Chamber and committees

No decisions have been taken regarding future service configuration or the concentration of orthopaedic services in regional centres.

The Health and Social Care Service Renewal Framework, published in 2025, guides sustainable, high-quality health and social care, emphasising strategic needs assessment for planning and service redesign. It ensures accessibility, including transport, is central to NHS Boards’ decisions and promotes collaborative working with transport partners to address travel challenges.

As set out in the Transport to Health Delivery Plan, the Scottish Government remains committed to reviewing the patient travel expenses reimbursement guidance under which financial support for travel to hospital, including upfront costs, is already available (in line with eligibility criteria and medical requirements).

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-04265 on 9 November 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

No decisions have been taken regarding future service configuration or the concentration of orthopaedic services in regional centres.

The document referred to in media reports contains initial capacity planning proposals rather than an agreed policy position.

The £7.6 million Neurodevelopmental Support Fund 2026/27 has been distributed to local councils, who will determine how best to use it in line with local needs and supporting guidance issued by the Scottish Government. It will mean more flexible support is provided to children, young people and their families to get the help they need, when they need it, informed by local circumstances.

The guidance has recently been published and is available at https://www.gov.scot/publications/children-young-peoples-neurodevelopment-support-fund-2026-27-supporting-guidance/.

Funding has been allocated to local authorities using the following formula: 86% on the basis of population aged 5 to 25, 7% on rurality and 7% on deprivation, with a minimum allocation of £50,000 per local authority.

The following table sets out local authority allocations.

The Scottish Government is currently taking forward a national dialogue to reach a shared vision for the future of local governance in Scotland.

As set out in the recently published proposals on local governance reform, Scottish Government's focus is on developing reforms that achieve the right balance of decision-making powers across the public sector, strengthen local and community decision-making, and improve outcomes for communities across Scotland. As part of the proposals for the restructure of local government the Scottish Government will consider a range of legislative options, including measures that have previously been consulted upon, such as a general power of competence. Any decisions on future legislation will be informed by engagement with local government, stakeholders and Parliament, alongside the development of the wider reform programme to ensure they will be fit for purpose.

Given that proposals for local governance reform are currently being developed and will be subject to further discussion and consultation, it would be premature to bring forward specific legislation at this stage. Scottish Government's priority is to ensure that any legislative changes are considered in the context of, and are aligned with, the longer-term vision for local governance and public service reform. The reform proposals themselves are intended as a starting point for debate and discussion as that work progresses.

The Scottish Government regularly reviews its plans for public awareness campaigns and raising awareness of conditions such as thrombosis. We do not intend to run a public awareness campaign for deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, venous thromboembolism, and thrombosis at this time.

NHS Inform provides clear and accessible information on thrombosis related conditions, including, symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and prevention.

NatureScot is currently developing the updated Code of Practice for Deer Management, taking account of the changes introduced by the Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026 and ongoing engagement with stakeholders.

NatureScot expects to consult on a draft updated Code before the end of this calendar year. Responses will then be analysed and any necessary amendments made, with a view to finalising the Code and submitting it for the required statutory and parliamentary processes in Spring 2027.

Subject to the outcome of the consultation and completion of those processes, the revised Code is expected to be published and come into effect shortly afterwards, however we do not have an exact date for this yet.

The bags and contents were procured through an existing purchasing framework with the APS Group, suppliers of the Baby Box. This framework underwent an open tender prior to agreement and provided the most efficient and cost-effective route to delivery in time for the start of the 2027 school year while meeting all relevant public procurement requirements. An open tender for the Welcome to School Bags will run for future years of delivery.

£613,640 is being allocated to Autism Initiatives for a one-year test of change across a number of Integration Joint Board (IJB) areas. The areas taking part are those that have open waiting lists for people seeking autism assessment. Referrals will be received for people who have been on the autism assessment waiting list the longest. More information on the areas taking part in this test of change will be confirmed in due course.

The majority of the funding will be used for diagnostic assessments and post-diagnostic support for adults with autism, although some funding will be provided to support individuals with autism or ADHD who are unlikely to receive an assessment during the test of change year. This will help those individuals to gain understanding of their condition and provide peer, community and other support. A proportion of the overall funding will specifically benefit individuals from minority ethnic communities.

Scottish Government does not hold this information. As the exercise is being led by ADES, the member may wish to approach local government for details of whole-life value of any future contract.