Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-39952 on 9 September 2025. 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.

Work related to the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax review is ongoing.

Alma Economics has been appointed to undertake independent research on various aspects of the legislation and will engage with a range of relevant organisations to support this. The Scottish Government has also established a working group involving legal, property sector and other organisations to allow for detailed consideration of other specific issues.

As set out in Scottish Budget 2025-26, the review will support decisions in the next Scottish Parliament on whether any legislative changes should be brought forward.

The Scottish Government is committed to advancing inclusive communication in Scotland. We have therefore commissioned an inclusive communications toolkit for listed authorities, which includes NHS Boards, to consider. This toolkit aims to make improvements for those with different communication needs in Scotland.

The project will provide practical support to all public bodies in Scotland. It will help them to mainstream inclusive communication throughout their organisation and so meet the general equality duty.

The toolkit is currently being co-produced with people who communicate in diverse ways, public bodies, and other expert organisations. We intend to roll out this toolkit by early 2026.

Furthermore, the Scottish Government has collaborated with both autistic people and professional partners to produce resources to help healthcare practitioners understand and accommodate the communication needs of autistic individuals. These include an Autism Informed Services eBook and a series of posters, co-produced with an autistic working group, detailing how healthcare practitioners can anticipate, enquire about, and arrange adjustments to meet the needs of autistic patients, including communication needs. These resources are freely accessible on our Different Minds website.

The Scottish Government currently provides funding to Upside, the national voluntary throughcare service. Upside launched on 1 April 2025, replacing the previous Public Social Partnerships ‘New Routes’ and ‘Shine’, which had been in place for 12 years and 10 years respectively prior to Upside launching. Upside supports men and women leaving a period of remand or a short-term prison sentence (less than 4 years) without statutory supervision requirements. It is a partnership of third sector organisations, which provides person-centered support including help to access sustainable housing, healthcare, social security and employment opportunities.

The Scottish Government also provides funding to Justice Social Work, through payments to Local Authorities, to deliver both statutory and voluntary throughcare. Local Authorities have autonomy to direct this funding to meet statutory justice services and local priorities which are aimed at reducing reoffending. This funding covers long term prisoners, short term prisoners released on a statutory supervision order, and community payback orders.

Table 1 details the amount of funding which has been provided to each programme to support people leaving prison to reintegrate into the community in each of the last five financial years.

Table 1: Funding for throughcare services 2021-22 to 2025-26. To note, all figures in the table have been rounded off.

Scotland is not alone in facing challenges as a result of a rise in the prison population. There is no single reason for the increase and there is no single solution.

The Scottish Government has therefore taken a range of actions to address this, including changing the point of release for some short-term prisoners and bringing forward regulations to widen the use of home detention curfew, which enables selected individuals to be released to serve the last part of their sentence under curfew and clear licence conditions. Additional funding of £25m over two years has been provided to increase the capacity of community justice services across Scotland to support a sustained increase, where appropriate, in the use of alternatives to custody. This brings the total funding for community justice to £159m in 2025-26. We have also established an independent Sentencing and Penal Policy Commission to review how custody and community-based interventions are used, with a focus on reducing crime, supporting rehabilitation, and ensuring a sustainable prison population. Final recommendations will be delivered by the end of 2025 and will inform longer term action in this area.

The Scottish Government is committed to developing a sustainable health and social care system that ensures people get the right care, at the right time, in the right place. In support of this, the Budget provides almost £2.2 billion investment for social care and integration – delivering on our Programme for Government commitment to increase social care spending by 25% over this Parliament, two years ahead of our original target. This includes an additional £125 million to support delivery of the pay uplift to a minimum of £12.60 per hour for adult social care workers in 2025-26.

