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All receipts from the UK ETS across all four nations accrue to the consolidated fund, and contribute toward funding government priorities, such as the net zero transition, where UK Government spending flows through Barnett consequentials.

In Scotland we are already advancing several programmes of work on maritime decarbonisation, including our Vision for Sustainable Aquaculture and work on blue carbon outlined in our draft Climate Change Plan 2026-2040. We are also engaging with Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) on increasing the proportion of our ferries which are low emission to 48% by 2040, as well as increasing the ability of our ferries to utilise low-carbon renewable grid electricity for their energy requirements.

Ports in Scotland are independent statutory bodies – each governed by their own local legislation – and are deemed commercial entities. The relevant port authority is thus responsible for day-to-day commercial decision-making including investments and areas of priority spend and this is not the remit of the Scottish Government. Several Scottish ports have already introduced shore power facilities, including at Port of Aberdeen, Eyemouth, Forth Ports, Fraserburgh and Montrose. Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) are also installing shore power facilities at a number of ports on the lifeline ferry network, including Port Askaig and Kennacraig.

The Scottish Government is committed to improving the welfare of all animals in Scotland. We have a PfG commitment to consult on the use of farrowing crates and will continue to work closely with the UK Government and the other devolved administrations on how best to achieve improvements in animal welfare including ways to improve sow welfare, where it is both practical and sensible to do so.

NHS Health Boards hold this information, not the Scottish Government, and I suggest the Member should direct her question to the Boards.

Funding has not been allocated in 2025-26 to NHS boards for this purpose.

The move to a three-yearly revaluation cycle was a key recommendation of the independent Barclay Review of Non-Domestic Rates. The legislative provisions to introduce the shorter revaluation cycle and one-year tone date received universal cross party support and were warmly welcomed by the business community including the Scottish Tourism Alliance, the Scottish Beer and Pub Association and a consortium of Hospitality Industry bodies, including Hospitality UK (Scotland) and the Scottish Tourism Alliance, the Scottish Licensed Trade Association.

Delivering that independent recommendation is critical to the integrity of a rate system which the SCDI noted at the time of the legislation “will be more reflective of, and responsive to, up-to-date market and business conditions”. Where ratepayers have evidence that their rateable values do not reflect up to date market and business conditions, there are robust proposal and appeal processes in place to ensure such issues are addressed. While some properties will see increases in rateable values at the 2026 revaluation, over 40,000 properties will see a decrease and Revaluation Transitional Relief will cap gross bill increases for those seeing the most significant impact.

We have not specifically undertaken analysis of the cost of pausing rates increases for any particular sector but have delivered a comprehensive package of reliefs. 96% of retail, hospitality and leisure properties could benefit from some form of relief in 2026-27.

The free bus travel pilot scheme will operate until 31 March 2026. We recognise that bus travel has the potential to be transformative for people seeking asylum, who are among the most vulnerable in society. The pilot scheme is providing important evidence of the effect of free bus travel in helping people seeking asylum to access essential services and integrate into society, in line with the New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy.

As it is set by the UK Government, the Scottish Government has no power to influence the strike price for projects in Scotland.

Independence would allow the Scottish Government to take decisions that would reduce electricity bills, including reforming our energy market arrangements and how it interacts with neighbouring markets. We would also work to ensure that the lower cost of renewables is passed to customers, with the price of electricity more accurately reflecting our abundant, low-cost renewable resources.

The full powers of independence could tackle fuel poverty in Scotland and bring the cost of living down substantially for households.

We commissioned independent research to evaluate the impact of the first two years of the Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray (JTF). This study noted several project delivery challenges and included suggestions from project partners on how Scottish Government should address these challenges.

We agree terms and conditions with each grant recipient individually, using the Scottish Government Model Offer of Grant as a basis. Under this Model Offer, grant payments are made in arrears and we are not able to make payments upfront. We have changed our processes between the FY 2022-23 round and the FY 2025-26 JTF round, and now process grant payments on a monthly basis rather than a quarterly basis.

We regularly engage with stakeholders, including the offshore oil and gas sector, offshore renewables sector and trade unions, on a variety of subjects, including on the Just Transition Fund. The last time we met with the offshore oil and gas sector was 10 February when officials met with OEUK. The last time officials met with the offshore renewables sector was 10 February. The last time officials met with STUC was on 15 January, to discuss the work STUC carries out to support just transition capacity within the trade union movement.