Asked by: Whittle, Brian (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - South Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the existing CT and MRI scanner stock across NHS boards, what conversations it has had with NHS boards and what assessment it has made of whether it is sufficient to meet present and future demand.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
I refer the member to the answer to S6W-43945 on 5 March 2026, National Radiology Lead from the Centre for Sustainable Delivery meets regularly with Health Boards to discuss imaging performance, staffing levels and scanner stock. NHS Boards have been asked to provide plans to support delivery of the 95% target of patients seen within 6 weeks throughout 2026-27.
Furthermore, we are looking at options to increase the amount of CT and MRI scanners as well as more robust replacement plans of the current stock to ensure technology advances are optimised which in turn can improve throughput, reduce radiation dose and improve energy efficiency.
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: Whittle, Brian (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - South Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the most recent Public Health Scotland data, what assessment it has made of the likelihood of meeting the March 2026 diagnostic waiting times target for radiology.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
The latest statistics show that as at 31 December 2025, of those waiting for Radiology tests, 62% had been waiting six weeks or less; higher than 30 September 2025 (58%) and December 2024 (57%). The radiology list size also decreased by 18.1% compared to last quarter. We are determined to continue to build on this momentum, ensuring people receive the treatment they need as soon as possible.
Throughout 2025-26, all Boards were expected to incrementally ramp-up activity as the capacity provided by the £22 million additional funding operationalised, with some high volume initiatives commencing in the latter part of the year.
Asked by: Sweeney, Paul (Scottish Labour - Glasgow)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the likelihood of meeting the March 2026 diagnostic waiting times target for radiology, in light of the most recent Public Health Scotland data.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
The latest statistics show that as at 31 December 2025, of those waiting for Radiology tests, 62% had been waiting six weeks or less; higher than 30 September 2025 (58%) and December 2024 (57%). The radiology list size also decreased by 18.1% compared to last quarter. We are determined to continue to build on this momentum, ensuring people receive the treatment they need as soon as possible.
Throughout 2025-26, all Boards were expected to incrementally ramp-up activity as the capacity provided by the £22 million additional funding operationalised, with some high volume initiatives commencing in the latter part of the year.
Asked by: Wishart, Beatrice (Scottish Liberal Democrats - Shetland Islands)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with Royal Mail regarding the reported operational pressures it faces and the possibility of late or non-delivery of election material, including postal ballots, which could compromise the democratic process ahead of the forthcoming Scottish Parliament election period.
Answered by Dey, Graeme - Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans
While Royal Mail and postal delivery services are reserved to the UK Government, the Scottish Government is committed to the safe delivery of the parliamentary election on 7 May.
I have been concerned to see recent reports from the BBC and other media outlets stating that Royal Mail are pursuing a policy of prioritising the delivery of parcels while letters remain undelivered for a much longer period of time than should be the case. This is why I have already written to Mr Alistair Cochrane, Interim CEO of the Royal Mail Group, requesting a meeting to discuss with him how Royal Mail intend to ensure all election materials are delivered within the required timescales.
In addition, representatives of the Electoral Management Board for Scotland will be meeting with Royal Mail representatives on a weekly basis from mid-March to the election on 7 May. This was normal practice in the run up to previous elections and provides an opportunity to discuss any emerging issues.
Asked by: Whittle, Brian (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - South Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work to implement the recommendations from the Independent Review of the Skills Delivery Landscape by James Withers, particularly around engagement with business.
Answered by Macpherson, Ben - Minister for Higher and Further Education
The Scottish Government remains committed to driving change through our Post-School Education and Skills Reform Programme. Recent progress includes the passing of The Tertiary Education and Training (TET) Bill on 20 January, which will simplify the system by giving responsibility for funding national training programmes and all apprenticeships to a redesigned Scottish Funding Council. We have also reached agreement on a new model for skills planning with the Scottish Funding Council and Skills Development Scotland. In the period ahead, this work involves identifying a manageable number of sectors for national Skills Needs Assessments (SNAs). This will focus assessment capacity where national level insight can add the greatest value, rather than attempting to assess the whole economy in depth at once.