Despite this substantial funding increase, we are aware that significant challenge for social care service provision remains. We are therefore working with partners on a programme of work to understand the current financial viability picture in the social care sector. This has included engaging with local leaders through the Collaborative Response and Assurance Group, as well as Ministerial roundtables with partners.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde deliver annual health checks via a nurse led team and in the most recent reporting period offered 1,468 annual health checks and completed 743. The full publication for the most recent reporting period can be accessed here; https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-annual-health-checks-for-people-16-with-learning-disabilities-2024-25/

Since 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2024 the Scottish Government has invested over £28 million on the on the maintenance and safe operation of the A84 and over £80 million on the on the maintenance and safe operation of the A85.

The A84 and A85 are part of the Scottish Trunk Road Network in Scotland. The A84 runs approximately 29 miles (47 km) from Stirling to Lochearnhead, where it connects with the A85. The A85 stretches approximately 87 miles (140 km) from Oban on the west coast to Perth.

Transport Scotland assesses the safety performance of the trunk road network on an annual basis by screening all locations where three or more personal-injury accidents have occurred in a three-year period. In addition, accident patterns and rates in the form of Route Accident Reduction Plans (RARP) are also considered. This ensures that full consideration is given to accidents that may be spread along a corridor. Further investigations are then carried out and, where appropriate, mitigation measures are prioritised for delivery. This robust, evidence-based approach ensures that the funding available is prioritised for those locations with the potential to deliver the greatest ‘casualty-accident’ savings. It is by using the evidence in this way that available funding can be optimised to best support the delivery of Scotland’s Road Safety Framework and our overarching vision of a future where no one is killed on Scotland’s roads. Through this process a number of schemes are being progressed.

On the A84 there is a scheme programmed for construction this financial year, involving new signs, new footpath and associated crossing points for the bus stops for school pupils at Kincardine in Menteith Primary School. In addition, a Vehicle Restraint System (Safety Barrier) is currently under design for the A84 between Kildean and Craigforth. This is programmed for construction in 2026-2027. Road safety investigations are also programmed in 2025-2026 including the section of the A84 between Kilmahog to Lochearnhead.

On the A85, signing improvement schemes will be undertaken between Tyndrum and Dalmally, including Tyndrum junction. Vehicle Activated Signs to warn road users of vehicles turning at junctions will also be installed at Dalchonzie and Crieff. A double white centre line system to the east of Glen Lochy, new Vehicle Restraint Systems between Aribea to Arrivain and Lochan Na Bi Culvert and Dunbeg will also be delivered.

Locations being investigated and/or designed in 2025-2026 include collision investigations of the A85 between Lochearnhead and Lix Toll, between Comrie and Perth and Kinross Council Boundary. These works are programmed to be completed by the end of the 2025-2026 financial year.

The Scottish Government has committed to implement 20 mph speed limits on those roads where it is appropriate to do so as set out in the Programme for Government by 31 March 2026, making our streets feel safer and encouraging active travel.

In 2025-2026, on the A85 trunk road, 20 mph speed limits have been introduced in St Fillan’s, Methven and Crianlarich, and on the A84 in Strathyre. 20mph speed limits are programmed to be introduced on the A85 trunk road in Oban and Connel.

Transport Scotland will continue to monitor road safety on the A84 and A85 and progress investigations and improvements as appropriate.

The data for reporting period 1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025 was published on 26 August and can be accessed here https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-annual-health-checks-for-people-16-with-learning-disabilities-2024-25/

The Scottish Government is working with law enforcement partners such as Police Scotland, the National Cyber Security Centre as well as the financial industry in combatting fraud.

Police Scotland has established a cyber and fraud specialist division to enhance their response in Scotland, working with UK law enforcement and partner agencies. They will develop capability through cyber and online training, ensuring support and guidance for officers and staff. We encourage everyone to report suspicious sites to NCSC using the reporting tool on their website. We also encourage anyone who believes they have been the victim of a crime to contact Police Scotland.

Partners will continue to share knowledge and learning around fraud activity. Fraud is committed by a broad range of criminals, from domestic lone actors to complex international organised crime groups.