It has always been the Scottish Government’s intention that extended producer responsibility for packaging funding should support investment to improve recycling rates and reduce carbon emissions, especially during the early years of the scheme. Therefore, there will be no reduction in the local government finance settlement as a result of extended producer responsibility for packaging payments in the first year of the scheme (2025-26). The funding purpose - to pay for the cost of managing household packaging waste - is clearly set out in legislation.

My officials confirmed with Network Rail that, taking account of available budgets, the refurbishment of Glasgow Central low-level platforms 16 and 17 will not take place in Railway funding Control Period 7 (CP7), which spans 2024-29. Network Rail will be responsible for determining when and if these renewals works take place, at a date beyond 2029.

Whilst the issue raised is a commercial matter for Wood Group and any prospective partner, the Scottish Government and Enterprise Agencies aim to work with businesses in Scotland, domestic and overseas owned, to ensure Scottish operations are not only secured here but opportunities for growth are pursued.

Growing the economy has been identified as one of the Scottish Government’s four strategic priorities. Our approach to growing Scotland’s economy requires balance. It is important that we focus on both strengthening Scotland’s domestic industries and ensuring our economy is open and internationally focused.

It must also be noted that the powers required to legislate in respect of company acquisition between private sector organisations are reserved to the UK Parliament.

The Arms' Length External Organisations (ALEO) should mirror the Local Authority’s asset transfer policy and act within the spirit of the law. In addition to those bodies listed in Schedule 3 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015, Scottish Ministers may by order designate other bodies as a relevant authority. If an ALEO meets the criteria in section 78(4) and (5) of the Act, it can be designated as a relevant authority by an order under section 78(3) but this would not amend schedule 3. As there is no prescribed process by which organisations are considered for designation, each one of Glasgow City Council's ALEOs would have to be considered on an individual basis.

The Scottish Government’s immediate priority is to identify and attract investors that will seek to progress the outputs of Project Willow and other such propositions across the industrial cluster to ensure a sustainable future for industry in Grangemouth. The public sector has a critical role to play in accelerating the buildout of new technologies at Grangemouth which is why we have established a £25 million Grangemouth Just Transition Fund to catalyse private sector investment.

We will continue to engage with business, the workforce and the community to ensure that the Scottish Government’s support meets their needs.

The scale of investment required to transform Grangemouth is vast and will require the UK Government to contribute its fair share. The UK Government has promised £200 million from within the National Wealth Fund to ensure that any gap between the cessation of refining and the phasing in of new projects is as brief as possible, and the process for identifying projects is continuing at pace.

The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 sets out that it is for planning authorities to issue a Building Preservation Notice, as such, any policy Historic Environment Scotland may introduce would be guidance only and would not supersede the legislation.

Designation is not a barrier to development proposals or to applications for planning permission, rather it is designed to ensure that appropriate consideration of the cultural, social, environmental and economic value of Scotland’s historic environment is taken into account during any planning process.

The Scottish Government delivers support for the historic environment through our sponsorship of Historic Environment Scotland, the lead public body responsible for preserving, maintaining and promoting the historic environment.

Historic Environment Scotland has published guidance setting out its policy for designation on its website titled ‘Designation Policy and Selection Guidance’. If further clarification is required, Historic Environment Scotland would be best placed to answer the member directly at chiefexecutive@hes.scot.

As the lead public body responsible for preserving, maintaining and promoting the historic environment Historic Environment Scotland will consider any application for designation in line with its published policy ‘Designation Policy and Selection Guidance’.

Any individual can apply for a site to be designated and the designation consideration process by Historic Environment Scotland ensures that the historical and cultural significance of each site is fully considered.

As detailed in its ‘Designation Policy and Selection Guidance’, Historic Environment Scotland aims to act proportionately within the Scottish Regulators Code of Practice.

Although that means usually avoiding any unnecessary intervention in the planning process or other regulatory processes where there are development proposals by adding a new designation, the individual circumstances are fully considered, including the implications of the proposed designation and the effect development proposals would have in each case.

I have asked Historic Environment Scotland to write to the member to explain its policy further.

The Scottish Government understands the important role that sport and leisure services play in improving people’s lives, and the physical, mental, and social health benefits they can bring.

The Scottish Government recognises the financial challenges that local government are facing and that local authorities and their employees play a crucial role in communities and that is why the 2025-26 Scottish Budget provides record block grant funding of over £15.1 billion for local government, an increase of £1.1 billion or 5.5 per cent in real terms compared to 2024-25.

In 2025-26, Glasgow City Council will receive over £1.8 billion to support day to day services and capital investment plans, which equates to an extra £96.8 million or an additional 5.5% compared to 2024-25. In addition, all Councils will receive their fair share of the currently undistributed sum of £245 million and £144 million allocated for employers' National Insurance Contributions.

While it is for 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, we will work together to find collective solutions about issues that matter to the people of Scotland.