Decisions on the location of fire stations and appliances and the most appropriate crewing system to provide fire and rescue cover are operational matters for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS). The Scottish Parliament can choose to scrutinise SFRS is a variety of ways including through debates.

In 2025-26, NHS Boards have received increased investment in their baseline funding, with NHS Forth Valley receiving over £751 million.

This represents increased investment of £92.9 million from 2024-25, including additional funding for pay and vital frontline services.

NHS Forth Valley received a 3% baseline uplift of £21.7 million – this represents a 0.6% real terms increase compared to 2024-25.

Individual Board service provision would be a matter for NHS Forth Valley.

The Scottish Government are not intending to ask for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to submit a disposal and marketing plan for the category A-listed East House at Gartnavel Royal Hospital for residential conversion. The Scottish Government will however continue to engage with NHS GG&C on the issue and if circumstances change, a disposal and marketing plan could be requested.

New figures show that the number of planned and performed operations in Scotland has reached its highest level since January 2020.

Data collected and published by Public Health Scotland (PHS) is unable to be broken down into the cancellation reasons (a) staff shortages, (b) flu outbreaks and (c) bed pressures. This is due to the aggregate nature of the cancellations data collection.

PHS publish cancellation data monthly, and you can find the latest release here.

In 2025-26 all ophthalmic procedures at National Treatment Centres (NTCs) have been cataract surgery. This will continue in to 2026-27. NTCs will not provide glaucoma treatments such as trabecular bypasses.

The National Treatment Centres for ophthalmology deliver high flow cataract surgery to those who are assessed as being clinically low risk. Where a patient has a co-morbidity, then they would not be referred to a national treatment centre.

Clinical management decisions are taken by Ophthalmology teams at NHS board level. If patients require cataract surgery and an additional procedure, surgery is likely to be undertaken in their Health Board of residence with an Ophthalmologist who specialises in the particular sub-specialty out with cataracts i.e. Glaucoma.

The National Equipment and Adaptations Network is made up of representatives from territorial boards and Health and Social Care Partnerships (HSCPs) across Scotland, as well as key stakeholders from across the sector who have direct responsibility for providing equipment, adaptations and wheelchairs. CoSLA also represent the views of local authorities.

All territorial boards and HSCPs were invited to join the Network. Current members represent the following; Aberdeenshire; Aberdeen City; Angus; Argyll and Bute; City of Edinburgh; Dumfries and Galloway; East Ayrshire; East Dunbartonshire; East Lothian; East Renfrewshire; EquipU; Falkirk; Fife; Glasgow City; Hanover Housing; Horizon Housing, Highland; Moray; North Lanarkshire; Orkney; Perth and Kinross; Renfrewshire; Royal College of Occupational Therapists; Stirling and Clackmannanshire, SMART; Scottish Borders; Scottish Federation of Housing Associations; Shetland; South Ayrshire; Western Isles; WestMarc and West Lothian.

The Scottish Government Cancer Strategy for Scotland (2023 – 2033) is underpinned by multi-year phases of planned actions.

The initial three-year Cancer Action for Scotland Plan 2023-2026 has supported the strategy by determining actions to help us achieve our ambition to improve survival and provide excellent, equitably accessible care. The current plan runs until 2026, with work already underway on developing the actions required for the next phase. Parliament will be updated on timings for the next plan in due course.

Draft rateable values for the 2026 revaluation were published on 30 November 2025 but may be subject to change. The final valuation roll will come into effect on 1 April 2026 and the Scottish Government will publish its report on changes in rateable values once final valuations are available.

Draft rateable values for the 2026 revaluation were published on 30 November 2025 but may be subject to change. The final valuation roll will come into effect on 1 April 2026 and the Scottish Government will publish its report on changes in rateable values once final valuations are available.

Parliamentary scrutiny of any topic is solely a matter for the Scottish Parliament to determine and it would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to dictate how Parliament takes forward its scrutiny.