Chamber and committees

The Private Jet Tax will be implemented as higher rates of Air Departure Tax (ADT)which will apply to the carriage of passengers by air on private jet flights from Scottish airports.

The information requested on how many whole-time equivalent NHS podiatrists have been employed in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board can be found on the TURAS NHS Education for Scotland workforce statistics site at: NHS Scotland workforce | Turas Data Intelligence

Workforce planning for podiatry is taken forward as part of the wider Allied Health Professions workforce. The Allied Health Professions Education and Workforce Policy Review (2023) set out actions to ensure a sustainable workforce, and an advisory board is overseeing implementation. This includes expanding and diversifying routes into careers, such as “earn as you learn” models, and supporting initiatives like the PREPARE programme, which enables podiatrists to train while employed. These actions are designed to strengthen the training pipeline and support recruitment and retention.

Transport Scotland regularly report to Ministers on the timelines and related completion and planned readiness for deployment activities of the remaining ferries being constructed at the Cemre yard in Turkey. My initial meetings with Transport Scotland senior management have included updates on ferries projects, including these vessels.

CMAL will shortly provide a further update to the relevant Scottish Parliament committee, following on from the previous updates which were provided to the Net Zero, Economy and Transport committee.

Scottish Ministers are committed to reforming the public sector to deliver high-quality services in a fiscally sustainable way. Public Service Reform is central to this, with an increased focus on accelerating change and strengthening the delivery of key services, including ferry operations.

In this context, Scottish Ministers will consider structural reforms to improve accountability, transparency and efficiency within lifeline ferry services, as part of a wider approach to better integrate publicly owned transport bodies and maximise public investment. Communities and businesses remain central to this, with an emphasis on reliability, resilience and value for money.

While no final decisions have been taken on the nature or timing of reforms, engagement will continue with CalMac, CMAL, island stakeholders and trade unions as this work progresses.

Since the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) opened in 2015, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has faced challenges linked to the original build quality.

The Board has a range of ongoing legal proceedings against the main contractor as a result of these significant failures, which include defects with ensuite facilities.

Where issues are identified, these are managed on a case-by-case basis. This can include precautionary closure of individual rooms or areas while investigations and remedial works are carried out. This is a dynamic position reflecting ongoing inspection, maintenance and repair activity.

Patient safety is at the heart of the Board’s work, and their Estates and contractor teams continue to repair defects on an ongoing basis as required.

The Board is working with designers and specialist contractors to develop a long-term refit design option for all ensuite rooms in due course. There is currently no confirmed timetable for completion of this programme.

As legal proceedings are ongoing, it would not be appropriate to comment on potential recovery of costs from contractors or insurers.

The continued public investment in Scotland’s Railway, more than £1.6 billion this financial year alone, has enabled our industry partners to continue to deliver many of the aspirations shared with the rail unions. This includes the successful move to public ownership of ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper; investment in stations and infrastructure; ScotRail driver recruitment at an all-time high; and new trains on the way.

The Scottish Government recognises that constructive engagement with trade unions and industry partners is fundamental to a flourishing Scotland’s Railway.

The Private Jet Tax will be implemented as higher rates of Air Departure Tax (ADT)which will apply to the carriage of passengers by air on private jet flights from Scottish airports.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00438 on 8 June 2025. 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.

Transport Scotland continues to work with Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), Glasgow City Council and other regional partners in the development of Clyde Metro. The ongoing stage of the development process, known as the Case for Investment, is being led by SPT, with Transport Scotland providing a project assurance role.

Through the Glasgow City Region Deal, £6.1 million is being provided by Scottish Government, as part of a total allocation of £12.2 million, to take forward the development of the Clyde Metro project Case for Investment – a clear sign of this government’s commitment to supporting development of Clyde Metro. This key stage, which will inform decisions around network selection, phasing and implementation, is well underway and is anticipated to be complete in 2027.

Scottish Government Ministers are focused on delivering manifesto commitments. Further updates on this commitment will be provided once discussions with ETZ and ONE have progressed.