Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S7W-02221

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 31 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish a consolidated timetable for implementing the devolved provisions of the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026, including the extension of the existing retailer register to nicotine products and herbal smoking products from 29 October 2026, the commencement of the related registration offences from 29 April 2027 and any subsequent regulations relating to the retail display of such products.

Question reference: S7W-02219

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 31 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), what action SEPA will take at the locations where elevated concentrations have been identified, whether the planned expansion of monitoring from around 300 to 500 samples in 2026 is fully funded, and when it anticipates that environmental standards will be reviewed in light of developing evidence in the UK and EU.

Question reference: S7W-02216

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 31 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the adoption and commercial application of research undertaken in Scotland, what action it is taking to increase collaboration between universities, NHS Scotland, businesses and other research organisations.

Question reference: S7W-02227

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 31 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with third sector organisations to ensure that people affected by gambling-related harm can access timely and appropriate treatment and support.

Question reference: S7W-02222

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 31 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the finalisation of regulations on the display of vaping and nicotine products, how it will assess the potential impact of any proposed restrictions on (a) the appeal and accessibility of such products to children and young people, (b) adults using regulated vaping products as a means to move away from smoking and (c) compliant businesses, including specialist vape retailers, and whether it will publish the results of any such assessment as part of the final Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment.

Question reference: S7W-02220

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 31 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings from SEPA’s expanded per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) monitoring programme, the EU’s increased protections and the UK Government’s plans to consult in 2026 on the introduction of a statutory limit covering a wider list of PFAS compounds in England’s public supply regulations, whether it will review the current drinking water standard, which is based on the sum of 20 named PFAS compounds.

Question reference: S7W-02225

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 31 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that there is consistent access to gambling harm treatment and support services across all parts of Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-01862

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 3 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what the timeline is for publishing transparent data on referral pathways and routes to diagnosis for brain tumour patients so that any inequalities in access and diagnostic delays can be identified, monitored and addressed.

Public Health Scotland (PHS) publishes information on routes to cancer diagnosis, which includes emergency presentations for brain and other central nervous system (CNS) cancers: Routes to Cancer Diagnosis, Cancer Stage and Curative Treatment for Cancer Information to Support Visions from the Cancer Strategy 26 August 2026 - Routes to Cancer Diagnosis, Cancer Stage and Curative Treatment for Cancer Information to Support Visions from the Cancer Strategy - Publications - Public Health Scotland.

Given the relatively small number of brain tumour diagnoses in Scotland, publication of more detailed tumour-specific data may not be possible due to statistical disclosure risks.

Through the Cancer Strategy for Scotland 2023-2033 and accompanying Cancer Action Plan for Scotland 2023 – 2026, the Scottish Government is working to improve outcomes for brain tumours and other less survivable cancers.

Scotland's Earlier Cancer Diagnosis Vision aims to reduce later-stage disease and health inequalities, and recognises that alternative measures, such as emergency presentations, are needed to monitor progress for cancers that cannot be conventionally staged.

Earlier and more equitable diagnosis is also supported through national clinical pathways, improved access to diagnostic imaging, the Brain Tumour Pathway within the Managed Service Network for Neurosurgery, and the National Headache Pathway.

Question reference: S7W-01863

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 3 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the number of clinical nurse specialists who specialise in neuro-oncology, and what steps NHS Scotland is taking to ensure that all brain tumour patients have access to a named clinical nurse specialist.

On 2 June 2026 PSD Scotland published data on the number of Clinical Nurse Specialists across NHS Scotland for the first time since 2018, Clinical Nurse Specialists | Turas Data Intelligence. These data are published as Official Statistics in Development and PSD Scotland have a published plan to develop these into Official Statistics, New statistics on Clinical Nurse Specialists.

Through the Cancer Strategy and Cancer Action Plan, we are supporting NHS Scotland to improve access to named contacts for cancer patients, including through the Single Point of Contact (SPoC) approach. Evaluation has shown that SPoC services saved almost 4,000 hours of Clinical Nurse Specialist time over a 12-month period, enabling CNSs to focus on patients with more complex needs.

The 2024 Scottish Cancer Patient Experience Survey found that 93% of patients were given the name of a Clinical Nurse Specialist or other named contact during their care.

Question reference: S7W-01758

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 3 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to children and young people with cancer, and their families, to meet the cost of travelling to and from treatment; what assessment it has made of the adequacy of this support and, in light of recent commitments by the UK and Welsh governments to introduce dedicated travel funds, how such support provided in Scotland compares with the support available elsewhere in the UK.

Scotland is the only UK-nation that currently has an active Young Patient Family Fund (YPFF). The fund provides support to the families of all babies, children and young people from birth to age 18 who require inpatient care, regardless of their health diagnosis.

Financial support for travel to hospital appointments is available through the patient travel expenses reimbursement schemes. Under these schemes, patients and authorised escorts may reclaim reasonable travel costs associated with attending hospital appointments, subject to eligibility criteria and clinical requirements. These arrangements apply across Scotland and provide support to eligible young people and their families irrespective of condition.

NHS Boards are responsible for assessing eligibility and have the flexibility to consider individual circumstances and make decisions in the best interests of patient care and wellbeing.

The Scottish Government has committed to a review of the patient travel reimbursement schemes guidance; however, a start date for the review is not confirmed at this time. It is important that the review is considered within the context of wider reform on access to health care, rather than as a standalone exercise to consider and address the wider and underlying issues relating to the travel itself.