Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00237 on 1 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.

As committed to in our Public Service Reform Strategy the Scottish Government is working in partnership with public bodies to review the public service delivery landscape.

We want public bodies and Scottish Government, working individually and collectively, to continue to pursue all reasonable opportunities to maximise value from available resources. Specific proposals for public body rationalisation resulting from this work will be brought forward and where legislative change is necessary this will be taken forward through the Public Service Renewal Bill.

The number of Scottish public bodies under our control has reduced from 199 in 2007 to 134 as at May 2026.

Procurement is underway for a national artificial intelligence solution to support rapid identification of patients who would benefit from a thrombectomy procedure. A further update will be provided following the conclusion of the procurement process.

A key strand of the 2025 Public Service Reform Strategy is to ensure that the service delivery landscape is proportionate, streamlined and designed to meet Scotland’s needs in the most efficient way by eliminating duplication. As part of this, we continue to engage and work in partnership with public bodies to bring forward specific proposals to streamline the landscape to deliver long term fiscal sustainability. A Public Service Renewal Bill will be necessary as part of this process to make any legislative changes required.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00237 on 1 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 Inclusive Parliament Review has various workstreams including a Facilities Review and a review of our Dignity at Work arrangements. The Clerk/Chief Executive commissioned the Dignity at Work Review in light of strengthened statutory duties from the Worker Protection (Amendment of the Equality Act 2010) 2023 and forthcoming requirements within the Employment Rights Act 2025. Information about the Inclusive Parliament Review is available on the Intranet.

As part of the Dignity at Work Review, all SPCB staff and Members’ staff were invited to take part in an internal survey. We also consulted with staff, trade unions, staff forums, external equalities groups and MSPs, and undertook a benchmarking exercise looking at the approach taken in other parliaments. In addition, our Independent Support and Advocacy Service invited people to give feedback on their experiences. The results from the internal survey and associated work were published on 12 March 2026 and its recommendations were endorsed by the Presiding Officer and leaders of all the political parties in Parliament on 13 March 2026.

We have made progress on a number of recommendations including:

• Updated zero-tolerance statement of all forms of unacceptable behaviour, including bullying, harassment, and sexual harassment.
• An Employers’ Pledge will be introduced in June to set shared expectations of dignity, courtesy and respect across all employers in Parliament. All Members and contractors will be invited by the Clerk/Chief Executive to become signatories, and it has already been highlighted in new Members’ induction sessions.
• A refreshed “Safe to Speak up” campaign has been designed and implemented to support and encourage individuals to come forward and report any unacceptable behaviour they have experienced or witnessed. Further activity is planned over the coming months.
• Introduction of a risk assessment framework to support SPCB as an employer to identify and mitigate risks of bullying, harassment, and sexual harassment, including third-party harassment, in June.
• Development of a toolkit for Members as employers to allow them to carry out risk assessments, which will be introduced by September.
• Review and update of key behavioural policies, including the development of a Prevention of Bullying and Harassment policy, which will be published by November.

In March 2026 we commissioned a Facilities Review survey to help us consider the provision, designation, and accessibility of toilets, changing rooms, and showering facilities across the Holyrood estate. Findings will be published in June. They will be used to help us identify any improvements and ensure we create a welcoming, safe, and inclusive environment for all, while also meeting our legal obligations (in terms of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, relevant building regulations and the Equality Act 2010, taking account of guidance published from the statutory regulator, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).)

The delivery of the agreed actions will be planned over the session and will be prioritised based on available resources and staff time. Further updates on progress made towards the recommendations will be published on the Intranet over the same period.

Local authorities hold statutory responsibility for managing and maintaining their school estate, and we expect them to provide safe environments for all school users.

The Scottish Government recognises the pressures that many school staff are currently facing in relation to behaviour. Whilst the Behaviour in Scottish Schools Research 2023 reported behaviour is generally good overall, it also reported increases in a range of disruptive and other negative behaviours in school.

In response, the Scottish Government and COSLA published a joint action plan on relationships and behaviour in schools in August 2024, setting out actions to support positive behaviour and reduce violence in schools. We have made significant progress on the delivery of these commitments and continue to do so. We are also committed to go further, and have committed to legislating to ban mobile phones in classrooms, as part of a wider and holistic approach to improving behaviour, reducing disruption and supporting positive learning environments for both pupils and staff.

We remain committed to the delivery of a 24-7 thrombectomy service and Public Services Delivery Scotland are currently working with NHS Boards to fully establish the resources required to deliver this. Once this is established, we will work at pace to develop a delivery plan and timescales for service expansion.

I recognise the significant pressures facing our Emergency Departments. The challenges we see in A&E are due to blockages across the whole-system, including high hospital occupancy, delays in discharge and increasing patient complexity.

This may result in patients waiting longer than we would wish, however we are clear every Health Boards focus on delivery of the A&E target through collaboration and efficiency.

That is why, this government will act immediately to drive improvements on A&E performance and reduce delays for patients, where we are working closely with Health Boards to ensure they have the support in place to cope with peaks in demand.

Building on the improvements made through the NHS Scotland Operational Improvement Plan (OIP), this government will publish a plan to improving flow within the first 100 days of parliament where our approach will be to take early actions focus on improving access to care, reducing waiting times and easing pressure on hospitals, particularly through strengthening primary and community care.

The Scottish Government has commissioned Healthcare Improvement Scotland to undertake an independent scalability assessment of our Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Service Pilots. This project will explore what our options are to expand access to non-specific symptom pathways for cancer in the most efficient and effective way, ensuring we reach population level coverage.

This initial phase of work is due to be complete by Spring 2027 after which point the we will work with Healthcare Improvement Scotland, the Centre for Sustainability and NHS Boards to develop an appropriate plan for service expansion.