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The Scottish Government is currently considering responses to the public consultation on the draft SSI to add the characteristic of sex to the Hate Crime and Public Order Act which we undertook last year and we intend to lay the final SSI in Parliament in the coming period.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42803 on 19 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42807 on 19 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42803 on 19 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.

Police Scotland has been clear from the beginning of the rollout of Body Worn Video (BWV) in March 2025, that it expected the first phase of 10,500 officers to be equipped by spring 2026. This remains the case, with the remainder of officers expected to be equipped over the course of 2026-27.

The approach to rollout is a matter for Police Scotland, with oversight from the Scottish Police Authority. However, the Scottish Government engages regularly with both bodies and no significant issues have been identified. Police Scotland has been clear that an incremental rollout to divisions was the preferred means to ensure that any emerging issues could be picked up quickly and dealt with at scale in line with the industry standard approach.

The Scottish Government considers BWV a game changer for police officers/staff and for those coming into contact with the service, enhancing public confidence by promoting transparency and accountability as well as providing clear evidence of incidents. The halfway point of the first phase rollout was reached in October 2025 , with around 1,800 officers in Edinburgh and in Lothian and Borders, including road policing officers and dog handlers equipped. A full evaluation on benefits to officer safety, court efficiency and public trust will be undertaken as part of the standard delivery model in due course.

Police Scotland’s annual workforce survey has shown an appreciation for the advancements in technology and support systems within Police Scotland. Officers and staff have emphasised the positive impact of new technologies such as DESC (Digital Evidence Sharing Capability) and Body Worn Video (BWV), which have improved efficiency and officer safety.

Police Scotland’s Transformation Board meets around every two months and BWV is a standing item. The Scottish Police Authority's Resources Committee receive quarterly updates on the Transformation Portfolio which include BWV progress.

The budget invests over £2.4bn in post school education and skills and reinforces our steadfast commitment to free education. It includes a significant real terms increase in our investment in Scotland’s College and University sectors so that people of all ages have the opportunity to fulfil their potential, while also ensuring that priority workforce needs are met.

The Scottish Government is working to identify a shortlist of sectors for focused skills planning. Beginning in February, my officials will engage employers, colleges, universities, and regional partners to help refine this work. We will also share further details with the Education, Children and Young People Committee, including our emerging findings. Our intention is to formally publish this work in the Spring.

The rules governing journeys made under the National Concessionary Travel Schemes are set out in the National Bus Travel Concession Scheme for Older and Disabled Persons (Eligible Persons and Eligible Services) (Scotland) Order 2006 as amended and the National Bus Travel Concession Scheme for Young Persons (Scotland) Order 2021.

These Orders state that operators admitted to the scheme must provide travel concessions to eligible persons travelling on eligible services on eligible journeys on presentation of a valid travel card.

Eligible services are defined as services which operate wholly within Scotland or a Northern England service, which is (a) a service to or from Carlisle which starts, passes through or ends in Dumfries and Galloway, and (b) a service to or from any part of North Northumberland adjoining Coldstream, Norham and Berwick-­upon­Tweed, which starts, passes through or ends in the Scottish Borders.

The prevention and enforcement of vehicle crime, including engagement with NaVCIS, intelligence and the use of crime codes are operational matters for Police Scotland.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42807 on 19 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 total number of Scottish participants in the ASH SmokeFree GB Youth survey was:

(a) 760 (677 aged 11-17) in 2024

(b) 856 (755 aged 11-17) in 2025

Information on the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) is not available for this sample. Data are collected on social grade and grouped into ABC1 and C2DE categories, which are not directly comparable with SIMD. The sample is unlikely to be representative in terms of deprivation as it leans towards higher social grades. The data are not weighted to account for this, and this limitation should be considered when interpreting the results.

The aim of the booster sample is to enable monitoring of progress against key indicators 4(i) and 4(ii) of the Tobacco and Vaping Framework (i.e. smoking and vaping behaviours in children and young people), while balancing cost, analytical value, and timeliness.

Information on the methodology (including sample size) and results for 2024 and 2025 are available on the Scottish Government website (https://www.gov.scot/publications/vaping-smoking-scottish-adolescents/pages/1/;https://www.gov.scot/publications/vaping-smoking-scottish-adolescents-results-ash-smokefree-gb-youth-survey-2025/).