Official Report 256KB pdf
14:04
The next item of business is general question time. To accommodate as many questions as possible, I ask for concise questions and answers. I really mean that, because we have a lot of supplementary questions and I want to get in as many members as possible.
Short-term Prisoners (Early Release)
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the operation of the early release scheme for short-term prisoners. (S7O-00339)
The last emergency early release of short-term prisoners took place between November 2025 and April 2026. Only short-term prisoners who were within 180 days of their release date were eligible, with statutory exemptions for life sentence prisoners, registered sex offenders and those who had post-release supervision orders or were serving sentences for domestic abuse. In addition, governors were able to exercise a veto on any prisoner whose early release would be an immediate risk to a specific individual or group.
The process supported the release of 614 prisoners and provided a relatively swift and focused intervention, helping to control the prison population in response to emergency situations. The early release scheme was a necessary and proportionate action to support the safe operation of prisons, and it protected the wellbeing of prison staff and prisoners.
The response to a recent freedom of information request revealed to Reform showed that 750 foreign nationals are behind bars in Scotland. Given that this Scottish National Party Government is now releasing prisoners early and putting public safety at risk, can the cabinet secretary clarify to members why the Scottish Government does not support the deportation of foreign nationals, including the 223 strangers who carried out sexual crimes in our country?
That is a complete mischaracterisation of the Government’s position. Mr Kerr should know that the extradition of any member of society, prisoner or otherwise, is a matter for the United Kingdom Government. We routinely interact with UK ministers to ensure that any extradition process that can be forthcoming from Scottish prison estate is carried out.
The prison population has risen by around 14 per cent since the beginning of 2023, with a particularly sharp rise between March and May 2024. Can the cabinet secretary set out the main causes of that rise and the challenges that it poses for the running of the prison estate?
There is no single reason for the increase in the prison population, nor is there a single solution. The continued rise reflects actions to strengthen the justice system that have resulted in more convictions for serious and organised crime, as well as for historical and recent sexual offences.
Sentencing patterns have also shifted, with the average custodial sentence increasing by 37 per cent between 2014-15 and 2023-24, which has contributed to the growing number of long-term prisoners.
As Laura Mitchell will be aware, overcrowding has serious consequences for the safety and wellbeing of prison staff and prisoners and it limits the ability to deliver important work that supports successful rehabilitation. As we set out in our programme for government, achieving a sustainable prison population is a top priority, and we will take an approach that combines an expansion of the prison estate with the use of more robust community alternatives as well as reforms to release and parole that will enable us to take a preventative approach to crime.
Funded Early Learning and Childcare (Expansion)
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to including the expansion of 1,140 hours of funded early learning and childcare to all twins and other multiple-birth children from age two in its forthcoming Early Learning and Childcare Strategic Framework. (S7O-00340)
As was set out in the programme for government in early September, we will publish and consult on a blueprint for a transformed childcare offer in 2027. I encourage anyone with an interest, including families with twins or multiple births, to participate in that process so that proposals for the future of childcare in Scotland reflect the voices of children, families and childcare providers and of partners across Scotland’s childcare sector. It will be for Parliament to take decisions about future delivery.
Constituents have been in touch with me because they are concerned that that expansion will not be included in the forthcoming framework that I mentioned. We know from the results of the Government’s own work, released in response to a freedom of information request, that around 763 additional children from multiple births could benefit, and that that has been costed by the Government. Will the minister meet me and the parents that I have mentioned to ensure that their concerns can be fairly considered?
The FOI information that the member referred to was a limited internal assessment based on the policy and financial landscape at the time. A full assessment of future childcare delivery options and costs will be undertaken as part of the parliamentary and budgetary process. If Ms Lennon would like to write to my office, I would be happy to look at my diary in order to engage with her.
When I attended hustings hosted by Pregnant Then Screwed, I had the opportunity to meet a mum of twins—in fact, Willie Rennie and I had the honour of holding those beautiful babies. That mother has started the twin tax campaign and is calling on the Scottish Government to provide funded childcare to families with twins and other multiples before the end of 2027. Will the minister do that?
I absolutely understand the impact that childcare costs have on families. That campaign has been very successful so far—I have had lots of inquiries about it.
Under current arrangements, all three-year-olds and four-year-olds as well as eligible two-year-olds—those whom we believe will benefit most—have a statutory entitlement of up to 1,140 hours of funded ELC. That entitlement is per child, not per household.
As I said, we will be consulting on the issue next year, and I encourage everyone to participate.
I refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests, which states that I am a sitting member of West Lothian Council.
