Chamber and committees

Social Security Scotland regularly publishes statistics on its benefits, including Adult Disability Payment, which covers the current number of clients in receipt of the payment, their age breakdown, and the information on completed reviews and outcomes.

The latest Adult Disability Payment statistics are available at: Adult Disability Payment statistics to 30 April 2026.

The specific breakdown of information requested is not routinely produced and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost, in line with Scottish Government guidance on Parliamentary Questions.

Development of the Ferries Accessibility Standard is underway following engagement with ferry users with disabilities, the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS), ferry operators and representatives of port authorities. Work is on track to achieve the new National Islands Plan commitment to publish in 2026.

Work is also progressing on our commitment to open a new Islands Transport Accessibility Fund applicable to both ferries and aviation infrastructure. The new fund will open as soon as possible, subject to available funding.

Information on progress against the two commitments will be included in the National Islands Plan Annual Report to the Scottish Parliament.

The Scottish Government’s current policy on the use of bilingual signing provides an affordable and cost effective way of providing bilingual signs coverage on the network within available funds, and ensures that the Gaelic language is included on road signs where it is most relevant to communities.

The Scottish Languages Act, 2025 requires Scottish Ministers to prepare Gaelic Standards and Requirements. When prepared, these will shape the commitments which Scottish public authorities include in any Gaelic Language Plans they may produce. It is expected that the Standards and Requirements will cover Gaelic signage and visibility in certain areas.

We want patients to be treated as soon as possible. However, we recognise too many are facing unacceptable waits and we are determined to do more.

That is why we have invested an additional £100 million this year to build on the progress made in the 2025-26 NHS Operational Improvement Plan and have just announced a further £90 million to support those waiting the longest for treatment and help to create more capacity within our wider healthcare system.

This investment will benefit health boards across Scotland, including NHS Grampian. We will continue to target resources to reduce waiting times, particularly for those waiting the longest for treatment, through maximising productivity and additional resources.

Operational policing decisions and workload considerations are for the Chief Constable who is accountable to the Scottish Police Authority - not to Scottish Ministers. It would not be appropriate for Scottish Ministers to seek information from Police Scotland in relation to officer workload.

The Scottish Government recognises potential impact of the decision to designate an additional public holiday on Emergency Departments that continue to face significant pressures.

We proactively sought assurance through our established governance arrangements. Boards advised that the additional public holiday would be managed in line with existing public holiday protocols to ensure continuity of patient care.

NHS Boards are responsible for developing operational plans that reflect local circumstances and community needs, while remaining aligned with nationally agreed planning principles.

Our overriding priority is the continued delivery of safe, person-centred care.

Following annual reviews of the number of specialty training places needed to meet anticipated future service demand and consultant need, the Scottish Government has funded the creation of approximately 850 additional posts across multiple specialities since 2014, including in ophthalmology.

The number of Ophthalmology Consultants working in NHS Scotland has increased by 54.7% in the last 20 years, from 86.4 WTE in September 2006 to 133.7 WTE as of 31 March 2026. Over the last decade, the workforce has increased by 3.4%, from 129.3 WTE on 31 March 2016 to 133.7 WTE on 31 March 2026.

Cross-portfolio working across directorates and policy areas is a key priority for this Government and there are existing governance structures which support this work. Specifically in relation to the national Good Food Nation Plan, we have committed to establishing mechanisms that enable working at government official as well as ministerial level. Specific accountability mechanisms will be established once the legal duty for Ministers to have regard to the national Good Food Nation Plan when exercising certain functions is in force. These mechanisms will include internal reporting requirements to record how regard was had to the national Good Food Nation Plan.

The Scottish Government understands the importance of age-specific cancer care for children and young people, this why we are the only UK nation to have a dedicated strategy for children and young people with cancer.

The Collaborative and Compassionate Cancer Care: cancer strategy for children and young people 2021–2026 runs until the end of 2026.

The Scottish Government is actively considering the next steps. We will engage with a range of stakeholders to inform potential futures approaches that will ensure that the voices and experiences of those most directly affected continue. This will also inform progress made through the current strategy, while identifying opportunities to further improve care, support and outcomes.

We offer a range of support to GPs to take up posts in rural and island settings.

This includes incentives such as the Golden Hello Scheme, which offers payments of up to £10,000 to GPs taking up eligible posts in rural and island settings.

ScotGEM is helping to build the rural medical workforce through its four-year graduate-entry medical degree programme, which focuses on rural medicine and General Practice. We also fund fellowships to help GPs to develop the right skills and experience required to work in, rural and island settings.

The Rediscover the Joy of General Practice programme enables experienced GPs to undertake placements in practices across rural and island areas which require additional short-term capacity.