As required by the legislation, we will embark on a review of local place plans and lay the report before the Scottish Parliament.

The Act states the review is to be carried out as soon as practicable after the end of the seven-year period, which is seven years on from the Act receiving Royal Assent (after 26 July 2026).

We are in the early stages of considering the scope and delivery of the review, and will engage with community groups and local authorities.

The Scottish Government’s National Carers Strategy published in December 2022 sets out a cross-government approach to tackling issues that affect carers, including through health and social care policies. The Strategy sets out our intentions regarding carers’ healthcare at chapter 3. We considered whether it was feasible to provide flexible health appointments for carers, including replacement care for appointments as part of the implementation process of the Strategy.

Following comprehensive scoping work and engagement across Scottish Government, we are focusing on strengthening signposting and guidance to ensure carers can make the most of existing provisions, particularly where appointment slots are available within current practice frameworks. This approach will help us deliver practical improvements while continuing to explore longer-term opportunities for collaboration and innovation.

Unpaid carers have rights under the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 to an adult carer support plan (or young carer statement) looking at their caring situation and needs for support. That needs to take account of the extent to which they are willing and able to provide care, which would be impacted by a need for medical treatment.

Such plans should include information about whether there are arrangements in place for the provision of care to the cared-for person in an emergency and arrangements for future care planning. Both of these aspects should provide an opportunity for agreeing how care will be provided should the carer need medical treatment. Carers also have rights to have their plan reviewed when there is a material change to their caring situation, such as the need for medical treatment or a hospital stay.

The 2016 Act also places a duty on local authorities and relevant health boards to jointly prepare a local carer strategy which must include their plans for helping carers put arrangements in place for the provision of care in emergencies. Local authorities must also establish an information and advice service for carers, which should offer information and advice about emergency and future care planning for carers in their area.

I have asked Gerard Hart, Chief Executive of Disclosure Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:

15.8% of Disclosure Scotland’s total workforce is made up of agency or temporary employees. This is based on September full-time equivalent work figures and includes IT contractors as temporary employees.

There are currently 12 civil servants assigned to the core Promise team. Work to keep The Promise is cross portfolio and officials across Scottish Government are actively engaged in work to support delivery of the recommendations set out in The Promise.

I have asked Gerard Hart, Chief Executive of Disclosure Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:

Disclosure Scotland do not hold the information requested.

The Scottish Government provides annual funding to Volunteer Scotland Disclosure Services (VSDS) to assist voluntary sector organisations with navigating the disclosure system. VSDS works in partnership with Disclosure Scotland to help resolve issues experienced by the voluntary sector. While Disclosure Scotland do not receive reporting on delayed recruitment, we maintain close collaboration with VSDS to monitor performance and respond to any feedback received.

I have asked Gerard Hart, Chief Executive of Disclosure Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:

Children’s Hearings Scotland is responsible for the recruitment, training and retention of children’s hearings panel members and is assigned funding through the grant-in-aid process. It is a matter for the National Convener to allocate resource to the training of panel members. Grant-in-aid funding is detailed in CHS' annual report.

This information is not held centrally. Education Authorities should hold this information locally, given that the statutory responsibility for the delivery of Education rests with Local Authorities.

I have asked Gerard Hart, Chief Executive of Disclosure Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:

I have asked Gerard Hart, Chief Executive of Disclosure Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:

From 1 January to 19 October 2025 inclusive, there were 34 Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) application results where the processing time took longer than eight weeks.

Note 1: Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) applications from 1 April 2025 onwards, with the implementation of the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020, represents: Level 2 PVG scheme disclosure (Join), Level 2 PVG scheme disclosure (Existing), Confirmation of PVG scheme membership (Join) and Confirmation of PVG scheme membership (Existing). Prior to 1 April 2025, PVG applications represents: Scheme Record Disclosure, Short Scheme Record Disclosure, Existing Scheme Record Disclosure and Statements of Scheme Membership.

Note 2: This figure relates to PVG applications completed between 1 January and 19 October 2025 inclusive, with a processing time greater than 56 days.

Note 3: The processing time for a completed application incorporates all time between an application being received by Disclosure Scotland, through to completion with a disclosure issued to the applicant. Disclosure Scotland deducts any time which the application was suspended on our system, such as being suspended for customer contact. Weekend days are included in the number of processing days for applications, but national holidays and Scottish Government public and privilege holidays are excluded.