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The Scottish Government recognise that the matter of low-level letterboxes has been a long-standing issue for members of the Communication Workers Union. As noted in earlier answers, Officials have been in the process of assessing options for amendment to building standards guidance, with the intent of providing more explicit guidance on the positioning of letterboxes where these are provided in new dwellings.

Further to this process, I can confirm our intent to include such amendments within our next edition of the Technical Handbooks, expected to come into force from April 2026. This amendment to guidance will help address the concerns of postal workers while also providing more general benefits in relation to the accessibility of new homes.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on the number of school days lost due to industrial action since 1999.

The Scottish Government periodically collects information on the number of school closures for reasons including adverse weather and industrial action, however, this is not collated in the format requested.

Information on the cancellation of adult social care packages is not held centrally.

As outlined in the answer to question S6W-42042 on 1 December 2025, computers were used to process applications, as they are with all agricultural grant applications. However, the assessment work was led by the Agricultural Development Team, supported by staff from across the RPID area office network, which is experienced in delivering Scottish Government grant schemes. Independent validation was undertaken by a Project Board, which also included RPID Area Office representatives, as well as being reviewed by Internal Audit representatives. 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.

NatureScot has begun work to carry out a review of the Deer Code and has set up Steering Group to help with this task, the Group began meeting in November 2025. Membership of this group is taken from a wide range of deer experts in Scotland and reflects the spectrum of opinions that exist.

Previously NatureScot published a Commissioned Report: SNH Research Report 1095: Review of compliance with the Code of Practice on Deer Management in 2019 which reviewed compliance with the Code.

Figures include the additional 122 offers of grant that will be made following revalidation checks.

With over 19,000 capital investments applied for we do not intend to publish a breakdown of the weighting or scoring used for each capital item.

As required by the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 (the Act) NatureScot must have regard to Deer Code of Practice when exercising their functions under the Act, including when exercising functions under section 7(1) (control agreements) and section 8(1) (control schemes).

The documentation relating to this case explicitly states that regard was had to the Deer Code when exercising their section 7 functions. This documentation was published at the following link: Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 - section 8 control scheme: Loch Choire Estate - gov.scot.

Computers were used to process applications, as they are with all agricultural grant applications. Assessment work was led by the Agricultural Development Team, supported by staff from across the RPID area office network.

The Scottish Government does not record this data.