Chamber and committees

Scottish Government officials have not had any direct conversations with the Welsh Government regarding the Welsh travel and accommodation fund for children and young people with cancer.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information.

Scottish Government Officials have met with colleagues in the UK Government Department for Health and Social Care once since May 2026, to discuss progress on their proposals for a travel fund for children and young people with cancer. It will be for the UK Government to determine the eligibility criteria for this fund.

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.

Eligible patients and authorised escorts can also claim reasonable travel costs for hospital appointments through the Patient Travel Expenses Reimbursement Scheme. Young people aged 18 to 24 are not eligible for the YPFF but may still receive support with travel costs through the Patient Travel Expenses Reimbursement Scheme, subject to local NHS Board eligibility criteria and assessment.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on the number or value of travel cost payments made to children and young people with cancer receiving treatment. While the Scottish Government sets the national framework for patient travel reimbursement, eligibility decisions and funding are managed locally by individual NHS Boards.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken a specific assessment of the cost of extending eligibility for the Young Patient Family Fund (YPFF) to children and young people with cancer who receive day-patient treatment. YPFF continues to be offered to families of in-patients only, regardless of diagnosis.

In addition to support available under the YPFF, financial support for travel to hospital appointments is available through the patient travel expenses reimbursement schemes. Under these schemes, patients and authorised escorts can reclaim reasonable travel costs associated with attending a hospital appointment, in line with eligibility criteria and medical requirements.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-02321 on 24 August 2026. 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

The Scottish Government has not issued guidance to NHS boards on the inclusion of NHS staff bank service in long-service recognition schemes. Eligibility for NHS Highland's Valuing Service Award is determined by the Board in accordance with its local policy.

The regulation of the electricity market, including the financing arrangements for new nuclear power stations, is reserved to the UK Government. Assessment of the impact of the regulated asset base model on consumers is a matter for the UK Government and Ofgem.

The Scottish Government does not support the construction of new nuclear power stations under current technologies. It is not acceptable that consumers in Scotland are being asked to pay towards nuclear power years in advance of any electricity being generated and bear the risks of cost overruns.

To help ensure that the integrity and impartiality of the consenting process is maintained, it would not be appropriate for Ministers to comment on or debate the merits of a decision once it has been issued.