The Scottish National Party Government’s commitment to expanding childcare will further strengthen Scotland’s offer to families, with our cost of living package already providing the best support in the United Kingdom. What consideration is the Scottish Government giving to the importance of wraparound care when developing the ELC strategic framework?
I understand that wraparound care is of critical importance as part of our childcare transformation. Breakfast clubs and after-school clubs can improve outcomes for children and support working parents, particularly those who are less able to afford to access those services.
Our blueprint for a future childcare system in Scotland will set out the plans for delivering our commitment to provide families with breakfast clubs across Scotland from August next year, and a new after-school and holiday childcare offer for primary school children from August 2029.
Neonatal Intensive Care Plan (Rural Areas)
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the changes outlined in its proposed neonatal intensive care plan on rural areas. (S7O-00341)
I want to be clear that the care provided to the vast majority of babies from rural areas will largely not change under the new model of neonatal intensive care. Many of those babies currently receive neonatal intensive care in Aberdeen, Edinburgh or Glasgow. For example, as is currently the practice in the north of Scotland, the Aberdeen neonatal unit will continue to care for babies from the Grampian, Highland and the island health boards.
The change is about saving the lives of the smallest and sickest babies and improving their outcomes. A full equality impact assessment was carried out, covering the implementation of the best start five-year forward plan for maternity and neonatal care in Scotland, and was published on 30 April 2024. That remains a live document as implementation of the best start plan continues. Health boards are also expected to undertake their own impact assessments of any local changes to meet local requirements.
The Scotsman has revealed new data showing that the neonatal unit at Raigmore hospital was closed to new admissions for 231 days—more than seven and a half months—between 2023 and 2025. The National Childbirth Trust said that those figures raised serious questions and warned that, when women lose access to their local service, their choice is reduced and their confidence can be undermined. Can the minister reassure my constituents that plans to rebalance investment and deliver on other NHS capital projects will finally result in progress being made on the redesign of our local neonatal unit at Raigmore?
I can reassure the member that a certain level of care will continue to be provided by local neonatal units. However, babies from the Highlands and Islands have always had to travel to Aberdeen to access the very specialised care to which the reorganisation and remodelling relate. We are talking about the very sickest and smallest babies. They have always had to travel, and they will continue to do.
The Scottish Government’s evidence review that led to the neonatal centralisation plan shows that only two of the 17 peer-reviewed papers even remotely supported the Government’s position. Several papers highlighted serious safety concerns about transporting very pre-term babies in the days after birth. Can the minister point to any changes that have been made to minimise the danger of transporting pre-term babies and to avoid outcomes being poorer for the sickest babies as a result of its neonatal centralisation plans?
Jackie Baillie will be aware that the plan is for the very sickest babies. It is recognised that premature labour is a very common risk in such cases. The women are stabilised and transferred to the unit at which their baby would be cared for before they give birth. Many steps have been taken to avoid the situation that Jackie Baillie has described, of tiny, premature babies having to be transferred.
I am happy to write to Jackie Baillie with details if she will allow me to do so. She will know that the system already operates in Fife and Ayrshire, and I can furnish her with details about the number of incidents of the type that she has described that have occurred since 2019. I think that she will find the data reassuring.
I appreciate David Green’s question on this important issue. As I have discussed numerous times in the chamber, expectant mothers in Stranraer and Wigtownshire are expected to travel 75 miles or more to access full maternity care.
While we continue to wait for the outcome of the new national review of maternity services, will action be taken to help those expectant mothers, or are rural lives not important enough for this Government to justify efficient care?
Senga Beresford will be aware that that is somewhat off topic given that the question was about neonatal care. I refer her to the independent review of maternity services, the details of which are available on the Scottish Government website. The review, which was launched this week, is particularly focused on rural care, which will satisfy her concerns about the care of her constituents.
Diabetes Treatment (Hybrid Closed-loop Technology)
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it plans to make of any potential impact on patients and national health service boards before determining future funding arrangements in its budget 2027-28 for the delivery of hybrid closed-loop technology for people with type 1 diabetes. (S70-00342)
The Scottish Government remains committed to supporting access to clinically appropriate, safe and effective diabetes care, including the use of technology that aligns with clinical guidance and individual need. To support future decision making, we commissioned the national centre for sustainable delivery to develop a value case on further expansion of hybrid closed-loop systems. The findings will help to inform budget planning for 2027-28.
Given that the Scottish Government recognises the benefits of HCL technology in improving patient outcomes and significantly reducing the risk of costly long-term complications, what discussions has it had with NHS boards to seek assurances that the same scale and pace of HCL onboarding can and will be maintained following the baselining of centralised funding?
