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Devolved Administrations are required to refer subsidies to the Competition and Markets Authority's Subsidy Advice Unit where any proposed subsidy has a value over £25million cumulative over three financial years. The Scottish Government does not anticipate that the cost of exempting the carriage of Highlands and Islands passengers from Air Departure Tax (ADT) is likely to exceed this cost threshold. However, policy costings for prospective ADT reliefs and exemptions will be kept under review.

The number of homelessness applications from former members of the armed forces, broken down by local authority, is published in Table 2 (T2) of the Veteran homelessness workbook available on the Scottish Government homelessness statistics webpage here:

Homelessness in Scotland: veteran homelessness - gov.scot

Data is not available prior to April 2007 as this is when data collection began.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that survivors of domestic abuse receive the support they need. We recognise the vital role that local organisations, such as Inverclyde Women’s Aid, play in delivering frontline services and supporting women and children in their communities.

Through our Delivering Equally Safe fund, we are investing £21.6 million annually to tackle violence against women and girls. This includes a £2.4m uplift for 2025/26, ensuring all fund recipients can continue the vital work they undertake to prevent violence and support survivors. Of this total annual investment, £8.6 million is allocated to Women’s Aid organisations across Scotland with Inverclyde Women’s Aid receiving approximately £219,000 in 2025/26.

In addition, local organisations can access funding through the Victim Surcharge Fund. This fund allows any organisation of any size and in any location in Scotland, that support victims of crime including survivors of domestic abuse, to apply for a share of this Fund, which is financed by penalties imposed on offenders.

We also provide support through the Victim Centred Approach Fund which will deliver over £32 million to 23 organisations between 2025 and 2027, including £12 million for advocacy support for survivors of gender-based violence.

Revenue Scotland is responsible for the collection and management of the fully devolved taxes, including Air Departure Tax (ADT) which will replace UK Air Passenger Duty (APD).The Scottish Government and Revenue Scotland have joint responsibility for delivery of ADT.

The Scottish Government reached a budget agreement with COSLA in December 2024 which included a commitment to make meaningful progress towards the implementation of a 90-minute reduction in teacher class contact time.

We are clear that no patient should be treated in a space not fit for clinical care. To address the wider pressures that can lead to this, we are investing £200m through the Operational Improvement Plan to address high hospital occupancy and improve patient flow. This is why this funding is being targeted towards reducing delayed discharges and increasing capacity by expanding Hospital at Home services to 2,000 beds by the end of 2026.

Although there is existing data already collected and published such as 12 hour A&E waits and acute receiving occupancy we are actively considering ways in which data collection can be further developed with Public Health Scotland. This includes how to improve consistency of four-hour recording for A&E attendances. We will continue to work with Public Health Scotland, National Services Scotland and the Centre for Sustainable Delivery to understand and identify any gaps in the current data to improving urgent and unscheduled care analysis.

The Place Based Investment Programme as launched in 2021 includes funding allocated directly to local authorities, delivery of the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund and support for Clyde Gateway Urban Regeneration Company (URC).

a) The total funding delivered is detailed in the following table:

No further assessment of the cost of illicit drug use has been made by the Scottish Government since this report was published in 2009, nor has comparable research been produced or commissioned. However, the harms of problem drug use are clear and well evidenced, and the human cost remains deeply concerning.

It remains clear that drug deaths in Scotland remain far too high, but we are building a system that is more compassionate, better resourced, and more accountable than what came before. As we approach the end of the National Mission, we remain committed to continuing to combat this challenge. We are working closely with stakeholders, including those with lived and living experience, to develop a future alcohol and drug strategic plan to follow the Mission.

We are committed to improving safety across our network. Since 2007, over £146 million has already been invested on the A77 to ensure its safe and efficient operation.

Each year Transport Scotland, through its Operating Companies, undertakes a review of collisions on the trunk road network to identify cluster sites, or routes with recorded collisions that may be worthwhile of further investigation. The screening process, together with a detailed understanding of collision trends around the network, results in a prioritised programme of sites that will be investigated further. This evidence-led approach ensures that resources can be targeted at locations where the greatest potential for casualty reduction is available. This approach has been successful in reducing casualties across Scotland’s trunk road network.

In 2022, a Vehicle Activated Sign with legend ‘VEHICLES TURNING’ was implemented at the A751 junction on the A77 to warn approaching southbound drivers of potential vehicle conflicts with construction of markings and road studs completed in September 2024 and signs completed in April 2025. In Girvan, a speed management scheme, which included carriageway narrowing to improve speed compliance and walking routes for pedestrians, was constructed in March 2024. In July 2025, signalisation was introduced at A77 Doonholm Road staggered junction to reduce vehicle conflicts and personal injury collisions at the junction.

Maintenance schemes programmed from November 2025 to March 2026 include resurfacing at: Drummuckloch to Ferry Terminal, Burnside and Kilantringan to Smyrton. Drainage improvements planned during this timeframe include: A77 DBFO boundary to North of Coodham Estate, Kirkoswald, Girvan and South of Ballantrae Bridge.

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 A77 trunk road, 20 mph speed limits are programmed to be introduced in Stranraer, Cairnryan, Ballantrae, Girvan and Minishant.

Regarding engagements, on 29 October 2025, I attended the second South West Roads Focus Group meeting alongside members of the A77 Campaign Group to hear their views on prioritised maintenance schemes for the A77. My officials are committed to working alongside the campaign group to develop recommendations for targeted improvements on the A77.

To improve road safety on the A77 ahead of winter, our South-West Unit Operating Company (Amey) has submitted their Winter Service Plan for the 2025-26 season and also circulated to key operational partners. The Performance Audit Group (PAG), who provide audit and monitoring services for Transport Scotland, has completed pre-winter depot visits and preparedness audits across all Units, including the South-West Unit. Transport Scotland is facilitating a “Severe Weather Media Launch” on Wednesday 12 November at the Shettleston Rail Depot, which I will be attending. This will provide the opportunity to raise awareness of the level of preparedness and collaboration that go into keeping Scotland moving during severe weather 365 days a year across modes. Collaboration with our operational partners is key to the co-ordinated communications process. Our Transport Scotland communications colleagues are working with our trunk road maintenance contractors (Operating Companies & DBFOs), Traffic Scotland, and relevant partners in the Scottish Government to deliver shared messaging across all channels to keep traffic moving safely.

The Scottish Government’s housing emergency action plan published on 2 September sets out a suite of actions to help address the strategic challenges in providing homelessness services identified by the Scottish Housing Regulator. The plan commits to up to £4.9 billion over the next four years for the delivery of affordable and social homes. It ensures that £808 million will be available for affordable homes in Scotland this year, which includes an acquisition fund of £80 million targeted to the local authorities with the most sustained temporary accommodation pressures.

This fund will help to replenish temporary accommodation stock that has been converted to permanent homes. We are also funding a pilot private sector leasing scheme to reduce the use of unsuitable temporary accommodation, which will support local authorities to comply with their statutory homelessness duties.

I met with the Scottish Housing Regulator recently in October and attended their Board meeting on 5 November. We will continue to engage regularly with both local authorities and the Scottish Housing Regulator to support the local authorities most impacted in the challenges they face in providing homelessness services.