Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00690 on 10 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.

S7W-00815 refers to prostate cancer screening. Information on both bowel and prostate cancer screening is set out below.

Since 2009, Scotland has offered bowel screening in line with the current UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) recommendations; screening is offered every two years to people aged between 50 and 74. Those aged 75 and over can also request a kit every two years. In July 2026, the Scottish Government submitted a proposal to the UK NSC to review their recommended age range, highlighting that the number of bowel cancers are increasing in those under the age of 50.

As noted in the answer to S7W-00815, our initial focus is on strengthening existing high-risk surveillance pathways for prostate cancer, which already allow eligible men to access testing in line with the UK NSC recommendation. This work will progress at pace, and will be completed ahead of any implementation of a national screening programme, which will require a number of formal processes to be developed, including a dedicated IT system.

To support both pieces of work, we have established a multi-disciplinary Prostate Cancer Screening Working Group (PCSWG).

Individual Clinical Trials run public recruitment campaigns if needed to meet their recruitment targets.

The NHS Research Scotland Infrastructure is available to support this activity through both the Scottish Research Register and Biobank Recruitment to clinical trials | NHS Research Scotland | NHS Research Scotland, and Topic-specific Research Networks Research Areas | NHS Research Scotland | NHS Research Scotland.

As this is an application which may come before Scottish Ministers for determination, it would not be appropriate to comment on the specific merits of the proposal.

ALLIANCE compiled a report of all the public meetings their staff facilitated as part of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Service Delivery Review (SDR) public consultation.

Analysis of the responses to the Call for Evidence is expected to be completed and published in Autumn 2026.

The Call for Evidence did not ask any specific question on BS8414, although some respondents may have referred to it in the responses.

The Marine Directorate Licensing Operations Team has met with SSE Renewables on multiple occasions, both at regular planned meetings and topic specific meetings, to discuss and provide advice and guidance on the requirements for Berwick Bank post consent plans including the Seabird Compensation Plan.

The Scottish Government is in regular contact with local authorities around matters of air quality, and used these communications channels to inform authorities of the updated guidance when it was published in March 2026. Local authorities were also closely involved in the drafting of the updated guidance.

National Railcards are managed and administered by the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) under UK Government rail industry rules, and the terms and conditions of use are set at the UK level. The Scottish Government officials engage regularly with its counterparts at Department for Transport and with ScotRail on various matters pertaining to rail.

This is a matter for ScotRail, as the train operator. The member may wish to contact ScotRail directly to request this information.