Chamber and committees

We are delivering on our commitment to open GP walk-in services, with six open since the start of the year and more due to open before the end of the summer. I appreciate the hard work of the health boards to get these services up and running and I'm sure the Member will join me in welcoming the opening of these sites and thanking our hard-working NHS staff for delivering these.

I have committed to expanding the walk-in service programme and will set out how I intend to do that over the next 100 days. Health Boards previously generated proposals for walk-ins which considered the needs of their population, taking into account local issues and circumstances. Our experience will inform how we commission the next 14.

The Scottish Government respects the independence of Local Government and the role of individual local authorities – as independent corporate bodies with their own powers and responsibilities – to manage their own budgets and workforce, including in relation to outsourcing of specific roles or services. As such, the Scottish Government has not made any assessment of the impact of outsourcing by local authorities. However, the Scottish Government would expect all local authorities to make decisions that meet their responsibility to secure value for money.

The Scottish Government’s position is that Scottish universities should consider compulsory redundancies only as a last resort, after all other cost-saving measures have been fully explored.

Presuming the question refers to Scotland’s universities, these institutions are autonomous bodies with responsibility for their own operational decision making, including in relation to their use of cash reserves and decisions regarding redundancies. The Scottish Funding Council is responsible for monitoring compliance of universities with Fair Work principles through annual reporting and accounts, and as part of their Outcomes Framework and Assurance Model, and considers any appropriate interventions to support compliance. The Scottish Government’s position is that Scottish universities should consider compulsory redundancies only as a last resort, after all other cost-saving measures have been fully explored.

Progress against delivery of A Connected Scotland is monitored and reported through the Social Isolation and Loneliness Advisory Group (SIALAG), which will be chaired by the Minister for Equalities and International Development.

In recognition of the significant impact being delivered by funded activity, and the continued importance of tackling social isolation and loneliness, the Scottish Government has extended the Social Isolation and Loneliness Fund to March 2027. This means total funding for 2026-27 will amount to over £1.05 million. The fund will be evaluated on its completion. Work is underway with SIALAG members to consider the future priorities of the social isolation and loneliness programme, as such the 2026 report has been delayed to bring it in line with this work and the conclusion of the fund.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00791 on 12 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.

There are various national policies and guidance documents currently in place which require NHS Health Boards to appropriately record and report incidents of violence and aggression, including sexual assault. This includes the Work-related Violence and Aggression Policy, and accompanying guides, which details the responsibilities of staff and managers, the procedures for reporting incidents and the support available to those affected. We have also published the NHS Public Protection Accountability and Assurance Framework, which sets out exemplar evidence of high-quality, safe and effective services that promote the protection of adults and children. Where there is concern about potential harm to a child, the National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland makes clear that all concerns that a child has been abused or is at risk of abuse must be reported to the police or social work.

Sexual assaults occurring in our hospitals is unacceptable, and all Health Boards are expected to uphold their legal duties as employers to keep staff, patients and visitors safe. All crimes and instances of violent behaviour, including sexual assaults, should be reported to Police Scotland. The courts have extensive powers to deal robustly with sexual offending.

The Scottish Government recognises that construction sector capacity, including the availability of labour, as well as the capability and capacity of firms, is key to the delivery of housing targets.

We engage regularly with local authorities who have responsibility for assessing local housing requirements and setting out delivery priorities in their Strategic Housing Investment Plans. We also engage broadly with registered social landlords who are responsible for procuring construction activity, and this engagement informs our understanding of strategic and operational delivery challenges including those related to construction sector capacity.

We have not produced a single estimate of the gap between planned and deliverable housing supply. This is due to the wide range of variables that affect delivery, including market conditions, supply chain pressures, planning factors and investment decisions.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00006 on 2 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 Scottish Government recognises the role that advisers and third sector organisations, including Citizens Advice Scotland, can play in supporting clients to challenge Adult Disability Payment decisions.

Under current legislation, requests for redetermination must be made by the individual client, or by a formally appointed representative (such as a power of attorney, guardian or appointee), who has the legal authority to act on the client’s behalf in line with statutory requirements and Social Security Scotland security and consent processes.

This is distinct from third party representatives, such as advice, advocacy, or welfare organisations, who may be nominated to support a client but do not have the same legal authority to act on their behalf. Social Security Scotland has established Third Party Representative guidance which explains how individuals can nominate such organisations to share or receive some categories of information on their behalf. However, this does not extend to making a redetermination request. Stakeholder organisations continue to play an important role in supporting those clients seeking a review of a decision.

Social Security Scotland continues to engage with stakeholders, including Citizens Advice Scotland, to ensure that systems and processes meet the needs of clients and those supporting them.