Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S6O-05505 on 12 February 2026. All answers to Oral Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at Meeting of the Parliament: 12/02/2026 | Scottish Parliament Website

The Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024 provides a range of powers to tackle fly tipping in Scotland. These include a number of additional powers which were added to the legislation during the Parliamentary process, which will be implemented in due course.

The Scottish Government has not conducted any specific research into mental health impacts on residents living near areas that are affected by habitual fly tipping. Keep Scotland Beautiful publish an annual Scottish Litter Survey which help us understand public perceptions of litter and fly tipping in Scotland and indicates that littering and fly tipping negatively impact the quality of life of people living in Scotland.

The Scottish Government recognises the important contribution that the Scottish Drugs Forum (SDF) has in delivering services to people who use substances. The Scottish Government has provided funding to the SDF for a number of projects over the past five years (2021-22 – 2025-26) from both Alcohol and Drugs Policy and Sexual Health and Blood Borne Viruses Policy.

A list of SDF projects delivered with Scottish Government funding is provided below. Total funding for each year is provided in response to question S6W-43679 on 25 February 2026.

Drugs Policy Funded Projects by year

2021-22

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43703 on 20 February 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

The Scottish Government recognises the important contribution that the Scottish Drugs Forum (SDF) makes in delivering services to people who use substances. The Scottish Government has provided funding to the Scottish Drugs Forum for a number of projects since 2021 from both the Alcohol and Drugs Policy Budget and through Blood Borne Viruses policy.

Total funding for SDF from the Alcohol and Drugs Policy budget is available in the National Mission Annual Reports published online at: National mission on drugs - Alcohol and drugs - gov.scot .

Total funding breakdowns for 2025-26 Alcohol and Drugs Policy will be provided in the 2025-26 National Mission Annual report following year-end reporting processes.

For ease of reference, a funding breakdown by year is provided in the following tables, with further detail on projects funded each year being provided in answer to the question S6W-43681 on 26 February 2026:

Alcohol and Drugs Policy Funding (2021-22 – 2024-25)

Over the past five years, the Scottish Government has funded SDF to support delivery of the National Mission to reduce drug deaths and improve lives. The National Drugs Mission Plan (2022–2026) sets out the approach being taken, including investment to strengthen the workforce, improve data and surveillance, embed lived and living experience, prevent the development of problem drug use, and reduce harm for people who use drugs.

SDF has been funded to deliver projects that contribute directly to these outcomes, including harm reduction initiatives, lived and living experience engagement, improvements in workforce capability, and national data and surveillance support.

As a grant-funded organisation, SDF is required to report regularly on progress against agreed objectives. The Scottish Government is satisfied with the progress made, with objectives adjusted over time to respond to emerging priorities.

It is not possible to attribute a specific number of prevented deaths to individual projects. However, the Scottish Government considers that reductions in drug deaths depend on the collective impact of system-wide interventions. Harm reduction work (including naloxone distribution), strengthening of the MAT Standards, improved non-fatal overdose responses, expanded lived experience engagement, and workforce development have all been essential to Scotland’s ability to prevent fatalities.

Scotland’s capacity to prevent drug deaths would be significantly weakened had this work not been undertaken.

College enrolments for school pupils b demonstrate the important role colleges play in supporting an improved learner journey for all age groups. Between 2023-24 and 2024-25 enrolments below the senior phase fell by 19.2% (from 11,420 to 9,230), while senior-phase enrolments rose by 7.4% (from 27,950 to 30,030), in line with Scottish Funding Council (SFC) guidance directing colleges to prioritise senior-phase learners and limit activity for younger pupils to 1.5% of credits. Given this clear shift in activity, the small and regulated scale of below-senior-phase provision, and the safeguards in SFC credit guidance to avoid duplication of funding between schools and colleges, the Government considers current enrolment levels to represent value for money. SFC has confirmed that it will review this approach for future years in consultation with the sector.

The Scottish Government notes that SFC’s 2024–25 guidance directed colleges to prioritise senior-phase pupils and cap activity outwith the senior phase at 1.5% of credits, and colleges have responded accordingly. Senior-phase enrolments rose by around 7% to over 30,000, while primary and S1–S3 enrolments fell by 19.2%. This shift shows that colleges are directing capacity toward senior-phase learners and 16–24-year-olds. Given the small, capped, and declining scale of activity for younger pupils, the Government assesses that their enrolment does not constrain colleges’ ability to meet demand from priority age groups.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43703 on 20 February 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