Chamber and committees

Scottish Government does not hold this information.

Scottish Government centrally purchased 25,000 Chromebooks at a cost of £6m in 2020-21. A further 47,000 devices were centrally funded at this time but purchased locally. Decisions on device types were taken by each authority in line with their needs, and so SG does not hold this information. A total of £25m was provided for this investment. Additionally, we have allocated £10m in 2025-26 to continue improving digital access for learners.

Forecasts for the Scottish economy, including inflation, are produced by the independent Scottish Fiscal Commission. Their most recent forecasts were published on 29 May (https://fiscalcommission.scot/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Scotlands-Economic-And-Fiscal-Forecasts-May-2025.pdf).

The Scottish Government has costed the one percentage point above inflation that the Agenda For Change pay deal for 2025-26 and 2026-27 guarantees and is monitoring monthly.

All social care workers are registered with the Scottish Social Services Council and are therefore subject to their fitness to practise rules and requirements. Social care practice is clearly complex and it is for employers and the regulator to assess whether conduct is inappropriate or otherwise in any given circumstance. Scottish Ministers and Parliament have provided legislation that allows the relevant parties to carry out their functions in accordance with best practice and the law.

For young people who may decide to seek medical support related to their gender identity, a range of support is available and is currently provided in NHS Scotland via NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s Young Person Gender Service.

Individualised assessment for, and potential treatment of, gender dysphoria is carried out by clinicians in this NHS service in consultation with their patient, as informed by patient need. Assessment will be carried out in line with relevant best practice. For example, guidance set by the General Medical Council (GMC) which, as the independent regulator of doctors, publishes a range of documentation to help clinicians fulfil their professional duties.

As the Care Inspectorate is an independent non-departmental body, it operates at arm’s length from Government. The Care Inspectorate therefore issues its own guidance independently from the Scottish Government to maintain its role as an impartial and objective regulator.

The Network and Information Systems (NIS) regulatory requirements for the NHS require that each Health Board provides evidence on their improvements to resilience and capabilities through the Scottish Health Competent Authority regulatory audits, which are against the Public Sector Cyber Resilience Framework.

The Scottish Government published the Cyber Resilience Public Sector Action Plan for all organisations in Scotland’s public sector, including Health and Local Authorities. This plan, alongside a number of other actions, sets out the minimum standards for cyber security that public sector organisations are expected to meet. Controls within the Public Sector Cyber Resilience Framework require that disaster recovery and resilience policies and procedures be in place.

https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-public-sector-cyber-resilience-framework-v2-0/pages/1/

I refer the member to the answers provided in response to S6W-36894 and S6W-36895 on 13 May 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.

The Scottish Government does not capture patients on waiting lists for hearing aid replacements specifically and it is the responsibility of Health Boards to manage these lists appropriately.

Scottish Government officials meet monthly with Health Boards to review performance and delivery across all Planned Care specialities, including ENT, and Health Board Action Plans in relation to the Independent Review, which has been published online, are reported and monitored by the NHS Planning and Delivery Board.

Work continues with the NHS, Third Sector and private providers to identify and cost an appropriate model of community care for any future service reform and ensure that the voices of those with lived experience inform this work

Remuneration of executive members, including bonus incentives, is published in Scottish Water’s annual report and accounts which are routinely laid before Parliament and available online at Annual Reports - Scottish Water.

Audiology is considered a clinical priority area and the Scottish Government remains committed to its vision for an integrated and community-based hearing service in Scotland.

The Scottish Government does not capture patients on waiting lists for hearing aid replacements specifically and it is the responsibility of Health Boards to manage these lists appropriately.

Scottish Government officials and the Centre for Sustainable Delivery national planned care team meet monthly with Chief Operating Officer and Health Boards to review performance and delivery across all Planned Care specialities, including ENT. In addition, Local Health Board Action Plans in relation to the Independent Review, which has been published online, are reported and monitored by the NHSS Planning and Delivery Board.