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As the Care Inspectorate is an independent non-departmental body, it operates at arm’s length from Government. The Care Inspectorate therefore issues its own guidance independently from the Scottish Government to maintain its role as an impartial and objective regulator.

This government has overseen a long period of sustained improvement in S4 Leaver positive initial destinations from 78.4% in 2010 to 91.9% in 2024. We are however not complacent and recognise the proportion of S4 leavers in positive initial destinations has decreased by 0.8 percentage points between 2023 and 2024. We are actively working with local authorities on how to further improve the percentage of school leavers in positive destinations.

Ministers, local authorities and schools share statutory responsibilities for education, as well as the wider wellbeing of children, young people, and families which are intertwined and longstanding. National and local government need to work together, with a collective responsibility to improve educational outcomes such as these.

Since the launch of the Energy Skills Passport in January 2025, Scottish Government officials have met regularly with the industry leads for the project, Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) and RenewableUK (RUK), with approximately seven such meetings happening over the period to May 2025. UK Government officials have also attended these meetings.

Trade unions have been involved in the development of the Passport since its inception. Scottish Government officials attended a roundtable meeting about the Passport with trade unions in April 2025 – this was led by OEUK and RUK. The Minister for Climate Action met with trade unions, alongside the Just Transition Partnership, in February 2025 to discuss the Passport.

The Scottish Government is looking forward to seeing the Passport develop further in ‘Phase 2’ of its development; providing more options and pathways for workers to transition between sectors. Success in Phase 2 will require the Passport to be fully supported from a range of bodies, including the UK Government.

The Scottish Government does not capture patients on waiting lists for hearing aid replacements specifically and it is the responsibility of Health Boards to manage these lists appropriately.

Scottish Government officials meet monthly with Health Boards to review performance and delivery across all Planned Care specialities, including ENT, and Health Board Action Plans in relation to the Independent Review, which has been published online, are reported and monitored by the NHS Planning and Delivery Board.

Work continues with the NHS, Third Sector and private providers to identify and cost an appropriate model of community care for any future service reform and ensure that the voices of those with lived experience inform this work

The Scottish Government recognises that funding will be required to support Boards to make the transition to a reformed maternity and neonatal service. We have provided £3,570,400 to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and £2,873,051 to NHS Lothian since 2019, a total contribution of almost £6.5m. We are in discussion with NHS Grampian about additional support required. This funding is focused on supporting Boards through the transition process. In parallel work is underway to develop a cross-Board funding model to ensure receiving units are funded for the additional care that they provide.

This is in addition to the £25m of support we have provided to all Boards for implementation of the package of recommendations within Best Start since 2018, including improvements such as introduction of transitional care, and neonatal community care, and establishment of the Scottish Perinatal Network.

This information is not held centrally. Under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, education is the responsibility of local authorities.

Remuneration of executive members, including bonus incentives, is published in Scottish Water’s annual report and accounts which are routinely laid before Parliament and available online at Annual Reports - Scottish Water.

Scottish Government sought legal advice whilst drafting the general licence.

The licence is made under article 4(1) of the Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (Scotland) Order 2007 and issued by a veterinary inspector. It permits the collection of birds at fairs, markets, shows, exhibitions or other gatherings subject to the conditions set out in the Schedule. A veterinary inspector shall only grant a licence if a veterinary risk assessment has been carried out, in accordance with article 4(2) of that Order, and the veterinary inspector is satisfied that the gathering and the transit of birds to and from the gathering would not significantly increase the risk of the transmission of avian influenza virus (in particular of virus of the subtype H5N1). These licences are regularly reviewed to reflect the changing risk from avian influenza. General licence changes will also take into consideration feedback from industry and members of the public.

Safety for the babies, families and staff is our utmost priority, which is why we have taken a phased approach to transition, allowing time to build the right levels of capacity in all areas with NHS Boards working towards full implementation by 2026.

Implementation is already underway in the East region with Fife babies transferring to Edinburgh, and in the West Region with Ayrshire babies being transferred to Glasgow.

Each of the three Regions have developed plans for implementation. The plans include a phased approach to implementation and Regions have chosen to take different approaches to phasing.

Alcohol harm prevention is firmly embedded in the Scottish Government’s approach to improving Scotland’s health, as demonstrated by our world leading policy of minimum unit pricing. Work is underway to consider the range of options for any future uprating of minimum unit pricing. There will be full engagement with all stakeholders on any options considered.

The Scottish Government remains committed to progressing work on protecting children and young people from exposure to alcohol marketing. Public Health Scotland has been commissioned to carry out a review of the evidence for the range of options that are available to the Scottish Government under devolved powers.

The Population Health Framework, to be published in the coming weeks, will set out what more can be done in the coming decade to mitigate against the social and economic drivers of ill health and health inequalities to build a Scotland, with places and communities, that positively supports health and wellbeing. This includes factors that can harm health including alcohol.

As part of this approach, work has also begun on developing the future approach to addressing the harms caused by drugs and alcohol, with a focus on ensuring that alcohol deaths and harms are a key area of focus and priority. We will be working with partners to build on learning and progress to date, including from the national mission, and consider how we tackle both drugs and alcohol related harms and deaths with equal emphasis.