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An agreement in principle between the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) and the Fire Brigades Union on additional duties for Scottish firefighters has been in place since 2022. However, the anticipated cost of this agreement has meant the proposal has been unaffordable over the last 3 financial years. The Scottish Government continues to work closely with SFRS concerning options for the expansion of the role of firefighters, which is a priority included in the Fire and Rescue Framework for Scotland 2022.

The Scottish Government is working in partnership with Zero Waste Scotland (ZWS) to undertake an update of their recent capacity analysis, and is being covered as part of ZWS's activities covered under its annual block grant as a non-departmental public body.

The details of any spend on this work would be a matter for Zero Waste Scotland.

Reporters appointed from the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) will be able to select from a range of procedures, from consideration of written submissions through to a full Public Local Inquiry. In line with other casework where similar procedural choices are available, reporters will apply the approach that is most proportionate, effective and efficient in gathering the information required to reach a decision or to make a recommendation to Scottish Ministers.

DPEA is currently updating its Code of Practice for the examination of applications made under the Electricity Act. This will provide guidance for both reporters and participants on the new processes. Stakeholders will be consulted on the draft Code of Practice prior to its adoption.

The Scottish Government is working with Zero Waste Scotland to update their latest capacity analysis and expect to publish the results in 2026.

This work will inform the development of Scotland's residual waste plan to 2045.

SEPA collect waste returns from waste sites in Scotland and those returns indicate where waste inputs originate.

Although uncommon, waste can travel from across the UK to Scotland for incineration. SEPA data shows small amounts of waste incinerated in Scotland from England, with the majority of that waste made up of wood waste.

The Heat Networks Delivery Plan (HNDP), published in March 2022, and the first Review Report, published March 2024, outlines how the Scottish Government will contribute to increasing the use of heat networks in Scotland and meeting the statutory targets. The reporting period for the subsequent HNDP Review Reports is every 2 years from the date on which the last review report was laid in parliament.

On 18 November 2025. I announced to Parliament that the future Buildings (Heating and Energy Performance) and Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill would include provisions relating to heat networks including:

• a regulation-making power to require qualifying buildings in a heat network zone to connect to a heat network or decarbonise their heating system;
• a regulation-making power for heat network installation and maintenance licences; and
• changes to the Heat Networks (Scotland) Act 2021 to streamline its regulatory regime.

Housing First is delivered through close partnership between the Scottish Government, COSLA, local authorities, and third sector organisations. Discussions between partners about the scaling up of Housing First take place, among many others, at the Rapid Rehousing Transition Plans sub-group - gov.scot. The Scottish Government will continue to work with this group to support delivery and the planned expansion of Housing First in line with local and national priorities.

The Scottish Government has published national monitoring reports on Housing First since 1 April 2021. These monitoring reports are publicly available on the Scottish Government website: Housing First: monitoring reports - gov.scot.

The Scottish Government does not collect or hold information identifying which third sector organisations deliver Housing First support. Support services are commissioned by individual local authorities

The Charter of Patient Rights and Responsibilities (Patient Charter) was established by the Patient Rights(Scotland) Act 2011 which enshrined the right to request a second opinion. It works along with the Scottish Patient Safety Programme’s work in the recognition, response and review of deteriorating patients which includes a strong focus on listening to and acting on the concerns of patients, their families, carers and staff, to ensure action is taken.

It also sets out the rights of everybody in Scotland when using the NHS, including the right that the health care they receive will consider their needs, and what would most benefit their health and wellbeing, encouraging them to take part in decisions about their health and wellbeing, and providing them with the information and support they need to do so.

The Scottish Government has published national monitoring reports on Housing First since 1 April 2021. These monitoring reports are publicly available on the Scottish Government website: Housing First: monitoring reports - gov.scot.

The Scottish Government does not collect or hold information on the number of housing associations operating Housing First programmes. The Scottish Government collects Housing First data from local authorities who have Housing First programmes