Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-03032 on 18 September 2026.

The forthcoming Digital Inclusion Delivery Plan will support delivery of the refreshed Digital Strategy for Scotland by setting out clear actions to tackle digital exclusion, and how progress will be measured and reported.

This will complement wider work to ensure public services are designed around the needs of people and communities to be accessible and inclusive.

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.

As part of the annual meeting between the Scottish Cabinet and children and young people, which took place in November 2025, the following ministers met with representatives of the Scottish Youth Parliament:

• the First Minister;
• all previous Cabinet Secretaries (with the exception of Miri McAllan, then Cabinet Secretary for Housing); and
• the previous Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise.

The previous Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills also met with representatives of the Scottish Youth Parliament (alongside representatives from Children's Parliament, Children in Scotland and Young Scot) in February 2026, as part of the Education Reform Project.

Guidance on the assistance available to victims and witnesses to help give evidence is available om the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service website - Vulnerable victims and witnesses (special measures) | COPFS.

In the circumstance where a terminally ill victim is deemed to be a vulnerable witness, then they would be entitled to give their evidence by special measures. The special measures that can be authorised could include the taking evidence by a commissioner; the use of a live television link; the use of a screen; the use of a supporter, the giving evidence in chief in the form of a prior statement and excluding the public during the taking of evidence, or a combination of these measures. Where a victim is unable to come to court to give evidence in any competent manner because they are unfit or unable to do so because of a mental or physical condition their statement may be admitted in evidence.

Thrombectomy services are delivered on a regional basis through three hub centres serving the North, East and West of Scotland.

Transport Scotland officials and CalMac as part of the Clyde and Hebrides Grant Agreement hold weekly meetings to discuss operations across the network. The decision on the deployment of vessels rightly sits with the operator as they have the knowledge and expertise to ensure that essential lifeline services to our island communities are maintained.

The contingency methods put in place by the operator include MV Glen Sannox operating an interisland service between Tarbert and Lochmaddy up to 27 September. A charter vessel (MV Pabbay Lass) operating between Berneray – Leverburgh until 27 September and MVLoch Bhrusda will cover the route from 28 September.

The Scottish Government has not conducted a specific assessment of additional clinical workforce required to provide a national 24/7 thrombectomy service.

The Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) helps to facilitate young people’s engagement in policy-making and, as such, SYP engages in activity with policy teams throughout the Scottish Government (including mental health, education reform, and children’s rights).

We do not hold information on the number of staff across all of the policy areas who are currently engaged in activity with SYP. However, there are 3 members of staff within the Children’s Rights Unit who spend at least some of their time liaising with SYP about the core finding that SYP receive from The Children, Young People and Families Early Intervention and Adult Learning and Empowering Communities Fund.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken a specific analysis of the number of patients who are currently unable to access thrombectomy services. The planning work being undertaken by Public Services Delivery Scotland will assess demand and currently unmet need.

Statistics on uptake of free school meals is published on the Scottish Government website at https://www.gov.scot/collections/school-education-statistics/#schoolmealuptakestatistics.

For 2007-2022, refer to tables 11 and 17 of the School Healthy Living Survey supplementary statistics 2022 for the primary and secondary breakdown respectively. For 2023-24, refer to school meal uptake supplementary statistics 2023-24, tables 3 and 5 for the equivalent breakdowns.

Statistics for 2024-25 will be published on 22 September 2026.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7O-00190 and the associated supplementaries on 9 September which is available on the Parliament’s website, the Official Report can be found at Meeting of the Parliament: 09/09/2026 | Scottish Parliament Website