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Decisions on licensing and consenting for offshore oil and gas, as well as the associated fiscal regime and security of supply are matters reserved to the UK Government.

Ministers and officials engage with a wide range of stakeholders in the course of their duties and will continue to do so alongside considering the Court rulings.

We support a just transition for Scotland’s valued oil and gas sector. The judgements and issues our view on future licencing of oil and gas are informed and influenced by recent developments in the UK Government’s energy policy and court decisions. This is a rapidly changing landscape, and we are taking time to reflect on those developments before drawing any conclusions and publishing a final strategy.

We continue to call on UK Government to also listen carefully to the concerns being expressed by businesses around risks to jobs and investment in the transition. We also continue to monitor evidence and information on the energy transition and fuel security from a range of sources.

The Scottish Government remains committed to supporting Mark Ruskell MSP to progress his Member’s Bill to reconsideration as soon as practical. Given our experience of the reconsideration process with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024, we have agreed with Mr Ruskell that the Scottish Government will draft, lodge and speak to the amendment provisions we consider necessary to address the legislative competence issues raised in the UK Supreme Court judgement.

We wish to preserve as much of the Bill as possible however, we are clear that this must be balanced against the need to minimise a second referral to the Supreme Court. Scottish Government lawyers continue to engage with the UK Government regarding the Bill. We will provide an update to Mr Ruskell MSP and Parliament as soon as we are in a position to share any further information.

We are committed to listening to the victims’, and their families, views on how the parole system can be improved.

This why the First Minister, Minister for Victims, and I, are committed to meeting victims and hear how we can better support them through the parole process.

Continuous improvement is essential to ensuring the parole system remains effective and fit for purpose.

However, any proposals to amend parole rules need to be carefully considered, and fully assessed, to understand their impact.

I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-32369 on 8 January 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

The Scottish Government regularly engages with the offshore oil and gas industry on a range of topics, including workforce planning. For example, the First Minister last met with Offshore Energies UK along with myself in September 2024 and this included discussion of jobs in the context of the energy transition.

In the unfortunate event of any employees facing redundancy, the Scottish Government will always offer and provide support through our initiative for responding to redundancy situations, Partnership Action for Continuing Employment, PACE. Through providing skills development and employability support, PACE aims to minimise the time individuals affected by redundancy are out of work.

The Scottish Government remains committed to providing legal aid for a wide scope of actions. The draft Scottish Budget includes a proposed further investment of £14.2 million for the Legal Fund in 2025-26 which is an increase of 10% on this year’s budget (to £155.5 million).

Despite financial constraints, the Scottish Government continues to focus on building a more inclusive Scotland for all, investing in services and support that will help our communities during these difficult times.

Our budget, if passed by Parliament, will ensure that this government can continue to prioritise action to eradicate child poverty, protect our public services including improving access to legal aid and grow Scotland’s economy, while addressing the inequalities that many in our communities still face.

I recognise that change is needed to ensure we have a legal aid system that meets the needs of people. We are publishing our legal aid action plan for reform shortly, and I intend to take forward work in this area in the coming months and I will meet with the legal profession and stakeholders to hear views from across the justice system on areas for reform.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-31040 on 13 November 2024 in respect of solicitor numbers. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-32820 on 15 January 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

There is currently no provision in the draft Budget 2025-26 for new stations at Cove and Newtonhill, as we are awaiting the formal investment case being conducted by Nestrans to conclude.

Rail proposals are considered by Transport Scotland subject to a robust business case being demonstrated in line with and , as well as other Scottish Government priorities, our rail investment strategy and affordability.

In recognition of calls from the interested parties, Nestrans previously received Scottish Government funding to undertake the initial stages of the . This is now funded by them and they are using STAG for the appraisal of options to improve opportunities for travel by all modes between Aberdeen and Laurencekirk. The appraisal is considering multi-modal transport options, including options for buses and rail stations at Cove and Newtonhill. This work is nearing completion and Transport Scotland will consider its findings once received.

Our draft route map to achieving a 20% reduction in car use, co-developed with COSLA, published in January 2022, committed to exploring equitable options for demand management to discourage car use. A period of engagement and consultation followed publication, and the analysis and consideration of the consultation responses are shaping an updated route map.

The independent research on Travel Demand Management Options Study by AECOM was intended to be published alongside the updated route map. However, the decision was taken to publish the research ahead of this this, adding to the evidence base on how to reduce car use fairly in Scotland, while Transport Scotland continues to engage with local and regional partners to update the route map which we will publish on completion of that engagement. The AECOM research is not Scottish Government policy and was published alongside a