Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-27087 on 7 May 2024.

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 Highland Main Line improvements were delivered further to the Strategic Transport Projects Review 1 (STPR1) published by Transport Scotland in 2009.

The Scottish Government does not hold any recent information related to design work, that the Member is seeking.

The option to electrify the Maryhill Line has been previously been considered as part of wider reviews of Scotland’s railway infrastructure to identify routes that could benefit from electrification. Assessments that were previously undertaken in the 2010’s identified that the required works would require a number of overbridge reconstructions and track lowers throughout the route.

While electrification of the Maryhill Line does not form part of the current rail investment programme, it remains an option for future delivery alongside a number of other potentially valuable schemes.

A scheme to replace fire-damaged tiles at the M8 Charing Cross Underpass is currently in development, following a vehicle fire in April 2025 that caused damage to a section of the underpass’ tiled lining. Works are programmed to commence in October, with completion expected by December 2026.

The Scottish Government’s position is that Scottish universities should consider compulsory redundancies only as a last resort, after all other cost-saving measures have been fully explored.

Presuming the question refers to Scotland’s universities, these institutions are autonomous bodies with responsibility for their own operational decision making, including in relation to their use of cash reserves and decisions regarding redundancies. The Scottish Funding Council is responsible for monitoring compliance of universities with Fair Work principles through annual reporting and accounts, and as part of their Outcomes Framework and Assurance Model, and considers any appropriate interventions to support compliance. The Scottish Government’s position is that Scottish universities should consider compulsory redundancies only as a last resort, after all other cost-saving measures have been fully explored.

Scotland’s universities are autonomous institutions with responsibility for their own operational decision making and compliance with employment law, which remains a reserved matter under the Scotland Act 1998. Through its engagement with the university sector, the Scottish Government has made clear its expectation that compulsory redundancies should be considered only as a last resort, after all other cost-saving measures have been fully explored.

In line with its statutory responsibilities, the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) continues to monitor and seek assurances from Scottish universities regarding their compliance with the SFC’s Financial Memorandum, which is required as a condition of grant funding.

We are delivering on our commitment to open GP walk-in services, with six open since the start of the year and more due to open before the end of the summer. I appreciate the hard work of the health boards to get these services up and running and I'm sure the Member will join me in welcoming the opening of these sites and thanking our hard-working NHS staff for delivering these.

I have committed to expanding the walk-in service programme and will set out how I intend to do that over the next 100 days. Health Boards previously generated proposals for walk-ins which considered the needs of their population, taking into account local issues and circumstances. Our experience will inform how we commission the next 14.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00662 on 12 June 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.

There is currently no projected underspend in the 2026-27 Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP).

The AHSP seeks to optimise the positive impact of spend and delivery, and does so by supporting local authorities to deliver fully against its Resource Planning Assumptions (RPAs). Where local authorities are unable to deliver against its RPA the programme will seek to move funding to other areas that are able to deliver. This process is taken forward as part of normal in year programme management, in discussion with local authorities and reported on through annual outturn reports.

Any small business owner who experiences harassment or online abuse can report these matters to the police for consideration of investigation. There are a range of laws which operate that may be relevant depending on the specifics of any harassment and online abuse the business is experiencing such as the threatening or abusive behaviour offence. Operational decisions on criminal investigations are an independent matter for Police Scotland.

All businesses – wherever they are in the country – can access support from a wide variety of public sector organisations through the Find Business Support website.