Chamber and committees

The use of vapes containing harmful substances among young people is concerning. The Scottish Government is taking forward substance use education work in our schools through Curriculum for Excellence, where children and young people learn about a variety of substances including alcohol, medicines, drugs, tobacco and solvents. Learning sets out the impact these substances can have on their life and health and helps support better informed decision making. Education alone will not turn the tide of substance use but it is an important strand within a broad range of measures designed to tackle this issue.

Each establishment, working with partners, should take a holistic approach to promoting health and wellbeing. This should take account of the stage of growth, development and maturity of each pupil, and the social and community context.

We welcome the work of Ayrshire’s Vaping Taskforce comprising of Trading Standards, Police Scotland, Alcohol and Drug Partnerships and GPs. This Taskforce is actively working to raise awareness on vaping and the potential for them to contain illegal substances. We will monitor the impact of the Taskforce and the introduction of devices which can test vape liquids for illegal substances.

Our Behaviour in Scottish Schools Research (BISSR), published in November 2023, identified vaping as an emerging behaviour of concern. While BISSR did not highlight links with violence in schools, it did identify that the rise in prevalence of use of vapes among secondary pupils was resulting in reduced attendance within classes as young people gathered to vape in toilets throughout the school day. As part of the Scottish Government’s response to BISSR, our Relationships and Behaviour in Schools Action Plan 2024-27 we have committed to developing guidance on vaping in schools, which we will begin later this year.

1. Supporting Pollinators and Biodiversity at Holyrood
   

The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) is committed to enhancing biodiversity and supporting pollinators across the parliamentary estate.

These are the key initiatives that are currently in place or planned:

1. Biodiversity Policy and Route Map
• We have a Biodiversity Policy and Route Map. Facilities Management works with the Sustainability Team to ensure best practices are followed.
2. Monitoring and Evidence
• From 2025, we will conduct biodiversity surveys twice a year to monitor progress and guide future actions. This will help us track our efforts and make informed decisions.
3. Landscaping and Maintenance
• Our landscaping avoids pesticides and includes regular checks for invasive species. These efforts are managed through our Facilities Management contract to maintain a healthy ecosystem.
4. Pollinator-Friendly Planting
• Each year, we plant a variety of wildflowers to support pollinators. This has increased the variety and number of pollinator-friendly plants across the estate, contributing to a healthier environment.
5. Partnership and Engagement
• We work with internal teams and external organizations, including community benefit clauses in our contracts, to support biodiversity. This collaborative approach ensures a broad impact.
6. Wildlife Support Measures
• Regular bat surveys are conducted, and bird and bat boxes have been installed in suitable locations to support local wildlife.
7. Public Engagement and Education
• Information boards are placed in landscaped areas, and we provide opportunities for public engagement and education on biodiversity. This helps raise awareness and encourages community involvement.

2. Encouraging Nature Across the Parliamentary Estate
   

To further support biodiversity, we have implemented several initiatives:

1. Landscaping
• We have incorporated native species of trees, shrubs, and meadow grass. This landscaping approach helps reduce carbon footprints, manage groundwater movements, and encourage biodiversity, including bees, butterflies, insects, and birds.
2. Management Practices
• We maintain a pesticide and peat-free regime to ensure a sustainable environment.
3. The Butterfly Project/Square Metre for Butterflies
• We are working on the recovery of the Northern Brown Argus butterfly at Holyrood, contributing to the conservation of this species.
4. Biodiversity Surveys
• We conduct regular biodiversity surveys and review bird and bat boxes to ensure they are effective.
5. Beehives
• The Scottish Parliament was the first legislature in the UK to have beehives, showing our commitment to supporting pollinators. Please refer to our response under ‘c’ below for the current position relating to beehives on the parliamentary estate
6. Waste and Recycling
• We aim to be a Zero Waste Parliament, reducing our environmental impact through effective waste management practices.
7. Sustainable Procurement
• We minimise ecological impacts through sustainable procurement practices, ensuring our operations are environmentally responsible.

We are committed to tackling climate change and reducing our environmental impact. Recently, we planted fifteen new trees around the Parliament perimeter. Soft landscaping, such as trees, grasses, and shrubs, supports biodiversity and reduces groundwater movement to minimise erosion.

No pesticides, fertilisers, or peat are used onsite by our contractors.

3. Review of On-Site Beekeeping following recent changes to guidance
   

As the current beekeeping contract neared its end in early 2025, Facilities Management and Procurement reviewed the role of managed beehives on the estate, following guidance from the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. This review involved engaging with stakeholders to determine the best approach. The existing contract was extended by one year to allow time for this review. A project is now underway to explore sustainable pollinator support from 2026 onwards.

