Chamber and committees

Scotland is the only UK-nation to have a dedicated cancer for children and young people.

The children and young people’s cancer strategy – The Collaborative and Compassionate Cancer Care: Cancer Strategy for Children and Young People 2021-2026 sets clear expectations and priorities for the treatment and care of children and young people with cancer.

Scottish Government works closely with the Managed Clinical Network for Children and Young People with Cancer (MCN CYPC) who are a national network of healthcare specialists from different NHS boards across Scotland, responsible for overseeing and driving improvements in cancer care. They ensure that all children and young people’s cancer centres work together as one single, cohesive service in NHS Scotland and their work is ongoing.

The Scottish Government collects yearly data on the number of Educational Psychologists in Scotland via the Pupil Census but does not collect data on their employment status. Local Authorities are responsible for the employment of educational psychologists and any data about their employment status is held locally. However, we continue to work closely with the National Scottish Steering Group for Educational Psychologists (NSSGEP) on workforce planning to ensure a sustainable supply of educational psychologists to meet future demand.

The Scottish Government recognises the important role Educational Psychologists play in supporting learners, raising attainment, promoting inclusion and equality, and helping those who are most vulnerable. That is why we continue to invest in the training of educational psychologists, in partnership with COSLA.

Scottish Government officials meet with the Managed Clinical Network for Children and Young People with Cancer (MCN CYPC) every six weeks, to discuss a range of issues relating to children and young people with cancer. In addition to these scheduled meetings, we have additional, adhoc, meetings.

The current children and young people’s cancer strategy – The Collaborative and Compassionate Cancer Care: Cancer Strategy for Children and Young People 2021-2026, runs until the end of 2026. Scottish Government works with the MCN CYPC to consider approaches that best support improved outcomes for children and young people with cancer.

Families continue to successfully claim for the Young Patients Family Fund (YPFF) and the Scottish Government is not aware of any evidence to suggest that the application form acts as a barrier to eligible families accessing this support.

To help make the fund as accessible as possible, the YPFF claim form and Terms and Conditions have been translated into a range of languages to support families who may find it challenging to read information in English.

Information leaflets are available across all Health Boards, and staff are encouraged to ensure that eligible families are made aware of the support available.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01172 on 10 July 2027. 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 announced by the First Minister in Parliament on 3 September 2025, the Scottish Government pledged £400,000 to establish the Gaza HOPES Field Readiness Hub.

This money was provided to Kids Operating Room in two payments. £337,680 was provided on 05 December 2025. The remaining £62,320 was paid on 25 February 2026.

The Field Readiness Hub has been built and is fully operational at Kids Operating Room's Global Centre of Operations. It is being used to design, test and refine modular healthcare infrastructure before deployment. The Hub replicates clinical environments, including a consultation room, imaging/isolation space, recovery area, maternity theatre and paediatric theatre.

The Hub's original purpose was to support preparation for a modular hospital in Gaza, however the current situation in Gaza has meant deployment has not been achieved at this point. Kids Operating Room are exploring multiple deployment options and potential sites, while maintaining readiness so it can respond when conditions allow.

Since the Hub was established, Kids Operating Room has secured funding and partner support for related projects in the West Bank, demonstrating the wider value of the initial investment. For example, in August 2026 a new dedicated paediatric operating theatre has officially opened at Al-Ahli Hospital in Hebron - the first of an initial three permanent children's surgical theatres that KidsOR will be delivering across the West Bank.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on the number of appointments missed, cancelled, or rescheduled by residents of island communities due to ferry cancellations or disruption in the last three years. We do however engage regularly with NHS Boards on the issue through our Transport to Health Delivery Plan and associated work. We have provided funding to HI Trans through our National Islands Plan to further develop the partnership work around Health and Transport, including consideration of resilience.

During a disruption, CalMac will undertake a network wide review for a core service to be delivered to all parts of the ferry network they serve. However, it is impossible to completely remove the risk of disruption due to either inclement weather or other reasons. During times of disruption, CalMac will always aim to minimise the impact.

The Offshore Wind Skills Priorities & Action Plan was developed with industry and key public sector partners and sets out 12 initial actions over the next two years. The plan is jointly owned by partners - public bodies, education providers and sector skills organisations - who have committed to taking these actions forward.

Five actions in the Offshore Wind Skills Priorities & Action Plan have been completed, and seven actions are underway. Six of these actions are on track to be completed by, or ahead of, their respective delivery dates. The Offshore Wind Skills Programme Board approved revisions to the delivery dates of three actions, two of which have been completed, with the third on track for delivery.

The Scottish Government and delivery partners remain committed to implementing the Offshore Wind Skills Priorities & Action Plan in full.

The Scottish Government recognises the impact waiting times for a tribunal hearing can have on parties.

The scheduling of tribunal hearings is a matter for the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service and the Scottish Government continues to engage with them in respect of wait times. There are multiple factors which can impact the timescales for cases to be heard, such as the volume and complexity of legal issues, evidence to be considered, or the availability of tribunals members.

The Scottish Government continues to work with Judicial Office and the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland to ensure the scheduled and planned recruitment of tribunals members. A larger pool of members will enhance overall scheduling capacity and reduce wait times.

Scottish Government is aware of the impact that travel for health can have on an individual diagnosed with cancer and their family. Scottish Government has a number of schemes in place to support children and young people with cancer with costs incurred for travelling for treatment. Scottish Government has not assessed, nor holds data on the impact of travel distances on access to cancer treatment for children and young people living in rural and remote areas.

Financial support for travel to hospital appointments, regardless of distance travelled to access cancer treatment for children and young people, or for specific Health Boards, including NHS Dumfries and Galloway, is available through the patient travel expenses reimbursement schemes.

Under these schemes, patients and authorised escorts may reclaim reasonable travel costs associated with attending hospital appointments, subject to eligibility criteria and clinical requirements. These arrangements apply across Scotland and provide support to eligible young people and their families irrespective of condition.

Additionally, Scotland is the only UK-nation that currently has an active Young Patient Family Fund (YPFF). The fund provides support to the families of all babies, children and young people from birth to age 18 who require inpatient care, regardless of their health diagnosis.