Chamber and committees

In this session, I am delighted to maintain Cabinet level leadership for Gaelic, building on the substantial legacy of the previous DFM. My focus will be on implementing the Scottish Languages Act 2025, passed unanimously by this Parliament. I will continue to be supported in this by officials in the Gaelic and Scots division working to strengthen the statutory support and development of Gaelic across Scotland. This legislation is supported by an increase in funding secured through the 2026-2027 Budget, demonstrating the Government’s commitment to creating a secure future for Gaelic in Scotland. A range of projects and initiatives, operating in different sectors, are in place to support and promote the Gaelic language. Along with significant funding there is also welcome support and co-operation in place from local authorities and public bodies.

As outlined in our pledge over the first 100 Days of a new government and as set out in the Scottish Budget 2026-27, Scottish Spending Review 2026 and the Infrastructure Delivery Pipeline 2026, published on 13 January, the Scottish Government is fully committed to dualling the whole A96, including a Nairn Bypass. As part of this commitment the Scottish Government is already starting the dualling process from Inverness to Nairn, including Nairn Bypass.

Investment in the trunk road network over the four year Capital Spending Review period to 2029-30 will allow the Scottish Government to make further progress on dualling the A96 between Inverness and Nairn, including the Nairn Bypass. With the land acquired for the scheme in 2025, funding is included in the 2026-27 Budget to commence the delivery of advanced works. This will include vital archaeological investigation works and other key environmental and ecological measures, along with significant work to facilitate complex Public Utility diversions.

In parallel to the advanced works, investment through the Budget in 2026-27 will also allow Transport Scotland to continue to take forward the work to determine the most suitable procurement option for delivering the scheme and further develop the Business Case.

The Scottish Government’s preference would be to deliver the A96 Dualling Inverness to Nairn (including Nairn Bypass) as one project. However, due to the continued fiscal challenges, it is planned that the Scottish Government will take forward a phased approach to delivery, starting with the Nairn Bypass, followed by the remaining sections of the scheme, from Seafield, east of Inverness, to Balloch and then on from Balloch to the Nairn Bypass.

Completion of the preparatory work, including approval of the Business Case, will enable a firm timetable for delivery to be set as part of the annual budget setting process, with a view to commencing procurement of the main works contract for the Nairn Bypass within this Capital Spending Review period.

The Capital Spending Review allows for the commencement of the construction of the Nairn Bypass in 2029-30, subject to business case approval and confirmation of funding beyond the spending review period. Delivery of advanced works for the Seafield to Balloch section of the scheme are also expected to commence during this capital spending review period.

Despite the current fiscal position and following the A96 Dualling Inverness to Nairn (including Nairn Bypass) scheme, the Scottish Government will continue to progress dualling of the A96 eastwards, including an Elgin Bypass.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) describes long COVID as “a multi-system condition with a range of debilitating symptoms… people may have wide-ranging and fluctuating symptoms following an acute COVID-19 infection, which may vary in nature over time”. The ongoing impact of long COVID can be debilitating for some with impacts on daily activities and quality of life reported to include fatigue, breathlessness, anxiety, depression and cognitive impairment.

National population health surveys are currently the most appropriate source of data on the proportion of a population experiencing the long-term effects of COVID-19. The annual Scottish Health Survey (SHeS) is the most robust source of data on self-reported long COVID prevalence in Scotland, including among children. Long COVID is defined for this survey as symptoms that develop during or after a COVID-19 infection that continue more than four weeks after the infection and are not explained by something else. The most recent data for 2024 was published in October 2025. The data for children (aged under 16) are available via the survey dashboard. The question asked respondents who had had COVID-19 whether they currently had long COVID. 1% of children aged under 16 were reported to have long COVID. This is the lowest self-reported prevalence rate among all age groups shown in this survey. The overall adult self-reported prevalence rate was 7%.

The Scottish Government does not have access to data about long COVID held in NHS electronic systems. It is in any case difficult to identify people who have long COVID from within NHS records: not everyone with long COVID will attend their GP, and not all cases or symptoms will be recorded as long COVID. Research undertaken in Scotland, England and Wales has consequently shown that long COVID among adults is under-recorded in GP electronic systems compared with findings from surveys such as SHeS which ask about self-reported prevalence. It is reasonable to assume that long COVID among children is also likely to be under-recorded and is therefore difficult to assess accurately from health records.

No central assessment has been made of the impact of paediatric long COVID on paediatric health and social care services. Responsibility for service delivery rests locally with NHS boards which configure services taking into account local circumstances and the reasonable needs of their patient populations.

We are providing £4.5 million funding to NHS boards on a recurring basis to support the delivery of specialist support for long COVID, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and other similar conditions. In allocating this resource, NHS boards have been asked to consider what would be needed to extend provision for these conditions to paediatric services if there is an identified need for this in their board. Boards have also been asked to consider how they may collaborate to provide a more efficient and effective service, whether this may be for the most complex cases and/or for specific populations e.g. paediatrics.

Child Disability Payment (CDP) provides financial support to help families with the additional costs of being disabled or living with a long-term health condition. Entitlement is not dependent on a specific diagnosis and a child or young person with long COVID could be eligible if it significantly impacts their care or mobility needs. Being disabled impacts people in different ways and awards relate to the levels of needs that reflect individual circumstances.

The scheduling of fixtures in the KDM Evolution Trophy is the responsibility of the SPFL.

I understand the frustration of supporters in relation to return travel from the fixture. The Scottish Government supports any measures put in place by the clubs that make the game as accessible as possible to all fans.

In discussion with the SPFL around this issue, they confirmed that Firhill stadium was the only feasible venue for the match, given both the impact of recent bad weather on alternative venues, and the existing SPFL fixtures taking place on Easter Sunday. The timing of the match allows it to be shown live on BBC Alba, which provides free national coverage and makes the game as accessible as possible for those fans unable to travel.

The Scottish Government’s strategic action plan on wildfires will be published on 5 March 2026. It can be accessed via the Scottish Government’s website: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806438983

Following extensive consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, the action plan draws on lessons learned from the 2025 wildfire season and takes account of practice within the UK and internationally. The purpose of the action plan is to set out the practical and ongoing improvements that the Scottish Government and partner organisations intend to make to our preventative practices, our national preparedness and the management of our response to wildfires in Scotland.