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-04258

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 9 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans and commissions services for neurological conditions where reliable prevalence data is unavailable or where routinely recorded diagnoses may underestimate the number of people living with the condition.

NHS boards are responsible for assessing the needs of their local populations and planning services accordingly. Where prevalence data are unavailable or limited, boards are expected to draw on the best available evidence to inform service planning.

This may include service activity data, waiting times information, workforce data, clinical expertise, and engagement with people living with neurological conditions and relevant stakeholders.

Question reference: S7W-04257

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 9 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how its focus on prevention within its approach to long-term conditions will address the needs of people living with neurological conditions for which there are currently no known means of prevention.

The Scottish Government recognises that, for many neurological conditions, there are currently no known means of preventing the onset of disease.

We will publish our new Long Term Conditions Strategy for Adults in March 2027, which will include neurological conditions. The Strategy will take a person-centred approach across long-term conditions and will set out how we will support people living with one or more long-term conditions in Scotland, while helping to deliver the shift toward prevention and early intervention set out in our wider programme of health and social care reform.

Through this approach, our aim is not only to prevent ill health where that is possible, but also to prevent worsening outcomes and improve the health, wellbeing and experiences of people living with long term conditions, including neurological conditions, for which no known preventative interventions currently exist.

Question reference: S7W-04254

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 9 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on neurology services of the proposed move from 14 territorial NHS boards to two strategic health boards.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken a specific assessment of the impact on neurology services of the proposal to replace the current 14 territorial NHS boards with two strategic health boards. The proposed reforms are intended to simplify governance, reduce duplication and support greater collaboration across NHS Scotland, helping to improve access to services and make best use of specialist clinical expertise.

The planning and delivery of neurology services will continue to be informed by clinical evidence, patient need and the advice of healthcare professionals.

Question reference: S7W-04255

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 5 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has held, and with whom, since the announcement in the Programme for Government in September 2026 of a three-month consultation period on the reform of public services.

The Programme for Government set out our commitment to a three month period of intensive dialogue with partners to agree a clear and shared direction for the future of local governance in Scotland. A significant engagement programme is underway across Scotland with a wide range of stakeholders including council leaders and councillor groups, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) presidential team members and group leaders, education providers, care provider organisations and academics. Alongside this we are also holding a series of regional and national dialogue events with representatives from local communities and seeking wider views from members of the public through launch of an online engagement tool and the People’s Panel.

A summary of key engagements that have taken place to-date is included in the following table.

Table 1

Date	Engagement activity
10-Sep	Headteacher panels
11-Sep	Ministerial COSLA engagement
22-Sep	Education and Childcare Assurance Board
29-Sep	Meeting with care providers organisations
30-Sep	Meeting with health and care unions
01-Oct	Integration Joint Board meeting
05-Oct	Ministerial roundtable with Leaders from Dumfries & Galloway Council
05-Oct	Ministerial roundtable with Leaders from Scottish Borders Council
07-Oct	Meeting with Health and Care Professions Council
07-Oct	Ministerial meeting with Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC)
09-Oct	COSLA Children and Young People Board
12-Oct	Ministerial roundtable with Leaders from with East, North and South Ayrshire Councils
20-Oct	NCS Advisory Board session
27-Oct	Democracy matters roundtable
27-Oct	Ministerial roundtable with Leaders from Angus Council
27-Oct	Ministerial roundtable with Leaders from Aberdeenshire Council
27-Oct	Ministerial roundtable with Leaders from Moray Council
27-Oct	Ministerial roundtable with Leaders from Aberdeen City Council
28-Oct	Ministerial roundtable with Leaders from City of Edinburgh Council
28-Oct	Ministerial roundtable with Leaders from East Lothian Council
28-Oct	Ministerial roundtable with Leaders from West Lothian Council
29-Oct	Ministerial roundtable with Leaders from Inverclyde Council
29-Oct	Ministerial roundtable with Leaders from Midlothian Council
29-Oct	Ministerial roundtable with Leaders from East Dunbartonshire Council
29-Oct	Ministerial roundtable with Leaders from West Dunbartonshire Council
30-Oct	Ministerial roundtable with Leaders from Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and Stirling Councils
02-Nov	Ministerial meeting with Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC)
02-Nov	Ministerial roundtable with Leaders from Perth & Kinross Council
03-Nov	Ministerial roundtable with Leaders from East Renfrewshire Council
03-Nov	Ministerial roundtable with Leaders from North Lanarkshire Council
03-Nov	Ministerial roundtable with Leaders from South Lanarkshire Council
03-Nov	Ministerial roundtable with Leaders from Renfrewshire Council
04-Nov	Community councillor event
04-Nov	Ministerial roundtable with Leaders from Dundee City Council
04-Nov	Ministerial COSLA engagement
05-Nov	Ministerial roundtable with Leaders from Argyll & Bute Council, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Shetland Islands Council and Orkney Islands Council
05-Nov	Community councillor event
05 Nov	Association of Directors of Education Scotland (ADES) Conference
06-Nov	Academic roundtable
09-Nov	Third Sector Interface conference

Question reference: S7O-00463

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 November 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any further discussions it has had with COSLA regarding its proposals for local government reform.

Question reference: S7W-04725

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 November 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds regarding the progress made by NHS Grampian and Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership in exploring the creation of a wellbeing hub and additional clinical space within the Insch Hospital site, as agreed by the Integration Joint Board in July 2025.

Question reference: S7W-04724

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 November 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential for the Insch Hospital site to support integrated community health and social care provision, including diagnostic, rehabilitation, preventative and palliative care services.

Question reference: S7W-04723

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 November 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Grampian regarding the future disposal of the Insch Hospital site, and what opportunities exist for the community's proposed alternative model of care to be considered before any disposal is completed.

Question reference: S7W-04726

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 November 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how its commitment to developing community health and care hubs and expanding community-based healthcare in rural areas will inform its engagement with NHS Grampian regarding the future of the Insch Hospital site.

Question reference: S7W-04727

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 November 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care has had with NHS Grampian regarding the alternative integrated health and social care model proposed by Friends of Insch Hospital for the future use of the Insch Hospital site.