We have invested significantly to expand access to hybrid closed-loop systems across Scotland. Funding to support existing users has been incorporated into NHS board baseline allocations, and NHS boards are expected to continue to provide support in line with clinical guidance and individual patient need.
Although decisions on local service delivery are a matter for NHS boards, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Care has written to NHS board chief executives to make it absolutely clear that funding for hybrid closed-loop systems should be used as intended and that access for eligible patients should continue to be supported.
Scottish Household Survey 2025 (Childcare)
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the results of the Scottish household survey 2025 regarding childcare.
I am encouraged that the Scottish household survey childcare report shows that, overall, 92 per cent of households receiving funded early learning and childcare were very or fairly satisfied with the quality of provision.
The latest report provides insights into both the positives that our current funded childcare offer is already delivering and the challenges that families face, in terms of affordability of childcare. That is why, next year, we will publish and consult on a blueprint for a transformed childcare offer that is focused on what matters most to families.
The survey also showed that nearly one in five households thinks that childcare is unaffordable. The 1,140-hour commitment does not successfully deliver the promised flexibility that parents need, and there is too much regional variation. How will the Scottish Government ensure that lessons are learned as it expands its childcare offer?
From our discussions, lessons have been learned from the roll-out and implementation of the 1,140-hour entitlement. The cross-council borders issue is one that we all face at the moment. Going forward, into next year and into the consultation, I will be engaging with childminders and all stakeholders to ensure that we get this right.
Lessons do need to be learned, but one of the main concerns raised with me by the private, voluntary and independent sectors is the disparity of pay between that sector and local authorities. What is being done to actively close that hourly rate gap? Does the minister believe that those issues need to be fixed before we look at the expansion of childcare in Scotland?
Where the Scottish Government has devolved responsibility, we are prioritising investment to support our private, third and independent childminding sector providers. Scotland remains the only part of the United Kingdom to support a real living wage for workers, delivered through funding childcare through direct investment. To support that in 2026-27, we are making available a further £13.4 million. That money will enable childcare staff delivering funded hours through private and third sector providers to continue to be paid at least the real living wage, on top of the additional £25.7 million of recurring funding that we have delivered to support previous increases.
The concerns raised by the member have also been raised with me by stakeholders and we will continue to work with the industry on that.
Highlands and Islands Patient Travel Scheme
To ask the Scottish Government when it will review the Highlands and Islands patient travel scheme. (S7O-00344)
The Scottish Government is committed to a review of the patient travel reimbursement scheme guidance. Initial work is under way to consider the scope, focus and delivery approach for the review. As that work remains at an early stage, it would be premature to provide a timetable for its completion.
In April 2023, then public health minister Jenni Minto, responding to a question from Rhoda Grant, told the Parliament that the review would be taken forward as soon as possible. Over three years on, we are no further forward. Meanwhile, my constituents, if eligible, are able to access £60 for overnight accommodation. Presiding Officer, we all know that that will not get you very far in Inverness, Glasgow, or, indeed, in Stornoway, for patients travelling from Uist and Barra.
One constituent told me that, when they spent a month in Inverness receiving radiotherapy—
Question, please.
—their accommodation costs were £2,700, yet they were eligible to claim only £1,500. Does the minister agree that the current situation needs urgent attention?
I thank the member for raising the situation of his constituents and I have a lot of sympathy for the situation that they find themselves in. We remain committed to reviewing the patient travel guidance, including the arrangements for people living in the Highlands and Islands, and in his constituency specifically. However, before commencing the review, it is important that we carefully consider the scope, objectives and terms of reference to ensure that the review addresses the issues that matter most to patients. We want to ensure that the review is informed by wider work that is under way to improve access to healthcare through better transport connectivity and service planning, which would help to provide a more comprehensive assessment of the barriers faced by patients who need to travel for care.
I thank the minister for her update. I absolutely recognise the disruption caused for people in the Highlands and Islands when they are let down by transport services, given that I, too, live on an island. What support, beyond the Highlands and Islands patient travel scheme, is the Government able to give patients who might have to travel further for care?
I thank the member for her question and I recognise the work that she has done in this area. I absolutely recognise the challenges that are faced by people living in the Highlands and Islands, where the geography and transport connectivity can make accessing healthcare more difficult. There is support available through the Highlands and Islands patient travel expenses scheme and the young patients family fund. National health service boards may also provide additional assistance where travel is necessary and forms part of a patient’s treatment pathway.
As set out in the programme for government, we are taking forward wider public service reforms, and such support will be considered alongside that broader work to improve access to healthcare services.
I refer to my entry in the register of members’ interests—I am a sitting Highland councillor.
