Chamber and committees

Backlog maintenance within the NHS estate is assessed and reported at the level of individual maintenance items rather than buildings. Consequently, individual buildings are not assigned an overall risk rating, as they may contain multiple backlog maintenance items with different risk ratings.

Consideration of changes to the Lord Advocate’s roles engages significant issues relating to prosecutorial independence, ministerial accountability, the rule of law and the effective operation of government. Given the legal and constitutional implications it is appropriate that our approach is considered carefully and thoroughly, and Ministers are giving it active consideration.

The Scottish Government has not realised a direct financial return from NHS NPD projects, as these projects were procured to deliver infrastructure and services rather than generate investment returns. Any project-specific surplus sharing, refinancing gains or other contractual receipts are managed in accordance with the relevant project agreements and do not result in a direct financial return to the Scottish Government.

While CalMac continue to monitor the performance of new and older vessels, a direct comparison is not available at this time. This is due to MV Glen Sannox operating on different routes/timetables compared to existing vessels while actions are progressed to enable the redevelopment of Ardrossan Harbour.

The Scottish Government sets the regulatory framework and provides Grant in Aid Funding to SEPA to undertake monitoring of bathing waters.

SEPA undertakes routine monitoring of designated bathing waters, including those in Dundee and Angus, during the bathing season (1 June 2026 to 15 September 2026). Where a potential pollution incident is identified, either through reporting or routine monitoring, SEPA undertakes investigations. SEPA has provided an overview of bathing waters, including its monitoring and investigation process here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcy2_8MjhWg

Condition and Functional Suitability assessments are undertaken and recorded for individual buildings within the NHS estate. However, the Scottish Government does not routinely hold information on the number of buildings assessed as category C or D for either Condition or Functional Suitability.

Based on the latest available NHS estate data, 34% of the estate by floor area was assessed as being in Condition C or D, while 26% of the estate by floor area was assessed as having Functional Suitability rated C or D.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has received a full submission from the marketing authorisation holder, Sanofi, for teplizumab (Tzield®), to delay the onset of Stage 3 type 1 diabetes in adult and paediatric patients 8 years of age and older with Stage 2 type 1 diabetes.

The SMC’s advice in relation to the routine use of teplizumab in the NHS in Scotland is expected to be published in 2027. The medicine product page on the SMC’s website will be updated with the advice, when published.

The Scottish Government continues to support workforce capacity across cancer services, including mesothelioma care, through investment in the cancer workforce and expansion of key specialist roles. Over the last decade, the oncology and radiology consultant workforce has increased by more than 25%.

Health Boards remain responsible for ensuring they have the workforce required to deliver health care services that meets the needs of their local population.

Scottish Ministers set the strategic objectives for Scotland's water and wastewater services and provide the policy framework within which Scottish Water operates. The Scottish Government supports investment in water and wastewater infrastructure through Government borrowing as set out in our Principles of Charging statement. Scottish Water is responsible for planning and delivering investment.

Scottish Water operates independently and is subject to oversight by independent regulators, including the Water Industry Commission for Scotland, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Drinking Water Quality Regulator.

The Scottish Ministerial Code sets out the standards expected of all members of the Scottish Ministerial team. Paragraph 3.22 of the Code notes that ‘…Ministers should not accept gifts, hospitality or services which would, or might appear to, compromise their judgement or place them under an obligation to people or organisations that might try to influence their work in government.’ It is the personal responsibility of each Minister to determine how any activity would engage with the terms of the Code, based on the circumstances around any specific event or interaction.