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The Scottish Government is committed to maximising the use of data and technology to make services as modern, joined up and efficient as possible. This is reiterated in the Service Renewal Framework, Operational Improvement Plan, and the Population Health Framework which position Digital front and centre in realising the ambition to improve service delivery and outcomes for people.

The reallocation of ministerial responsibility for determining energy consents occurred as follows:

On 17 December 2025 I wrote to the First Minister, stating that I would be able to more effectively engage with communities on onshore energy policy if the ministerial responsibility for determining consents was transferred to the Minister for Public Finance.

On 18 December 2025 the First Minister replied in agreement and confirmed the transfer of ministerial responsibility.

On 19 December 2025 I wrote to the Convener of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee to inform the Committee of the transfer of ministerial responsibility.

Investment delivered under energy efficiency and decarbonisation Heat in Buildings programmes are as follows:

Data for 2025-26 is to Quarter 2 (September 2025)

As per my response to S6W-42965 on 21 January 2026, the First Minister made the decision to transfer ministerial responsibility for determining energy consents. No briefing materials were provided to Ministers in advance of the decision.

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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43131 on 3 February 2026. 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 is committed to ensuring that all victims and survivors can access the help and support they need at a time they need it.

The NHS provides care and support to meet the individual needs of each person, including victims of grooming gangs.

Victims of grooming gangs can access mental health support via the NHS. People experiencing distress or who are in crisis should phone their GP surgery or, where possible, their usual mental health team in the first instance. They will make a referral for specialist or urgent care, if required. If they are unable to access mental health support that way, the NHS 24 Mental Health Hub is available 24/7 on 111, and they will direct people to the right help. Where there is an immediate risk or life - or limb-threatening emergency, people should call 999 or go to their nearest A&E.

Various supports may be offered depending on the individuals needs and circumstances, it is likely that psychological therapies and interventions may be offered as they are suitable for supporting people affected by trauma. The range of evidence based psychological treatments delivered in Scotland is set out in the Scottish Psychological Therapies Matrix and the National Specification for Psychological Therapies and Interventions sets out best practice in the provision of psychological services.

The Scottish Government and the NHS in Scotland are prioritising support for victims of grooming gangs through a range of actions, some examples of which are set out below.

The Forensic Medical Services (Victims of Sexual Offences) (Scotland) Act 2021 (FMS Act) commenced on 1 April 2022. The FMS Act provides a statutory duty for health boards to provide forensic medical services for people who have experienced rape or sexual assault. The Act's implementation includes the establishment of a Sexual Assault Response Coordination Service (SARCS) in each health board, delivering person-centred, trauma-informed care.

A Sexual Assault Response Coordination Service (SARCS) provides vital healthcare and forensic examination services for people in the days following rape or sexual assault. Over £18m has been invested since 2017 to ensure a SARCS is available in every health board. SARCS can also make onward referrals to ensure victims are given the most appropriate care including to sexual health services; primary care; secondary mental health services; and, third sector organisations like Rape Crisis Scotland.

Our Bairns’ Hoose Programme is transforming the support available to children who experience, or witness, sexual abuse or exploitation. Bairns’ Hoose will give those children (and their families) access to coordinated health, recovery, justice and protection. Partnerships, including health partners across Scotland, are testing the approach ahead of incremental national rollout from 2027.

As part of the National Guidance for Child Protection we developed with stakeholders the NHS Public Protection Accountability and Assurance Framework published in 2022. It is a vital tool for health boards in Scotland, promoting effective public protection practices and ensuring that vulnerable individuals such as those who are victims of grooming receive the necessary support and safeguarding from health services. nhs-public-protection-accountability-assurance-framework.pdf

We have made substantial progress in raising awareness of psychological trauma and embedding trauma-informed practice across Scottish services and workforces. This is emphasised within our Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy and supported by over £14 million in investment since 2018 in the National Trauma Transformation Programme.

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.

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.

With the land acquired for the scheme 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 this scheme and further develop the Business Case.

As with all trunk road improvement projects, funding to progress this work will be managed within the Capital Land and Works budget line.

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 Case, 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 within this capital spending review period.

The Capital Spending Review allows for the commencement of the construction of 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 A96 Dualling Inverness to Nairn (including Nairn Bypass) scheme, 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.

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.

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.

With the land acquired for the scheme 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 this scheme and further develop the Business Case.

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 Case, 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 within this capital spending review period.

The Capital Spending Review allows for the commencement of the construction of 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.

Our 2026-27 draft Scottish Budget is published and awaiting Parliamentary approval. All indicative funding commitments are subject to the outcome of any spending review by the Scottish Government and approval of the annual Budget Bills by the Scottish Parliament during this period.

There is no specific funding allocated in the draft 2026-27 Scottish Budget for a national respiratory audit. However, broader work in this area is being progressed through the Health and Social Care Service Renewal Framework, which provides the basis for strengthening national data and supporting more robust performance and outcome measures, building on earlier work to address gaps and enhance quality.

The Scottish Government does not publish internal working drafts of Budget spreadsheets or documents. These drafts are part of the routine preparation and quality-assurance process and are not maintained or updated beyond publication.

For the main Budget document, any post publication clarifications have always been issued through an errata. I wrote to the Finance and Public Administration Committee on 26 January to confirm that this same approach will now also apply to all supporting Budget related documents, so that any clarifications made after publication are visible across the full suite of materials. The relevant Parliamentary Committee will be notified of these changes to support transparency.