Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government is working with the UK Government to progress the implementation of Air Departure Tax. Discussions are continuing as required to ensure that this is done in a way that protects Highlands and Islands connectivity and complies with the UK Government’s subsidy control regime.

There are no NHS boards in the Highlands and Islands region that have formally established a Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Service for patients with non-specific symptoms of cancer.

In line with recently revised Scottish Referral Guidelines for Urgent Suspicion of Cancer all NHS territorial Health Boards now have pathways in place for those presenting with non-specific symptoms of cancer.

The Hydrogen Innovation Scheme, part of the Scottish Government’s Emerging Energy Technology Fund, was launched for project funding applications in June 2022 and closed in August 2022 for Stream 1 projects and in September 2022 for Stream 2 projects.

All NHS territorial boards in the Highlands and Islands region have been allocated funding as part of the additional £200m Operational Improvement Plan investment to deliver and expand their Hospital at Home services.

All territorial boards are currently providing a Hospital at Home service. Some of these services are more established while others are still developing. What matters most is that these services are proportionate to the population's needs and effectively connected to community support, enabling people to receive safe and timely care, in the most appropriate location.

Our sixth Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Service for people with non-specific symptoms of cancer open in NHS Forth Valley in May.

The Centre for Sustainable Delivery is now working with Boards across Scotland to embed learning and work on non-specific symptoms pathways across Scotland.

In line with the publication of the recently revised Scottish Referral Guidelines for Urgent Suspicion of Cancer in July this year, the Centre for Sustainable Delivery have confirmed that all NHS territorial Health Boards now have pathways in place for those presenting with non-specific symptoms of cancer.

Published figures from Healthcare Improvement Scotland estimated that Hospital at Home services for Older and Acute Adults prevented 15,470 people being admitted to hospital in 2024-2025, reducing pressure on unscheduled care and delayed discharges.

Board level data for the Older Adults pathway is a matter for Healthcare Improvement Scotland who collate and manage this data collection.

Officials are working with PHS Scotland to develop a new national data set for Hospital at Home activity and related admission alternative services. Data collection is due to commence later this year and will be expanded to include other Hospital at Home pathways such as heart failure, respiratory, paediatrics and Outpatient Parenteral Antibiotic Therapy (OPAT). Public Health Scotland plan to publish figures as this develops during 2026.

The Scottish Government received legal advice in the preparation of A Fresh Start with Independence.

Subject to Parliamentary time being available, our intention remains to seek a debate on fisheries before the end of the year. It is recognised that the fishing sector is currently facing a range of challenges, and a Parliamentary debate would be a valuable opportunity to discuss these issues. Any proposals for Government business in Parliament are subject to consideration by the Bureau and approval by the Parliament.

(a) The following table below shows the number of cardholders, who had their entitlement to free bus travel suspended, each year from 2021 to 2025 (as of 31 October 2025), broken down by Scheme.

The offshore wind projects within Scottish territorial waters which are operational are detailed in the following table alongside the number of turbines in each. The Scottish Government doesn’t hold further detail on the number of turbines which are active at any given time.