Chamber and committees

The Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 (“the 2001 Act”) provides a discretionary power for local authorities to implement local road user charging schemes. It will be for local authorities to undertake any required assessments if they consider a road user charging scheme appropriate to support the outcomes of their local transport strategies. Should any local authority seek to develop any scheme, they are required under the 2001 Act to carry out consultation including with those organisations representing persons or individuals that are likely to be affected by any provisions in any proposed charging scheme.

The Scottish Government continues to support the promotion of improvements to Sheriffhall Roundabout as part of its £300 million commitment to the Edinburgh and South-East Scotland City Region Deal.

Following publication of the draft Orders and Environmental Statement, Transport Scotland received a significant number of representations, including over 2,700 objections, to the proposed scheme. Given the number of objections, a Public Local Inquiry (PLI) was held from 31 January to 8 February 2023 during which the appointed independent Reporter heard evidence from objectors and Transport Scotland (as the Promoter).

The PLI Reporter has submitted her conclusions and recommendations to the Scottish Government, and this is currently under active consideration before advice is provided to and a decision made by Scottish Ministers on whether to complete the statutory process.

Ministers will update Parliament as soon as possible, which will follow the advice of officials and is still awaited. It is only right that my officials take the appropriate time to consider the significant number of objections received, along with the conclusions and recommendations made by the Reporter, prior to providing advice to Ministers.

I am of course keen to see progress made, however, it is essential that due process is followed. The statutory right for individuals to have their say on the proposals, and for these to be fully considered, cannot be set aside.

The Carer’s Assistance (Miscellaneous and Consequential Amendments, Revocation, Transitional and Saving Provisions) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 were passed by Parliament on 5 November 2025. From 15 March 2026, they extend entitlement to Carer Support Payment, Scottish Carer Supplement, and Carer Additional Person Payment for 12 weeks after the cared for person dies. As a result, unpaid carers in Scotland will get over £350 in extra support when compared to people receiving Carer’s Allowance, which is paid for 8 weeks after the cared for person dies, in the rest of the UK.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41574 on 7 November 2025 . 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41574 on 7 November 2025 . 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 NHS Scotland Support and Intervention Framework (formerly known as the Performance Escalation Framework) has existed in its current form with five separate stages since 2016. A description of the Framework and the current position on territorial NHS Boards who are receiving formal support and scrutiny within the Framework is provided at:

www.gov.scot/publications/nhs-scotland-support-and-intervention-framework/

Please see the following table that covers on how many occasions territorial NHS Boards have been receiving formal support and scrutiny (that is, at Stage 3 or above on the Framework) since 2016. There were alternative arrangements in place from 1999 to 2016 to manage key risks to delivery in territorial NHS Boards and ensure enhanced support, scrutiny, oversight and intervention, where appropriate.

The Scottish Government is responsible for setting the overall policy direction for neurodevelopmental services, and for working with and providing funding to local authorities and NHS Health Boards to ensure they plan and deliver appropriate local services. It is for local authorities and local NHS Boards to decide how they implement these policies to ensure that their local population have the highest quality of care, support and treatment at the right time and in the right place.

For neurodevelopmental pathways, the National Neurodevelopmental Specification for Children and Young People sets out the standards for all children’s services to follow in delivering neurodevelopmental support to children and young people, including education authorities. Support should be provided on the basis of need, and at the earliest opportunity, through a multi-agency approach.

Also, under the Additional Support for Learning Act 2004, education authorities have duties to identify, provide for and review the additional support needs of their pupils. An additional support need can arise for any reason. No diagnosis is required in order for support to be provided.

The Scottish Government does not hold this data.

There is no screening programme for prostate cancer in Scotland.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. Local authorities are responsible for paying foster carers’ allowances. Prior to the introduction of the Scottish Recommended Allowance in August 2023, the Scottish Government had no role in setting allowance rates.

Progress towards eliminating hepatitis C (HCV) in Scotland is monitored by Public Health Scotland (PHS). PHS’s latest HCV surveillance report, published in January 2025, described progress as “hugely encouraging”. For example, there was evidence to indicate the vast majority (89%) of individuals diagnosed with chronic HCV having cleared their infection.

However, the latest report only includes data up to 2023/24, so it is too early to say conclusively whether every indictor for HCV elimination has been reached. An update on Scotland’s progress towards achieving HCV elimination targets will be available in the next iteration of the PHS HCV surveillance report, which is due to be published in November 2025. In the meantime, identifying undiagnosed infections remains a top priority, and we continue to focus on testing and treating more people as we push towards the elimination of hepatitis C in Scotland.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) are currently coordinating a review of the UK’s progress towards HCV elimination in order to submit a dossier to the World Health Organization. Formal accreditation of HCV elimination from the World Health Organization is considered on a UK-wide basis and the Scottish Government continues to work collaboratively with partners to consider next steps, baring in mind potential differences in progress across the four nations.

It is also vital that we continue to monitor, test and treat for HCV beyond the elimination goal to ensure that we retain the elimination status and prevent cases recurring in Scotland.