Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S7W-01378

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 26 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 23 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the rollout of the Vision 3 system on GP practices, including on appointment capacity, consultation times, administrative workload and the ability of practices to deliver safe and effective patient care.

The Scottish Government continues to monitor the impact of the Vision hosted system rollout through Public Service Delivery Scotland (PSDS)’engagement with health boards, GP practices and the supplier OneAdvanced.

While some practices have experienced performance issues following migration, particularly where users are adapting from EMIS to Vision, additional training and post-migration support have been put in place.

OneAdvanced is implementing system improvements to address issues affecting appointments, prescribing and task management, and recent infrastructure changes have improved system stability. PSDS continues to work with Boards and the supplier to minimise and mitigate any impacts reported as a result of the system changes.

Question reference: S7W-01389

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 26 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 23 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what escalation process is in place for GP practices that consider that the Vision 3 system is unworkable or having an adverse impact on patient care.

GP practices can escalate issues with the Vision system via their health board representatives, who in turn can raise these with the programme team. GP practice scan log any issues with the One Advanced(Vision) Service Desk.

The GP IT Re-provisioning Programme has a robust governance framework, governed by the GP IT Service Management Board, which meets regularly and features representation from Scottish Government, RCGP, SGPC and NHS Scotland stakeholders, including health board representation. Programme progress and status are assessed as part of each meeting.

Question reference: S7W-01411

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 23 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Environmental Standards Scotland's recent report, Protecting Scotland’s seafloor: an assessment of Scottish Ministers’ implementation of the Marine Strategy Regulations 2010, what steps it is taking to address the data gaps which currently prevent assessment of Good Environmental Status (GES) for seafloor integrity.

Question reference: S7W-01414

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 23 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it assesses the contribution that Scottish measures are expected to make towards the agreed Scottish share of UK-wide seafloor integrity targets.

The UK wide Marine Strategy Regulations 2010 set out various requirements related to the UK wide endeavour of the achievement or maintenance of Good Environmental Status of marine waters within the marine strategy area, including with respect to seafloor integrity.

Environmental Standards Scotland's (ESS) report, Protecting Scotland's seafloor: an assessment of Scottish Ministers' implementation of the Marine Strategy Regulations 2010, includes findings and recommendations relating to the assessment of the contribution that Scottish measures make towards UK wide seafloor integrity objectives and targets.

The Scottish Government is carefully considering the report. I have written to the Chief Executive of ESS confirming that the Scottish Government will work constructively with ESS to agree an appropriate action plan within the suggested timescale. The Scottish Government's position on the matters raised in the report will be set out through that engagement and in its formal response.

Question reference: S7W-01385

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 26 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 23 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received representations from GP practices, NHS boards, primary care staff or professional bodies regarding the implementation or functionality of the Vision 3 system, and, if so, what action it has taken in response.

Question reference: S7W-01392

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 26 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 23 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider allowing GP practices to return to, or adopt, alternative clinical IT systems, including EMIS or EMIS Web, where practices consider that the Vision 3 system is adversely affecting their ability to provide safe and efficient care.

Question reference: S7W-01451

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 23 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether its Wild salmon strategy: implementation plan 2023 to 2028 is on track for delivery by the end of 2028, and when it will publish the 2025 annual progress report.

The Scottish Government remains committed to delivering the actions set out in the Wild Salmon Strategy: Implementation Plan 2023-2028. Good progress has been made across a range of priority areas, including improving our understanding of marine survival through salmon tracking projects, implementing SEPA's Sea Lice Regulatory Framework, publishing advice from the Science and Evidence Board, improving river connectivity through action to remove or ease barriers to fish migration and progress on salmon penalties via the new Natural Environment (Scotland) Act.

Delivery of the Plan continues to be monitored by the Wild Salmon Strategy Delivery Group. While delivery of a long-term programme will be influenced by emerging evidence and changing circumstances, the Scottish Government and partners under the Strategy remain focused on achieving the outcomes set out in the Plan by 2028.

The 2025 Annual Progress Report is currently being finalised and will be published after the summer recess.

Question reference: S7W-01388

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 26 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 23 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what support is being provided to GP practices that are experiencing operational difficulties following the transition to the Vision 3 system.

Question reference: S7W-01390

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 26 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 23 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will pause any further rollout of the Vision 3 system pending a full review of its impact on GP practices, staff wellbeing, patient safety and service capacity.

The Scottish Government has no plans to pause the rollout of the Vision hosted system. EMIS PCS is due to reach end of life in June 2027, and Vision is currently the only GP clinical system available through the national framework for practices requiring a replacement system.

Patient safety, staff wellbeing, service capacity and operational risks are monitored through established programme governance arrangements. PSD Scotland continues to work closely with health boards, GP practices and One Advanced to identify and address issues, strengthen training and support, and implement lessons learned from migrations. This approach is intended to support the safe and effective transition of practices from EMIS PCS before support for that system ends.

Question reference: S7W-01379

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 26 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 23 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the Vision 3 system on GP and practice staff workload, wellbeing, morale and retention.

Public Services Delivery Scotland, on behalf of the Scottish Government, is working with health boards to ensure that training is delivered at the right stages of the migration process, reinforced following go-live, and supported through practical, hands-on learning opportunities.

Health boards have been asked to ensure that practices receive appropriate support before, during and after migration, including sufficient protected time for training and familiarisation with the system. Where necessary, health boards may consider temporary adjustments to clinical activity to support a safe transition and staff wellbeing.

PSDS is also working closely with One Advanced and health boards to address issues identified by practices and to improve the overall user experience as the rollout progresses.