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It is longstanding Scottish Government policy that the provision of an air service wholly within a local authority boundary is a matter for that local authority.

The Scottish Government provides indirect support to the Benbecula to Stornoway service through our subsidy of Highlands and Islands Airports Limited which operates both Benbecula and Stornoway airports. The Comhairle also receives funding from the Scottish Government through the Local Government Settlement. The funding formula does take account of the Comhairle’s need in relation to air transport and includes £377,000 in 2024-25.

The Scottish Government funds the Glasgow to Campbeltown, Tiree and Barra air services.

Dundee City Council funds the Dundee to London Heathrow air service with financial contributions from the Scottish Government and the UK Government.

Highland Council funds the Wick to Aberdeen air service with a financial contribution from the Scottish Government.

Argyll & Bute Council funds the Oban to Coll, Colonsay and Tiree air services.

Orkney Islands Council fund the Kirkwall to Papa Westray, North Ronaldsay, Westray, Sanday, Stronsay and Eday air services.

Shetland Islands Council fund the Tingwall to Fair Isle and Foula air services.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar fund the Benbecula to Stornoway air service.

Details of every external meeting all Ministers have undertaken since 2016 can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/collections/ministerial-engagements-travel-and-gifts/. This currently shows engagements up until May of this year, however information on engagements after this point will be published in due course, as per the Scottish Government’s commitment to do so, which is set out in the Scottish Ministerial Code.

It is also worth noting that although the names of specific councils or council leaders may not appear in records of certain engagements, the First Minister, previous First Ministers and other Ministers have engaged with various council leaders at COSLA Annual Conferences and other conferences and events that involve council leaders since 2021.

The Scottish Government is committed to improved data collection and analysis to accurately assess the impact of policies to ensure greatest impact can be achieved.

Data collection methodologies and approaches are kept under constant review to ensure not only the relevance of the data being collected but also to ensure efficiencies in how this is done.

The Scottish Government is committed to the use of evidence in developing and evaluating policies to understand what works. The Scottish Government regularly undertakes evaluation activity across a wide range of policy areas. Final reports are routinely published on the Scottish Government website.

The Scottish Government published its Evaluation Action Plan in August 2024. One of the key pillars of the Plan is to make better use of evaluation evidence, at the right times when developing policy and to enhance value for money. To deliver the Action Plan the Scottish Government is setting up an internal Centre of Expertise in Appraisal and Evaluation. This will make better use of in-house expertise to further improve the standards of appraisal and evaluation planning.

Details of every external meeting all Ministers have undertaken since 2016 can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/collections/ministerial-engagements-travel-and-gifts/. This currently shows engagements up until May of this year, however information on engagements after this point will be published in due course, as per the Scottish Government’s commitment to do so, which is set out in the Scottish Ministerial Code.

It is also worth noting that although the names of specific councils or council leaders may not appear in records of certain engagements, the First Minister, previous First Ministers and other Ministers have engaged with various council leaders at COSLA Annual Conferences and other conferences and events that involve council leaders since 2021.

Details of every external meeting all Ministers have undertaken since 2016 can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/collections/ministerial-engagements-travel-and-gifts/. This currently shows engagements up until May of this year, however information on engagements after this point will be published in due course, as per the Scottish Government’s commitment to do so, which is set out in the Scottish Ministerial Code.

It is also worth noting that although the names of specific councils or council leaders may not appear in records of certain engagements, the First Minister, previous First Ministers and other Ministers have engaged with various council leaders at COSLA Annual Conferences and other conferences and events that involve council leaders since 2021.

The reduction of £1 million referred to in the letter from the Finance Secretary to the Scottish Parliament's Finance and Public Administration Committee dated 3 September relates to the nature restoration budget line, rather than the Nature Restoration Fund (NRF). The £1m reduction will result in reduced scope of some projects and delay in implementing other projects.

The Edinburgh Process strand of the NRF is provided directly to Local Authorities and the £5 million allocated to this strand for 2024-25 has been redirected to help meet the public sector pay deal. Scottish Ministers have made a commitment to replace this funding in 2025-26. We remain firmly committed to tackling the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. However we are also taking on significant additional financial pressure, not least as a consequence of wider decisions around funding made by the current and previous UK Governments. The Finance Secretary has been clear that painful choices have had to be made as a result. The Scottish Government will work with local authorities to understand and mitigate any impacts on rural jobs, wherever that is feasible in these circumstances.

Scottish Ministers know the vital role local government employees play in delivering local services which are valued by the public. This pay offer demonstrates just how much we value these workers too. It will provide an above-inflation pay increase for all council employees and ensure the most support is focused on the lowest paid.

Whilst this difficult fiscal choice has had to be made, NatureScot is providing NRF funding to 14 partnership projects this year, to transform nature including through river and woodland restoration, rainforest regeneration, tackling invasive species and conserving iconic species such as the red squirrel.

The Scottish Government committed to investing £10 million in Changing Places Toilets over the lifetime of the Parliament. Ultimately, the number of Changing Places Toilets that will be introduced as a result of investment will be determined by the number and quality of funding bids received. The Changing Places Toilets Planning Guide published by the Scottish Government provides information on Changing Places Toilets and guidance to those considering installing one.

Following the UK Chancellor's July statement, the Scottish Government continues to face the most challenging financial situation since devolution.

Whilst any reduction is regrettable, we remain committed to taking forward our work across mental health, working closely with key partners. Our collective focus has to be on making as much difference as possible with our funding.

No elements of the Distress Brief Intervention (DBI) programme will be discontinued in 2024-25. Savings were realised through pre-agreed changes in funding to the original pilots, which from 2024-25 will be funded by local areas rather than centrally by the Scottish Government. There is no anticipated impact on the number of people able to access the DBI programme.

The cessation of funding in relation to student mental health was extensively discussed with the sector, including when transition funding was put in place for Academic Year 2023-24 at the conclusion of our previous four year Programme for Government commitment in relation to counsellor provision. Our five year investment of over £19 million sought to support student mental health and wellbeing and help institutions to transition to a more sustainable means of providing mental health support for students.

Our new Student Mental Health Action Plan, published on 13 September, seeks to move to a mainstreamed approach to student mental health. The Government will work with NHS Boards, CoSLA, Public Health Scotland and community based providers to join up support that is already available, embedding students’ mental health needs into the wider communities in which they live and study.

The Action Plan recognises the importance of each college and university having a Student Mental Health Agreement in place. To enable this we continue to support NUS Think Positive with £130,000 in 2024-25.

The Rural Affordable Homes for Key Workers Fund is a demand led fund of up to £25 million from the Affordable Housing Supply Programme budget over a five year period 2023-24 to 2027-28.

Local authorities and registered social landlords can apply to the fund to purchase existing suitable properties in rural and island areas where there is identified need and we would expect this to be included in local authorities' Strategic Housing Investment Plans. Annual funding levels will reflect the pace at which projects are brought forward as well as available budgets.