Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government has in our Programme for Government and Rural Support Plan 2026-31 confirmed its commitment to provide ongoing financial support to rural organisations such as RSABI and Farmstrong which support rural mental health and wellbeing initiatives in Rural Scotland.

Future year funding remains subject to annual budget decisions, Parliamentary approval of the Scottish Budget, and ongoing assessment of affordability and portfolio priorities. We will align the Scottish Budget to a supporting 12-month PfG delivery plan each spring. Future-year funding will therefore continue to be considered through the normal budget-setting process.

The Scottish Government recognises that intergenerational approaches can strengthen communities, challenge stereotypes and improve wellbeing. In recognition of the importance of intergenerational approaches Scottish Government has provided support for Generations Working Together (GWT) through the Equality and Human Rights Fund. GWT received £924,067 between 2021-22 and 2025-26 to support work tackling ageism via the promotion of intergenerational activity across Scotland.

We are providing £4.8 million over four years through the Social Isolation and Loneliness Fund, which is supporting 52 community projects across Scotland via targeted activity to tackle social isolation and loneliness across a range of groups and communities. This includes opportunities for intergenerational connection, with the recent Year 3 report highlighting an increase in intergenerational activities, bringing together and connecting groups of different ages.

Since 2016-17, we have invested just over £950,000 in Scottish Men’s Sheds Association to grow the number of sheds in Scotland to help tackle social isolation and loneliness. Men Sheds offer safe and welcoming spaces for men of all generations to come together and feel supported.

Scottish Government monitors the impact of funded activity through a range of reporting and evaluation mechanisms. This includes regular monitoring and reporting from funded organisations and evaluation of programmes such as the Social Isolation and Loneliness Fund.

An Island Communities Impact Assessment has not been undertaken in relation to the closure of the Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme. This is because the closure of the Scheme is not expected to have a significantly different impact on island communities compared to other communities across Scotland. Affordable, commercially available broadband services are available nationwide, including across Scotland’s island communities, through a range of terrestrial and non-terrestrial connectivity solutions. As such, the closure of the Scheme is not considered to give rise to impacts that would necessitate an ICIA.

Voucher uptake across Scotland’s island communities has declined sharply. Delivery peaked at 157 SBVS-funded connections in 2024-25, falling to 56 in 2025-26, with only 22 connections delivered to date in 2026-27. This means that fewer than 1% of currently eligible island premises have chosen to utilise the scheme during the current financial year. The sustained decline in take-up, coupled with the very low level of participation among eligible premises, provides strong evidence that demand for the scheme has now largely been exhausted across Scotland’s island communities.

The Dental Reference Group, established by Health Board Chief Executives, has been asked to undertake a detailed review of Special Care Dentistry services in Scotland. This work will consider current and future population need, assess the existing workforce, and determine whether a national workforce strategy is required to support sustainable service delivery and future service development.

As set out in my answers to Monica Lennon MSP and Meghan Gallacher MSP in the chamber on 6 October, I understand the impact that childcare costs have on families and that families of twins and other multiple-birth children face particular challenges.

We are developing a blueprint for a transformed childcare offer, which will be published for consultation in 2027.

The development of that blueprint will consider a range of evidence and stakeholder views on future childcare provision and I would encourage anyone with an interest, including families with twin or multiple births, to participate in the consultation.

Decisions on future eligibility criteria will be informed by that process and a full assessment of future childcare delivery options and costs will be undertaken as part of the parliamentary and budgetary process.

The Scottish Government will continue to drive the expansion of gigabit-capable broadband infrastructure across Scotland through its leadership role in the delivery of Project Gigabit in Scotland and its continued oversight of the remaining R100 contract build activity, seeking opportunities to align build, drive efficiencies and maximise coverage.

The Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme will continue to accept new applications until 20 November 2026, and all approved applications received by that date will be fully honoured.

Scottish Government is working closely with NHS Boards to determine the position of Special Care Dentistry across Scotland. This includes engagement with Health Board Chief Executives through the Dental Reference Group which, as detailed in my response to S7W-04109 on 27 October 2026, is undertaking a review of Special Care Dentistry services and will help inform our assessment.

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.

Broadband connectivity is available to all homes and businesses in Scotland through a combination of terrestrial and non-terrestrial technologies.

With regards to fixed broadband only, the following table sets out properties in two categories, as per the data we received as part of our most recent Open Market Review:

• those receiving sub-superfast speeds of below 30 Megabits per second (Mbps), which are expected to receive a Gigabit connection, either through commercial coverage, current Project Gigabit in Scotland (PGiS) contracts, R100 contracts or SBVS projects;
• those receiving speeds below 30 Mbps, which remain eligible for vouchers through SBVS until its closure on 20 November.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on the specific safeguards used by individual NHS boards to control and record access to insulin within neonatal units.

The safe storage, security and administration of medicines, are matters for individual NHS boards.

The findings and recommendations of the Thirlwall Inquiry are being considered. Any implications for policy or practice in Scotland will be considered in conjunction with NHS boards and relevant clinical and professional stakeholders.

The Scottish Government continues to engage with representatives of rural and agricultural businesses regarding the impact of the UK Government's increase in Employer National Insurance Contributions. Through this engagement, stakeholders have highlighted concerns that increased employment costs will add further pressure to businesses already facing a range of operating costs. We recognise the concerns raised by stakeholders and continue to monitor the effects of the policy on the sector.

The Scottish Government remains committed to supporting farming and crofting businesses and has provided over £660 million in support to Scottish agriculture, representing the most generous package of support available anywhere in the UK.