population Health Framework, in partnership with COSLA, which takes a whole-system and cross-sector approach to improving life expectancy and reducing health inequalities. Wider action to tackle men’s health and mortality inequalities includes increased investment in suicide prevention and targeted marketing to encourage men to contact their GP via the ‘Be the Early Bird’ campaign.

In 2026/27 the Heat in Buildings programme expects 20,000 properties to have benefited from clean heat and/or energy efficiency measures. Further detail on the final energy efficiency specific measures delivered will be available after the end of the financial year.

The Minister's remarks referred to the need for the consistent application of international law and support for independent international judicial institutions, including the International Criminal Court.

The Scottish Government is deeply concerned by conflict, instability and serious human rights violations wherever they occur. We have consistently supported the rules-based international order, respect for human rights and accountability for breaches of international law.

As you will be aware, responsibility for sanctions, export controls, recognition of states, and wider foreign policy rests with the UK Government although there is an important role for devolved administrations to play in international affairs in the UK and they do elsewhere in the world.

The Scottish Government does not support new nuclear fission power stations. Renewables are delivering jobs and growth for Scotland now – while nuclear can take decades to deliver, with projects in the other part of the UK seeing costs spiral.

The Scottish Net Zero Economy in 2025 report, published by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit and The Confederation of British Industry, found that net zero-related industries support 105,000 full-time equivalent jobs in Scotland.

Decommissioning at former sites is expected to continue for decades to come, and will follow at Torness. This work will continue to require a highly skilled workforce.

Local authorities, as food authorities, will be responsible for enforcing the Food (Promotion and Placement) (Scotland) Regulations 2025, using powers in the Food Safety Act 1990 and the Food (Scotland) Act 2015. The approach was informed with input from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and other key partners, and aligns with the enforcement regime for other offences in food law. The Scottish Government is finalising funding to local authorities for 2026-27 to support the implementation of enforcement when the policy commences from 1 October.

In addition, Public Health Scotland is leading a programme of evaluation research supported by an Evaluation Advisory Group which includes economic and analytical advisers across Public Health Scotland, Food Standards Scotland and Scottish Government, with policy officials and additional input from academics.

Public Health Scotland has already implemented a range of studies to assess the baseline situation against which to compare progress and impacts at a later stage.

The University of Aberdeen is an autonomous institution with responsibility for its own operational decision making, including in relation to staff, recruitment and remuneration.

The Scottish Government expects the Scottish Funding Council to monitor and seek assurances that universities are compliant with the Scottish Code of Good HE Governance as a condition of grant funding, including the extent to which universities are considering value for money and the public interest, avoiding inappropriate use of funds, and seeking the views of students and staff in relation to decisions regarding senior executive remuneration. I do pay close attention to the matters the member raises in my discussions with individual institutions and the wider sector and am alert to this issue in my consideration of future funding of the sector.

The Scottish Government has been very clear about the significant challenges we face as a Government and a country ahead of the next Scottish Budget on 3 December 2026. Our immediate focus at the start of the Parliamentary session has been on setting out its Programme for the next five years. These are the priorities that we need public funding to deliver.

The fiscal update published by the Scottish Fiscal Commission (SFC) at the end of August provides a detailed assessment of the economic and fiscal outlook facing Scotland. From all of this, Parliament will be well aware that the Scottish Government is entering the 2027-28 Budget process facing a combination of pressures and challenges that will need difficult decisions.

I recognise your interest in ensuring that Parliament has the information it needs for its pre-Budget scrutiny. As noted in my letter to the Convener of the Finance and Public Administration Committee on 29 September, I will engage on the fiscal challenges and key issues facing the Scottish Budget as part of my appearance at the Finance and Public Administration Committee on 30 September, and a parliamentary debate on the asks of the UK Government Budget on 1 October. Since I wrote to the Convener at the end of June, a new UK Prime Minister and Chancellor have taken office, creating the prospect of changes to UK fiscal policy this autumn. The debate on 1 October will provide an opportunity for Parliament to consider the implications for Scotland and to discuss the priorities we wish to see reflected in the UK Budget. I will continue to keep the Committee and Parliament updated on key developments ahead of Budget.

I am pleased to announce the launch of ‘Our Scotland, Our Future: Public Engagement Strategy for Climate and Nature’. This publication comes at a vital time. The impacts of climate change are with us and are being felt with increasing severity across Scotland. Public engagement is essential to deliver the action we all need to take together, improve our quality of life, reduce future impacts, and contribute to a more prosperous, healthy, fairer and resilient Scotland.

Our public engagement approach seeks to build understanding that motivates, inspires and leads to action across the whole of society, among our urban, rural and island communities. It aims to shift the conversation about climate change and nature loss towards one of hope, honesty, resilience, and shared ownership of solutions, recognising people not only as audiences, but as active partners in re-imagining and shaping Scotland’s future.

This is a public engagement strategy for climate change mitigation, adaption and nature loss together, reflecting how interconnected they are and how people experience their local environment, understand how climate and nature-related risks are changing where they live, and enabling local action that delivers multiple benefits.

On 3 September, Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) published a report into a community led delivery model for heat networks across Scotland, prepared for the Scottish Government. The report can be accessed at: heat-networks-community-led-delivery-model.

Community led delivery was one of a range of potential approaches that SFT assessed on our behalf, and we are assessing the report's conclusions.

Meanwhile, we continue to welcome applications from all prospective applicant's - including community groups - to Scotland’s Heat Network Fund.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-03425 on 30 September 2026. 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.