Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government has not undertaken a specific assessment to establish the number of people living with Friedreich’s ataxia in Scotland.

As a rare condition, prevalence estimates are generally derived from published research and clinical expertise rather than routine national data collection.

We recognise the significant impact that Friedreich’s Ataxia can have on individuals and families and remain committed to improving care and support for people living with rare conditions through the implementation of Scotland’s Rare Disease Action Plan.

Data on alcohol sales in Scotland more generally is available from Public Health Scotland: https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/alcohol-consumption-and-harms-dashboard/alcohol-consumption-and-harms-dashboard-24-june-2025/.

The day to day administration of the alcohol licensing system in Scotland is the responsibility of the independent Licensing Boards.

Operational decisions about specific requirements falling on licensed premises - such as, for example, what data should be ingathered to help inform the development of each Licensing Board’s statement of licensing policies - is a matter for each individual Licensing Board to take a view on based on the needs of their own locality when formulating their respective Licensing Policy Statements.

Whole Family Support is delivered through a range of locally designed, community-based approaches across Scotland. These include family support hubs, which are developed and led locally, with their design and location determined by community needs and assets rather than a nationally prescribed model.

Examples of hub-based approaches supported to date through the Whole Family Wellbeing Funding Programme (WFWF) and Fairer Futures Partnerships (FFPs) include services in Dundee, Inverclyde, East Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire.

The Scottish Government does not maintain a comprehensive central list of existing or locally planned whole family support hubs. Local partners are best placed to determine the most appropriate support for their communities, including the development of whole family support hubs and the partnerships required to deliver them.

In our third Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan, Bringing Hope, Building Futures, we committed to developing a Whole Family Support System Change programme, which will bring together work across Fairer Futures Partnerships, the Whole Family Wellbeing Funding Programme and Whole Family Support Early Adopter Areas. The programme will help public and third sector partners to develop and expand effective place-based family support to tackle child poverty, keep The Promise and improve early child development.

Responsibility for the operational management of inpatient capacity, including the placement of patients in wards outside their specialty area where necessary, rests with individual NHS boards.

NHS Boards that have been required to conduct a formal investigation and submit a detailed action plan are:

• NHS Borders
• NHS Forth Valley
• NHS Highland
• NHS Lanarkshire
• NHS Lothian
• NHS Tayside
• NHS Ayrshire & Arran
• NHS Orkney

Information on the Scottish National Audit Programme audit governance process can be found at: Escalation of issues - Our audit governance - Overview of the Scottish National Audit Programme (SNAP) - Scottish National Audit Programme (SNAP) - Health strategy and outcomes - Resources and tools - Public Health Scotland

The Scottish Government is aware that Network Rail plans to carry out modernisation activity on the Stranraer line as signalling assets are reaching the end of their operational life. While some redundant infrastructure is proposed for removal as part of this programme, Network Rail has advised that current service levels will be maintained and the route will retain the ability to accommodate additional services in the future, should these be required.

No decision has been taken on the relocation of Stranraer station. Funding for any proposed relocation of Stranraer station does not feature in the Scottish Government's current investment programme.

The Scottish Government is engaging with the Association through formal channels in relation to their recent petition with the Scottish Parliament, on matters related to Covid vaccine injuries.

The Scottish Government has engaged with core participants of the UK and Scottish Covid public inquiries on similar topics raised by AVIS, and continue to do so as part of our response to Module 4 of the UK Covid public inquiry.

The Scottish Government’s position on traditional nuclear fission is clear: we do not support the building of any new nuclear power stations in Scotland under current technologies. Expansion of the Skills Passport into other sectors is currently being explored. However, in Scotland, any expansion into nuclear would only be in relation to nuclear decommissioning, in reflection of Scottish Government’s position.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-02932 on 18 September 2026. 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

The Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011, including the Treatment Time Guarantee provisions, remains the statutory standard.

There are no plans to replace the 12-week Treatment Time Guarantee with a 26-week standard. The 26-week figure relates to a long-wait ambition as part of wider work to reduce waits for orthopaedic treatment and improve access to care.