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Digital technology is a vital aspect of modern education and the Scottish Government is committed to ensuring online safety is appropriately recognised in Scottish education and wider child protection policies.

It is crucial that schools prepare our young people for life in the digital domain and reinforcing positive online behaviours is a key part of any safeguarding approach. Curriculum for Excellence sets out expectations for learning and progression in digital literacy (which includes cyber resilience and internet safety) from the earliest stages of learning.

In collaboration with Education Scotland, we have supported the development of professional learning and a wide range of teaching resources to support the integration of internet safety and cyber resilience within the curriculum.

The Scottish Government Programme for Government 2025-26: Building the Best Future for Scotland , includes our commitment to supporting Time for Inclusive Education’s Digital Discourse Initiative to equip children and young people with skills to navigate digital media and counter the impacts of disinformation and online hate. In addition, we have also committed to take forward the Ministerial Online Safety Taskforce to strengthen our approach to keeping children safe online, providing oversight and direction across Scottish Government and identifying what more can be done to protect children and young people.

The Strategic Board for Teacher Education is developing a Teacher Education and Development Framework to support teacher development throughout their careers. This includes a specific focus on improving support and mentoring for early career teachers.

All teachers should have access to protected non class contact time as set out in the Scottish Negotiation Committee for Teachers Working Time Agreements. Appendix 2.18 - SNCT Handbook.

A range of new vessel options for the Gourock to Dunoon and Kilcreggan ferry services are being considered within the wider Outline Business Case for investment in the routes, which also includes port infrastructure upgrades. When complete, the Outline Business Case will be reviewed by Transport Scotland Investment Decision Making Board in the first instance, currently expected to be around the end of 2025, and then presented to Ministers for decisions.

The Scottish Government is committed to improving energy efficiency and decarbonising heating systems in Scotland’s buildings to support improvements in fuel poverty and to help meet our climate target to reach net zero by 2045.

We have committed to investing over £300m in our Heat in Buildings programme in 2025-26. The support is aimed at reducing emissions from heating and improving energy efficiency in homes and other buildings across Scotland, as well as developing heat networks.

We are continuing to engage with Historic Environment Scotland to consider the particular needs of Scotland’s traditionally constructed homes, protected, and historic buildings in taking forward our commitments to decarbonise.

The Scottish Government is committed to improving energy efficiency and decarbonising heating systems in Scotland’s buildings to support improvements in fuel poverty and to help meet our climate target to reach net zero by 2045.

In April, the Acting Minister for Climate Action made a statement to Parliament that set out the Scottish Government’s plans to introduce a Heat in Buildings Bill later this session, and that it would be accompanied by the introduction of a minimum energy efficiency standard (MEES) in the private rented sector (PRS).

We have now launched a consultation on proposed MEES regulations to be introduced in the domestic PRS. This will be accompanied by direct stakeholder engagement and workshops. Our proposals include a range of exemptions to accommodate individual circumstances which will provide flexibility for properties such as traditional and listed buildings.

We value the input from Historic Environment Scotland on this topic, and are committed to continuing to work closely with them to shape our proposals on MEES and any future proposals on decarbonising heating systems. We understand that certain buildings need particular solutions and HES will provide key expertise to ensure the best outcome for traditional and listed buildings and the people who live and use them.

In April, Dr Alasdair Allan MSP, former Minister for Climate Action, made a statement to Parliament that set out the Scottish Government’s plans to introduce a Heat in Buildings Bill later this session. He outlined that the Bill would include provisions for all buildings to end their use of polluting heat by 2045 (where reasonable / practicable), provisions designed to boost the growth of heat networks and powers to make regulations introducing minimum energy efficiency standards across owner-occupied and non-domestic buildings.

We recognise it may be more challenging for some homes and buildings to decarbonise, especially those in a rural or island setting. We will work with stakeholders to develop approaches and solutions that allow homes in Scotland to transition to greater energy efficiency and cleaner heating systems. Any legislation will be accompanied by the required impact assessments and designed in a way that is fair, proportionate and considers the requirements of buildings in rural and island areas.

SCTS is independent of Scottish Government and therefore entrusted to make determinations of what an efficient system for them looks like and what a normal volume of scheduled criminal trials would be.

The Scottish Government uses a variety of systems for different purposes. One of these is Scotland’s Land Information Service, created and maintained by Registers of Scotland, which provides online access to information on land and property in Scotland for both public and business users. Enhancements since the service first launched have included access to a Crofting Register layer, an Aerial photography map layer, the Sasines Register indicative ownership layer, the Books of Council & Session, the Register of Judgements, the Register of Inhibitions and National Library Scotland’s Historic Maps

The Scottish Assessors maintain the Council Tax Valuation List and the Valuation Roll which sets out the rateable value of non-domestic land and heritages unless they are statutorily exempt. As set out in the recent Scottish Budget and Scotland’s Tax Strategy: Building on our Tax Principles, we are taking forward work with the Scottish Land Commission which includes exploration of opportunities for improved data collection, data analysis and data publication to better inform decision making regarding tax and land.

Information relating to agricultural subsidies is published by Defra on behalf of the Scottish Government and can be accessed here: https://cap-payments.defra.gov.uk/Default.aspx.

The Scottish Government and the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service meet on a regular basis to discuss the data that SCTS publish monthly in terms of court business. The current publication is showing the number of outstanding scheduled trials at the end of May 2025 is 18,355.