- Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 September 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 5 October 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the extent of the impact of reserved powers over broadcasting and advertising on Scotland’s ability to protect children and young people from marketing of alcohol and products high in fat, salt or sugar.
Answer
The Scottish Government is supportive of approaches to protect children and young people from the advertising of products that may cause health harms. The Scottish Government notes that the regulation of advertising for public health reasons is devolved to the Scottish Parliament, but some specific forms of regulation – such as those targeted at advertising on tv and radio broadcasts – can be reserved to UK Government.
The Scottish Government supported the legislation introduced by the UK Government to restrict advertising on broadcast and online of foods high in salt, sugar. However, the exemption granted to brand advertising by the UK Government may limit the effect of those regulations, a concern raised with the UK Government by Scottish Ministers.
Similarly the Public Health Scotland rapid review of evidence on alcohol marketing highlighted that there is an existing evidence base for restrictions on alcohol marketing that are comprehensive and across all advertising channels. However, that is more difficult without being able to make specific provision about advertising on tv and radio broadcasts.
Whilst the Scottish Government can take steps to protect children and young people from exposure to the advertising of health harming products, because key areas of advertising regulations are reserved this limits the choices available to Scottish Ministers to achieve this.
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 September 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Stephen Flynn on 5 October 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with ScotRail regarding any review of train fares, in light of the potential reduced demand as a result of the proposed rollout of the £2 bus fare cap.
Answer
Transport Scotland officials, Scottish Rail Holdings and ScotRail meet regularly to discuss a range of matters, including rail fares and passenger demand.
The Scottish Government has already taken significant action to support affordable rail travel, including the permanent removal of ScotRail peak fares last year and fares freeze this year. These measures make rail travel simpler, more accessible and better value for passengers across Scotland.
We will continue to work closely with ScotRail to monitor travel demand as plans for a national £2 bus fare cap develops to ensure rail remains an accessible, sustainable and value-for-money transport option for people across Scotland.
- Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 September 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 5 October 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to undertaking a comprehensive review of the equality and human rights position of adopted people across their whole life course, and, if so, whether it will ensure that adult adoptees and adoptee-led organisations are directly involved in determining the scope of that review.
Answer
The Equality Act 2010, including the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED), applies in relation to the protected characteristics set out in that Act. Adoption status is not a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010 and the Scottish Government does not undertake Equality Act 2010 or Public Sector Equality Duty assessments solely on the basis of a person's status as an adoptee.
The Scottish Government continues to consider issues affecting adopted children, young people and adults through its wider adoption policy work and is currently focused on delivering existing commitments in this area, including work to improve adoption support.
We will continue to listen to the views and experiences of adoptees, adoptive families and others with lived experience, and consider whether any further action is required as this work progresses.
During the passage of the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Act 2026, the Scottish Government committed to reviewing the adoption support sections of the 2011 Adoption and Looked After Children Guidance and consider whether new statutory guidance on adoption support services should be issued, using existing powers in the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007.
This work will provide an opportunity to examine the range of support issues raised by adopted children, young people and adult adoptees as well as families and practitioners. We will work closely with adoptees, adoptive families and with practitioners throughout this process to ensure that any future changes are evidence-based, deliverable and responsive to needs.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 September 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 5 October 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that fire and rehire practices are consistent with Fair Work Principles.
Answer
The Scottish Government is clear in its opposition to the inappropriate use of ‘fire and rehire’. Our longstanding position is that such a practice does not align with the principles and expected practice of Fair Work.
It is our belief that a progressive approach to industrial relations and an effective voice for workers is at the heart of a fairer, more successful society.
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 September 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Stephen Flynn on 5 October 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NATS Prestwick regarding its reported technical issue on 8 September 2026 that resulted in the cancellation, delay or diversion of more than 2,000 flights.
