We do not set an annual budget for marketing campaigns for smoking cessation and this would form part of the overall budget for tobacco and smoking, which since 2023-24 has been £2.93 million. The Scottish Government ran Community Pharmacy poster campaigns promoting the free Quit Your Way Scotland (QYWS) service in 2022-23 (£15,288) and 2023-24 (£16,544). The initiative encouraged individuals to engage with their local pharmacists for tailored support and advice on quitting smoking. As part of the implementation of the Tobacco and Vaping Framework we committed to continue to support, promote and review Community Pharmacy cessation campaigns.

A series of campaigns led by Public Health Scotland (PHS) have also promoted the QYWS. Including a national campaign in February 2024 to increase awareness of, and engagement with the free QYWS service and, most recently, an organic social media campaign in August 2025 to raise awareness among pregnant women, their partners, and families of the support available to quit smoking. Spend and evaluation for PHS’ campaigns are not held centrally.

The Scottish Government does not have data on the number of enquiries or support sought as a result of these awareness raising campaigns.

The Scottish Government provides funding annually to Health Boards for smoking cessation and prevention services as part of a wider Outcomes Framework allocation, whereby budget is provided to Health Boards to cover a range of outcomes. It is up to Health Boards to decide how much of this funding to allocate to each outcome. The published Scottish Budget for 2025-26 includes £72.2 million for the Outcomes Framework.

In 2023-24 PHS statistics from NHS Stop Smoking Services showed there were 30,319 attempts to stop smoking, a 12.4% increase from 2022-23. Data is not yet available for 2025-26.

The information requested is not held centrally.

The information requested is not held centrally.

The Scottish Government has not conducted a national workforce assessment for the staffing requirements of a 24/7 thrombectomy service, although regional planning groups have previously assessed the staff in various roles required to deliver a 24/7 thrombectomy service.

Scottish Government officials and NHS planners have been asked to work at pace on developing a plan for the next steps for thrombectomy service expansion, and this will include assessment of workforce requirements.

Work is also progressing with a review of how the stroke specialist decision-making workforce works nationally, using telemedicine and cross board working, to improve resilience in rotas and increase capacity to be able to support hyperacute stroke care, such as thrombectomy, out of hours.

The Scottish Government provides various forms of support to Scotland’s abattoirs, including those in remote and island areas.

We remain committed to supporting small producers, and empowering them to help deliver our Vision for Agriculture. One way we are realising this is by supporting the ecosystem that our Small Producers rely upon, and so last year, through the Small Producers Pilot Fund, we provided over £300,000 in Private Kill Abattoir grant funding. This support was directed to organisations including Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), SAOS, Munro’s of Dingwall, and facilities in Shetland, Wishaw, Mull, Barra, and Orkney.

This year, we’re going further – we are delivering up to £1 million in resource funding to support a range of targeted actions. This includes investment in the Small Producer Practical Training Fund, which is designed to help small producers build resilient, sustainable businesses for the future. Applications for the 2025–26 financial year have already been received from private kill abattoirs, in Shetland, Shotts, Mull, Wishaw, and Stornoway.

Officials have also had some initial engagement with those organising the Boreray sheep slaughter facility on the Orkney Islands - the ‘Tiny Trailer Abattoir’ - and we expect further engagement with them, including their application in due course. I am also aware that Food Standards Scotland have been working with them on the establishment of the abattoir, which would enable processing specifically of Boreray and North Ronaldsay sheep.

Abattoirs across Scotland have also benefited from a Ministerial discount scheme that has been applied by Scottish Ministers for Official Veterinarian charges since 2015, amounting to £1.07 million. This was supplemented in 2024/25 with an additional £500,000, helping to further reduce costs for abattoirs.

In addition, the Scottish Government commissioned a report, published in March 2020, entitled ‘Assessing the Viability and Sustainability of Mobile Abattoirs in Scotland.’ The research provides details of what would be required to operate mobile abattoirs in Scotland, including the regulatory framework, and offers a cost-benefit analysis of possible operational models. Whilst the report found support for fixed or mobile abattoirs, there was some concern amongst existing island abattoirs that support for MSUs could result in the diversion of animals and income streams that could otherwise be channelled to their businesses.

The Scottish Government does not hold information regarding clinical outcomes in relation to delays in receiving hyperacute stroke care. We remain committed to implementing a high quality and clinically safe thrombectomy service that is available across Scotland whenever people need it.

Scottish Government officials and NHS planners are working at pace on developing a plan for the next steps for service expansion.

The information requested is not held centrally. This is a matter for Public Health Scotland.

The information requested is not held centrally. Thrombolysis is available 24/7 across Scotland.

The information requested is not held centrally.

The Scottish Government does not currently have an estimated cost for the provision of a 24/7 thrombectomy service.

The Scottish Government remains committed to implementing a high quality and clinically safe thrombectomy service that is available across Scotland whenever people need it.

Scottish Government officials and NHS planners have been asked to work at pace on developing a plan for the next steps for service expansion.

While there is not a specific date for publication, we expect the next steps for service expansion to reflect work to align the governance and delivery of thrombectomy with similar national programmes. This alignment with wider health service planning aims to support oversight of thrombectomy planning for the NHS Chief Executive Group and encourage greater collaboration between NHS Boards in delivering this vital service. This work will include developing costings for further service expansion.