Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government's commitment is to deliver a 24/7 thrombectomy service that, subject to clinical eligibility, enables patients to receive a thrombectomy procedure regardless of the time at which they are referred to a thrombectomy hub.

I note the interest across the chamber in ELC provision for twins and multiples, and acknowledge the overlap in answers being provided as I ensure members receive prompt answers on this important matter.

I appreciate that the cost of childcare can be challenging for many families across Scotland, and that there can be an impact on family circumstances as a result of a multiple birth. Every child in Scotland deserves the best start in life, which is why the Scottish Government is committed to eradicating child poverty and giving families the support they need.

Each year since 2021 we have invested around £1 billion in the delivery of high quality ELC to all eligible children and we are continuing to do so in 2026-27. We know high-quality early learning and childcare plays a vital role in improving outcomes for children, particularly those growing up in disadvantaged circumstances, and this is central to our mission to eradicate child poverty.

Within the current offer, local authorities have discretionary powers which provide them with the flexibility to offer access to funded ELC to a wider range of childcare and families, as they see fit, according to local needs and priorities.

With respect to future plans, we are seeking to transform Scotland’s childcare offer to better support families with the cost of childcare, for children from 9 months to the end of primary school. As Parliament agreed in May, this is a priority, and must be informed by learning from the expansion to 1140 hours and the voices of those who use and deliver childcare in Scotland. This includes families with multiple births.

Our Programme for Government set out our intention to publish and consult on a blueprint for the future, building on learning from the last ten years of childcare design and delivery. This will be published next year, and I would encourage anyone with an interest, including families with multiple births, to participate in this consultation.

The Scottish Government is not aware of any widespread failings in workplace or management culture at the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Any accusations of specific failings would be primarily a matter for the SFRS Board but, depending on circumstances, the Scottish Government would take appropriate action to ensure any failings are dealt with thoroughly and speedily.

The Scottish Government appreciates that the cost of childcare can be challenging for many families across Scotland, and that there can be an impact on family circumstances as a result of a multiple birth. Each year since 2021 we have invested around £1 billion in the delivery of high quality ELC to all eligible children and we are continuing to do so in 2026-27. With respect to future plans, we are seeking to transform Scotland’s childcare offer to better support families with the cost of childcare, for children from 9 months to the end of primary school.

Our Programme for Government set out our intention to publish and consult on a blueprint for the future, building on learning from the last ten years of childcare design and delivery. This will be published next year.

The Scottish Government’s Universal Health Visiting pathway is delivered across Scotland and consists of 11 visits to all families. The pathway supports Health Visitors, children and their parents to build meaningful and trusting relationships.

Scotland’s Baby Box programme is available to all babies born and resident in Scotland. Families who are expecting twins, triplets, or even quadruplets are entitled to a box for each baby, providing essential items for the first 6 months of a baby’s life worth around £400.

The Scottish Government recognises the additional challenges that can be experienced by families with twins and other multiple births. Through ongoing investment in breastfeeding and infant feeding services across maternity, neonatal and community support, as well as for the implementation of the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative standards across Scotland, families are able to access evidence-based breastfeeding and infant feeding support tailored to their individual circumstances and feeding goals.

Our Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment provides £796.65 for a first child and £398.35 for each subsequent child. For multiple births, a supplement of £398.35 is made in addition to the usual payment - acknowledging the additional expense of having a multiple birth. Parents under the age of 18 do not need to be in receipt of a low-income benefit in order to qualify for Best Start Grant. This is also the case for parents aged 18 or 19 who are dependent on someone who is receiving benefits for them.

Responses to the consultation on Mandatory Calorie Labelling in the Out of Home Sector in Scotland highlighted the need for further evidence on the potential impacts that calorie information may have on people with lived and living experience of an eating disorder. We are working with Food Standards Scotland and Public Health Scotland to review the available evidence and consider the potential impacts of this policy.

Food Standards Scotland has been monitoring the evidence base to understand more about how the display of calorie information in out of home setting may impact those living with or susceptible to an eating disorder. A programme of research on this issue, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research is due to conclude at the end of this year.

As part of its New Mobilising System project, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service will be rolling out its Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system to the Edinburgh Operations Control on 30 September, followed by Dundee Operations Control on 27 October and Johnstone Operations Control on 24 November.

The Scottish Government recognises the wider considerations associated with GLP-1 weight loss medication use in relation to people with eating disorders.

The Scottish Government’s National Eating Disorders Network has committed to establish a short-life working group to consider potential issues relating to GLP-1 medication and eating disorders. With work expected to begin over the coming months, the group will bring together expertise to develop understanding of this evolving area and help inform appropriate next steps.

NHS inform provides information and advice on diabetes and weight loss medication, including advising people with an eating disorder to speak to a healthcare professional if they are considering taking weight loss medication.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) make clear that these medicines are prescription-only and should be prescribed by a registered healthcare professional and under appropriate medical supervision. Seeking appropriate clinical advice helps to ensure that treatment is suitable for an individual's circumstances and can be used safely.

It is important that prescription-only medicines are obtained from regulated sources, as medicines obtained through unregulated sources may not meet the required standards of safety and quality.

The Scottish Government does not currently plan to provide regular updates to Parliament on progress towards delivery of a 24/7 thrombectomy service. However, significant developments will be communicated through the usual parliamentary and public reporting arrangements.

The provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for firefighters is an operational matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS). SFRS is responsible for ensuring that appropriate PPE is available to support firefighters in carrying out their duties safely, including when responding to wildfire incidents.

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting the provision of social and affordable housing through our commitment to deliver 110,000 affordable homes by 2032 of which at least 70% will be available for social rent and 10% will be in our rural and island communities. This will be underpinned by investment of up to £4.9 billion, including a record £4.1 billion of public sector funding, to support delivery of 36,000 affordable homes and our wider all-tenure ambition over this Parliament.

As part of this we are have provided local authority partners with resource planning assumptions for the period 2026-27 to 2029-30 totalling a record £2.94 billion through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme.

This multi-year funding certainty will support local authorities and registered social landlords to plan future investment and delivery, helping to increase the supply of social and affordable homes for the benefit of communities across Scotland.

Since 2007 the Scottish Government has supported the delivery of 146,000 affordable homes – over 104,000 of which were for social rent, including more than 31,000 council homes.