Seòmar agus comataidhean

There has been a strong response to our information-gathering exercise on social housing. This is allowing us to work with partners to determine, drive and prioritise the necessary action on assessment and mitigation, on which the Scottish Government is offering substantial financial support to the sector. In the minority of cases where information is yet to be received, I have written to ask owners to respond as a matter of urgency. We will publish further information in due course on this information exercise.

There were fifteen Marine Licensing offences detected under the 2010 Act, these were by year, 2019 X1, 2020 X2, 2021 X2, 2022 X5, 2024 X5. Marine licensing offences are not fishery offences.

Additionally, there were forty-three breaches of Nature Conservation Orders which are enabled by the 2010 Act. These were by year, 2019 7, 2020 5, 2021 11, 2022 9, 2023 5, 2024 6, 2025 none as yet. These were all committed by UK vessels.

The provision of opioid-substitution treatment in prisons is a matter for local services. The Scottish Government notes that the transition from prison to the community is a high-risk event in a recovery journey and welcomes moves to join up prison health services with the support available in local communities.

Through the National Naloxone Programme, we work in partnership with the Scottish Prison Service, NHS Boards and third sector partners to ensure Naloxone is routinely offered prior to liberation. The number of take-home naloxone kits issued by SPS is published quarterly by Public Health Scotland through the programme’s Quarterly Monitoring Bulletin, which provides data to track trends, compare outcomes over time, and assess the impact of the programme on preventing overdose deaths.

Further integration across services and consistent data collection are essential to fully assess the impacts on post-release relapse and re-offending rates.

The provision and procurement of uniforms and equipment is an operational matter for the Chief Constable. The Frontline focus review of tools of the trade Report by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland, (HMICS),identified a number of areas where Police Scotland can make improvements, including in the provision of uniforms. Police Scotland has stated its intention to take account of this review and listen to its officers and staff, to ensure they get the uniform and kit they need to deliver for communities.

The Scottish Government’s record £1.64 billion investment in policing is helping equip officers with modern tools like body worn video, ensuring they have the right resources to keep communities safe.

In February 2025, the Scottish Prison Service published a report on the number of prisoners released under emergency early release (EER) in June-July 2024, who returned to custody before the date when they would originally have been liberated had EER not been implemented. The report shows that 61 of the 477 prisoners (13%) released under EER returned to custody before their original planned release date. The report can be found here - Returns to Custody Analysis .

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 Scottish Government recognises the value of a thriving circular fashion and sustainable textiles sector in Scotland and is committed to pursuing opportunities to strengthen support across the sector.

We have been working with stakeholders across the supply chain to develop further actions to accelerate sustainable economic growth. Recognising ACS’s commitment to innovation and circular fashion, Scottish Government officials met with ACS on Friday 5th September to discuss their ideas for further circularity innovations and collaboration between organisations across the sector.

We have confirmed that textile products will be a key focus of our product stewardship plan and we will consider the textiles sector in our forthcoming Circular Economy Strategy. We have also been working with Defra as they draw up their Circular Economy Strategy for England to understand where we can collaborate on measures, and where action must be taken by the UK Government.

Electric scooters are covered by the same UK-wide laws and regulations that apply to all motor vehicles. As such, e-scooters need to meet the legal requirements of the 1988 Act – including valid motor insurance; technical standards; payment of vehicle tax; licensing and registration and the use of relevant safety equipment – to use public roads lawfully. In Scotland it is illegal to ride an electric scooter on a public road, pavement, cycle paths, shared paths or any public place.

For electric scooters to be used legally, we await the necessary changes to be made to reserved legislation. Amendments would also be needed to devolved legislation such as the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions, with Local Authorities required to amend their Traffic Regulation Orders that apply to cycle lanes. In anticipation, the Scottish Government is engaging with the Department of Transport and closely monitoring the outcomes of their shared e-scooter trials. While investigating the necessary devolved legislative changes, we are preparing a programme of consultation and engagement to enable Scottish Local Authorities to participate in future shared e-scooter trials.

Following a recommendation from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, the chickenpox (varicella) vaccine will be introduced into Scotland’s routine childhood immunisation programme from January 2026.

Introduction of this vaccine offer in Scotland is in alignment with the rest of the UK, ensuring a consistent approach to protecting children from chickenpox.

The Scottish Government believes that it is crucially important that young people have access to accurate education on British and Scottish history, including on the British Empire and the UK's involvement in slavery. Scotland’s history curriculum, including the senior phase courses “The Trade in Enslaved African People 1770–1807” and “Migration and Empire 1830–1939”, present a range of opportunities for young people to learn about these significant histories.

The Breaking the Mould anti-racism curriculum principles include a principle on 'understanding and enquiring into Scotland’s role in historical world events, including trans-Atlantic enslavement and colonial histories, and their continuing impact today'. There are a range of further national actions underway including the following:

• The Scottish Government has supported academic-led programmes with the universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Stirling for teachers on Teaching Slavery in Scotland and on the Impact of Scots Settlers in Migration and Empire, with resources developed published on the Scottish Association of Teachers of History website.
• Education Scotland has published teaching resources on the Transatlantic Slave Trade supported by the University of Glasgow, and a publication on Sugar Histories aimed at Primary 7 learners in transition to S1 in both expressive arts and social studies.
• The Scottish Government is currently working in partnership with the SQA and Education Scotland to consider appropriate updates to the history qualifications to embed an anti-racist and decolonised approach. The Curriculum Improvement Cycle will consider further relevant updates to the social studies curriculum.
• Museums Galleries Scotland is working with museums who are decolonising their collections and learning resources to reflect the recommendations of the Empire, Slavery and Scotland’s Museums report. National Museums Scotland has developed a specific resource associated with the National 5 qualification on the Trade in Enslaved African People.