- Asked by: Kate Nevens, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 June 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Alison Thewliss on 21 July 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to the findings of the report by Alzheimer Scotland, Better Care, Full Stop, including calls for (a) quicker diagnosis, (b) improvements to (i) post-diagnosis support, (ii) community-based support, such as specialist therapeutic and complex care day services, (iii) home care services, in particular, better training for care staff, (iv) palliative care and (v) residential care, (c) access to appropriate training in dementia care, peer support groups, professional counselling and psychological support for carers and supporters, (d) a care pathway comparable to other conditions such as cancer, (e) better co-ordination between health and other services involved in care of people with Alzheimer's, (f) more respite care, (g) annual health checks and (h) access to self-directed support budgets.
Answer
The Scottish Government is committed to improving outcomes for people living with dementia, their families and carers through Dementia in Scotland: Everyone's Story, Scotland’s Dementia Strategy.
The initial two-year Delivery Plan(2024-2026) prioritised prevention, early intervention, community-support, diagnosis, post-diagnosis support and treatment.
Key actions taken include:
- Allocated £2.35m since 2024-25, via the Resilient Communities Programme ,to support and sustain community-led activities
- Continued our additional investment of £3.5m a year to enhance access to our world leading commitment to 12 months dementia post diagnostic support
- Commissioned an independent evaluation of Scotland’s Post Diagnostic Support (PDS) policy and delivery to inform future improvement
- Developed a national Dementia Index and road map of the dementia workforce to allow us to better target future interventions
- Funded Public Services Delivery Scotland (PSD Scotland), formerly NHS Education for Scotland (NES),to undertake a national scoping exercise on the dementia workforce, learning needs and existing education and training provision. Resulting In an evidence base to inform future dementia workforce planning and delivery
The strategy also highlights ways to educate the workforce and unpaid carers and make better use of the wide variety of tools available such as the Promoting Excellence framework for all health and social services staff working with people with dementia, their families and carers to support the strategy and implementation of Standards of Care for Dementia in Scotland.
The Scottish Government also recognises the invaluable roles of care partners and unpaid carer’s, including those supporting people with dementia. The right to breaks provisions in the Care Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 will make changes to the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 to deliver a right to personalised short breaks support for carers who can’t currently access sufficient breaks from caring.
We will continue to consider the findings of the Better Care, Full Stop report as we take forward delivery of the Dementia Strategy and work with partners, including Alzheimer Scotland, to improve diagnosis, care, support and outcomes for people living with dementia, their families and carers.
- Asked by: Kate Nevens, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 June 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 20 July 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of any instances of GP practices sending out communications to people that could be interpreted as misleading, in that they imply a requirement for them to register with another practice when the catchment area of their current one is revised and they no longer live within it, and if so, what action it has taken in response.
Answer
NHS Boards are responsible for general medical services and ensuring that their GP contractors act within the agreed terms of their contracts. If an NHS Board believes that a communication from GP contractors does not reflect those agreements, that is a matter for the board to raise with the practice.
- Asked by: Kate Nevens, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 June 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 20 July 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that existing guidance for people relating to GP practices catchment areas is sufficiently clear, including whether it clearly explains that people are not required to register with a new GP practice when their current practice's catchment area is revised and they no longer live within it.
Answer
The existing guidance does not set out to cover all the circumstances in which patients might be removed from their current GP practice.
Patients who are concerned about being removed from a practice list when areas are revised should contact their practice or their local health board.
- Asked by: Kate Nevens, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 June 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 17 July 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to tackle far-right extremism and radicalisation, including online, and what steps it is taking to ensure that communities are kept informed about threats to their safety.
Answer
The Scottish Government works in close partnership with stakeholders to tackle hatred and prejudice in all of its forms to ensure proportionate responses to a broad spectrum of threat, including through the ongoing delivery of Scotland’s Hate Crime Strategy. We maintain well-established relationships with our faith and belief communities, which are strengthened by regular and meaningful engagement at both ministerial and official level.
The ways people can be radicalised are continuously evolving, and we recognise that there is no single pathway or single set of factors. That is why we must remain alert and flexible to ensure our wider efforts, across multiple policy areas, build inclusive communities that are resistant to radicalisation and equipped to challenge extremist narratives. We continue to work with national and local partners to build trust and resilience.
- Asked by: Kate Nevens, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 15 July 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, should the Equality Act 2010: Draft Code of Practice for services, public functions and associations 2026 be approved, whether it plans to provide guidance to public authorities on its implementation, including guidance aimed at ensuring that the dignity and privacy of trans people and any other groups that might be impacted are protected.
