The Scottish Parliament

Question reference: S7W-02823

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 11 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the establishment of Integrated Navigation Centres and Co-ordination Hubs, as outlined in its Health and Care Improving Flow Plan 2026 – 2031, (a) how many will be opened over the next year, (b) how many new staff will be recruited, broken down by role and (c) whether it will provide a breakdown of the set-up and operation costs.

The establishment of Integrated Navigation Centres and Co-ordination Hubs forms part of our wider programme of reform, as set out in our Health and Care Improving Flow Plan 2026-2031, to improve patient flow and access to care across the health and social care system.

Detailed planning is underway with system partners. Decisions on the number of centres and hubs, workforce requirements and associated costs will be considered within that planning. As this work progresses, we will continue to assess local and national needs to ensure these arrangements deliver the greatest benefit for patients and services.

Question reference: S7W-02818

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 11 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Care Reform (Scotland) Act 2025, when a digital health and care record will be developed.

I am pleased to report that as of September 2026, Public Service Delivery Scotland and Local Government Digital Office have accepted a formal commissioned to develop a programme around the Digital Health and Care Record. £3.6m will be invested this year to begin the necessary initial technology testing and business case work needed to set out the path to delivery and estimated delivery cost.

Given the scale and complexity of the health and social care landscape, it is expected that full delivery of a future record will be major multi-year programme that will be delivered in phases.

While the Digital Health and Care Record is being developed, individuals in Scotland can already access elements of their personal medical information, taken from their existing Emergency Care Summary, through MyCare.scot.

Question reference: S7F-00036

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 September 2026

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S7W-02293

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 2 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to a dedicated cancer strategy for children and young people, to follow the Collaborative and Compassionate Cancer Care strategy and how it will ensure the continued delivery of the strategy's aims, once it reaches the end of its lifecycle in 2026.

The Scottish Government understands the importance of age-specific cancer care for children and young people, and our ambitions are clearly laid out in the Collaborative and Compassionate Cancer Care: cancer strategy for children and young people 2021–2026.

The Scottish Government is actively considering how we best continue to deliver on our ambitions to improve care for children and young people with cancer. This includes engaging with those involved in delivering on the current strategy to understand the opportunities to do so when considering any future strategy approach.

Question reference: S7F-00027

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 September 2026

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S7W-02385

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 10 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 1 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government if, as part of its assessment of the case for issuing Scottish Government bonds, as set out in the document, Scottish Government Bonds Programme: Summary Outline Business Case, it considered whether, by mitigating against potential interest payment leakage from the domestic economy, issuing retail bonds would be more beneficial to the Scottish economy and its Community Wealth Building goals than issuing wholesale bonds.

Question reference: S7W-02382

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 10 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 1 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider re-evaluating the assessment set out in its document, Scottish Government Bonds Programme: Summary Outline Business Case, to include (a) within the Critical Success Factors for assessing the case for bond issuance the potential economic benefits to Scottish businesses, investors and pension funds, and (b) consideration of the benefits to smaller, domestic investors of issuing retail bonds rather than wholesale bonds.

The Scottish Government Bonds Programme was developed following a recommendation from the independent Investor Panel that Scotland should consider issuing debt in capital markets to diversify funding sources, strengthen investor engagement, raise Scotland's profile with investors and establish a market track record.

The Critical Success Factors in the Outline Business Case were developed to assess options against these aims, as well as requirements relating to affordability, deliverability and achievability.

The Scottish Government has no plans to revisit the Outline Business Case or revise the Critical Success Factors. A wholesale issuance aimed at institutional investors remains the most cost-effective approach for an inaugural transaction and best supports the programme's objectives.

Future issuances may consider alternative structures where these offer value for money and support the programme's strategic objectives.

Question reference: S7W-02383

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 10 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 1 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what is its response to the conclusion of the report Scottish Government Bonds and Investing in Ourselves that its wholesale bonds programme will result in approximately £170 million leaking out of the Scottish economy.

The Scottish Government notes the conclusions of the report, including its estimates regarding capital flows, but does not agree that they provide a robust assessment of the Scottish Government Bonds Programme or its economic impacts.

The Scottish Government Bonds Programme was developed following a recommendation from the independent Investor Panel that Scotland should consider issuing debt in capital markets.

The Outline Business Case concluded that a multi-year bond programme could represent value for money and deliver a number of strategic and economic benefits, including strengthening investor engagement, raising Scotland’s profile with investors, supporting investment in Scotland and establishing a market track record.

Question reference: S7W-02384

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 10 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 1 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what is its view on the conclusion of the report Scottish Government Bonds and Investing in Ourselves that, by diverting interest payments to foreign investors, its proposed wholesale bond programme is in direct contradiction with the principles of the Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Act 2026.

The Scottish Government does not agree that a wholesale bond issuance is inconsistent with the principles of the Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Act 2026.

The Scottish Government Bonds Programme was developed following a recommendation from the independent Investor Panel that Scotland should consider issuing debt in capital markets to strengthen investor engagement, raise Scotland's profile with investors and establish a market track record. The Outline Business Case concluded that a multi-year wholesale bond programme could represent value for money and identified potential economic benefits associated with increased investor engagement and investment in Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-02386

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 10 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 1 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) set out in its document, Scottish Government Bonds Programme: Summary Outline Business Case, did not include the potential benefits to Scottish businesses, investors or pension funds, including the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).

The Scottish Government Bonds Programme was developed following a recommendation from the independent Investor Panel that Scotland should consider issuing debt in capital markets to strengthen investor engagement, raise Scotland's profile with investors and establish a market track record.

The Critical Success Factors were designed to assess the extent to which options would support the programme's strategic objectives and satisfy requirements relating to value for money, affordability, achievability and deliverability. The Outline Business Case also considered wider economic benefits associated with increased investor engagement and investment in Scotland.

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Question reference: S7W-02823

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