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Upside does not provide funding directly to individuals released from custody.

As covered in the answer to question S6W-42664, funding is issued on a quarterly basis to Sacro as the nominated lead parter of Upside. Sacro distributes the funding to the remaining third-sector partners within the Upside partnership. This funding is used to support the operational delivery of the programme, including staff salaries, recruitment and training, IT and other associated running costs.

The Government has increased police funding year on year since 2016-17. The Scottish Police Authority (SPA) budget will increase to a record £1.7 billion in 2026-27 to support Police Scotland to deliver on its priorities including frontline service delivery. This is £81.7 million more than the published 2025-26 Autumn Budget Revision (ABR) SPA budget. The allocation of police resources, including specialist capability to trace, freeze and recover cryptocurrency assets, is an operational matter for the Chief Constable of Police Scotland.

In addition, the Civil Recovery Unit, acting on behalf of Scottish Ministers, can recover crypto assets derived from unlawful conduct, and additional powers were created to facilitate this in the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA).

The Scottish Government will continue to promote trade union recognition and collective bargaining, at both local and sectoral levels, to achieve improved conditions and enhance effective voice. However, while collective bargaining can improve working conditions, a good standard of workplace health and safety should not be dependent upon this. The Scottish Government promotes strong, constructive relationships between employers and trade unions, particularly where they are recognised, or where it is clear workers are seeking this collective representation.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42861 on 21 January 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.

POCA receipts in Scotland are primarily used to fund the CashBack for Communities, which has been delivered successfully in each of its six phases so far. These funds are drawn from the overall level of POCA receipts rather than from any specific category of recovered asset.

In 2024-25, 15,077 young people at risk of becoming involved in anti-social and criminal behaviour were supported to take part in projects that promote safe spaces, trusted adults and a range of positive diversionary and support activities.

Phase 7 of CashBack for Communities will run from April 2026 to March 2029 and will be supported by a record budget of up to £26 million – an increase of £6 million from the previous phase. CashBack for Communities will continue to be funded entirely from POCA receipts.

Employment and industrial relations are matters reserved to the UK Government and therefore the Scottish Government cannot mandate that employers engage with trade unions. The Scottish Government fully expects employers to maintain workplaces that are safe for workers in line with health and safety legislation, but cannot direct them in respect of these reserved matters. The Scottish Government promotes strong, constructive relationships between employers and trade unions, particularly where they are recognised, or where it is clear workers are seeking this collective representation.

The Scottish Government expects that the independent Sentencing and Penal Policy Commission’s full report and recommendations will be published by the end of February 2026.

The Scottish Government will carefully consider the recommendations made, and following publication, a Scottish Government response on key recommendations and planned actions will be provided.

With the exception of the Scottish Government’s statutory consenting function, issues relating to the design and operation of the electricity networks, including the process to obtain a grid connection, are reserved matters.

The Scottish Government has not had any discussions with the UK Government regarding reportable accidents submitted to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in relation to the Scottish salmon industry. The Scottish Government fully expects employers to maintain workplaces that are safe for workers in line with health and safety legislation, but cannot direct them in respect of these reserved matters. The Scottish Government promotes strong, constructive relationships between employers and trade unions, particularly where they are recognised, or where it is clear workers are seeking this collective representation.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42856 on 21 January 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 draft Budget ensures the estimated revenues raised from non-domestic rates in 2026-27 will be 6% lower in real terms measured by CPI than pre-COVID, despite the number of properties on the valuation roll increasing in that time, and introduces the lowest Basic Property Rate for 2026-27 since 2018-19.

Businesses and communities will be supported with a generous non-domestic rates relief package worth an estimated £864 million in 2026-27, including the Small Business Bonus Scheme which remains the most generous scheme of its kind in the UK and is confirmed for the next three years, as well as transitional relief schemes.

Recognising the challenges faced by the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, for the next three years we will offer 15% relief for eligible properties in these sectors liable for the Basic or Intermediate Property Rate, capped at £110,000 per business per year; and extend and expand 100% relief for the next three years to retail, hospitality and leisure premises located on islands as defined by the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018, and in prescribed remote areas (Cape Wrath, Knoydart and Scoraig) capped at £110,000 per business per year.

Around half of the properties in the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure sectors continue to be eligible for 100% Small Business Bonus Scheme relief in 2026-27. A further 37,000 properties could benefit from the new 15% relief for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure properties with a rateable value up to and including £100,000 and on Islands.

Taken together around 96% of retail, hospitality and leisure businesses could benefit from some form of relief in 2026-27.

The Scottish Government has not met with the Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) regarding the working conditions of salmon farming workers.

The Scottish Government fully expects employers to maintain workplaces that are safe for workers in line with health and safety legislation, but cannot direct them in respect of these reserved matters. The Scottish Government promotes strong, constructive relationships between employers and trade unions, particularly where they are recognised, or where it is clear workers are seeking this collective representation.