Answer
The approval and commencement of the Code of Practice is a matter reserved to the UK Government. The Secretary of State holds powers under the Equality Act 2006 to commence the Code following Parliamentary scrutiny, and it is the responsibility of the EHRC, as regulator of the Equality Act 2010, to provide statutory guidance in relation to the Act.
Public bodies are also responsible for ensuring that they comply with their legal obligations under the Equality Act 2010, including having regard to statutory guidance from the EHRC.
The Scottish Government’s approach remains grounded in dignity, respect, fairness and the protection of rights for all. That includes protecting the privacy of trans people and others who may be impacted by the Code.
- Asked by: Kate Nevens, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 15 July 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether it (a) has written or (b) plans to write to the Equality and Human Rights Commission regarding any concerns it has about any potential impact on trans people and those presenting in gender non-conforming ways of the Equality Act 2010: Draft Code of Practice for services, public functions and associations 2026.
Answer
The Scottish Government responded formally to the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s public consultation on the draft Code of Practice on 25 July 2025 setting out our views. We also wrote to the UK Government on in November 2025, reiterating our views on the draft Code.
Trans people, and those presenting in gender non-conforming ways, are valued members of our society and remain protected under the Equality Act 2010 from discrimination and harassment. The Scottish Government’s approach will continue to be grounded in dignity, respect, fairness and the protection of rights for all.
- Asked by: Kate Nevens, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 15 July 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it (a) has had or (b) plans to have with trans people and any other groups that might be impacted by the Equality Act 2010: Draft Code of Practice for services, public functions and associations, 2026.
Answer
The Scottish Government engages regularly with LGBTQI+ stakeholders, including organisations representing trans people, and has discussed the draft Code of Practice as part of that ongoing engagement.
The First Minister and I also hosted a roundtable with community members in March to discuss trans lives in Scotland today and the issues currently affecting trans people.
This engagement will continue as we consider the revised Code, including with trans people, LGBTQI+ stakeholders and other groups who may be impacted.
- Asked by: Kate Nevens, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 June 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Kirsten Oswald on 9 July 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to improve the safety and security of mosques and other places of worship, in light of reported attacks targeting Muslims in Edinburgh and the reported wider rise in anti-Muslim hostility, and what support it will make available to communities concerned about their daily safety.
Answer
The Scottish Government is clear that everyone should be able to practise their faith safely and free from fear and condemns all forms of religiously motivated violence affecting Muslim communities and places of worship.
We are continuing to work closely with Police Scotland, Muslim communities and local partners to understand the concerns being felt, particularly following recent incidents, and to identify what support may be needed to provide reassurance and enhance security. This includes ongoing dialogue to ensure that responses are informed by the experiences of those directly affected.
We will continue to support communities and work in partnership with local and national organisations to help ensure that places of worship remain safe and that communities feel reassured in their daily lives.
It should be noted that the UK Government’s Places of Worship Protective Security Scheme is available for communities in Scotland, with applications open continuously, and details of how to apply can be found at Protective Security for Mosques Scheme - GOV.UK.
Alongside this, we will continue to consider how our wider work on community safety and resilience, including through the Hate Crime Strategy, can support communities and respond to emerging concerns.
- Asked by: Kate Nevens, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 June 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Kirsten Oswald on 9 July 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what support it will provide to communities affected by reported attacks targeting Muslims in Edinburgh, and how it will ensure that engagement with affected communities includes a diverse range of voices, including women, LGBTQ+ people, recent migrants and people of different ages.
Answer
The Scottish Government condemns all forms of religiously motivated violence and is clear that communities affected by reported attacks targeting Muslims should feel safe, supported and resilient.
We have established strong working relationships with Muslim communities across Scotland, and we continue to engage with communities to ensure appropriate support and reassurance is in place.
We recognise the importance of ensuring that engagement reflects the diversity within affected communities. We continue to strengthen and build on these relationships and our networks to ensure these voices are heard.
Work is progressing on the next phase of Scotland’s Hate Crime Strategy, and we are taking steps to ensure that this is informed by these stakeholders. Alongside this, we will continue to consider how our engagement and resilience work can best support communities and respond to emerging issues.
We will continue to work closely with partners at both local and national level to ensure that our approach remains cohesive.
- Asked by: Kate Nevens, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 June 2026
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 25 June 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to provide sanitation facilities for the Traveller community living on land that it owns in Granton, Edinburgh.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 25 June 2026
