Funding has not been allocated to local authorities in 2025-26. Discussions around in-year funding are continuing and we are giving thought in relation to the commencement timeline of section 10, taking both the 2026 Scottish Parliament election and 2027 local authority elections into account.

Officials have been engaging with the relevant authorities to gain a better understanding of the processes by which local Good Food Nation Plans would be produced in local authorities and health boards. This includes are search project that will help inform how we can most effectively support them in fulfilling their legislative duties under the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022, ensuring that limited resources are used to maximum effect in supporting plan development across Scotland.

We intend to commence section 10 in a way that provides relevant authorities 12 months’ advance notice of the 12-month clock. In practical terms, this will provide relevant authorities 24 months to prepare and develop their local Plans. Options in relation to the commencement timeline of section 10 are currently being considered, taking both the 2026 Scottish Parliament election and 2027 local authority elections into account.

We are aware that many relevant authorities are already undertaking some preparatory work prior to the commencement of section 10, such as identifying who will lead on this work; which departments or policy areas will need to be involved; and what food policy is already in existence. However, we are also aware that some relevant authorities are waiting for further information before starting work on their Plans. We intend to provide ongoing support to both health boards and local authorities, such as facilitating collaboration, providing information and advice, and providing resources such as guidance documents.

The Scottish Government has not made its own assessment of the total future electricity demand resulting from expected AI and data centre developments in Scotland.

The National Energy System Operator (NESO) recognised in its 2025 Future Energy Scenarios, that up to a fifth of Great Britain’s future data centre demand could be based in Scotland.

While the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) for Great Britain is still under development, NESO recognises that engaging with local stakeholders, including Scottish Local Authorities, is critical to the success of the plan. The Scottish Government is aware of NESO’s engagement with COSLA, and you may wish to contact NESO directly at [email protected] for any further detail.

Following publication of the SSEP, it is anticipated that NESO’s Regional Energy Strategic Plan (RESP) for Scotland will provide further insight into the forecast future electricity demand from data centres.

The Scottish Government expects NHS Boards to provide high-quality, safe and effective person-centred care and support for all people, including those with postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS). Support is often provided in primary care, with specialist referral where clinically appropriate.

Boards are responsible for ensuring timely and equitable access to assessment and care, including through remote consultations and cross-Board referral pathways where these provide the most effective route to specialist input.

The Scottish Government does not hold the regional dataset that underpins the National Energy System Operator’s modelling of data centre demand in its 2025 Future Energy Scenarios (FES) publication.

NESO does not break down the FES data centre demand data further, to be able to show the location-specific scenarios of data centre demand.

The Scottish Government negotiated the new General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) fees with Optometry Scotland with the data available at the time. A joint review of the impact of these changes will be undertaken with Optometry Scotland in due course. These discussions are confidential in nature and for Optometry Scotland to consider how it, as the representative body, informs its membership.

Dilating the pupils of patients aged 60 and older has been a requirement of a GOS primary eye examination since 1 April 2010. It is clinically important because it enables the optometrist to inspect the retina, optic nerve and macula for early signs of age-related sight-threatening diseases that are often symptomless.

The Scottish Government does not collect and publish complete information on the number of fish culled fish on salmon farms.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43168 on 2 February 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 Scottish Government’s Scottish Finfish Production Survey is a long running Scottish Government statistical publication produced to appropriate professional standards. Data may be checked against case information held by the Fish Health Inspectorate, including any movement records, to ensure information is consistent.

The Scottish Government has no plans to introduce further mandatory reporting and publication of losses of farmed salmon as the data already available are sufficient for regulatory purposes.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43168 on 2 February 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