Chamber and committees

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

SPS do not record this information. SPS’ Disciplinary Hearings guidance does not provide a specific ‘breach of discipline’ relating to having illicit articles obtained via a drone. Any prosecution remains a matter for Police Scotland and the Crown and Procurator Fiscal Service.

This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who reply in writing within 20 days.

The Scottish Government recognises the serious impact that untreated hearing loss can have on individuals, including potential links to cognitive decline and dementia risk in older people.

The Independent Review of Audiology Services, published in August 2023, set out 55 recommendations which the Scottish Government accepted in principle to support improvements to audiology services across Scotland. A significant amount of work has been undertaken to date, to move forward the implementation of recommendations made as part of the Independent Review, involving a wide range of stakeholders across the public and third sector. In December 2024 we concluded this phase of work and will soon publish a report outlining how each of the recommendations set out in the Independent Review has been closed or transitioned, and the rationale for that.

We know that audiology services are facing sustained pressure, and this challenge is not unique to Scotland, with similar issues being felt across the UK. However, it is not acceptable that some people have had to wait longer than they should for appointments and referrals. The Scottish Government is taking action, and the 2025-26 Budget is providing a record £21.7 billion for Health and Social Care.

Audiology is considered a clinical priority area within the NHS in Scotland and improvement work is being progressed through the National Planning and Delivery Board under leadership from the Chief Operating Officer, NHS Scotland.

The Scottish Government does not collate data on the number of people with ADHD appearing before the courts in Scotland.

The information held on the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Services (SCTS) live operational case management systems is structured to support the processing of court business, rather than for statistical reporting or research purposes. SCTS and their staff provide administrative support to the Scottish courts, tribunals and their judiciary and rely on information provided by justice partners to consider any adjustment that may be required to facilitate a court hearing. Their computer systems do not record information of this nature.

In criminal proceedings, adjustments for vulnerable witnesses are requested by the Crown or defence - usually in advance of hearing - and are considered by the sheriff or judge. In civil proceedings, information is provided to the court by parties and solicitors. This information is typically only names and addresses of the parties and their legal representatives.

The Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence (LDAN) Bill aims to ensure that the rights of neurodivergent people, including people with ADHD, are respected, protected and championed. The Bill consultation sought views on proposals for how the Justice system (including the Courts system) could be improved for neurodivergent people.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-37115 on 6 May 2025. 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.

This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. Local Authorities are responsible for providing a range of public services, including education, so the member may wish to approach local government for the information requested.

Scottish Government is committed to support active farming and food production that is why we continue to deliver direct payments – to provide certainty to the industry, in stark contrast to the policy approaches taken by the current and previous UKG.

We note the results of the Scottish Farm Business Income report which demonstrates the volatility of the sector and reinforces the importance of support to provide much needed stability.

Our £40 million per annum support to suckler beef farmers is committed until at least 2028. This together with key support such as the Basic Payment Scheme, Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme and Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme show our unstinting commitment in ensuring a prosperous future for the sector.

Support for Animal Health and Welfare (AHW) interventions, offering up to £1,250 per farm over two years to assist farmers in reviewing and improving the health and welfare of their cattle and sheep has been provided in recent years. This funding supports interventions that enhance livestock performance and reduce emissions.

The Scottish Government has also been supporting the provision of MyHerdStats to cattle keepers. MyHerdStats is a free online tool to help cattle farmers access key herd performance data, such as calving intervals. Using existing traceability information, it supports better herd management, improves productivity, and contributes to animal welfare and emission reduction goals.

The Scottish Government is supporting the financial sustainability of cereal and milk producers through payments via the Basic Payment Scheme and related support schemes, including nearly £34 million for dairy farmers in 2023–24. We have funded the Scottish Dairy Growth Board and the Dairy Hub, helping boost Scottish cheese exports. Looking ahead, our £4 million investment in the Dairy Nexus project will create a new research centre at SRUC in Dumfries and Galloway to drive innovation, decarbonise the sector, and support a more sustainable dairy economy.

This year we will introduce the Future Farming Investment Scheme (FFIS) providing at least £14m in the first year to our farmers and crofter to investment for efficient food production in ways that benefit nature and climate.

The results in the report re-emphasise the importance of continuing to provide support to our key sectors – to provide much needed stability which is poles apart from the bad trade deals being made in a Brexit we did not vote for. This is why we will continue to provide Scotland’s farmers, crofters and land managers with the most generous package of direct support in the UK, investing around £660 million in support to agriculture.

The Scottish Government recognises that some people have had to wait longer than they should for audiology services, and this is not acceptable. Sustained pressure is being experienced across the system, and we are taking action to support service recovery and improvement.

Audiology is considered a clinical priority area within the NHS in Scotland and improvement work is being progressed through the National Planning and Delivery Board under leadership from the Chief Operating Officer, NHS Scotland.

As part of this work, all NHS Boards have been asked to include audiology in their Annual Delivery Plans from 2025-26 onwards. We are also supporting Health Boards to undertake baseline assessments for Improving Quality in Physiological Services (IQIPS) accreditation, which will help drive improvements in service availability, quality, and waiting times.

The Scottish Government remains committed to ensuring that audiology services are safe, effective, and accessible for all those who need them.

Scottish Government engaged extensively with UK Government regarding the development and implementation of their policy to remove the VAT exemption for independent school fees, emphasising the distinctive nature of the Scottish independent school sector.

Scottish Government policy for respiratory conditions falls under the remit of the Long Term Conditions Unit which has so far spent £219,365 to support delivery of the Respiratory Care Action Plan since its publication in 2021.

The Respiratory Care Action Plan also contains actions and commitments that are being addressed by other Scottish Government strategies which have their own funding.