Once we have enhanced understanding of the skills needs in these sectors, the Scottish Government will identify priority skills and set expectations for the system in addressing these, whereas SFC will ensure planning and reporting is in place for delivery of post-school provision for the priority skills. This is being tested with partners across industry, regions and providers before any decisions are finalised. In all of this we continue to engage closely with businesses and employers. The Scottish Government hosts an employer roundtable which provides an opportunity for strategic engagement with employers. In addition, officials have set up a national reform employer network to engage employers at project level. I have also led extensive engagement with employers, businesses and business representative organisations on specific proposals including the TET Bill and the new model for Skills Planning. We will continue to engage closely with them as we progress this work.
Asked by: Rennie, Willie (Scottish Liberal Democrats - North East Fife)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work being carried out to simplify the application process of the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme, in light of its commitment in its 2025-26 Programme for Government.
Answered by McAllan, Màiri - Cabinet Secretary for Housing
The wide range of improvements delivered for the Home Energy Scotland (HES) Grant and Loan scheme include introduction of a digital customer claim verification process, simplified documentation requirements, language and layout updates to the application portal, as well as improved guidance and named caseworker support for applicants. We have also developed guidance tailored for installers.
These changes have improved the customer journey, with customer satisfaction scores rising to consistently above 90%. I attended a roundtable with installers and manufacturers in the clean heat sector at the Energy Training Academy in February to gather further feedback, and we remain committed to making further improvements.
Asked by: McLennan, Paul (Scottish National Party - East Lothian)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what the target date is for carrying out remediation of unsafe cladding in Scotland to ensure that all high-risk buildings are made safe.
Answered by McAllan, Màiri - Cabinet Secretary for Housing
Ministers have committed that by 2029 every high-risk residential building over 18 metres in Scotland will have been resolved - whether made safe, decommissioned or replaced - and every building between 11 and 18 metres will be on a defined pathway to resolution. This is in line with England.
Asked by: Whittle, Brian (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - South Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of NHS Ayrshire and Arran's escalation to stage 4 of the NHS Scotland Support and Intervention Framework, what discussions it has had with the board regarding the (a) operating cost so far and (b) date of the opening of the National Secure Adolescent Inpatient Service for Scotland (Foxgrove); what its response is to the recent information released under Freedom of Information that £5,243,606 has been spent on salaries for staff at the site since 2021, despite it not yet formally being opened, what its position is on whether this represents good value for the public purse, and whether it expects Foxgrove to open prior to 7 May 2026, before the Scottish Parliament election.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
Ministers remain committed to ensuring that the National Secure Adolescent Inpatient Service at Foxgrove opens as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so. Scottish Government officials meet regularly with NHS Ayrshire and Arran and NHS Scotland Assure to monitor progress towards opening, including discussion of operational readiness, workforce matters and associated costs.
Recruitment of specialist staff in advance of opening is necessary to ensure appropriate training, governance arrangements and regulatory compliance are in place for what will be a highly specialist national service. The costs referenced relate to establishing and retaining a skilled workforce to support safe delivery of care once the service becomes operational.
Opening will take place once all safety, clinical and regulatory requirements have been fully satisfied.
Asked by: Whittle, Brian (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - South Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of NHS Ayrshire and Arran's escalation to stage 4 of the NHS Scotland Support and Intervention Framework, what discussions it has had with the board regarding whether it is seeking to sell the Carrick Glen National Treatment Centre, and whether the board has formally made such a request, including whether the board asked that the sale takes place after 7 May 2026, following the Scottish Parliament election.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
The escalation of NHS Ayrshire and Arran to level 4 of the framework has no impact on decision making around the National Treatment Centre or the Carrick Glen site.
Carrick Glen Hospital has not yet been disposed of because the necessary service-planning and asset-surplus processes are still ongoing, and it would be inappropriate to bring a site to market before those steps are complete. Also, no request has been made regarding the timing of any sale in relation to the Scottish Parliament election.
We are currently working with all health boards to develop an NHS whole system infrastructure plan for Scotland. This will support continued safe and effective use of existing facilities as well as informing future investment priorities based on assessment of need across the whole of Scotland.
Asked by: Ross, Douglas (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Highlands and Islands)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills is ashamed that the written case for Scottish ministers and the Lord Advocate in the judicial review of the Scottish Prison Service policy for the management of transgender people in custody did not include a single mention of women’s rights.
Answered by Gilruth, Jenny - Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills
I refer the member to the answer to question S6O-05505 on 12 February 2026 which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at Meeting of the Parliament: 12/02/2026 | Scottish Parliament Website.