Seòmar agus comataidhean

a) In 2007 there were 299 schools open with pupils on the roll in North East Scotland. In 2024 there were 278, a reduction of 21 schools. In 2007 there were 434 schools open with pupils on the roll in the Highlands and Islands. In 2024 there were 366, a reduction of 68 schools.

Data on the number of schools open with pupils on the roll in 2025 by local authority is expected to be published in March 2025 as part of the pupil census supplementary statistics.

We recognise the challenges in meeting the 62-day target and are taking action to support NHS Boards to reduce waiting times. Scottish Government has directed £14.23 million of the additional £135.5 million planned care funding to NHS Boards in 2025-26 towards Cancer Waiting Times. This is focussed on our most challenged pathways, which includes urology services that diagnose and treat prostate cancer.

NHS Boards have developed delivery plans for 2025-26 to support waiting list reductions and improve productivity. The Scottish Government and Centre for Sustainable Delivery are engaging with NHS Boards regularly and continue to scrutinise improvement plans to ensure they are deliverable, whilst considering how available funding may support additional activity.

The recruitment and deployment of teachers in schools is a matter for individual Councils, who have a statutory responsibility to provide a complement of staff in schools which best meets the needs of each of their schools and pupils.

It is important that local authorities and schools offer a broad range of subject choices and classes that meet their pupils' needs and aspirations.

We recognise there are recruitment challenges in some subject areas and that is why our Teaching Bursary Scheme provides bursaries to career changers, wishing to undertake a one-year Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE), in the hardest to fill teaching subjects; including STEM and modern languages.

In addition, we are providing £186.5m to local authorities in 2025-26 to restore overall teacher numbers across the country to 2023 levels and maximise the number of teaching posts available.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on the number of vacant teaching posts.

Current teacher vacancy information is available from individual local authorities, who have responsibility for the recruitment and employment of teachers.

Live vacancies for teaching jobs across Scotland can also be accessed at www.myjobscotland.gov.uk

The Scottish Government takes the welfare of farmed fish seriously and robust legislation, policies and industry standards are already in place to safeguard fish health and welfare. In addition, much of Scotland’s fish farming is undertaken in accordance with leading independent welfare accreditation schemes, which provides further assurance of welfare standards being applied within Scottish production.

The Scottish Government has committed to progressing fish welfare standards further by introducing official guidance under Section 38 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006. We are currently determining next steps for development of official guidance for the welfare of farmed fish, including stakeholder engagement. Consultation will involve a variety of stakeholders to ensure the development of guidance is well informed by a range of expertise, robust and operationally feasible, and that it ensures high welfare standards.

.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41933 on 27 November 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41873 on 27 November 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.

Ministers are not members of the National Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Strategic Group and therefore do not attend meetings. However, Ministers are regularly informed on the Group’s discussions and the Minister for Victims and Community Safety and I met with the co-chairs of the Group in October 2025 where we were provided with an update on its priorities, work to date and considerations on group-based child sexual abuse. The Group most recently met on 25 November 2025 and minutes of this meeting will be published on the Scottish Government’s website: https://www.gov.scot/groups/national-child-sexual-abuse-and-exploitation-strategic-group/

Our updated response to the 2023 Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) reform consultation and 2025 technical consultation sets out the timeline for introducing a new calculation methodology called the Home Energy Model (HEM) which is under development by the UK Government.

HEM is a modular EPC methodology which will allow greater flexibility to account for new technologies. The UK Government’s documentation for HEM currently includes reference to solar thermal systems associated with reducing energy use for domestic hot water (document HEM-TP-09). We will continue working with UK Government as they develop the final version of HEM, and expect that contributions from solar thermal systems will be recognised within HEM.

The reformed domestic EPC will contain a new Heating System Rating. We expect solar thermal systems will largely operate as part of a hybrid system with other technologies. This will be reflected in the rating awarded. Our intended Heating System Rating bandings were published in the updated Government Response.