The Scottish Parliament

Question reference: S7W-04582

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kirsten Oswald on 10 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the effectiveness of the age-verification procedures used by rapid alcohol delivery services, and what discussions it has had with licensing boards regarding enforcement of these requirements.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01927 on 4 August 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 Scottish Government continues to generally engage with a range of licensing stakeholders, including the Society of Local Authority Lawyers and Administrators in Scotland (SOLAR), to help keep the alcohol licensing framework under review.

Question reference: S7W-04571

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 10 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details regarding the content of an organisational audit for stroke, including its role in identifying any staffing shortages that may prevent NHS boards from meeting the Scottish Stroke Care Standards.

Question reference: S7W-04615

Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 10 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there were no specific actions to improve brain tumour diagnosis, treatment and support in the Cancer Action Plan for Scotland 2023-2026.

The Scottish Government takes a whole-system, cross-cutting approach to improving cancer survival and providing excellent care, rather than developing tumour-specific national action plans. Much of the cancer pathway is shared across different cancers, and a single strategic framework enables coordinated improvements while continuing to address the needs of people affected by specific cancers, such as brain cancer.

Question reference: S7W-04533

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 October 2026
Current Status: Holding Answer by Ivan McKee on 10 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what the total salary costs were for core civil servants in the redeployment process, broken down by Directorate-General, in each financial year from 2021-22 to 2025-26.

Question reference: S7W-04153

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 10 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to providing local authorities with increased powers to restrict the opening of vape shops and other specified types of commercial premises in or adjacent to historic buildings, following recent fires in such buildings in Glasgow, including the incident at Union Street in March 2026.

Regardless of the location, the storage of lithium-ion batteries, which are used in a range of products, should be informed by a fire risk assessment carried out by a competent fire risk assessor. Fire risk assessments are already a legal requirement for duty holders of all relevant (non-domestic) premises.

Scotland is the only country in the UK with a Tobacco and Vapes Retail Register. The register exists to support the enforcement of regulation on age restricted products given the public health harms of tobacco and vaping.

All businesses, regardless of size, must be registered to sell these products in Scotland.

While the planning system has a role in considering planning applications for new retail premises, including where these are located in or adjacent to historic buildings, it has limited scope to control what specific goods are sold within such premises once planning permission has been granted.

Question reference: S7W-04599

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 10 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the remediation of NHS buildings, including combustible cladding and insulation, arising from the work of the Ministerial Working Group on Building and Fire Safety.

Following the Grenfell Tower fire, the Scottish Government instructed NHS Boards to review the NHS estate to identify buildings with potentially combustible materials in external wall systems. This work was coordinated nationally through Health Facilities Scotland, now NHS Scotland Assure, with updates provided through the Ministerial Working Group on Building and Fire Safety. The Working Group was established following Grenfell to provide strategic oversight of work relating to building and fire safety in Scotland.

The review identified combustible material within external wall systems at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow and the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. At the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, external cladding remediation was undertaken and completed in 2019.

At the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, further investigation and fire safety assessment were undertaken. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service confirmed through its fire safety audit that the building was safe, with precautionary measures put in place while investigations were carried out.

A separate issue was subsequently identified in 2021 with ACM polyethylene wall-lining panels within the atrium of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. Intrusive surveys confirmed that these products did not comply with current Building Control standards. Following advice from fire engineers, NHS Scotland Assure, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Building Standards Scotland and Glasgow City Council, it was determined that approximately 11,000 square metres of atrium wall lining should be replaced with non-combustible material. The replacement works commenced in November 2022 and remain ongoing, with completion expected later this year.

The Scottish Government continues to maintain oversight of fire and building safety issues across the NHS estate, including through NHS Scotland Assure and the Ministerial Working Group on Building and Fire Safety.

Question reference: S7W-04573

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 10 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether the national stroke guideline sets the clinical standard that all stroke patients should expect as the basis of their care.

Question reference: S7W-04584

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Alyn Smith on 10 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with UHI Inverness, in light of reports that UHI Inverness is considering closing the Institute for Biodiversity and Freshwater Conservation, and what assessment it has made of any potential impact on Scotland’s research capacity.

The Scottish Government engages regularly with universities and with the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), which monitors and seeks assurance on the financial sustainability and governance of publicly funded colleges and universities, including the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) in its role as Regional Strategic Body. SFC is also engaging with universities on approaches to monitor significant changes in Scotland's research capacity and capability.

Through engagement with SFC and UHI, we understand that the Institute for Biodiversity & Freshwater Conservation (IBFC) is not included within UHI Inverness's savings plan and that a viable business plan, supported by associated cost-saving measures, is in place for 2026-27.

As the statutory Regional Strategic Body, UHI is responsible for providing strategic leadership and oversight of performance across the partnership, including UHI Inverness. Responsibility for the day-to-day management and operation of UHI Inverness rests with its Board of Management.

UHI Inverness continues to engage with UHI and its wider network of research centres and institutes to develop a more integrated approach to research and knowledge exchange. This includes exploring opportunities to build on complementary areas of research expertise across the partnership and considering sustainable approaches to support future research activity. The Scottish Government and SFC will continue to engage with UHI on these issues through their ongoing discussions on sustainability, research capacity and institutional development.

Question reference: S7W-04580

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kirsten Oswald on 10 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the growth in alcohol sales through rapid-delivery platforms since 2015, and whether it considers that the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 remains fit for purpose in regulating such services.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01927 on 4 August 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 Scottish Government continues to generally engage with a range of licensing stakeholders to help keep the alcohol licensing framework under review. However there are no plans for primary legislation in relation to alcohol licensing at this time.

Question reference: S7W-04541

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 10 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government, Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union regarding concerns about staffing levels and postal delivery performance, and what representations it has made to ensure that rural communities continue to receive a reliable postal service.

Both legislative and regulatory responsibility for Royal Mail and postal services remain reserved matters for the UK Government along with employment law.

While that is the case, and recognising the varying needs of communities across Scotland, the Scottish Government engages regularly with UK Government and Royal Mail and continues to provide constructive challenge in relation to quality of service and staffing arrangements.

In August 2026 I wrote to UK Government ministers offering to meet and discuss the challenges faced by island communities and in October 2026 I also wrote to my UK Government counterparts seeking assurance around the sustainability of post offices especially in Scotland’s rural and island areas.

I am also actively seeking a meeting with Royal Mail to discuss various issues including the unique challenges that rural and island communities face in relation to post and postal services.

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