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We welcomed the publication of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry’s Module 2 report on core decision-making and political governance on 20 November 2025.

Further to my statement to Parliament on that date, and following further consideration of the report, we can confirm today that the Scottish Government intends to publish its response before the dissolution of Parliament in 2026, in line with the timeframes set out by the Chair of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry.

The Scottish Government will now take the necessary time to engage with stakeholders, including through the dedicated Covid Inquiry Response Engagement Group. This group brings together members representing a broad range of stakeholder expertise, including organisations working with communities disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and those furthest from decision-making. Their participation ensures that the Scottish Government’s response reflects diverse perspectives and is grounded in real-world impact, while carefully considering the report’s findings and recommendations.

We want to express our sincere thanks to all health and social care sector staff for the incredible work they do every day, and we also recognise those who will continue to provide care throughout the festive season. We know winter brings extra challenges and pressures, and the commitment to delivering high-quality care during this time is truly appreciated and makes a real difference to patients and communities.

Our Surge and Winter Preparedness in Health and Social Care Services National Planning Priorities and Principles, published last month, emphasises the importance of supporting the mental health and wellbeing of the health and social care workforce, improving capacity and retention, and supporting unpaid carers. This includes meeting the requirements of the Health & Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019 and ensuring appropriate staffing levels across services to enable safe, high-quality care and better outcomes for service users.

The wellbeing of our health, social work and care workforce remains a central priority during the winter period.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42117 on 11 December 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42117 on 11 December 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42117 on 11 December 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.

In Stage 3 of the Victims Witnesses and Justice Reform Bill in closing remarks to the member’s amendment that the post of Victims Commissioner, when it is established, should carry out research into child sexual abuse, I raised awareness of the work led by Professor Alexis Jay.

I noted that Professor Jay had been the chair of an independent inquiry into child sexual abuse in England and Wales and had put on record to the media that she did not support further inquiries into child sexual abuse and exploitation and that “people should just get on with it”. I was quoting from remarks given by Prof Jay to BBC Radio on 7 January which were: "people should get on with" implementing her reforms and "We've had enough of inquiries, consultations and discussions - especially for the victims and survivors who've had the courage to come forward.”

Professor Alexis Jay wrote to me on 26 September 2025 regarding the debate wanting it clarified that her remarks were from January and not related to the specific amendment to the Bill. On 3 October 2025, Scottish Government officials contacted Professor Alexis Jay on this matter and it was agreed that it would be minuted at the Strategic Group’s meeting in October, that the quote was correct, and was from January and not made in relation to the amendment or the Victims Bill. That was then done.

Due to the reserved nature of telecoms legislation the Scottish Government is unable to intervene in negotiations between housing associations and network operators. Where it is not possible to reach an agreement, operators can seek to have an agreement imposed by the courts using the Electronic Communications Code.

The Scottish Government is supportive of reducing barriers to telecoms deployment and engage regularly with network operators to understand these issues and reflect them in our engagement with the UK Government.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42117 on 11 December 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 Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan (CESAP) was an important springboard for net zero skills planning.

Since its publication in 2020, significant progress has been made to further improve the evidence base, for instance with key reports such as the ‘’ report (published in November 2022), the ‘’ (published in November 2023), and the ‘’ report (published in December 2024).

In 2023, Ministers agreed not to publish a further standalone CESAP, opting instead to strategically align green skills policy and planning behind our wider net zero and economic growth priorities. It will also be a key consideration as we take forward work on Skills Planning.

The importance of skills and education in green sectors has been extensively recognised, including: the development of sectoral and site Just Transition Plans (various dates),the Green Industrial Strategy (September 2024), the recent Draft Circular Economy Strategy for Scotland (October 2025), the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy to 2045 (November 2024), and the Draft Environment Strategy (July 2025), and the upcoming Climate Change Plan (expected in 2026).

The Scottish Government remains firmly committed to embedding green skills and creating green jobs across all its policies to support a just transition to net zero.

Social Security Scotland provides three benefits specifically for unpaid carers, including Carer’s Allowance Supplement which provides extra support only available in Scotland. Carer’s Allowance Supplement is worth £587 in 2025/26 with eligible carers receiving the most recent payment of £293.50 from the 4th of December. From March 2026 we will make further improvements to support for unpaid carers, including new extra support for carers getting Carer Support Payment and caring for more than one person – a Carer Additional Person Payment worth £520 a year for each additional person being cared for.

Parents of disabled children can also benefit from support through Child Disability Payment, Child Winter Heating Payment, and our five family payments, including Scottish Child Payment. We are committed to uprating all forms of assistance delivered under the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 so that they retain their value as costs rise.

Beyond social security, parents across Scotland can benefit from a range of support under our cost-of-living guarantee, including free school meals and funded childcare hours.

Scottish Ministers are considering the Scottish budget for 2026-27, and this will be announced on 13 January 2026.