Seòmar agus comataidhean

The Scottish Government agrees that it important for every young person to be aware of, understand and actively use their access rights and responsibilities.

The Curriculum for Excellence is a broad framework rather than a set of specific topics of study prescribed to all schools which means that it is not possible to prescribe specific topics. However, as indicated in Professor Higgins’ comments to committee, the curriculum framework includes an entitlement to Learning for Sustainability (LfS), which covers outdoor learning, sustainable development education and global citizenship. This provides opportunities for teachers to cover a range of sustainability themes, including the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC).

NatureScot has developed a SOAC Education Resource Pack for schools, containing educational activities that can be adapted for all age groups. The landing page for the resources includes a professional learning session with Education Scotland.

Further information on Learning for Sustainability is available at:

https://education.gov.scot/resource-themes/learning-for-sustainability/

Further information on the Scottish Outdoor Access Code Activity Education Resource Pack is available at:

https://www.outdooraccess-scotland.scot/act-and-access-code/education-resources

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43837 on 2 March 2026. 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 have committed that by 2029 every high-risk residential building over 18 metres in Scotland will have been resolved - whether made safe, decommissioned or replaced - and every building between 11 and 18 metres will be on a defined pathway to resolution. This is in line with England.

The precise number of buildings is dependent on the outcome of the Single Building Assessment process and whether that assessment deems a building of tolerable risk. Assessment and remediation progress is published in the Cladding remediation - gov.scot.

The Scottish Government’s Key points - Scotland’s cladding remediation estimates: June 2025 - gov.scot that around 250 of the residential high-rise (18m+) buildings in Scotland and around 1,020-1,200 of the mid-rise (11-18m) residential buildings in Scotland might require work to alleviate external wall system (EWS) life-safety fire risk.

Using these estimated figures, early, indicative forecasts: Cladding remediation: capital spend forecasting - gov.scot suggest it could require public capital funding in the range of £1.7 billion to £3.1 billion over a potential 15-year programme of work. This estimate includes adjustments for construction price inflation and for optimism bias, which reflects the usual tendency to underestimate costs at the outset of a capital project.

The Scottish Building Safety Levy (SBSL) is intended to raise between £360 million and £450 million over 12 to 15 years: Building Safety Levy - Taxes - gov.scot. Using the lower ends of both ranges (£360 million compared with £1.7 billion) and the upper ends (£450 million compared with £3.1 billion), the levy is estimated to contribute around 15% to 21% of the total capital funding required for the Cladding Remediation Programme.

The Scottish Government understands the important role that sport and leisure services play in improving people’s lives and believes everyone should have access to these services locally.

The Scottish Government has not carried out any specific assessment on the impact of transport connectivity on the ability of school-aged children’s access to grassroots sport in rural areas. However, we recognise that travel time and cost can be barriers for young athletes in rural and island areas.

To help address these challenges, sportscotland works with local authorities to improve local facilities, and the Athlete Travel Award Scheme (ATAS) provides up to £1,500 to support travel and accommodation for talented athletes in remote communities.

In addition, the provision of free bus travel for under-22s reduces the cost burden on young people and their families and helps make regular participation in grassroots sport more achievable, particularly in areas where distances between home, school, and sporting opportunities are greater. This sits alongside wider support, including local authority powers to subsidise socially necessary bus routes, and funding for community transport through local government resources and Community Transport Association (CTA) Scotland, which helps ensure that young people have more reliable and affordable options to reach sporting opportunities.

No specific assessment has been undertaken. However, improving young people’s access to sport remains a priority, and a key element of this is the nationwide free bus travel scheme for under-22s, which aims to reduce travel barriers for children and young people, including those in rural and island communities.

Through the under-22s concessionary scheme, eligible young people can travel at no cost on registered bus services, helping to ease the financial burden of travelling to training sessions, matches, and competitions. This is part of a wider Scottish Government investment in bus services and concessionary travel, which will rise to over £530 million in 2026–27. In addition to this, sportscotland works with local authorities and island communities to improve access to facilities and support athlete travel. This includes the Athlete Travel Award Scheme (ATAS), which provides up to £1,500 to help schools, sports clubs, and talented athletes with travel and accommodation for mainland training and competitions.

Most local bus services operate commercially, with operators determining routes and frequency. Local authorities can also subsidise services they consider socially necessary, at their discretion; £56 million on subsidised services in 2023–24. Community transport may also be provided locally by schools, local authorities, or community groups, supported through the local government finance settlement, and annual funding to Community Transport Association Scotland.

The Scottish Government supports access to transport for school-aged children and young people in rural areas primarily through its nationwide commitment to free bus travel for under-22s. This universal entitlement allows all young people aged 5–21 to travel by bus at no cost, helping them reach sporting clubs, training sessions, and competitions across Scotland. This is part of a wider Scottish Government investment in bus services and concessionary travel, which will rise to over £530 million in 2026–27.

Alongside this, sportscotland, our national agency for sport, provides targeted support through the Athlete Travel Award Scheme (ATAS), delivered in partnership with the four Highlands and Islands local authorities. ATAS offers up to £1,500 to schools, clubs and young athletes to help with the additional travel and accommodation costs often faced when travelling for training or competition from rural and island areas.

Local authorities can also subsidise socially necessary bus services at their discretion through funding provided in the general revenue grant. Authorities spent £56 million on such services in 2023–24. Local authorities and schools may also provide community transport where required, supported through the local government finance settlement, and Community Transport Association Scotland.

We consulted on proposals for a new Social Housing Net Zero Standard (SHNZS), co-developed with the social housing sector, alongside proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill. Since then we have been progressing the foundational work needed to underpin the future standard. This includes reforming Energy Performance Certificates, which will provide a more accurate basis for assessing the energy performance of buildings, which will be important to equip building owners and tenants.

We will confirm next steps following further engagement with partners in the social housing sector, taking into account wider developments, including standards that are being developed for the private rented sector. Our overarching aim is to ensure a fair and proportionate approach across all tenures, supporting decarbonisation whilst tackling fuel poverty.

The Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist Office (CSO) supports open competitive grant and fellowship schemes for applied health research in Scotland across a wide remit that is inclusive of consideration of research projects relating to gynaecological cancers. Applications submitted to these schemes are assessed through independent expert peer-review with funding recommendations made by independent expert committees. CSO has funded six projects relating to gynaecological cancers, four of which are ongoing. Funding of £975,496 has been committed to the active studies.