Chamber and committees

These questions relate to the procurement, specification, quality assurance, performance monitoring and contract management of hearing aid batteries supplied through National Procurement arrangements. This is a matter for Public Services Delivery Scotland (PSDS) and NHS Boards and the information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

Prior to 1 April 2026, these functions were undertaken by National Services Scotland and now sit within PSDS. While the Scottish Government sponsors PSDS and provides strategic oversight, operational responsibility for procurement and contract management rests with PSDS, while the delivery of audiology services is a matter for NHS Boards.

PSDS has advised that NHS Boards may raise supplier or product performance concerns through National Procurement's complaints process where products supplied under the framework do not meet the required standards. PSDS has also advised that it holds no record of a formal complaint relating to hearing aid battery performance under the current framework agreement that has resulted in contractual remedies being exercised since the commencement of the contract.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-02285 on 21 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.

These questions relate to the procurement, specification, quality assurance, performance monitoring and contract management of hearing aid batteries supplied through National Procurement arrangements. This is a matter for Public Services Delivery Scotland (PSDS) and NHS Boards and the information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

Prior to 1 April 2026, these functions were undertaken by National Services Scotland and now sit within PSDS. While the Scottish Government sponsors PSDS and provides strategic oversight, operational responsibility for procurement and contract management rests with PSDS, while the delivery of audiology services is a matter for NHS Boards.

PSDS has advised that NHS Boards may raise supplier or product performance concerns through National Procurement's complaints process where products supplied under the framework do not meet the required standards. PSDS has also advised that it holds no record of a formal complaint relating to hearing aid battery performance under the current framework agreement that has resulted in contractual remedies being exercised since the commencement of the contract.

We recognise that the offshore wind sector has the potential to bring substantial benefits to Scotland, and we are committed to maximising economic value from ScotWind projects, and to retaining investment, jobs and supply chain opportunities within Scotland.

For some components, overseas supply chains are currently more mature than in the UK. We are working with developers, the UK Government, inward investors and the supply chain to support and grow manufacturing in Scotland.

Based on the 16 projects that submitted Supply Chain Development Statements (SCDS) updates in 2026, Scotland’s share of total commitments in each category is Development 62%; Manufacturing & Fabrication 20%; Installation 36%; and Operation 70%.

This information can be verified on the Crown Estate Scotland supply chain dashboard https://crownestatescotland.com/supply-chain-information

The Scottish Government is leveraging private investment into the offshore wind supply chain and ports infrastructure through our strategic investment – to date we have unlocked almost £900m of investment into projects with the potential to support up to 5,000 jobs.

Our enterprise agencies are providing targeted development support and connecting our supply chain companies with offshore wind projects and principal suppliers and contractors, enabling them to bid for - and crucially to win - work in renewables.

Where levers are reserved, such as with the Clean Industry Bonus, the Scottish Government continues to urge the UK Government to consider all available options to bolster the expansion of domestic manufacturing, support order book certainty for suppliers, and avoid the offshoring of economic opportunities from our energy transition.

The Scottish Government has been working with NHS Boards to improve the consistency and effectiveness of staff banks across Scotland. This is supported through regular engagement with those tasked with management of staff banks within Boards. Guidance has been developed to support organisations in adopting a consistent approach to the recruitment of bank staff whilst steps have also been taken to standardise the statutory and mandatory training which staff are expected to undertake.

Whilst there are currently no plans to implement a national staff bank, we welcome the steps taken by Boards such as NHS Lothian and NHS Borders who work together on bank staff deployment. Moving forward, we will continue to consider how we can deliver services on an increasingly Once for Scotland basis in line with the Health and Social Care Service Renewal Framework.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-02285 on 21 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.

At its meeting on 16 June 2026, the National Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (CSAE) Strategic Group discussed future priorities in light of developments, including the statutory public inquiry into group-based CSAE and the Inspectorate-led National Review of local responses to this issue. It also considered updates on the progress of its subgroups on enhancing workforce skills and training, improving the collection and analysis of data to better assess the scale of child sexual abuse and exploitation in Scotland, and mandatory reporting.

The Group agreed to hold an extended meeting in early autumn to review progress to date, consider stakeholder views and determine future priorities and next steps. This will support a refresh of the Group's strategic approach and inform further advice to Ministers.

The remit of the Group, alongside minutes of meetings of the Strategic Group and its subgroups, are published on the Scottish Government website and available at: https://www.gov.scot/groups/national-child-sexual-abuse-and-exploitation-strategic-group/

The ‘expansion of funded early learning and childcare to 1140 hours: 2018-2025 national outcomes evaluation’ did not analyse changes in employment among parents/carers of disabled children specifically. The evaluation did identify positive changes in parental employment across income groups.

The Scottish Government launched the Scottish Emergency Heating Oil Scheme within a matter of weeks in response to the spiralling prices caused by the Iran conflict and wider instability undermining energy security across Europe.

The scheme was put in place to ensure the most vulnerable households are supported during the cost of living crisis, enabling affected households to apply for £300 towards their bills. This includes households on means-tested benefits but also those in financial hardship and at risk of self-rationing fuel who have unavoidable additional heating needs. The first payment was made within 24 hours of the scheme launching on 1 April 2026.

The scheme has been managed by Advice Direct Scotland (“ADS”). Details of the eligibility criteria and the application process have been made available on the ADS website since the launch of the Scheme. Additionally, ADS have utilised the heating oil and liquid petroleum gas supplier network and have contacted over 1,600 third sector organisations to raise awareness of the Scottish Emergency Heating Oil Scheme.

ADS are also assisting individuals with any queries that they may have on the scheme or in making an application and I thank them for their on-going work.

We are now taking further steps to raise awareness and will continue to use various channels to reach those households most in need.