Chamber and committees

Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) are licensed by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). Assessment of bathing water quality and the environmental impacts of CSOs are matters for SEPA.

SEPA monitors the quality of designated bathing water sites for the purpose of protecting human health during the bathing water season. When poor water quality is predicted or a pollution incident is detected, SEPA issues warnings against bathing, enabling beach users to make an informed choice about using the water or choosing shore-based activities.

Scottish Water has advised that it has found no evidence of operational issues affecting the four Portobello (Central) CSOs within the past three months. Discharges related to normal operations are highly diluted and do not necessarily result in pollution incidents. Any suspected Environmental Pollution Incidents should be reported to the SEPA.

In November 2024 the Scottish Government published the GP Recruitment and Retention Plan 2024–26, outlining a suite of 20 actions to support the GP workforce. We then published an update to this plan in March 2026, summarising our progress.

We will set out plans to establish a comprehensive GP workforce plan in due course.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00484 on 8 June 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 is working in close partnership with COSLA and Scottish Swimming to deliver a national programme of free swimming lessons for all primary school children. A School Swimming Working Group, chaired by the Scottish Government and COSLA, has now been established to support both the development of the initiative and its subsequent implementation. Focused on the Primary 5 cohort predominantly, this three year phased approach will ultimately result in every primary-aged child in Scotland receiving access to high-quality swimming lessons.

The Scottish Government are keen to progress discussions at pace, in order to commence the phased school swimming roll out as soon as possible.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00484 on 8 June 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 remains open to considering well-developed proposals for additional Safer Drug Consumption Facilities where there is evidence of local need and support from relevant partners.

Any proposals for further facilities during this parliamentary session would need to come from local areas and demonstrate engagement with the Scottish Government, Police Scotland and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, with continued engagement as proposals develop.

We have already invested an additional £100 million this year to build on the progress made in the 2025-26 Operational Improvement Plan.

We are working closely and at pace with Boards to identify where additional funding can most effectively increase capacity and support further reductions in waits, with a particular focus on those waiting the longest.

From 2027-28 onwards we will be investing £200 million in planned care, supporting our target of nobody waiting longer than 26 weeks by the end of this Parliament.

This is a matter for each territorial NHS board. The information requested is not held centrally.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00484 on 8 June 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 installation of an additional 1,000 to 1,250 defibrillators will be led by Save a Life for Scotland (SALFS), which received £1 million in 2025-26 to begin purchasing the first tranche of devices.

Installation will be coordinated alongside the rollout of Cardiac Arrest Rescue (CARe) Zones over the next three years, supported by a further £500,000 in each financial year.

SALFS will work with partners to ensure devices are placed based on evidence and in areas of greatest need.