Asked by: McNeill, Pauline (Scottish Labour - Glasgow)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many assaults on police officers have been recorded by Police Scotland in each year since the creation of Police Scotland.
Answered by Constance, Angela - Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
The production of the Accredited Official Statistics on recorded crime in Scotland was amended to allow the separate identification of assaults against police officers/staff from the reporting year of 2024-25 onwards. These can be further broken down into Serious assault, Common assault (with injury) and Common assault (without injury).
The number of these crimes recorded in 2024-25 is provided below. The next full year will be available in June 2026 as part of the Recorded Crime in Scotland 2025-26 Accredited Official Statistics.
Police recorded crimes of assaults on police officer/staff, by type, 2024-25, Scotland.
Crime; assault on police officer/staff | 2024-25 |
Serious assault | 20 |
Common assault (with injury) | 1,123 |
Common assault (without injury) | 6,098 |
Total | 7,241 |
Asked by: McNeill, Pauline (Scottish Labour - Glasgow)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will complete the roll-out of new equipment to provide greater protection to police officers.
Answered by Constance, Angela - Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
While the rollout of all equipment to officers is a matter for the Chief Constable, Police Scotland have confirmed that the rollout of Body Worn Video (BWV) to the planned first tranche of 10,500 officers will complete in the coming weeks, with the final group of officers expected to receive the technology in May.
The rollout of Body Worn Video is a game changer for Police Scotland’s hard working officers and is expected to increase public confidence in policing and improve safety for police officers and staff.
Ensuring our officers can access this technology is a result of record Scottish Government investment in policing.
Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Scottish Liberal Democrats - Edinburgh Western)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what specific actions it is currently taking to reverse the reported rise in violent crime, particularly in sex offences and domestic abuse.
Answered by Brown, Siobhian - Minister for Victims and Community Safety
We have invested over £6m to support implementation of the Violence Prevention Framework since its implementation in May 2023. Total recorded crime is down 38% since 2006-07 and half the level of 1991; homicide is at its lowest level since comparable records began in 1976; and the number of emergency hospital admissions due to a sharp object fell by 72% between 2006-07 and 2024-25.
However, any increase in reported crimes is of concern – particularly those relating to sexual offences and domestic abuse. We recognise that some of this may be due to actions to increase confidence in the justice system so more victims come forward to report sexual crimes. It is abhorrent that such crimes, which are mainly against women, take place.
In response we remain steadfast in our commitment to preventing and eradicating all violence against women and girls and addressing the underlying attitudes and systems that perpetuate it. That’s why we are increasing the Delivering Equally Safe Fund by 5%, bringing total investment to almost £46 million over 2026–2028, to ensure organisations continue their vital work to prevent violence and support survivors.
It is also vital that women and children have access to frontline services dealing with violence and domestic abuse - that is why, through the Victim Centred Approach Fund, we are also investing £12 million between 2025-27 for specialist advocacy support for survivors of gender-based violence.
We have also made changes to the justice system to make it easier to report incidents and legislated to give police, prosecutors, and the courts greater powers to tackle domestic abuse crimes. We are also commencing provisions with the Victims Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025, a landmark piece of legislation, that aims to transform the Justice system in Scotland through significant reforms to ensure that victims and witnesses are treated with compassion and supported throughout the legal process.
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark (Scottish Green Party - Mid Scotland and Fife)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last published a report on safe staffing levels in early learning and childcare provision.
Answered by None
The legislative requirements in relation to safe staffing levels in Early Learning and Childcare settings falls under The Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act which was enacted on 1 April 2024. The Act is applicable to all health and care staff in Scotland.
The first ministerial report on the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019, was published on 27 November 2025. The report marks an important milestone in our collective efforts to ensure safe and effective staffing decisions across Scotland’s health and care services following commencement of the legislation. While the report is system-wide, it has implications for early learning and childcare. The report explains how Scottish Ministers have considered the information submitted by health boards, local authorities, and care providers about how they are meeting their statutory staffing duties.
The Act requires local authorities to demonstrate that ELC staffing is appropriate, safe, and aligned with the Act’s principles. The Act also reinforces that ELC services are part of the care landscape subject to statutory staffing duties, not just regulatory expectations. The Act also ensures that annual reporting and Ministerial scrutiny increase accountability for safe staffing in ELC.