Answer
The management of airspace within the UK is a matter reserved to the UK Government. However, following the disruption to Scottish airports on Tuesday 8 September and Monday 21 September, I wrote to both the CEO of NATS and the Secretary of State for Transport to raise my concerns around the impact of the disruption on passengers, Highlands and Islands connectivity, and the Scottish economy. I also sought assurances that both intend to work to ensure the UK’s air traffic control system remains fit for purpose.
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 September 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 5 October 2026
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications to the Islands Business Resilience Fund were declined in (a) 2025-26 and (b) 2026-27, broken down by local authority area.
Answer
Gillian Martin: Applications for the 2026-2027 Islands Resilience Fund closed on 28 September. 280 applications were received and these are being evaluated now.
In 2025-26, a total of 59 out of 444 applications to the Islands Business Resilience Fund were unsuccessful. The breakdown by island local authority is as follows:
- 25 in Argyll & Bute
- 24 in Na h-Eileanan Siar
- 10 in North Ayrshire
- Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 September 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 5 October 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether it supports calls by the Owain's Law campaign to require the freezing and preservation of brain tumour tissue removed during surgery to enable the development of personalised vaccines.
Answer
The Scottish Government recognises the potential value of personalised cancer vaccine development and the challenges that this raises for our healthcare system.
As part of the Genomics in Scotland strategy, we are working to improve the tissue sample pathway necessary to support enhanced genomic testing for patients with brain cancer.
Further work is needed, in collaboration with NHS partners, to look at the wider capability and capacity needed to support the long-term storage of fresh-frozen tumour tissue samples suitable for personalised vaccine development.
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 September 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 5 October 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to monitor the socio-economic impacts of its proposed fisheries management measures for inshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and proposed Priority Marine Feature (PMF) Management Areas once they are in place and, if so, how.
Answer
The Scottish Government has undertaken a socio-economic impact assessment (SEIA) based on the methodology co-designed by the fishing industry and environmental NGOs. This SEIA is available as part of the supporting documents for the consultation on proposed Fisheries management measures within Scottish inshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and proposed Priority Marine Feature (PMF) management areas - Scottish Government consultations - Citizen Space .
Following the Ministerial decision on final fisheries management measures appropriate socio-economic monitoring will be undertaken to assess their impact
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 September 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 5 October 2026
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has decided to reduce the total funding allocated to the Island Resilience Fund from £4.4 million in 2025-26 to £3 million in 2026-27.
Answer
Our £10 million commitment for an Islands Resilience Fund remains unchanged. We have now announced the first £3 million phase, building on the £4.4 million provided through the former Islands Business Resilience Fund last year. Further phases of the new £10m Islands Resilience Fund will be developed and delivered over the lifetime of this Parliament, reflecting our long-term commitment to island communities.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 24 September 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 5 October 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the introduction of Christina's Card, which aims to support women's health by encouraging breast awareness, providing information on menopause and promoting participation in screening programmes, whether it will consider using the card, or similar public awareness materials, to provide information on the symptoms of ovarian cancer and other gynaecological cancers, and to use this as an opportunity to make clear that cervical screening does not detect ovarian cancer.
Answer
Christina’s Card will direct people to a website landing page where women will find a range of information about women’s health topics. This will provide a valuable opportunity to highlight that cervical screening does not detect ovarian cancers, as well as information on other gynaecological cancers.
In the interim, information available on NHS Inform and our Get Checked Early website explicitly advises that cervical screening does not detect ovarian cancer. The cervical screening information leaflets issued to women alongside their screening invitation are currently under review. It is intended that these materials will be updated to clearly state that cervical screening cannot detect other gynaecological cancers, including ovarian, womb, vulval and vaginal cancers.
In addition, work is ongoing to reinforce this message through a range of public communications to ensure women have a clear understanding of the purpose and limitations of cervical screening.
Separately, our ‘Be the Early Bird’ marketing campaign aims to reduce fear of cancer and empower those with possible symptoms to act early. The 2025-26 evaluation found that 71% of campaign recognisers reported taking action as a result of the campaign, while 61% of the target audience said they would be very likely to contact their GP practice if they experienced suspected cancer symptoms.
