Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-43524

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether Police Scotland and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service are currently examining any files relating to Jeffrey Epstein to determine whether any criminality took place in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-43512

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 February 2026
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 3 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update to the Parliament on its commitment to dual the A96, and what the investment in the draft Scottish Budget 2026-27 and the Capital Spending Review will deliver for the people of the north and north east.

The position of the Scottish Government has not changed: we support fully dualling the A96 and we are already starting the dualling process from Inverness to Nairn, including a Nairn Bypass.

I can confirm today that we remain committed to dualling the A96 and are pressing forward steps to make this happen.

The commitment to progressing A96 dualling is included in the Scottish Spending Review 2026 along with the Infrastructure Delivery Pipeline 2026, both of which were published on 13 January 2026.

Investment in the trunk road network over the four year Capital Spending Review period to 2029/30 will allow us to make further progress on dualling the A96 between Inverness and Nairn, including the Nairn Bypass, and the adjacent A9/A96 Inshes to Smithton link road.

With the land acquired for both schemes in 2025, funding is included in the 2026-27 draft Budget to commence the delivery of advanced works. This will include vital archaeological investigation works and other key environmental and ecological measures, along with significant work to facilitate complex Public Utility diversions.

In parallel to the advanced works, this investment in 2026-27 will also allow Transport Scotland to continue to take forward the work to determine the most suitable procurement option for delivering these schemes and further develop the Business Cases.

The Scottish Government’s preference would be to deliver the A96 Dualling Inverness to Nairn (including Nairn Bypass) as one project. However, due to the continued fiscal challenges, it is planned that we will take forward a phased approach to delivery, starting with the Nairn Bypass, followed by the remaining sections of the scheme, from Seafield, east of Inverness, to Balloch and then on from Balloch to the Nairn Bypass.

Completion of the preparatory work, including approval of the Business Cases, will enable a firm timetable for delivery to be set as part of the annual budget setting process, with a view to commencing procurement of the main works contract for the Nairn Bypass and the A9/A96 Inshes to Smithton link road within this capital spending review period.

The Capital Spending Review allows for the commencement of the construction of the A9/A96 Inshes to Smithton link road in 2028-29 and the Nairn Bypass in
2029-30, subject to business case approval and confirmation of funding beyond the spending review period. We also expect to commence the delivery of advanced works for the Seafield to Balloch section of the scheme during this capital spending review period.

Despite the current fiscal position and following the A9/A96 Inshes to Smithton and A96 Dualling Inverness to Nairn (including Nairn Bypass) schemes, the Scottish Government will continue to progress improvements to the A96 eastwards, including an Elgin Bypass. Next steps in taking forward an Elgin bypass will include further route development and preparatory considerations.

As part of the then Bute House Agreement the Scottish Government agreed to undertake a review of the A96 corridor. The detailed appraisal stage of the A96 Corridor Review was published in November 2024 and Transport Scotland has consulted on the draft outcomes.

The 12-week consultation, which ended on 21 February 2025 with over 1,400 responses received, provided the public and other stakeholders with the opportunity to fully consider and feedback on the findings from the appraisal. The feedback received has been collated and analysed by Transport Scotland with a report summarising this feedback published on 19 June 2025.

The Scottish Government has listened to the important views of the people of the north and north east along with stakeholders on the draft outcomes from the review and that is why a phased approach to dualling the A96 is its response to the Review. It is clear to this government how vital improvements are to the route to improve safety, remove strategic traffic from settlements along the corridor and support economic growth in response to the fiscal challenges this country continues to face.

Question reference: S6W-43258

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has relayed reported concerns to the UK Government about the timing mismatch of the proposed electricity transmission charge reform in 2029 and the next Contract for Difference round, which might take place in 2026.

The Scottish Government has been clear that the current system of transmission charging is unfit for purpose and unfairly penalises Scottish renewable energy generators, putting them at a commercial disadvantage. I and Officials regularly raise this with UK Government including most recently with Minister Shanks on 21 January at the Offshore Wind Roundtable.

We are unequivocal that the UK Government must, as a matter of urgency, set out the long-term direction of reforms to the transmission charging regime. The current charging system makes Scottish projects less competitive in Contracts for Difference (CfD) auctions and undermines investor confidence. We have therefore been equally clear that the UK Government must also set out measures to address the impacts of unfair transmission charges in the short to medium term.

Question reference: S6W-43257

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has asked the UK Government to fast-track the reform of the electricity transmission charges regime.

The Scottish Government has been clear that the current system of transmission charging is unfit for purpose and unfairly penalises Scottish renewable energy generators, putting them at a commercial disadvantage. I and Officials regularly raise this with UK Government including most recently with Minister Shanks on 21 January at the Offshore Wind Roundtable.

We are unequivocal that the UK Government must, as a matter of urgency, set out the long-term direction of reforms to the transmission charging regime. The current charging system makes Scottish projects less competitive in Contracts for Difference (CfD) auctions and undermines investor confidence. We have therefore been equally clear that the UK Government must also set out measures to address the impacts of unfair transmission charges in the short to medium term.

Question reference: S6W-43256

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the rising cost of electricity transmission charges, in light of reported concerns that these are undermining the economics of offshore wind projects.

The Scottish Government has been clear that the current system of transmission charging is unfit for purpose, and unfairly penalises Scottish renewable energy generators, putting them at a commercial disadvantage and Officials regularly raise this with UK Government including most recently with Minister Shanks on Wednesday 21 January at the Offshore Wind Roundtable.

We are unequivocal that the UK Government must, as a matter of urgency, set out the long-term direction of reforms to the transmission charging regime. The current charging system makes Scottish projects less competitive in Contracts for Difference (CfD) auctions and undermines investor confidence. We have therefore been equally clear that the UK Government must also set out measures to address the impacts of unfair transmission charges in the short to medium term.

Question reference: S6W-43444

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 12 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many DFN Project Search internship places are available for young people with learning disabilities and/or autism, broken down by local authority area.

Question reference: S6W-43445

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 12 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider resourcing an expansion of DFN Project Search internship places in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-43446

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 12 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider encouraging businesses and public bodies to take part in DFN Project Search internship schemes.

Question reference: S6W-43405

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 11 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-43030 by Tom Arthur on 27 January 2026, whether ministers will consider collecting data on the implementation of the pathway for eating disorders and autism developed from clinical experience (PEACE).

Question reference: S6W-43404

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 11 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-43029 by Tom Arthur on 27 January 2026, whether ministers will consider collecting data on child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) self-referrals for eating disorders.

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