Asked by: McCall, Roz (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Mid Scotland and Fife)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the £24.311 million allocated in 2026-27 to the Level 4 budget line of Other Spend, under the Level 3 budget heading of Social Care Support in the Health and Social Care portfolio, specifically detailing (a) how much is allocated to sensory impairment services, (b) which specific services and initiatives will be supported and (c) how this compares to the allocation for sensory impairment support services in (i) 2025-26, (ii) 2024-25 and (iii) 2023-24.
Answered by Arthur, Tom - Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing
The level 4 breakdown provided in the budget tables is the lowest breakdown currently available as spending plans are still being finalised by policy leads.
However, we can confirm that £320,000 from this budget will be included in the Local Government Finance settlement for sensory impairment in 2026-27. This is consistent with the allocation in 2025-26, 2024-25 and 2023-24.
The Scottish Government’s policy towards local authorities’ spending is to allow local authorities the financial freedom to operate independently. As such, the vast majority of funding is provided by means of a block grant. It is then the responsibility of individual local authorities to manage their own budgets and to allocate the total financial resources available to them, on the basis of local needs and priorities, having first fulfilled their statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities.
Asked by: Baker, Claire (Scottish Labour - Mid Scotland and Fife)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many Pension Age Winter Heating Payments were still to be paid by 26 February 2026, and when any such payments will be paid.
Answered by Somerville, Shirley-Anne - Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
The Scottish Government is delivering the strongest package of winter support in the UK.
Pension Age Winter Heating Payment is forecast to support at least 880,000 pensioners with heating bills this winter.
The information requested is not available in any data publication, and applications can continue to be submitted until 31 March 2026. Applications received after this date may still be considered in certain circumstances. Additionally, individuals may choose to opt out of receiving the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.
Management information published on 4 March 2026 shows that as of 21 February 2026,over 1,051,000 Pension Age Winter Heating Payments had been issued and the total value of payments issued was over £188.1 million.
Asked by: McNeill, Pauline (Scottish Labour - Glasgow)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the revenue and capital budgets allocated to Police Scotland have been in each year since the creation of Police Scotland.
Answered by Constance, Angela - Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
The Scottish Police Authority (SPA) revenue and capital budgets, as allocated at the annual Budget Bill from 2013-14 to 2026-27, are detailed in the following table. It is for the SPA to allocate its annual budget to support SPA Corporate, SPA Forensic Services and Police Scotland, to maintain policing in Scotland.
Financial year | Resource | Capital |
(£m) | (£m) | |
2013-14 | 1,062.4 | 18.3 |
2014-15 | 1,011.2 | 25.2 |
2015-16 | 985.8 | 28.1 |
2016-17 | 1,003.4 | 16.2 |
2017-18 | 1,022.4 | 20.0 |
2018-19 | 1,064.8 | 23.0 |
2019-20 | 1,095.1 | 35.0 |
2020-21 | 1,132.3 | 40.0 |
2021-22 | 1,205.3 | 45.5 |
2022-23 | 1,245.8 | 45.5 |
2023-24 | 1,348.2 | 50.1 |
2024-25 | 1,418.7 | 64.6 |
2025-26 | 1,475.7 | 75.0 |
2026-27 | 1,566.1 | 86.3 |
Asked by: Gibson, Kenneth (Scottish National Party - Cunninghame North)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many ferry sailings were scheduled in each year on the Lochranza to Tarbert and Tarbert to Lochranza ferry route in each year since 1 April 1999, and how many sailings did not take place due to (a) inclement weather, (b) mechanical breakdown and (c) other reasons, including the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Hyslop, Fiona - Cabinet Secretary for Transport
CalMac does not hold data on sailing performance prior to January 2007. The data provided covers up to February 2026, although that month has still to be audited and may therefore be subject to change.
Sailings cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic are included in the "cancelled (other)" category. During the period that services were compliant with COVID-19 regulations, the original scheduled timetables for routes across the network were replaced with lifeline and essential travel timetables.
The data in the following table is from May 2023 onwards when CalMac launched their new ticketing system. Prior to this, figures were reported under Claonaig/Lochranza as it was a shared service. These figures have been provided in the answer to S6W-44000 on 10 March 2026.
