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NatureScot consulted on and produced an Environmental Report on the principle of beaver translocation to the river Beauly catchment in 2022. A copy of the report can be found on NatureScot’s website at

https://www.nature.scot/doc/beaver-translocation-consultation-river-beauly-catchment-environmental-report

NatureScot also carried out a Habitats Regulations Assessment for the River Beauly catchment area. A copy of the assessment can be found on NatureScot’s website at

https://www.nature.scot/doc/beaver-translocation-consultation-river-beauly-catchment-habitats-regulation-appraisal-hra-possible

The licence application was assessed against the Scottish Code for Conservation Translocations which also assesses environmental benefits and risks. NatureScot’s decision documents on Glen Affric and Abriachan sets out how the licence applications were assessed. Copies of these documents can be found on Naturescot's website at

https://www.nature.scot/doc/beaver-decision-document-licence-application-283801 and

https://www.nature.scot/doc/beaver-decision-document-licence-application-296282

The Scottish Government takes the issue of RAAC very seriously and over the past two years has been actively supporting efforts to address RAAC in residential settings. This has included:

• convening the RAAC Cross Sector Working Group and the RAAC in Housing sub-group,
• working closely with the Scottish Housing Regulator,
• engagement with the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS); and
• pressing the UK Government for cross-UK action.

I am of the view that public representatives in local authorities, Scottish and UK Governments need to work together and reach resolutions for people affected by RAAC. To that end, I convened the first meeting of the RAAC in Housing Leadership Group on 4 September, which brings together senior leaders and officials of Local Authorities and Registered Social Landlords that are affected by RAAC to specifically address issues relating to RAAC in residential settings, to share knowledge and best practice and to be solutions focused.

Management of the Police Scotland estate, including assessments of the condition of its buildings, is an operational matter for the Chief Constable under the oversight of the Scottish Police Authority. The Scottish Government supports Police Scotland’s commitment to providing a safe environment for officers, staff and the public.

The Scottish Government recognises the hazard of asbestos and the risks to health that it poses, however the management of asbestos in buildings is a reserved matter for the UK Government, and the Health and Safety Executive has UK wide responsibility for enforcement of the legislation and regulations.

We are investing a record £1.64 billion in policing in 2025-26. This includes £70 million of capital funding for investment in police assets, including the police estate.

The former Minister for Housing, Paul McLennan MSP, made several representations to UK Ministers asking for a dedicated RAAC Remediation Fund for Scotland, but the UK Government has refused to do so.

In June I wrote to the UK Government Deputy Prime Minister stressing the need for the UK Government to take the lead in putting in place financial arrangements on a cross-UK basis for RAAC remediation, noting this issue has its origins in the pre devolution era. Regrettably, the reply from the Deputy Prime Minister reiterated that the UK Government had no plans to set up any RAAC scheme or fund to address RAAC in residential settings.

Following the UK Deputy Prime Minister’s resignation from government I will be engaging with her replacement as Housing Secretary.

The presence of RAAC across the nations of the UK emphasises the need for a UK wide approach to this issue, and I continue to urge the UK Government to set up a national RAAC remediation fund.

We provided £750,000 to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency’s Flash Appeal for Gaza in November 2023. The funding was spent on food and non-food items, shelters, primary health care, fuel for water and health services, and mental health and psychosocial support.

As is standard practice for UN Appeals, UNRWA is not required to submit tailored financial information to each contributor. Instead, they publish an Annual Operational Report which provides details on all funding raised and dispersed by the appeal. The 2023 Annual Report which the covers the £750k contribution from Scottish Government can be found on the UNRWA website.

An extensive programme of work has been undertaken across the Scottish public sector estate to identify the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) and to ensure buildings are safe for all building users.

Management of the Police Scotland estate, including assessments of the condition of its buildings, is an operational matter for the Chief Constable, under the oversight of the Scottish police Authority.

The Scottish Government supports the work undertaken by Police Scotland to address the issue of RAAC which has been identified in four locations across the Police Scotland estate, and their commitment to providing a safe environment for officers, staff and the public. Police Scotland has provided assurance that there is no risk to officers, staff, or visitors to those affected buildings.

We are investing a record £1.64 billion in policing in 2025-26. This includes £70 million of capital funding for investment in police assets, including the police estate.

From 2014 data on Audiology waits formed part of the 18 weeks referral to treatment waiting time data Public Health Scotland (PHS) publication. In March this year, PHS communicated that as part of their ongoing work to ensure their suite of statistical publications meets user needs, they decided to pause the 18 weeks RTT national data collection, analysis and publication. The 18th March 2025 publication was the last planned publication. It is important to note that PHS will continue to publish comprehensive statistics on waiting times which will help demonstrate the impact of the additional funding to reduce waiting times. By pausing the 18 week RTT statistics, PHS will be able to shift resources towards developing statistics on the number of 8 key diagnostic tests carried out per quarter. This change in focus is needed for the public to understand how we are progressing with our commitment for 150,000 extra appointments, diagnostics and treatment in 2025-26.

Given the importance of audiology, as part of the Scottish Government’s implementation of the Service Renewal Framework consideration is being given as to how to strengthen visibility and accountability on audiology waiting times to ensure planning of services reflects actual need and supports equitable access. This has been prioritised as part of the first year work programme of SRF implementation.

The following tables presents the total number of personal injury collisions on the A84 and A85 between 1 January 2023 and 13 August 2025 (latest date for which data is available for serious and slight collisions and 31 August 2025 for fatal collisions), broken down by month and severity. The Scottish Government does not hold information relating to damage only accidents (i.e. not involving an injury).

Personal Injury Accident Statistics: A84

Please see the Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) interim update provided to the NZET Committee on 1 September 2025 on the delivery progress of MV Isle of Islay and the other vessels currently under construction in Türkiye. The letter has been published and can be found at the attached link - Interim Update on New Vessels for Islay & Little Minch

Since the launch of the RMT People’s CalMac Campaign in 2022 we have been engaging with Trade unions on their aspiration for a CHFS3 of Direct Award to CalMac Ferries. The Scottish Government agrees that a Direct Award is the best and most appropriate way forward. The detailed Contract specification will be published on the Transport Scotland website and reflects the very nature of the contract which is to enable continuous improvements and adjustment in the changed focus of public service delivery, rather than simply meeting contractual requirements, and we would expect ongoing trades unions engagement on this. Trades unions have been active in the formal consultation and in the Roundtable hosted by me as the Cabinet Secretary for that purpose and I have regular meetings with Ferry Trades unions. We will continue to engage productively with Trade unions throughout the term of the new contract to support the hard-working staff providing these services across the CHFS network.