Seòmar agus comataidhean

We are aware that many relevant authorities are already undertaking some preparatory work prior to the commencement of section 10, such as identifying who will lead on this work; which departments or policy areas will need to be involved; and what food policy is already in existence. However, we are also aware that some relevant authorities are waiting for further information before starting work on their Plans. We intend to provide ongoing support to both health boards and local authorities, such as facilitating collaboration, providing information and advice, and providing resources such as guidance documents.

Public Health Scotland (PHS) published the annual update to cancer mortality statistics in Scotland on 27 January 2026. Cancer mortality deprivation data has not been published due to the lack of available census data. Once the population data required for this analysis is available, PHS will pre-announce the publication.

The contents and timings of statistical publications are at the discretion of PHS who are independent of the Scottish Government.

No allocations have yet been issued for 2025-26, but will be issued in due course once final costs are known.

The forecast funding envelope for 2026-27 is £31.2 million.

The Scottish Government does not routinely collect this information.

However, in the following table is the information that we do hold from 2024:

Loch Laidon, as a habitat for freshwater fish species, receives protection through its inclusion within the boundary of the Rannoch Moor Site of Special Scientific Interest / Special Area of Conservation and the Rannoch Lochs Special Protection Area. Outwith the designated sites series, water quality within Loch Laidon, and the natural processes which have led to the development or maintenance of ecological segregation within resident salmonid populations, is protected through River Basin Management Planning. Fish introductions to this remote waterbody are controlled through legislation which regulates the introduction of all species of freshwater fish within Scotland. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) prevents the unregulated introduction of fish, as well as other plants and animals, to areas outwith their native range.

SEPA have been made aware of the presence of pike in Loch Laidon and have undertaken initial sampling of environmental DNA to confirm the composition of the fish assemblage in the loch. They have begun exploring the feasibility of potential management responses with NatureScot.

We intend to commence section 10 in a way that provides relevant authorities 12 months’ advance notice of the 12-month clock. In practical terms, this will provide relevant authorities 24 months to prepare and develop their local Plans. Options in relation to the commencement timeline of section 10 are currently being considered, taking both the 2026 Scottish Parliament election and 2027 local authority elections into account.

Regional Transport Partnerships (RTPs)manage their own budgets and make funding decisions based on regional and local needs.

The Scottish Government is aware of the issues with reliability of the fleet currently serving Fife routes and ScotRail is taking action within its available resources to make any necessary improvements to the existing fleet.

The ScotRail Fleet Improvement Plan continues to be in place, requiring ScotRail to make necessary improvements to the reliability of its existing diesel rolling stock within the available resources. ScotRail advises that it is investing nearly £900,000 in the rolling stock upgrades to remote monitoring, electrical systems, and heating systems, which investment includes trains serving Fife.

As set out in Rail Recharged: Scotland’s Fleet Transition Strategy, published in November 2025, ScotRail is currently progressing plans to replace its High-Speed Trains operating on Scotland’s intercity routes, alongside the procurement of a new Suburban fleet, which includes replacement fleet for Fife services. Work to deliver the electrification of the line is also underway.

The Scottish Government recognises the important contribution the Iain Findlay Path Fund has made in supporting local path improvements across Scotland. While this fund comes to an end in 2025- 26, we will continue to support the delivery of paths and other active travel infrastructure through our tiered Active Travel Infrastructure Fund. This model enables local authorities, Regional Transport Partnerships and National Park Authorities to develop and deliver the infrastructure that best meets local and regional needs.

In addition to this there are a number of funds throughout Scotland that contribute to access and recreational use pathways, including the Forestry Grant Scheme, the Historic Environment Grants Programme, and funding managed through our National & Regional Park Authorities.

Since the beginning of the Ukraine conflict the Scottish Government has urged businesses in Scotland to, where possible, cut ties with Russia. We fully support the UK Government’s sanctions regime against Russia and apply additional discretionary economic measures, whereby the Scottish Government and its economic agencies will not support trade and investment activity with Russia.

The case of Seapeak, and their role in transporting Russian liquified natural gas (LNG) to European countries, was previously raised in the Scottish Parliament on 4 September 2024 by Patrick Harvie MSP (S6O-03656).

Importing LNG into the UK is prohibited by the UK’s Russian sanctions regime, however, equivalent sanctions are not yet in place in the EU.

Sanctions are a reserved matter over which the Scottish Government has no control we are therefore limited in the action we can directly take. However in September 2024, I wrote to the then UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs and raised the case of Seapeak and also encouraged the UK Government to take all possible action to ensure the effectiveness of the UK’s sanctions regime in exerting pressure on the Russian regime.

My position on Russia has been clear since its invasion of Ukraine and I have urged businesses in Scotland to, where possible, cut ties with Russia. Beyond consideration of potential reputational, economic or security implications, the Scottish Government has made clear that it stands in solidarity with the Ukrainian government and its people and resolutely condemns Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine.

I therefore welcome recent developments in the EU and UK sanctions regimes against Russia, with the EU sanctions banning the import of Russian LNG from January 2027 and the UK Government’s intention to ban maritime services on Russian LNG, to be phased in over 2026.

As outlined in my response to your PQ S6W-43449 on 10 February 2026, I plan to write to the UK Government regarding these developments in due course.

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.

All answers to Oral 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/official-report/search-what-was-said-in-parliament