Chamber and committees

As the strategic housing authority for the area, Fife Council assessed the opportunity to purchase these homes and concluded that it was a strategic priority – taking into account the potential risk of homelessness to the tenants in-situ, the proposed purchase price of the homes, and the longer-term benefit of increasing the stock of affordable housing in Fife. The proposal presented to Scottish Government demonstrated clear alignment with the Council’s strategic priorities and demonstrated value-for-money compared to average grant rates.

As the strategic housing authority for the area, Fife Council assessed the situation and took a strategic decision to redirect Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP) (2026-27) funds in Fife to purchase these homes. Fife Council requested AHSP grant funding of 57% grant which provides value for money at around £73,000 grant per unit across all 26 units and is broadly in line with other open market purchases in Fife. By enabling this, the threat of homelessness will be removed for all tenants bringing the matter to a successful conclusion. This year Scottish Government will invest over £926m to support delivery of affordable housing, with Councils as the strategic housing authorities setting the investment priorities within their areas.

As the strategic housing authority for the area, Fife Council assessed the situation and took a strategic decision to redirect Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP) (2026-27) funds in Fife to purchase these homes. Due to funding commitments for other projects, Fife Council requested additional support from Scottish Government to ensure the purchase could be supported quickly without creating pressure on existing AHSP projects. The AHSP already allows for the purchase of homes with tenants in situ where this meets a clear strategic purpose and where the tenant is at risk of homelessness, as set out in published guidance. Guidance+and+Procedures+-+MHDGN+2023-01+-+Affordable+Housing+Supply+Programme+%28AHSP%29+Process+and+Procedures.pdf.

Grant awards for projects supported with grant through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP) for social rent will vary across Scotland based on a number of factors such as tenure, location, property type, property size, client group and a range of other variables.

The detail published in Glasgow City Joint Protection Committee's Learning Review Report on Family C is horrific. The abuse and neglect the children were subjected to is abhorrent and unacceptable. Keeping children safe is a key priority for the Scottish Government and the Review’s findings are being carefully considered locally and nationally by the Scottish Government and partners as part of our ongoing work to better protect children, support young victims engaging with the justice system, and improve communication between services.

Scotland should be a good parent, and at every turn and in every setting, children must have access to safe, consistent nurturing relationships and environments which enable them to reach their full potential.

The Scottish Government is actively considering all the national recommendations contained within the report, including the recommendation relating to whether the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service should be a body with corporate parenting responsibilities.

Data on the number of children accessing Bairns’ Hoose services is not currently collected by the Scottish Government. This reflects the current phase of the Bairns’ Hoose programme and the different stages that partnerships are at in their journey towards developing Bairns’ Hoose services. Work is underway with partnerships to develop a standardised approach to data collection to support future monitoring.

Bairns’ Hoose is specifically for those children who have experienced abuse, neglect or exploitation which has caused, or is likely to cause, significant harm and is not intended to support all children who have been through the court system. The first Bairns’ Hoose open its doors in 2023 with national rollout planned from 2027.

Residential Properties

The Scottish Government does not hold information on how many properties affected by RAAC have been demolished and rebuilt in each year since 2023-24.

Public Buildings

The Scottish Government does not hold information on how many public buildings affected by RAAC have been demolished and rebuilt in each year since 2023-24.

Some information will be accessible via the report available here: Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) across the public sector in Scotland - gov.scot. Current information may be obtained from individual public authorities who retain responsibility for matters of building maintenance as building owners.

The Scottish Government confirmed that a further £3 million was available to help Police Scotland tackle retail crime in its budget for 2026-27. This will ensure that the service can build upon its work carried out the previous year, which included the creation of its Retail Crime Taskforce.

Spending plans for 2027-28 and 2028-29 were outlined in the Scottish Spending Review 2026. Decisions on future budgets will be taken as part of the budget setting processes.

The number of students who began undergraduate nursing programmes (entrants) and the number of students who completed undergraduate nursing programmes (qualifiers) at higher education institutions (HEIs) in Scotland in the last five years are as follows:

Figures on the number of affordable homes delivered each year since 2021-22 are available through Official Statistics using the Affordable Housing Supply Programme summary tables. Figures are publishes by quarter and financial year as well as a separate table showing progress towards the 110,000 affordable homes target .Figures on the number of homes delivered in rural areas towards the 110,000 affordable homes target are as follows: