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I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

The Design Capacity of each establishment represents an effective, manageable number at which prisons are not overcrowded, are occupied in accordance with their initial design and can be safely and effectively managed to support rehabilitation.

The Assessed Capacity Tolerance (ACT) is an assessment of the absolute extremis capacity in each establishment. This figure is dynamic and should not be considered as an indicator to current prisoner places across the prison estate.

Governors in Charge make a weekly ACT determination and assessment based on components unique to their establishment. These include but are not limited to prison stability, staffing numbers and the ability to meet minimum legal requirements of those in their care.

The following table show the Population, Design Capacity and Assessed Capacity Tolerance as of 20 November 2025:

We intend to publish the details on how many applications did not pass each stage of the assessment process. Applicants will be able to review this information alongside the details they submitted, to help them understand the reason their application was not successful.

The timing of the publication of the Sheku Bayoh Inquiry’s final report is a matter for the Inquiry. Public inquiries operate independently of government, and decisions about the report’s preparation and publication rest solely with the Chair. This will now become the responsibility of the new Chair. It is in the public interest for the Inquiry to come to a conclusion promptly and for its recommendations to be implemented as swiftly as possible.

As outlined in the answer to question S6W-41939 on 1 December 2025, while every effort will be made to expedite the process, the appointment of a new Chair to the Sheku Bayoh Public Inquiry is a complex matter and will take time to identify a suitable candidate. The Inquiry was established to provide answers for the families of Mr Bayoh regarding the circumstances of his death and to identify improvements for the future to help prevent deaths in similar circumstances. The Scottish Government remains fully committed to these aims and to ensuring that the Inquiry can conclude its work without unnecessary delay. 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.

The Scottish Government welcomes the statement of intent from the UK Government to explore possible legislative solutions and will continue to engage with the UK Government as their proposals to address this, and dynamic ticket pricing, continue to emerge.

As well as a range of existing legislative measures to address ticket resales for profit in general, the Scottish Government has previously criminalised ticket touting for specific major events held in Scotland. We have made detailed and specific exceptions for above face value sales to enable support for charitable causes, associated with such events.

Most recently the UEFA European Championship (Scotland) Bill (SP Bill 60), introduced in the Scottish Parliament on 12 March 2025, seeks to provide a range of commercial rights protections, including a ban on ticket touting, in order to meet UEFA’s requirements for hosting EURO 2028 matches in Scotland.

A more general provision driven by consumer protection, rather than commercial rights protection for EURO 2028, would be a reserved matter.

However, the Scottish Government also recognises the manner in which new technology has not only opened increased channels for selling tickets above face price but also making it easier to ticket tout on an industrial scale. As well as increasing the risk of fraud for fans, such activity also diverts funding away from the creative industries sector that might otherwise have been directly benefiting the artists and venues.

The Scottish Government is confident that NHS 24 adheres to robust clinical protocols, including regular clinical audits and staff training, to ensure that patients requiring care beyond the 111 service receive appropriate advice and follow-up support. The Scottish Government monitors these processes through regular engagement with NHS 24.

NatureScot Peatland ACTION does not hold this information. Any costs incurred are funded by landowners not the public purse. As part of all Peatland ACTION contractual agreements, landowners accept the responsibility to repair damage caused by herbivores across the restoration area.

The advice remains that the complainant seeks a view from the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman on whether maladministration has occurred, and if so, appropriate remedy.

As set out in the Scottish Public Finance Manual, Annex 1:

The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (the Ombudsman) considers complaints from members of the public claiming that they have sustained injustice or hardship in consequence of maladministration or service failure. The powers and responsibilities of the Ombudsman are set out in the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002.

In the light of the investigation of the case, the Ombudsman will decide whether complainants have suffered injustice because of maladministration; and whether any injustice has been, or will be, remedied.

The Scottish Government is currently assessing the potential to expand the use of Fibroscans across NHS Scotland through its Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD) which is finalising a Strategic Case paper (rapid assessment) on Intelligent Liver Testing to present to the Innovation Design Authority (IDA) in December.

Intelligent Liver Testing involves Intelligent Liver Function Test (iLFT) and Enhanced Liver Fibrosis testing (ELF) to support the earlier detection of liver disease.

The 2021 Heat in Buildings Strategy sets out the role of solar thermal technology, which can help to supplement the supply of hot water.

Our Heat in Buildings Programme offers a wide variety of schemes that provide funding to reduce heat demand and decarbonise heat in our homes and buildings. This includes loan support for the installation of solar thermal systems through the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme. There are no planned changes regarding the funding for solar thermal systems.

As stated in the answer to question S6W-41965 on 27 November 2025, the Scottish Government intends to adopt the Home Energy Model (HEM) methodology as the basis for calculating the ratings on a domestic Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). The reformed domestic EPC will contain a new Heating System Rating. We expect solar thermal systems will largely operate as part of a hybrid system with other technologies. This will be reflected in the rating awarded. Our intended Heating System Rating bandings were published in the updated response: 1. Overview - Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2025 - EPC reform consultations: SG response - update - gov.scot to the 2023 Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) reform consultation and 2025 technical consultation.

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.