A Highland resident who is required to stay overnight for hospital treatment is a patient, not a visitor, yet the proposed Highland visitor levy could charge them before money is passed to NHS Highland to cover the very same charge through the patient travel scheme. Instead of creating that bureaucratic merry-go-round, will the minister work with councils to ensure that overnight accommodation required to access NHS treatment is simply exempt in the first place?
I thank the member for raising that very detailed point. If he writes to me, I would be happy to take up that issue on his behalf.
Domestic Abuse Advocacy
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support domestic abuse advocacy services. (S7O-00345)
Domestic abuse advocacy services provide vital support to victims and survivors, helping them navigate the justice system and stay safe at what can be an extremely difficult time. The Scottish Government recognises the increasing demand pressures faced by these services, and, through the victim-centred approach fund, is investing £12 million between 2025 and 2027 in specialist advocacy support for survivors of gender-based violence. We have also committed, through the programme for government, to provide additional support for organisations experiencing significant pressure and are working closely with affected services to assess demand and determine future funding requirements.
Last year, North Ayrshire Women’s Aid’s council funding was frozen; East Dunbartonshire’s Women’s Aid had its council funding cut by 10 per cent after years of frozen budgets; Clydebank Women’s Aid was forced to close; and, since January, ASSIST, the domestic abuse advocacy service, has had to refer domestic abuse victims in West Scotland to other areas. As the minister said, the Scottish Government has pledged to deliver emergency funding, so can she outline how much has been allocated and when it will be provided?
We recognise the concerns that the member raised. We are engaging directly with ASSIST to understand the issues in detail. Funding decisions must be informed by evidence of demand, cost and service sustainability, and that work is under way at pace. In the programme for government, we have committed to emergency funding to address urgent pressures, and we are working as quickly as possible to meet that commitment.
The Abused Men in Scotland advocacy group noted that recent Government statistics show that the proportion of domestic abuse victims who were male increased to 16 per cent of total recorded cases. Many believe that the stigma associated with men who face domestic abuse still lingers, with their issues not being taken as seriously as they should be. What is the Scottish Government doing to ensure that both male and female victims of domestic abuse can access support services easily and with dignity?
The member will be aware, as I am, of the proportion of women, as opposed to men, who are victims of domestic abuse, but that clearly does not mean that men are not also victims in that regard, and I assure her that, as part of the important work that we are doing, the Scottish Government’s focus is on victims of domestic abuse, whether they are women or men, and on prevention of further victimhood.
Given that domestic abuse is an underreported and often hidden crime, how does the delivering equally safe fund both fund and support services for those suffering domestic abuse and encourage victims of those crimes to come forward and engage with support services?
Through the delivering equally safe fund, we are investing in prevention and specialist support services that help victims and survivors of domestic abuse to access the assistance that they need. Alongside the £12 million victim-centred approach fund investment in specialist justice advocacy services, our delivering equally safe fund will provide almost £46 million from 2026 to 2028 to organisations supporting women, children and young people affected by abuse. By funding trusted trauma-informed services in communities across Scotland, we help to create safe opportunities for victims to disclose abuse, access advocacy and support, and engage with the justice system when and if they choose to do so.
Prime Minister (Labour Party Conference Speech)
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to a speech delivered by the Prime Minister at the Labour annual conference on 29 September regarding its potential impact on the people and economy of Scotland. (S7O-00346)
The Prime Minister rightly diagnosed a decade of decline caused by Brexit, but he appears to want another decade to fix it. That meant no response whatsoever to the fact that energy bills are on their way to being £1,000 higher than the Labour Party promised; it meant no response to the fact that diesel prices are in excess of £2 a litre; and it meant no response to the fact that mortgage rates are now hitting a three-year high, at 6 per cent. Scotland does not need another decade of decline with Westminster. It needs the opportunity to decide its own future.
The Prime Minister’s speech last week focused on what may or may not happen after the next general election, and that will be financed by pensioners losing the triple lock on their pensions. As the cabinet secretary referenced, diesel now costs more than £2 a litre, energy bills are set to be £1,000 higher by January than Labour promised and food prices are again set to soar before Christmas. Does the cabinet secretary agree that the United Kingdom Government needs to focus more on the here and now and deliver the cost of living support that Scottish households need this winter?
Yes, I do. I am sure that Clare Haughey’s sentiments will be shared by families right across Scotland who are having to pay those prices at the fuel pump and who are looking at their energy bills realising that they cannot afford them, as well as by home owners who are trying to remortgage but know that they do not have the money to do so. The reality is that, under Westminster control, the economy is broken, and it was Brexit that broke it. The only way to a better future is for Scotland to be independent.
That concludes general questions. I apologise to the many members who I was unable to call to ask supplementary questions.
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