There is no data for 2026 yet as the service has not operated. This is because separate Claonaig/Lochranza and Tarbert/Portavadie services have been delivered during the winter 2025-26 period.
Route | Year | Leg | Scheduled Sailings | Cancelled (weather) | Cancelled (technical) | Cancelled (other) |
Tarbert/ | 2023 | Total | 123 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
Lochranza-Tarbert | 62 | 6 | 0 | 0 | ||
Tarbert-Lochranza | 61 | 6 | 0 | 0 | ||
2024 | Total | 298 | 14 | 101 | 5 | |
Lochranza-Tarbert | 148 | 7 | 26 | 2 | ||
Tarbert-Lochranza | 150 | 7 | 75 | 3 | ||
2025 | Total | 168 | 9 | 2 | 0 | |
Lochranza-Tarbert | 84 | 5 | 1 | 0 | ||
Tarbert-Lochranza | 84 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
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.
Asked by: Grant, Rhoda (Scottish Labour - Highlands and Islands)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what specific measures are being introduced to improve access to legal advice in rural island communities, beyond fee increases, to address the logistical challenges of travel and service delivery.
Answered by Brown, Siobhian - Minister for Victims and Community Safety
We know that change is needed to ensure that we have an adaptable, flexible, affordable and sustainable legal aid system in Scotland that supports people who are facing challenging issues and problems. Consideration is being given to primary legislation in the next Parliamentary term that will consolidate the Government's recent reform to legal aid in Scotland. This will ensure continued support to people who are facing challenging issues, of course including those in rural island communities. The decision to take this forward will be for the next Government.
This government has continued its investment in the legal aid system which is generally effective in delivering help to those in need, however we do recognise there are some challenges in relation to certain types of cases or locations.
There are several ways in which access to solicitors can be facilitated remotely, and funding is available to allow solicitors to travel to rural and remote parts of the country to carry out work, meaning that individuals do not have to rely on local provision alone when seeking publicly funded legal assistance.
The Civil Legal Assistance Office has been established and is a network of 3 offices in Scotland that helps people with civil legal problems. Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) employed solicitors can provide advice and assistance to people with particular types of civil legal problems across Highlands and Islands, Argyll and Bute, Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, and Edinburgh and the Lothians. Further, the Scottish Legal Aid Board manage 16 regional grant funded projects to support people facing legal action. This includes in island locations such as the Western Isles and Orkney Islands.
All of these services can operate across a wide geographical area and, through our ongoing reform programme, we are considering how different funding models can be used to strengthen access to legal aid where it is most needed.
Asked by: Baillie, Jackie (Scottish Labour - Dumbarton)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether free personal and nursing care under the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002 must be implemented promptly once eligibility is confirmed, or whether local authorities may lawfully delay implementation due to resource constraints.
Answered by Arthur, Tom - Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing
Free personal and nursing care is underpinned by the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002, which places a duty on local authorities to secure the provision of personal and nursing care, without charge, for individuals who are assessed as eligible. Once eligibility has been confirmed, local authorities must put arrangements in place as soon as reasonably practicable. Operational factors such as care planning and provider availability can affect timescales, but financial pressures or resource constraints do not remove or suspend the underlying statutory duty. The entitlement is not discretionary and applies equally to those who are self-funding their accommodation costs in care homes.
Decisions on eligibility are made by local authorities in line with the guidance set out in the National Eligibility Criteria Framework for Adult Social Care as agreed by the Scottish Government and CoSLA in 2009. The guidance provides a mechanism for managing demand for social care based on the principle that local authorities will manage their resources to focus first on supporting those people who are most in urgent need. It outlines that eligibility criteria should be based on risk and urgency of the need for support and sets out four risk categories against which people’s needs should be considered (low, moderate, substantial and critical).
Local authorities are democratically accountable for the discharge of their statutory responsibilities. Compliance is supported and overseen through statutory guidance, financial and performance reporting, scrutiny by the Care Inspectorate, and established complaints and redress mechanisms, including the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman. The Scottish Government continues to engage closely with CoSLA to understand system pressures and to support implementation which reflects both the statutory framework and the founding principles of free personal and nursing care.