Asked by: Burgess, Ariane (Scottish Green Party - Highlands and Islands)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will require local authorities to introduce byelaws governing accommodation for seasonal agricultural workers.
Answered by Somerville, Shirley-Anne - Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Housing
As set out in the answers S7W-02915 and S7W-02916 on 17 September 2026, the Scottish Government have outlined our expectations regarding use of Section 315 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 by local authorities.
It is important that local authorities have sufficient time to determine the most appropriate approach to introducing these byelaws, taking account of local circumstances and needs. It would therefore not be appropriate to outline a date.
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: Kerr, Stephen (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Mid Scotland and Fife)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how often operational baseline levels have been breached by Police Scotland in each of the last five years.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Justice
The Scottish Government does not hold this information. Workforce management and deployment are operational matters for the Chief Constable, with oversight by the Scottish Police Authority.
Asked by: Kerr, Stephen (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Mid Scotland and Fife)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how often operational baseline levels have been met by Police Scotland in each of the last five years.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Justice
The Scottish Government does not hold this information. Workforce management and deployment are operational matters for the Chief Constable, with oversight by the Scottish Police Authority.
Asked by: Bland, Amanda (Reform UK - Central Scot and Lothians West)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of reports of unsatisfactory outcomes across the justice system, including whether these factors are operational or system-wide in nature.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Justice
The Scottish Government draws on a range of evidence to inform its understanding of outcomes across the justice system, including: official statistics, research, inspection findings, stakeholder engagement, lived experience and feedback from those who interact with justice services, as well as information provided by justice agencies.
We recognise that outcomes and experiences are not always as they should be. In some cases, the causes may be operational and relate to the delivery of services by individual organisations. In others they may reflect wider pressures and broader challenges across the system.
That is why we work with justice partners to both identify and address specific issues where they arise; and to collaborate with them to pursue the system-wide reform needed to deliver a more efficient, person-centred and trauma-informed justice system.
Asked by: Eagle, Tim (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Highlands and Islands)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator regarding its ongoing inquiry into the John Muir Trust, and when it expects the inquiry to conclude.
Answered by Somerville, Shirley-Anne - Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Housing
We have not had any engagement with OSCR regarding its inquiry into the John Muir Trust. As charities and OSCR are independent of government, it would not be appropriate for Scottish Ministers to intervene in any ongoing inquiries. Any queries regarding the inquiry should be directed to OSCR.
Asked by: Kerr, Stephen (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Mid Scotland and Fife)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how often resource tolerance indicators have been breached by Police Scotland in each of the last five years.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Justice
The Scottish Government does not hold this information. Workforce management and deployment are operational matters for the Chief Constable, with oversight by the Scottish Police Authority.
Asked by: Briggs, Miles (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Edinburgh and Lothians East)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what savings it has (a) identified and (b) achieved through its £30 million Invest to Save Fund.
Answered by McKee, Ivan - Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Reform
The Invest to Save Fund supports projects intended to deliver efficiencies, service improvements and financial savings across the public sector. Many projects require a period of implementation before benefits can be realised, and it may take between two and three years for projects to mature sufficiently to begin delivering their full savings potential.
As part of the application and assessment process, funded projects are required to identify anticipated benefits and savings. Projects supported through the current funding round are forecast to deliver approximately £178 million of savings over five years.
Projects supported through the first year of the Fund identified anticipated savings of approximately £167 million over the next five years. These projects are at varying stages of delivery.
The Scottish Government continues to monitor project delivery and benefits realisation, including financial savings, through its fund management and reporting arrangements. No consolidated assessment of realised savings is yet available.
Asked by: Kerr, Stephen (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Mid Scotland and Fife)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how often resource tolerance indicators have been met by Police Scotland in each of the last five years.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Justice
The Scottish Government does not this information. Workforce management and deployment are operational matters for the Chief Constable, with oversight by the Scottish Police Authority.
Asked by: Baker, Claire (Scottish Labour - Mid Scotland and Fife)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what training and guidance is provided to NHS Scotland staff on recognising heart attacks in women, including presentations that may differ from the symptoms traditionally associated with myocardial infarction.
Answered by Todd, Maree - Minister for Mental Wellbeing, Public Health, Sport, Alcohol and Drugs
The Scottish Government does not mandate a single national training programme recognising heart attacks in women for NHS Scotland staff. Decisions on workforce training and professional development are primarily a matter for individual NHS Boards, informed by national clinical guidance, professional standards and evidence-based practice.
NHS Scotland staff are supported through a range of clinical guidelines, professional education and evidence-based resources relating to the recognition, diagnosis and management of cardiovascular disease, including myocardial infarction. For example, NHS Inform provides dedicated information on women's heart health, including information on heart attack symptoms in women and the importance of seeking urgent treatment. NHS Inform also highlights that women may experience symptoms differently and may delay seeking help, emphasising the importance of recognising symptoms and accessing emergency care promptly.
Asked by:
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to ending corridor care in NHS Scotland, and, if so, whether it will set clear milestones, timelines and accountability mechanisms to ensure that people are no longer treated in corridors and other non-clinical spaces.
Answered by Constance, Angela - Cabinet Secretary for Health and Care
On 31 August 2026 we published the Health and Care Improving Flow Plan 2026-2031. It sets out the Scottish Government’s position that corridor care is unacceptable, and should be eradicated. The plan includes a clear commitment to tackle overcrowding and corridor care, creating safer and more dignified environments for patients and staff.
Ministers will have direct oversight of this improvement activity through our Collaborative Response and Assurance Group. More detailed work is now underway with Health Boards to establish monitoring of delivery of the Improving Flow Plan, to ensure progress is made. Delivery plans are being developed which will set out actions, milestones and accountability mechanisms.