Chamber and committees

Student intake targets for nursing and midwifery controlled funded places are set for three years to provide stability across partners, including higher education institutions. The most recent multi-year target has been set for 2026-27 to 2028-29, with an annual review to ensure targets remain appropriate.

There is extensive engagement with stakeholders (who are invited to share their own data) when setting the three year targets, as well as discussing their insights on NHS Scotland vacancies, establishment figures and clinical placement capacity. Both quantitative and qualitative data are considered as part of this process. Stakeholders include NHS Boards, Higher Education Institutes, Royal Colleges and Trade Unions.

Alongside this planning, the Scottish Government works with the Student Award Agency Scotland (SAAS) to ensure appropriate funding is available for the corresponding number of students, including for the bursary and any relevant allowances.

Local authorities are responsible for determining their own approach to properties affected by RAAC to ensure the response takes account of local circumstances and there is no duty for local authorities to report to Scottish Government on their approach to RAAC. However Scottish Government engage with local authorities as required. The most recent meetings between the Scottish Government and Angus Council to discuss RAAC are as follows:

• Scottish Government officials met with officers from Angus Council on 27 March 2026 to discuss their approach to RAAC in Monifeith and what options the Council are considering for both council-owned properties and owner-occupied properties affected by RAAC.
• Elected members and officers from Angus Council attended the RAAC in Housing Leadership Group meeting, chaired by the former Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Mairi McAllan, on 28 January 2026. This meeting focussed upon the guidance published by the Institution of Structural Engineers to identify, assess and remediate RAAC.
• The former Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Mairi McAllan, met with Dundee and Angus residents and elected members on 27 August 2025 to hear directly from people impacted by RAAC.

The former Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Mairi McAllan, invited local authorities to submit proposals for financial flexibility to support solutions for RAAC affected properties. Angus Council have not submitted any requests to date.

The Scottish Government values the contribution of the NHS Scotland workforce and is committed to supporting those who choose to pursue a career in nursing. Scottish Ministers have overseen 14 consecutive years of growth in the NHS Scotland workforce, invested in improving the terms and conditions of NHS Scotland staff and continue to deliver activity flowing from both the Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce and the Future Medical Workforce Project to support these professions. The Scottish Government is committed to building on this progress and will set out further detail on the proposed job guarantee in due course.

The Scottish Government, together with the UK Government and Welsh Government, has commissioned the National Energy System Operator (NESO) to produce a Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP). The SSEP is a whole system spatial plan for Great Britain’s future energy infrastructure and is due to be published for consultation next year.

The UK Government’s Nuclear Regulatory Review specifically excluded devolved issues in Scotland and Wales in its consideration. Therefore, recommendations covering such matters are set out for England only.

The Scottish Government remains firmly opposed to new nuclear power stations in Scotland under current technologies and so recommendations regarding new nuclear energy will not be considered. Where there are recommendations about the wider management of existing nuclear sites concerning devolved areas of competence, we will consider the merits of any measures once we receive more detailed proposals from UK Government. Our focus remains on managing Scotland’s nuclear legacy in a way that protects people and the environment.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01172 on 10 July 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 does not hold this information. Data relating to vehicle searches conducted by Police Scotland is held by Police Scotland.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00174 on 5 June 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 average cost to train a nursing student in Scotland is approximately £60k over the typical three year course. This includes bursary, tuition fees and teaching grant. Placement costs vary per student and are not included. The Scottish Government has committed to uprating the bursary available for nursing and midwifery students.

Operational matters such as staffing and recruitment, including the recruitment of graduates, are the responsibility of the individual health and social care employers.

The Scottish Government does not hold information relating to students who have not completed pre-registration nursing programmes in each of the last three years. This data may be available via individual institutions. Students do not complete courses for a variety of reasons. However, the Scottish Government recognises the financial challenges faced by all students, including nursing and midwifery students, and understands that this has been exacerbated by the cost of living crisis. This is why we have committed to uprating the student nursing and midwifery bursary.