Chamber and committees

As set out in the Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011, where a Health Board is unable to meet the Treatment Time Guarantee within its own area, it must take all reasonably practicable steps to arrange for the provision of the agreed treatment by—

(a) another Health Board;

(b) the National Health Service in England, Wales or Northern Ireland;

(c) an authorised provider; or

(d) another suitable alternative provider in the United Kingdom.

When pursuing the above options, a Health Board must have regard to the importance of securing the effective and efficient use of the health service organisation and resources.

Health Boards also have the option to agree national or regional provision for diagnostic and specialist services.

The Scottish Government has not provided any funding for the provision of a landing slot from Dundee Airport to any London airport.

Any changes in slot provision at slot constrained airports are a matter for the airlines involved. The Scottish Government was not consulted about any changes and has no information on whether any revenue was generated as a result of any changes.

Funding from Transport Scotland to Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) for Dundee Airport in each of the last seven years is:

In line with the requirements of Section 16 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, the Scottish Government discloses to the Scottish Parliament the number and total cost of employing special advisers on an annual basis. The latest report, pertaining to the financial year 2025-26, was published on 7 July 2026. I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01557 on 7 July 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 has published a list of the Special Advisers and their specific portfolio responsibilities at: Special advisers - gov.scot

The cost of employing Special Advisers during 2026-27, including pay band information, will be published in line with the requirements of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010.

A copy of the letter I sent to the Interim Principal of the University of Dundee, dated 11 June 2026, has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 66746).

As I set out in my statement to Parliament on 2 June, we will launch our consultation on a legislative approach to restrictions on mobile phones in schools within the first 100 days of this government.

In line with Scottish Government consultation guidelines, the consultation will run for a minimum of 12 weeks. The Scottish Government will publish an analysis of responses thereafter.

Specialty is defined as a division of medicine or dentistry covering a specific area of clinical activity and identified within one of the Royal Colleges or Faculties. A Discipline is a non-medical profession related to healthcare, for which formal training leading to a recognised professional qualification is undertaken. Examples of disciplines are physiotherapy, nursing, pharmacology. This is set out in the Public Health Scotland’s Recording Manual Waiting Times Recording Manual.

Gynaecology is the care of women with problems of the female reproductive system (ovaries, tubes, womb, cervix, vagina). Some gynaecologists specialise in urogynaecology (bladder incontinence), reproductive medicine (fertility problems and recurrent miscarriage), colposcopy (dealing with abnormal smears), gynae-oncology (cancer of the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries), contraception and menopause. It is worth noting that some of these services do not fall under gynaecology waiting times.