Asked by: Rennie, Willie (Scottish Liberal Democrats - North East Fife)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding it plans to make available for research into lobular breast cancer, and what its position is on whether such research funding should be proportionate to the prevalence of the condition.
Answered by Minto, Jenni - Minister for Public Health and Women's Health
The Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist Office (CSO) supports applied health research in Scotland through open competitive grant and fellowship schemes with a wide remit inclusive of research across the range of clinical conditions including types of cancers. Funding through these schemes is not specifically allocated to specific conditions so as not to constrain the range of research that can be funded. Applications submitted to these schemes are assessed through independent expert peer-review with funding recommendations made by independent expert committees. CSO also contributes financially to the National Institute of Health & Care Research (NIHR) in order that researchers in Scotland can apply to NIHR research programmes. NIHR recently issued a highlight notice to encourage applications for “high quality studies on Invasive Lobular Carcinoma (ILC) or lobular breast cancer".
Asked by: Baillie, Jackie (Scottish Labour - Dumbarton)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, following the pause to the publication of The Long Term Conditions Framework in December 2025, what progress has been made in establishing an advisory board for grouped long-term conditions, including myalgic enchephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and long COVID, and when the initial recommendations will be provided to the Scottish Government.
Answered by Minto, Jenni - Minister for Public Health and Women's Health
I opened an event with clinicians and third sector organisations on 25 February to set out the role and remit of the work on long term conditions going forward.
This work is a vital part of the Service Renewal Framework, Major Change One on the services that prevent disease, enable early detection and effectively manage chronic and long term conditions.
Advisory Groups led by clinicians and third sector organisations will now be set up with recommendations made to the new administration for consideration.
Asked by: Rennie, Willie (Scottish Liberal Democrats - North East Fife)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of the cancer research funding that it has awarded to date has been allocated to research on lobular breast cancer, and whether this has been in proportion to the prevalence of the condition, which accounts for a reported 15% of breast cancer cases.
Answered by Minto, Jenni - Minister for Public Health and Women's Health
The Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist Office supports open competitive grant and fellowship schemes for applied health research in Scotland across a wide remit that is inclusive of consideration of applications for research relating to cancers, including lobular breast cancer. Applications submitted to these schemes are assessed through independent expert peer-review with funding recommendations made by independent expert committees. While funding has been awarded for breast cancer research, none has been for research on lobular breast cancer specifically.
Asked by: Rennie, Willie (Scottish Liberal Democrats - North East Fife)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the suggestion by Lobular Moonshot Project for a ringfenced £20 million fund to be established by it and the other UK governments in the UK to support, over five years, research on the basic biology of lobular breast cancer.
Answered by Minto, Jenni - Minister for Public Health and Women's Health
The Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist for Health and officials from the Chief Scientist Office have arranged to meet with representatives of the Lobular Moonshot Project to discuss Lobular Breast Cancer research and the Lobular Moonshot Project suggestion.
Asked by: Hamilton, Rachael (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for energy consents under sections 36 and 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 over the last five years involved planning authority objections that resulted in a Public Local Inquiry being held.
Answered by McKee, Ivan - Minister for Public Finance
Details of Section 36 and Section 37 applications involving planning authority objections, resulting in a Public Local Inquiry over the last five years are as follows:
Section 36 applications (electricity generating station) 47
Section 37 applications (overhead lines) 7
Asked by: Ewing, Annabelle (Scottish National Party - Cowdenbeath)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what additional funding would require to be made available to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to implement the expansion of the firefighter role.
Answered by Brown, Siobhian - Minister for Victims and Community Safety
There is an in-principle agreement between the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Fire Brigades Union on role expansion for Scottish firefighters. However, the actual uplift in pay would be subject to detailed negotiation. The cost would therefore be dependent on the outcome of those negotiations.
Asked by: Greene, Jamie (Scottish Liberal Democrats - West Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to protect communities in light of the Community Security Trust reporting a 36% increase in antisemitic incidents in Scotland between 2024 and 2025, including the first recorded extreme violence case.
Answered by Brown, Siobhian - Minister for Victims and Community Safety
The Scottish Government stands firmly against any incidence of antisemitism. We are committed to robust and meaningful action to tackle all forms of this prejudice.
This includes yearly funding to the Jewish Council of Scotland to help build capacity for supporting those who have experienced antisemitic behaviour or are concerned by reported increases. An additional one-off grant was provided in 2024-25, in recognition of a growing demand for their services since the 07 October 2023 attacks and subsequent Middle East conflict. The UKG’s Places of Worship Protective Security Scheme is also available for Jewish communities in Scotland to apply.
Ministers and officials meet regularly with Jewish organisations to discuss matters relevant to their community and the Scottish Government is committed to continuing its engagement work in this area.
Our Hate Crime Strategy, which has been informed by Jewish partners as well as Police Scotland, is vital for developing effective methods of preventing antisemitism. More broadly we work across a range of portfolios, including education, equalities and justice, to forge a collective approach against any hatred which targets our Jewish communities.
Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Scottish Liberal Democrats - Edinburgh Western)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the publication of the Long Term Conditions Framework, for what reason it was halted less than 24 hours before its planned release on 18 December 2025; what specific stakeholder feedback informed this decision; whether a final draft existed at that point; whether that draft will be published, and whether the Parliament will be granted access to it.
Answered by Minto, Jenni - Minister for Public Health and Women's Health
I wrote to third sector partners on 17 December 2025 explaining that having given careful consideration to feedback from stakeholders, the Scottish Government would take more time to work with the third sector, clinicians and others to develop a Framework that meets the needs of people living with long term conditions, and meaningfully connects with the Health and Social Care Service Renewal Framework.
I also met with a range of stakeholders including the third sector and clinicians on 25 February. A set of advisory groups will now be established involving them to provide interim recommendations for consideration by the next government.
A draft framework was developed but will not be published, given this new approach.
Asked by: Gosal, Pam (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - West Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration has been given to the role of a respiratory Modern Service Framework in reducing winter pressures on the NHS by simultaneously improving outcomes for long-term respiratory conditions and short-term respiratory illnesses such as flu.
Answered by Minto, Jenni - Minister for Public Health and Women's Health
I refer the member to answer to questions S6W-43695 and S6W-43745 on 24 February 2026. The Scottish Government is aware of calls from respiratory stakeholders in England for a Modern Service Framework focused on respiratory care. To clarify, the UK Government has not introduced such a framework. Modern Service Frameworks are being developed for major conditions such as cardiovascular disease and dementia, but respiratory conditions are not currently included.
The Scottish Government will continue to monitor emerging approaches from across the UK while taking forward our own long term, evidence informed approach.
The Scottish Government’s strategic direction for respiratory care is currently set through the Respiratory care - action plan: 2021 to 2026 - gov.scot. This work supports resilience across the health system throughout the year, including during periods of increased pressure. Prioritising prevention, early detection and effective long term management helps reduce avoidable exacerbations which often drive urgent and unscheduled demand during winter.
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: Hamilton, Rachael (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding applications for energy consents, what assessment it has made of any financial savings that may be made as a result of the removal of the automatic Public Local Inquiry trigger.
Answered by McKee, Ivan - Minister for Public Finance
The Scottish Government has not made a formal assessment of financial savings that may be made as a result of the removal of the automatic Public Local Inquiry trigger. However, by selecting the most appropriate examination procedure based on the specific circumstances of each case, we expect timescales of applications for energy consent to be significantly shorter, helping to increase the overall efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the determination process.