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The following tables give the number of households who have received support in Shetland through the (a) Warmer Homes Scotland programme, and (b) Heat and Energy Efficient Scotland: Area-Based Schemes in each financial year of its operation.

(a) The number of households helped through Warmer Homes Scotland in Shetland since the beginning of the programme in 2015 is set out below.

The table refers to WHS1 which was the Warmer Homes Scotland contract which accepted applications from 2015 to 2023, and WHS2 which is the current Warmer Homes Scotland contract in place since October 2023.

We remain focused on a heat transition that is feasible, affordable and delivers tangible benefits for people. Levels of fuel poverty in Scotland remain unacceptably high with the reserved issue of energy bills being the great factor. The Scottish Government is committed to tackling this, but the main levers for addressing this, such as energy prices and market reform, sit with UK Government.

We are supporting those in or at risk of being in fuel poverty by continuing to fund energy efficiency measures and clean heating systems. However, the UK Government must provide urgent clarity on reforms to the electricity market, including rebalancing, and a social tariff in the form of an automatic and targeted unit rate discount to support the most vulnerable consumers.

We continue to consider relevant evidence and analysis as part of the development of a Buildings (Heating and Energy Performance) and Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill but will not ask the Scottish Parliament to legislate for vitally important laws which affect our population without a full understanding of awaited UK Government action.

The Scottish Government has not produced estimates for each local authority area from the fuel poverty scenario modelling analysis for October to December 2025, due to small survey sample size and complexities involved.

In order to produce robust estimates for each local authority area, the scenario modelling would need to combine data from 3 years of the SHCS, which is not available due to suspension of SHCS survey due to Covid-19 in 2020 and a different survey design in 2021. The Scottish Government plans to resume the publication of Local Authority estimates from the SHCS in 2026, combining data from the 2022, 2023 and 2024 surveys.

The most up to date national figures can be found in the annual publication found at Scottish House Condition Survey: 2023 Key Findings - gov.scot (34% fuel poverty in 2023) and the most recent price cap scenario modelling found at: Introduction - Fuel Poverty Scenario Modelling based on Ofgem Energy Price Caps - up to January to March 2026 - gov.scot (33% fuel poverty in January to March 2026).

We remain committed to decarbonising heat in buildings and achieving net zero by 2045. For the majority of homes, heat pumps or heat networks are likely to be the best clean heat solution. However, we do not have, and have never had, heat pump installation requirements.

We had intended to introduce the Buildings (Heating and Energy Performance) and Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill (previously known as Heat in Buildings Bill) in this parliamentary session. We wanted Parliament to scrutinise the draft Bill using the latest information, including the UK Government's Warm Homes Plan. However, that plan has been delayed and, with little time left in this parliamentary session, we have therefore concluded that the Bill should be paused until the UK Government clarify their position.

There are currently no obligations on Scottish homeowners to install heat pumps or other clean heat systems. The Scottish Government recently published a draft Buildings (Heating and Energy Performance) and Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill which, subject to the outcome of the Scottish Parliament election, we intend to introduce early in the next session. The draft Bill sets out a roadmap to decarbonising heating in Scotland’s homes. While the draft Bill would set Scottish Ministers a target of ensuring Scotland’s buildings no longer use polluting heating systems by 2045, it would not place any obligations on homeowners to replace their existing heating systems. A full financial memorandum will be published alongside the bill when it is introduced in the next parliamentary which will set out relevant costs.

Data on the number of coordinated support plans by sector and local authority between 2007-2024 are published in the Pupil Census supplementary statistics: Pupil census supplementary statistics - gov.scot

Statistics prior to 2007 are not available.

The Scottish Government is consistent in requesting early and meaningful engagement with the UK Government on matters of significant importance for Scotland, particularly where there is a clear devolved read-across such as the UK Budget.

Responsibility for providing education and discussing treatment options lies with clinicians, who are expected to ensure that individuals receive clear, accurate information about all available diabetes technologies when considering their care. Decisions on prescribing specific devices are made by the prescribing clinician in line with clinical guidance and in discussion with the individual.

The Scottish Government supports this through a range of initiatives designed to improve access to reliable information and education. We fund digital resources such as My Diabetes My Way, Scotland’s interactive self-management platform, which provides secure access to personal health records, test results, treatment plans and NHS-accredited eLearning resources. We also invest in DigiBete, a digital tool offering age-appropriate education and practical support for people living with diabetes.

Education is central to the National Closed Loop System Onboarding Programme, hosted by NHS Golden Jubilee. This team provides virtual training and support from experienced clinicians and peer support workers, enabling people anywhere in Scotland to start using diabetes technologies without delay and with confidence.

We work closely with the third sector, including Diabetes Scotland, to promote peer support and community-based education. These partnerships help ensure that people living with diabetes have access to practical advice and lived experience alongside clinical guidance.

Finally, through the Scottish Diabetes Group and its subgroups, we continue to deliver the commitments set out in the Diabetes Improvement Plan (2021–2026). This includes work to improve knowledge and confidence in primary care teams, ensuring that clinicians across Scotland are equipped to discuss technology options effectively with their patients.

We are committed to ensuring that everyone living with diabetes can access clinically appropriate, safe, effective and person-centred care. We know that waiting times for access to diabetes technologies, such as Closed Loop Systems (CLS), remain a challenge, and we are taking action to improve this.

Since 2016, the Scottish Government has invested over £50 million to support technology access, including:

• £29.6 million between 2016-2022 for diabetes technologies
• £8.8 million in 2024-25 to expand CLS access
• £14.6 million in 2025-26 to onboard 2,500 additional individuals and cover recurring consumables

These measures increase capacity and reduce delays by enabling virtual onboarding and freeing up local clinic resources. In addition, the National Onboarding Team, hosted by NHS Golden Jubilee, provides virtual education and training, enabling people anywhere in Scotland to start using diabetes technologies without delay. This innovative model supported almost 1,000 people last year with a 100% satisfaction rate.

The National CLS Onboarding Programme has enabled more than 4,200 people to receive CLS since May 2024. As of September 2025, 77% of under-18s with Type 1 diabetes have access to CLS, and every child or young person should have received at least a referral. This paediatric focus helps prevent complications early and reduce future backlogs.

This builds on Scotland’s strong progress in diabetes technology adoption. According to the 2024 Diabetes Survey, insulin pump use has risen to 23.2% of all people with Type 1 diabetes, up from just 6.3% in 2013. Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) adoption has increased to 85.7% in 2024, compared to 82.5% in 2023, reflecting Scotland’s commitment in digital diabetes care.

We will continue to work with boards to reduce variation and waiting times through targeted funding and performance-based delivery models that prioritise equitable access for all.

The Scottish Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce will look at the scope of a national review of maternity services based on the emerging themes and outcomes of the Healthcare Improvement Scotland Inspections of Maternity Units across Scotland, and any other area that the Taskforce might identify. It will also look at the provision of maternity services in rural areas, including in Caithness and Stranraer.

A full workplan will be agreed by the Taskforce once it has been established, and Parliament will be updated in due course.