The Scottish Government is taking action with partners to address youth violence through prevention, early intervention, community engagement and punishment where necessary through the criminal justice system. We have invested over £6 million to support action to prevent violence and reduce the harm through the Violence Prevention Framework since 2023, and are providing £26 million through the latest phase of Cashback for Communities to deliver a range of diversionary and support activities for young people.

The National Relationships and Behaviour in Schools Action Plan 2024-27, sets out a range of actions which support improved behaviour and relationships in schools. On 17 June, we published new guidance to support schools on fostering a positive, inclusive and safe school environment, including the use of consequences, and on risk assessments for violent, aggressive and dangerous behaviour.

It is expected that data relating to the average application and claim processing timescales for the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme will be published later this calendar year.

No specific target date is currently set for the publication of this data.

The UK Government has made clear that the scope of it’s inquiry into grooming gang activity is limited to England and Wales. Scottish Government officials have met with UK Government officials to discuss the UK Government’s response to Baroness Casey’s audit and underline our commitment to supporting the inquiry and engaging on any matters relevant to Scotland.

The Scottish Government continues to engage with UK Government counterparts to identify opportunities for improved collaboration to tackle harm against young people including child sexual abuse and exploitation. As part of this approach, the Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise and The Minister for Community Safety and Victims will be meeting with Jess Philips MP, UK Government Minister for Safeguarding in the coming months to discuss issues related to child sexual abuse and exploitation, violence against women and girls and online safety of children and young people.

I and Scottish Government planning officials have not been involved in any meetings with any consultants operating on behalf of the appellant. At all times, the Scottish Government is mindful of the principles in the Scottish Ministerial Code.

The Chief Planner advised the Chief Reporter in a call on 10 June 2025 that Ministers intended to recall the appeal. On 12 June 2025, the Chief Planner, the Chief Reporter and I subsequently discussed the next steps for the appeal, following the debate in the Scottish Parliament. The merits of the appeal itself were not discussed.

The Scottish Government is aware of the judgment in this case. We consider that the advice on determining planning applications contained in Planning Circular 3/2022: Development Management Procedures is consistent with the judgment.

In determining any application or appeal, it is for the planning authority, or as the case may be the Scottish Ministers, who are considering the proposed development to decide what matters are material to their consideration on a case by case basis.

It is also for the decision maker to consider what weight to give to each material consideration in determining the application. Any planning application is required to be determined in accordance with the development plan unless there are material planning considerations that individually or collectively justify a departure from the development plan.

The Scottish Government remains committed to an all-age careers information advice and guidance offer that supports people to progress rewarding careers. Learners must choose their own paths; however, we need to ensure that in making their choices, they are aware of the range of potential pathways including self-employment as a legitimate route.

This was reflected in this year’s Programme for Government which included an action to “review and improve school-age and adult career support, including better information on career choices, job prospects and earnings” and is being taken forward as a priority in the improving careers support project as part of the Post-16 Education and Skills Reform Programme.

The Scottish Government, in collaboration with partners across the entrepreneurial ecosystem and education sector, is fostering entrepreneurial mind-sets in schools through the Entrepreneurial Education Fund. In 2024-2025 the fund supported seven organisations with £829,319 to deliver innovative resources to teach entrepreneurial meta-skills from Primary 1 to S6 in alignment with the Curriculum for Excellence. The Scottish Government is committed to building a lasting legacy of entrepreneurial education across Scotland.

The Social Enterprise Academy schools programme is designed to accelerate social entrepreneurship education in schools. This transformational learning experience allows young people from primary 1 to S6 to develop key employability skills whilst aspiring to affect ongoing social change in their communities and beyond.

Developing the Young Workforce support the Scottish Government’s community engagement initiative by encouraging enterprise events in all regions. A recent example saw a school in Glasgow host a successful annual social enterprise event led by students. This event, designed to raise funds for Hint of Pink, served as a platform for young people to manage a project involving sales, entertainment, and event organisation.

The Venture Lab is a Scottish Government funded programme run by The Challenges Group. The programme supports impact driven entrepreneurs with early-stage business support and a dedicated pathway to market. Working in partnership with Scotland’s universities, they are supporting Scottish social enterprises and impact businesses with high growth potential to scale and establish in Scotland and in international markets.

The Scottish Government also fund ‘Business Gateway’ who specifically provide advice on starting a business and guidance on how to strengthen a new business. Further information regarding different employment routes for all ages and stages can be found on the Skills Development Scotland, My World of Work website.

Through our No One Left Behind approach, person-centred employability services are also available in every local authority area for people of all ages who experience structural barriers to participating in the labour market. These services support people towards and into sustainable fair work which includes self-employment.

In my role as Planning Minister, I will take the decision on the Lomond Banks planning appeal.