- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 March 2026
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Current Status:
Answer expected on 19 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what level of priority is given to the implementation of opt-out HIV testing in emergency departments in NHS (a) Greater Glasgow and Clyde and (b) Lothian.
Answer
Answer expected on 19 March 2026
- Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 February 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 5 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the existing CT and MRI scanner stock across NHS boards, what conversations it has had with NHS boards and what assessment it has made of whether it is sufficient to meet present and future demand.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to S6W-43945 on 5 March 2026, National Radiology Lead from the Centre for Sustainable Delivery meets regularly with Health Boards to discuss imaging performance, staffing levels and scanner stock. NHS Boards have been asked to provide plans to support delivery of the 95% target of patients seen within 6 weeks throughout 2026-27.
Furthermore, we are looking at options to increase the amount of CT and MRI scanners as well as more robust replacement plans of the current stock to ensure technology advances are optimised which in turn can improve throughput, reduce radiation dose and improve energy efficiency.
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.
- Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 February 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 5 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the most recent Public Health Scotland data, what assessment it has made of the likelihood of meeting the March 2026 diagnostic waiting times target for radiology.
Answer
The latest statistics show that as at 31 December 2025, of those waiting for Radiology tests, 62% had been waiting six weeks or less; higher than 30 September 2025 (58%) and December 2024 (57%). The radiology list size also decreased by 18.1% compared to last quarter. We are determined to continue to build on this momentum, ensuring people receive the treatment they need as soon as possible.
Throughout 2025-26, all Boards were expected to incrementally ramp-up activity as the capacity provided by the £22 million additional funding operationalised, with some high volume initiatives commencing in the latter part of the year.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 February 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 5 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the likelihood of meeting the March 2026 diagnostic waiting times target for radiology, in light of the most recent Public Health Scotland data.
Answer
The latest statistics show that as at 31 December 2025, of those waiting for Radiology tests, 62% had been waiting six weeks or less; higher than 30 September 2025 (58%) and December 2024 (57%). The radiology list size also decreased by 18.1% compared to last quarter. We are determined to continue to build on this momentum, ensuring people receive the treatment they need as soon as possible.
Throughout 2025-26, all Boards were expected to incrementally ramp-up activity as the capacity provided by the £22 million additional funding operationalised, with some high volume initiatives commencing in the latter part of the year.
- Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 March 2026
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Current Status:
Initiated by the Scottish Government.
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 5 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its strategic action plan on wildfires.
Answer
The Scottish Government’s strategic action plan on wildfires will be published on 5 March 2026. It can be accessed via the Scottish Government’s website: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806438983
Following extensive consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, the action plan draws on lessons learned from the 2025 wildfire season and takes account of practice within the UK and internationally. The purpose of the action plan is to set out the practical and ongoing improvements that the Scottish Government and partner organisations intend to make to our preventative practices, our national preparedness and the management of our response to wildfires in Scotland.
- Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 February 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 5 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make it a requirement for NHS boards to collect data on the number of patients receiving corridor care in hospitals.
Answer
We are actively considering the feasibility of a national data collection. Accurately capturing this information consistently at a national level presents complex technical and operational challenges impacted both by definitional variation as well as variation across systems in terms of physical layout, operational practice and existing recording mechanisms.
Notwithstanding this consideration, our key priority remains addressing the underlying causes of high acute hospital occupancy which results in bed blocking and can lead to the provision of care in non-standard areas. That is why, through our NHS Scotland Operational Improvement Plan, we are investing £220 million to reduce high hospital occupancy, improve patient flow and optimising alternatives to hospital admission such as expanding Hospital at Home services nationally.
- Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 February 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 5 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve timely access to CT and MRI scans, and how the impact of initiatives, including seven-day services and mobile scanning units, is being evaluated.
Answer
In 2025-26 we allocated more than £22 million additional funding to Health Boards to help tackle the longest waits for Radiology. The latest data shows that the Radiology list size decreased by 18.1% compared to last quarter. We are determined to continue to build on this momentum, ensuring people receive the treatment they need as soon as possible.
We have also provided additional funding of more than £12 million for 13 MRI mobile scanners and 4 CT mobile scanners, this will provide capacity of almost 90,000 additional scans throughout 2025-26.
The Scottish Government commissioned Centre for Sustainable Delivery who routinely monitor planned and actual diagnostic performance, and work with Boards towards the delivery of the 95% of patients seen within 6 week target. Their evaluation of this work will help inform plans for 2026-27.
- Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 February 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 5 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to (a) expanding four-day working week trials, (b) moving towards a 32-hour working week within the public sector and (c) promoting fair working time practices, as part of its wider commitment to wellbeing and sustainable development.
Answer
Scottish Government committed to a Four Day Working Week pilot in the public sector to explore the wellbeing and productivity benefits that a shorter working week could bring. The pilot was delivered in partnership with The Autonomy Institute and identified several examples of more efficient and innovative working practices at Accountant in Bankruptcy and South of Scotland Enterprise. The pilot formally concluded on 03 November 2025 and the evaluation report can be accessed here - Four day working week pilot - Public sector pay - gov.scot
Whilst there are no plans for any further trials or a broader move to a 32-hour week across government, the learnings from the pilot will be integrated into the Public Service Reform Programme to inform future productivity improvements. Scottish Government continues to support flexible working arrangements that enhance wellbeing and operational efficiency, including the recent move to a 35-hour working week framework.
While the legal powers governing flexible working are currently reserved to Westminster, the Scottish Government is committed to working with employers to explore ways of promoting and encouraging flexible, agile and inclusive workplaces that benefit all workers and employers. Since 2020/21, we have provided over £1.5m in funding to help promote and support employers and workers across Scotland to adopt flexible workplace practices.
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 February 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 5 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, in the light of the decision to arrange NHS boards into two sub national planning structures for the west and east of Scotland, what the implications this might have for the continued work of the North Cancer Alliance, which brings together boards from the Scotland East and Scotland West groupings.
Answer
DL (2025) 25, Implementation of Sub-National Planning: Co-operation and Planning Directions 2025 came into force on 13 November 2025. This document requires Health Boards to organise themselves into two collaborative sub-national structures – Scotland East and Scotland West – to co-operate in planning and delivering the objectives specified in the Directions. The objectives stated in the directive are as follows:
- ‘Treatment time guarantee for orthopaedic elective care services’
- ‘Emergency healthcare services’
- ‘Once for Scotland approach to business systems’
- ‘Mycare.scot service’
There are no current plans for cancer services to be organised within this subnational structure.
The Scottish Government and the newly established National Scottish Cancer Collaborative (previously Scottish Cancer Network) continue to work closely with the three regional cancer networks, Southeast Scotland Cancer Network, West of Scotland Cancer Network and the North Cancer Alliance, to align on national direction and to provide for once for Scotland solutions where appropriate.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 February 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 5 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether the existing CT and MRI scanner stock across NHS boards is sufficient to meet (a) present and (b) future demand.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43974 on 5 March 2026. the National Radiology Lead from the Centre for Sustainable Delivery meets regularly with Health Boards to discuss imaging performance, staffing levels and scanner stock. NHS Boards have been asked to provide plans to support delivery of the 95% target of patients seen within 6 weeks throughout 2026-27.
Furthermore, we are looking at options to increase the amount of CT and MRI scanners as well as more robust replacement plans of the current stock to ensure technology advances are optimised which in turn can improve throughput, reduce radiation dose and improve energy efficiency.
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.
