Chamber and committees

Health Boards are responsible for the operational management of walk-in services, including all decisions about staffing. I would advise that you contact the Boards directly to request this information.

In 2025, 210 patients received thrombectomy treatment across Scotland, similar to the 217 patients treated in 2024. This is an increase from 153 in 2023 and 112 in 2022. We have invested over £63 million to date on expanding access to thrombectomy and our manifesto includes a commitment that we will invest a further £25 million to deliver a 24/7 thrombectomy service with national coverage so that thrombectomies are available regardless of location.

We recognise that there is more to do, and we expect Public Services Delivery Scotland to provide a financial case for 24/7 expansion by the end of October. We will then work at pace to produce a delivery plan with timescales for service expansion.

The development of 39 affordable homes on West Road, Saline, West Fife was granted planning permission by Fife Council in April 2023, with funding support from the Scottish Government’s Affordable Hing Supply Programme. Development is estimated to be completed in Spring 2027.

The budgets including NCS costs covering the period 2021-2026 are available on the Scottish Government’s website.

Within the budget for year 2026-27 £50,000 is provisioned for the spend on the on-going running of the National Care Service Advisory Board. This includes the costs of supporting the Advisory Board Who continue to play an active role in shaping the Scottish Government’s delivery of the Care Reform (Scotland) Act 2025.

The immigration system, including the Seasonal Worker visa route, is reserved to the UK Government. The Scottish Government regularly engages with DEFRA, other UK Government departments and the devolved administrations on issues affecting seasonal agricultural workers in Scotland either directly as matters arise, or through participation in working groups, such as the Seasonal Worker Interest Group and the Devolved Governments Workforce Group, where matters relating to worker welfare and employment rights are discussed.

(a) Employment law and immigration policy are reserved matters. The UK Government regulates the employment rights of seasonal agricultural workers through employment legislation, visa conditions and relevant enforcement bodies. In Scotland, seasonal agricultural workers’ pay and conditions are also covered by the Agricultural Wages (Scotland) Act 1949 and annual Agricultural Wages Orders.

(b) Responsibility for enforcement of employment rights rests with the UK Government and its agencies. However, Scottish employers are increasingly dependent on migrant workers, who make a valuable contribution to Scotland's agricultural sector. The Scottish Government does not support an immigration system that increases the risk of forced labour or worker exploitation and continues to engage with stakeholders and UK Government counterparts on matters affecting the welfare and rights of seasonal agricultural workers in Scotland, including undertaking enforcement activity to ensure compliance with the terms of the Scottish Agricultural Wages Order relating to all agricultural workers in Scotland.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken a formal assessment of the deployment of FeNO testing in primary care settings in England. However, it continues to consider relevant evidence, guidance and learning from across the UK, including experience from England where appropriate, when considering the implementation of respiratory clinical guidance.

However, the Scottish Government is aware of developments in the use of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) testing across the UK and notes that FeNO testing is recommended within the updated joint British Thoracic Society (BTS), National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) guideline on the diagnosis, monitoring and management of asthma. The guideline recommends the use of objective testing, including FeNO testing, to support asthma diagnosis and management.

The Scottish Government is responding to ongoing cost of living pressures being felt by households acros , and we are working towards a consultation on the price cap on essential food items within 100 days of this Government.

We continue to invest in free income maximisation support, welfare and debt advice and have maintained investment in the Scottish Welfare Fund, at £41 million this year, alongside £25.5 million of additional investment over the previous two years, helping ensure the Fund remains a vital safety net for households.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01604 on 22 July 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-02052 on13 August 2026.

The  Scottish Government provides the overall guidance to NHS Boards for patient travel expenses reimbursement - individual Boards are responsible for developing and applying their own policies, including reimbursement rates, ensuring patient care and safety.

The Patient Travel Expenses Scheme (PTES) is Scotland-wide and provides support to those in receipt of certain benefits. Financial support for travel is available for patients and authorised escorts, according to eligibility criteria and medical requirements.

All Boards are expected to support patients and their families in identifying and accessing available support and Board patient travel contacts can provide advice on eligibility and assistance available with bookings and advance payments, where necessary. The costs of the reimbursement schemes are met from Boards’ budgets.

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 committed to improving timely access to needs-based support for children and young people, in line with GIRFEC and the National Neurodevelopmental Specification. Access to support should not be dependent on a diagnosis, except in limited circumstances such as the prescribing of ADHD medication.

We are continuing our work with COSLA and the Children and Young People’s Neurodevelopment Taskforce to deliver on the actions set out in the Review of the Specification for Children and Young People.

In 2025-26 we provided over £2.9 million of funding to support projects to improve access to neurodevelopmental support across Scotland. The 2026/27 Budget includes additional investment of £7.6 million.

It is important to recognise that CAMHS is a specialist service for those experiencing significant mental health issues. Neurodevelopmental conditions, such as autism and ADHD, are not mental health conditions. CAMHS is therefore not the correct service for neurodevelopmental diagnostic assessment, unless there is a co-occurring mental health condition that meets CAMHS criteria.