Chamber and committees

As set out in the Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011, where a Health Board is unable to meet the Treatment Time Guarantee within its own area, it must take all reasonably practicable steps to arrange for the provision of the agreed treatment by—

(a) another Health Board;

(b) the National Health Service in England, Wales or Northern Ireland;

(c) an authorised provider; or

(d) another suitable alternative provider in the United Kingdom.

When pursuing the above options, a Health Board must have regard to the importance of securing the effective and efficient use of the health service organisation and resources.

Health Boards also have the option to agree national or regional provision for diagnostic and specialist services.

The Scottish Government position on the responsibility for addressing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) has not changed. RAAC is primarily a building maintenance issue and responsibility lies with the owner of the building.

The number of Anaesthetic Consultants working in NHS Scotland has grown by 21.6% over the last decade and stood at 895.2 WTE as at 31 March 2026. 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 anaesthetics.

The Scottish Government’s role is to provide strategic leadership for NHS Scotland to ensure a sustainable NHS workforce. Operational matters relating to staffing including recruitment to specific specialities such as anaesthetists, are the responsibility of individual NHS Boards and will depend on service needs, taking account of national, regional and local priorities. Boards are required to ensure that suitably qualified and competent staff are available in appropriate numbers to support safe, high-quality care and staff wellbeing, in line with the requirements of the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019.

The 20GW ambition was set out in the Onshore Wind Policy Statement in 2022. The Policy Statement was informed through extensive consultation with interested parties. The 20GW ambition is intended as a statement of Scotland’s potential rather than an allocation or mapping of specific sites.

All development proposals are individually assessed against our Fourth National Planning Framework which ensures that the impacts of proposals, including on communities and the natural environment are important considerations in the decision making process. All applications are subject to site specific assessments.

The Scottish Government values the contribution of the NHS Scotland workforce and is committed to supporting those who choose to pursue a career in nursing. We want to help more people who are trained in Scotland to work in NHS Scotland upon graduation. To do this, we have committed to an NHS Job Guarantee for all graduates for medicine, dentistry, nursing, and other NHS professions in Scotland with a guaranteed position for a minimum 3-year contract, so they can put their training into practice.

Further detail on the proposed job guarantee will be set out in further detail in due course.

We want to help more people who are educated and trained in Scotland to work in NHS Scotland upon graduation. To do this, we have committed to an NHS Job Guarantee to all graduates for medicine, dentistry, nursing, and other NHS professions in Scotland with a guaranteed position for a minimum 3-year contract, to enable them to put their training into practice. The Scottish Government will set out further detail on the proposed job guarantee in due course.

Scottish Government funded the Institution of Structural Engineers to develop guidance on the identification, assessment and remediation of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in residential properties. Scottish Government officials met with members of the Institution of Structural Engineers on 21 January 2026 to discuss this guidance.

Members of the Institution of Structural Engineers attended a meeting of the RAAC in Housing Leadership Group meeting on 28 January 2026, to deliver a presentation on the guidance. The meeting was chaired by the former Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Miri McAllan. Scottish Government officials also joined this meeting.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01456 on 20 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.

Whilst the Scottish Government sets the strategic policy direction for the NHS in Scotland, operational matters such as staffing and recruitment, including the recruitment of graduates, are the responsibility of the individual health and social care employers, taking into account national, regional and local priorities.

NHS Boards actively manage their turnover and vacancies throughout the year, to ensure all posts recruited meet current and future demands and will deliver the best outcomes in the most effective and efficient way. NHS Scotland is a large organisation and will always carry some vacancies. While it is hoped that all nursing graduates will secure a post in Scotland upon graduation, this is not always immediately possible, as vacancies can fluctuate significantly from year to year due to a range of factors.

We have also committed to an NHS Job Guarantee for all graduates for medicine, dentistry, nursing, and other NHS professions in Scotland with a guaranteed position for a minimum 3-year contract, so they can put their training into practice.

Student intake targets for nursing and midwifery controlled funded places are set for three years to provide stability across partners, including higher education institutions. The most recent multi-year target has been set for 2026-27 to 2028-29, with an annual review to ensure targets remain appropriate.

There is extensive engagement with stakeholders (who are invited to share their own data) when setting the three year targets, as well as discussing their insights on NHS Scotland vacancies, establishment figures and clinical placement capacity. Both quantitative and qualitative data are considered as part of this process. Stakeholders include NHS Boards, Higher Education Institutes, Royal Colleges and Trade Unions.

Alongside this planning, the Scottish Government works with the Student Award Agency Scotland (SAAS) to ensure appropriate funding is available for the corresponding number of students, including for the bursary and any relevant allowances.