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The Scottish Government is committed to delivering vital public services and supporting our third sector but continues to face the most challenging financial situation since devolution.

The 2025-26 draft budget, which will be subject to the approval of the Parliament, included an allocation for the Children, Young People, Families Early Intervention and Adult Learning and Empowering Communities (CYPFEI & ALEC) and Children, Young People, Families and Adult Learners (CYPFAL) third sector funds.

The following table details the number of cases for which a FAI was held in each of the last 5 years.

As at 30 November 2024, COPFS employs 733 legal staff.

All figures are drawn from Table A.02 set out in Annex A of the 2025-26 Budget publication. The around 1% real terms increase figure quoted is in relation to the change in real terms in Resource Barnett Block Grant between the latest 2024-25 figure and the 2025-26 figure. All figures reconcile to the agreed HM Treasury aggregates. HM Treasury aggregates include some non-Barnett elements in the overall total which are excluded from the year on year comparators (these are disclosed elsewhere in the funding position at table A.02 - specifically within the Migrant Surcharge and Other/Budget Cover Transfer lines).The GDP deflator values used in calculating the real terms movement are as published by the Office for National Statistics.

Methodology for calculation.

Figures –.

• 2024-25 core Barnett settlement is £39,635 million (made up of the £38,202 million total UK Settlement plus £1,433 million of additional consequentials received at UK Budget Statement.
• The 715 million ringfenced funding has been baselined in 2025-26 so is included in 41141 figure.
• £41,141 million is the is the core Barnett Settlement for 2025-26.
• GDP deflator is 1.0239

Calculating the % increase in real terms 2024-25 to 2025-26;

Real terms figures are quoted in 2024-25 process. The GDP deflator is used to put the 2025-26 funding in 2024-25 terms.

41141 / 1.0239 = 40180.68171

You then calculate the % increase by;

(2025-26 funding in 2024-25 real terms – 2024-25 funding) / 2024-25 funding * 100

( 40180.68171 – 39635.254 ) / 39635.254 * 100 = 1.38% increase to 3 significant figures.

In response to the recommendations of the Improving Care Leavers Housing Pathways CELCIS Knowledge Bank: Youth Homelessness Prevention Pathway report, the Scottish Government commissioned the Care Inspectorate to undertake a thematic review of the experiences of young people in and leaving care in Scotland.

The thematic review was completed between April and October 2024, and a final report Care experienced young people thematic review was published on 5 November 2024. The report was complemented by the publication of ‘key messages’ for the sector and the Care Inspectorate hosted a webinar for practitioners, managers and stakeholders to discuss learning from the thematic review in December 2024.

We will consider the ‘Considerations for future practice’ identified through the thematic review as part of our wider evidence base which will help us develop policies to ensure that all eligible young people can equally and consistently benefit from the best support for their individual needs.

Decarbonisation infrastructure works are undertaken by Network Rail, who owns and maintains Scotland’s rail network infrastructure. Network Rail is major employer in Scotland, as are many of its supply chain partners. As recently at October 2024, Network Rail and its key suppliers held a networking event for SMEs keen to learn more about work available across Scotland’s Railway over the next five years.

In relation to the replacement Intercity trains, a transparent and fair procurement process is being held. The procurement process ensures Scottish suppliers will be able to offer to provide their services to potential bidders.

Low Carbon electricity generation is defined for Scottish Government energy statistics reporting as electricity generated by renewable, nuclear or pumped hydro storage (PHS) technologies.

The Cladding Remediation Programme is accelerating the pace of delivery now that we have put in place the essential building blocks, including the Housing (Cladding Remediation) (Scotland) Act 2024, which will be commenced on 6 January 2025.

As we finalise these acceleration plans, we are diligently working on cost estimates to ensure financial clarity. However, the Scottish Government’s position remains that we will invest as necessary to effectively minimise risks posed by unsafe cladding.

Our spending on remediation costs can only follow a full end to end process - checking buildings are in scope, commissioning a Single Building Assessment, completing that robust technical assessment, identifying the works that need to be carried out, designing those works and gaining the necessary approvals, and then carrying out the remediation itself.

Investment in the programme continues with £52.2 million allocated in the 2025-2026 Scottish Government budget to support delivery and acceleration.

The 2026 Commonwealth Games will be delivered by the Glasgow 2026 Organising Company, in partnership with the Commonwealth Games Federation and Commonwealth Games Scotland. Glasgow 2026 Ltd is the corporate vehicle established to deliver the Games. The event will be privately funded by the Commonwealth Games Federation, commercial income from ticketing, broadcast revenue, sponsorship, hospitality and merchandising, and additional investment from Commonwealth Games Australia.

This private investment will provide direct economic benefit for the Scottish supply chain. Glasgow 2026 Ltd has committed to the creation of a Scotland-focused procurement strategy which will provide operational and event-based contracts for Scottish suppliers and ultimately create a number of Scottish jobs, in line with other similar sized events. In addition, Glasgow 2026 Ltd will seek to make best use of the world-class event specialists in Scotland as it works to deliver the Games, providing further employment opportunities.

Visitors to the event are also expected to provide further direct spending into the economy. It is anticipated that approximately 500,000 tickets will be available for sale. Past Commonwealth Games have strongly supported the visitor economy, driving tourism and footfall. For example, 34% of all visitors to the West Midlands in 2022 said they were influenced to attend because of the Games. As with all major events it will undoubtedly bring visitors and media attention to the city, provide an opportunity to promote Scotland to key Commonwealth markets as well as reinforce our reputation as the perfect stage for events.

At this stage, Commonwealth Games Scotland estimate the total economic value of the Games to Scotland to be £150 million. Anticipated benefits will be assessed throughout the project planning phase and the event will be subject to a final socio-economic impact evaluation.

Housing developments are not commonly the focus of proposals submitted for Islands Programme funding.

Since 2021-22, four awards made through the Islands Programme have had the development of housing units among their deliverables. For some of these projects, the Islands Programme supported the delivery of enabling infrastructure, survey or other work required to proceed with the construction of housing units.

The following table provides a summary of housing projects that have received funding through the Islands Programme since 2021-22.