Paul Sweeney

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville · 3 Jul 2026

The Scottish Government routinely publish data for Scotland on the number of social rented dwellings as a share of the total number of dwellings on an annual basis, and it is available Housing statistics: Stock by tenure tables. The latest data shows that 23% of the total housing stock are social housing (2024), it has been 23% since 2014.The collation of equivalent data across the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) states can be found here on tab ’Figure PH4.2.1’. The data is available from 2022 or latest year available. The OECD average is 7% in 2022, further data is available for other countries/areas can be found in Table 1 below.From the information provided by the OECD, there are differences in definitions of social housing, as well as country level differences in collecting data on social housing, and time periods to consider when making comparisons – all of which might make these comparisons not like for like. For example, the Netherlands included some private rented housing below market rent in their data return to the OECD, whereas the Scotland data only includes housing owned by a housing association or a local authority.Table 1: Number of social rental dwellings as a share of the total number of dwellings, 2022 or latest year available, published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and DevelopmentArea% of total housing stockYearNetherlands34.12021Austria23.62019Denmark21.32022United Kingdom (England)16.42022France14.02018Ireland12.72016Iceland11.12016Finland10.92021Korea8.92018Switzerland8.02013EU8.0-OECD7.1-Poland6.62020Slovenia4.72018Belgium4.22018Norway4.12022New Zealand3.82020United States3.62019Czechia3.62021Canada3.52022Australia3.22021Japan3.12018Hungary2.62018Germany2.62021Slovak republic2.52021Italy2.42022Latvia1.92016Israel1.82023Spain1.12019Estonia1.12017Portugal1.12021Lithuania0.82020Colombia0.02019

Answer · Ivan McKee · 6 Jul 2026

The Scottish Government’s Client Guide to Construction Projects provides detailed guidance for public bodies on the conduct of all construction projects including design and build. It reinforces the importance of embedding the delivery of quality in construction projects from the very start and recognises the critical role of clients in creating the systems and culture that underpin it. It is supplemented by construction policy notes which include guidance for oversight and site inspection in design and build projects. These are mandated for all projects which fall within the scope of the Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM).The Scottish Government also continue to encourage all public sector bodies to use the Client Guide and the associated Construction Capability Assessment Tool in order to ensure their organisation is prepared for and aligned with all the requirements of their chosen procurement route.The Scottish Government will continue to review and develop the Client Guide to Construction Projects and strengthen its visibility and impact

Answer · Ben Macpherson · 13 Jul 2026

Scotland is uniquely positioned to support delivery of the AI Hardware Plan, with globally competitive strengths in photonics, semiconductors, novel architectures, low-power and edge AI systems. These are areas specifically identified in the Scottish government’s AI Strategy (2026).Scotland is home to a £4.4bn critical technologies supercluster, with over 160 companies, 11,500 jobs and >80% export revenue. The Scottish Government is directly supporting the industry ambition to grow to £10bn and 17,500 jobs by 2035.The Scottish Government provides long-term core funding to Technology Scotland as the Cluster Management Organisation and industry body for these sectors, and to the Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics, arguably the UK’s strongest translational assets in this field. Other assets include Glasgow’s James Watt Nanofabrication Centre, the National Advanced Semiconductor Packaging and Integration Centre, and Edinburgh Parallel Computing Centre.The Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport has written to the UK Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology to urge the UK government to ensure Scotland’s strengths are recognised and that opportunities are not solely flowing to elsewhere in the UK.

Answer · Stephen Flynn · 18 Jun 2026

Transport Scotland is not currently able to approve the opening of the M80 overbridge at Robroyston. This is because the developer has still to complete all outstanding construction works, carry out a Principal Bridge Inspection, and finalise a Stage 3 Road Safety Audit. Responsibility for completing these actions, and therefore enabling the footbridge to open, rests with the developer.

Answer · Tom Arthur · 22 Jun 2026

The Scottish Government has a long established relationship with Petroineos, and our engagement has centred on progressing transition options for the asset and site, in particular following the onset of Covid-19 pandemic travel restrictions which further intensified challenges associated with the refinery’s operational efficiency and commercial performance. These challenges were explained publicly by the refinery’s owner in the lead up to and following its closure. This engagement has resulted in a number of Scottish Government co-funded feasibility studies from 2021 onwards, culminating in the Project Willow study.It is regrettable that, with the exception of the Project Willow study, the UK Government did not come to the table alongside the Scottish Government and the company to consider transition options for the asset in the years leading up to its closure.The closure of the Grangemouth refinery is a matter of deep regret for the Scottish Government, despite Labour promising during the 2024 General Election campaign to save it from closure. I am also disappointed that, to date, not a penny of the National Wealth Fund’s £200 million Grangemouth allocation has been spent despite numerous pleas from this Government to do so.

Answer · Stephen Flynn · 16 Jun 2026

A scheme to replace fire-damaged tiles at the M8 Charing Cross Underpass is currently in development, following a vehicle fire in April 2025 that caused damage to a section of the underpass’ tiled lining. Works are programmed to commence in October, with completion expected by December 2026.

Answer · Stephen Flynn · 16 Jun 2026

The Scottish Government has not undertaken design work in relation to quad-tracking the railway between Hyndland East Junction and Finnieston East Junction (located at the site of the former Kelvinhaugh Junction).