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The Scottish Government’s strategic direction for respiratory care is currently set through the Respiratory Care Action Plan for Scotland. This work supports resilience across the health system throughout the year, including during periods of increased pressure. Prioritising prevention, early detection and effective long term management helps reduce avoidable exacerbations which often drive urgent and unscheduled demand during winter.

The Scottish Government is aware of calls from respiratory stakeholders in England for a Modern Service Framework focused on respiratory care. To clarify, the UK Government has not introduced such a framework. Modern Service Frameworks are being developed for major conditions such as cardiovascular disease and dementia, but respiratory conditions are not currently included.

The Scottish Government will continue to monitor emerging approaches from across the UK while taking forward our long term, evidence informed approach.

We welcome DEFRA's strategic assessment report on Nature security and the attention it brings to the critical importance of biodiversity both domestically and globally. We will take these findings into consideration as we work to deliver our biodiversity ambitions through the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy and its first five year delivery plan.

Detailed consideration for such a proposal is not considered necessary: the Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2025 requires that anyone selling or otherwise transferring ownership of any dog must give regard to a Code of Practice setting out a range of considerations relating to the health and welfare of the dog, and that both parties must complete and sign a certificate which, amongst other details, confirms that the acquirer has received any relevant health records.

Since 2023, following the launch of active travel transformation by the (then) Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants Rights, Transport Scotland has been reshaping the way active travel funding is delivered. This revised approach places Local Authorities and Regional Transport Partnerships (RTPs) at the heart of delivery. Both have established relationships with community organisations and national active travel delivery partners, which they use to support local and regional priorities.

The new funding model is designed to increase the pathways through which organisations can access support, rather than restrict them. It broadens opportunities at local and regional levels rather than concentrating them nationally, meaning that more organisations have the opportunity to apply for support.

Community organisations seeking funding for active travel initiatives should engage directly with their Local Authority or RTP to explore the range of available funding streams, including those delivered through the People & Place programme.

This is an operational matter for ScotRail. The Scottish Government does not hold this information however the econometric analysis that was undertaken for Evaluation of the Peak Fares trial and the Outline Business Case for Permanent removal will be repeated to assess the initial impact of permanent removal. Towards the end of the first 12-month period this will be augmented by survey work to get a full picture of the impact of the policy

The procurement process for ScotRail’s replacement fleet is currently under way. The Public Contracts Scotland website sets out the vehicle procurement: View Notice - Public Contracts Scotland.

The Battery electric multiple units (BEMUs) are being procured to operate as a pooled fleet, with no specific vehicles being allocated just to the Fife routes.

This is an operational matter for ScotRail. The Scottish Government does not hold this information.

At this stage, it is not possible to confirm the precise level of cycle space provision on the new trains, as these details will be informed by manufacturers’ bids. The specification for new rolling stock will fully reflect the requirement for appropriate and accessible cycle storage.

In developing the specification, Transport Scotland and rail industry partners will balance provision for cycles alongside other essential passenger requirements, including seating capacity, toilets, wheelchair spaces, priority and family-friendly seating, door layouts and luggage storage. This balanced approach ensures that the overall configuration of new trains best meets the needs of passengers across the network.

ScotRail regularly engages representative groups, including those representing cyclists, to understand and balance customer needs.

A robust analytical process is underway to evaluate the impact of removing ScotRail peak fares. It will take some time to be able to meaningfully analyse the impact of this £35m Scottish Government investment.

We anticipate that we will be able to share emerging findings after the policy has been in place for at least 6 months, with further reporting towards the end of the year due to how sensitive patronage and revenue are to external factors such as pricing and weather.

Fair Work First is a key aspect of the Scottish Government’s Fair Work plan and it requires employers to meet a minimum standard of practice to access public sector grants.

The Scottish Government has had no recent discussions with any operators of a proposed ferry service with regards to Fair Work First.