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The Scottish Government has been working closely with Promoting A More Inclusive Society (PAMIS) to develop the Changing Places Toilet Scotland Fund, which launched on 7 August 2025. PAMIS monitor the number and location of active Changing Places Toilets across Scotland, which are registered through PAMIS. Further information about Changing Places Toilets available across Scotland can be found on the Interactive Map.

Within the Highlands and Islands region specifically, there are currently 29 Changing Places Toilets. A breakdown by local authority has is provided in the following table.

Since 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2024 the Scottish Government has invested over £28 million on the on the maintenance and safe operation of the A84 and over £80 million on the on the maintenance and safe operation of the A85.

The A84 and A85 are part of the Scottish Trunk Road Network in Scotland. The A84 runs approximately 29 miles (47 km) from Stirling to Lochearnhead, where it connects with the A85. The A85 stretches approximately 87 miles (140 km) from Oban on the west coast to Perth.

Transport Scotland assesses the safety performance of the trunk road network on an annual basis by screening all locations where three or more personal-injury accidents have occurred in a three-year period. In addition, accident patterns and rates in the form of Route Accident Reduction Plans (RARP) are also considered. This ensures that full consideration is given to accidents that may be spread along a corridor. Further investigations are then carried out and, where appropriate, mitigation measures are prioritised for delivery. This robust, evidence-based approach ensures that the funding available is prioritised for those locations with the potential to deliver the greatest ‘casualty-accident’ savings. It is by using the evidence in this way that available funding can be optimised to best support the delivery of Scotland’s Road Safety Framework and our overarching vision of a future where no one is killed on Scotland’s roads. Through this process a number of schemes are being progressed.

On the A84 there is a scheme programmed for construction this financial year, involving new signs, new footpath and associated crossing points for the bus stops for school pupils at Kincardine in Menteith Primary School. In addition, a Vehicle Restraint System (Safety Barrier) is currently under design for the A84 between Kildean and Craigforth. This is programmed for construction in 2026-2027. Road safety investigations are also programmed in 2025-2026 including the section of the A84 between Kilmahog to Lochearnhead.

On the A85, signing improvement schemes will be undertaken between Tyndrum and Dalmally, including Tyndrum junction. Vehicle Activated Signs to warn road users of vehicles turning at junctions will also be installed at Dalchonzie and Crieff. A double white centre line system to the east of Glen Lochy, new Vehicle Restraint Systems between Aribea to Arrivain and Lochan Na Bi Culvert and Dunbeg will also be delivered.

Locations being investigated and/or designed in 2025-2026 include collision investigations of the A85 between Lochearnhead and Lix Toll, between Comrie and Perth and Kinross Council Boundary. These works are programmed to be completed by the end of the 2025-2026 financial year.

The Scottish Government has committed to implement 20 mph speed limits on those roads where it is appropriate to do so as set out in the Programme for Government by 31 March 2026, making our streets feel safer and encouraging active travel.

In 2025-2026, on the A85 trunk road, 20 mph speed limits have been introduced in St Fillan’s, Methven and Crianlarich, and on the A84 in Strathyre. 20mph speed limits are programmed to be introduced on the A85 trunk road in Oban and Connel.

Transport Scotland will continue to monitor road safety on the A84 and A85 and progress investigations and improvements as appropriate.

The Scottish Government regularly meet with the Coalition of Care and Support Providers in Scotland (CCPS) and the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (The ALLIANCE) at both official and ministerial level. Both organisations are key stakeholders who have been heavily involved in the work on the National Care Service, social care workforce and our reform and renewal programme through their membership of the Key Stakeholder Steering Group (KSSG) as well as through other regular policy engagement.

The most recent ministerial meeting with the CCPS was with the Minister for Public Finance, Mr Ivan McKee, who met with Rachel Cackett, CCPS CEO, on 25 August 2025.

I chaired the most recent meeting of the KSSG on 8 July 2025, which was attended by Sara Redmond, Chief Officer at the ALLIANCE.

Data on Land and Buildings Transaction Tax Additional Dwelling Supplement transactions, revenues and repayments is collected and published monthly by Revenue Scotland.

There is however no specific and attributable data available on the impact of the Additional Dwelling Supplement increase to 8%. As a range of other tax and non-tax factors may impact on Scotland’s property market, it is not possible to attribute any specific impact of the increase in the rate without a detailed analysis over a longer period.

Decisions on the rates and bands in place for Land and Buildings Transaction Tax are considered annually as part of the Scottish Budget.

As set out in Scottish Budget 2025-26, the conclusions of the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax review will support decisions in the next Scottish Parliament.

As the tax authority with responsibility for the collection and management of Scotland’s devolved taxes, Revenue Scotland publishes data on its website regarding Land and Buildings Transaction Tax.

Revenue Scotland has published a local authority breakdown of the numbers claiming Land and Buildings Transaction Tax first-time buyer relief for the years 2021-22 to 2024-25. The relevant table can be accessed at: Land and Buildings Transaction Tax Statistics | Revenue Scotland

The Scottish Government will continue to actively engage with our partners and our farming industry through Autumn 2025 to inform the drafting of the first Rural Support Plan and to meet the requirements set out by the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024 on engagement. This process will not involve the publication of a draft plan. The 2024 Act requires the Scottish Minister to lay a statement describing the engagement undertaken in respect of the plan at the same time as laying the plan. The Scottish Government intends to complete this process and publish the first Rural Support Plan in December 2025.

For further background I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-39056 on 10 July 2025. 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 data for reporting period 1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025 was published on 26 August and can be accessed here https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-annual-health-checks-for-people-16-with-learning-disabilities-2024-25/

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde deliver annual health checks via a nurse led team and in the most recent reporting period offered 1,468 annual health checks and completed 743. The full publication for the most recent reporting period can be accessed here; https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-annual-health-checks-for-people-16-with-learning-disabilities-2024-25/

The Scottish Government is committed to advancing inclusive communication in Scotland. We have therefore commissioned an inclusive communications toolkit for listed authorities, which includes NHS Boards, to consider. This toolkit aims to make improvements for those with different communication needs in Scotland.

The project will provide practical support to all public bodies in Scotland. It will help them to mainstream inclusive communication throughout their organisation and so meet the general equality duty.

The toolkit is currently being co-produced with people who communicate in diverse ways, public bodies, and other expert organisations. We intend to roll out this toolkit by early 2026.

Furthermore, the Scottish Government has collaborated with both autistic people and professional partners to produce resources to help healthcare practitioners understand and accommodate the communication needs of autistic individuals. These include an Autism Informed Services eBook and a series of posters, co-produced with an autistic working group, detailing how healthcare practitioners can anticipate, enquire about, and arrange adjustments to meet the needs of autistic patients, including communication needs. These resources are freely accessible on our Different Minds website.