Chamber and committees

While ministerial responsibility for delivery is shared across portfolios to ensure alignment with Scottish Government’s wider economic strategy and climate commitments, overarching responsibility lies with the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport. Link: Green industrial strategy - gov.scot.

We recognise that many people are facing significant challenges due to the rising cost of living, with households across Scotland finding it increasingly difficult to afford healthy and nutritious food. The final list of items to be covered by the legislation will be determined by consultation and engagement.

The Scottish Government is committed to delivering a universal breakfast club offer for primary school age children by August 2027.

Engagement with COSLA, Local Government and other key stakeholders is underway as part of ongoing work to support delivery, which includes assessment of workforce planning. This is being informed by existing delivery models, how these could be expanded and enhanced and how provision can be established where none currently exists. Engagement and analysis of existing data will inform workforce planning to support implementation of a national offer.

The Scottish Government is committed to delivering a universal breakfast club offer for primary school age children by August 2027.

Many primary schools across Scotland already deliver breakfast offers using a range of delivery models. Work is underway with delivery stakeholders to assess existing models, explore how these can be expanded and enhanced, and identify how best to establish provision where none currently exists. This work is informing national delivery plans including recognising the importance of elements of local flexibility for individual schools.

Between 2017 and 2018, a multidisciplinary group of subject matter experts (SMEs) worked to define the requirements for a future GP clinical system. This group included GPs, nurses, pharmacists, practice managers, health board facilitators, and specialists in IT and information governance.

The Scottish Government is committed to delivering a universal breakfast club offer for primary school age children by August 2027.

To support this offer, we are investing £15 million this financial year to enable the phased expansion of breakfast clubs across Scotland and a recurring investment of £44 million from next financial year to fund national provision.

Decisions have not been finalised on funding distribution. Work is ongoing with COSLA, Local Government and wider partners to agree a fair and proportionate distribution model for funding across financial years 2026-27 and 2027-28.

The Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Data Short Life Working Group has met four times so far since being formed in January 2026. At each meeting, updates were given on progress made on each of the three workstreams. You can find these updates in the minutes on here: National Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Strategic Group - gov.scot.

The group is planning to publish an interim report on its findings by the end of 2026, with a full report being published in summer 2027.

It is unacceptable for anyone’s mail to be delayed unnecessarily, and such delays are especially concerning for patients awaiting hospital appointments.

We want all patients to receive reasonable appointment offers, allowing sufficient time to plan for their appointment or treatment.

As part of the updated Waiting Times Guidance patients now receive a period of at least 10 calendar days for an offer of appointment. Patients may also consent to different methods of communication for this offer, for example receiving a phone call.

Officials met with representatives from Royal Mail in June and July 2026 and continue to be in discussions exploring all options to ensure that there are minimal delays to NHS correspondence.

As announced in the 2026-27 Scottish Budget, we will continue to invest £3 million to fund breakfast clubs through the Bright Start Breakfasts Fund alongside additional investment of £15 million to phase delivery of a national breakfast club offer.

From 2027-28 we will invest £44 million each year to deliver breakfast clubs for all children in primary school across Scotland from August 2027.

Decisions have not been finalised relating to funding distribution. Work is ongoing with COSLA, Local Government and wider partners to agree a fair and proportionate distribution model for funding across financial years 2026-27 and 2027-28.

Supporting more businesses to scale and anchor in Scotland is a key economic priority for this Government and this is reflected in our commitment to establish a High Growth Unit focussed on helping our best companies to achieve their full potential.

The Scottish Government is currently considering a range of models for how the High Growth Unit might be implemented, including its remit and priorities, as well as the structures, skills and capabilities that will be required to maximise its impact. As part of that work, we are also considering where the Unit can best be located to optimise its value and effectiveness, including the role that Scottish Enterprise may play.

These considerations are being informed through close engagement with private sector partners , including the Chief Entrepreneur, Ana Stewart. We will set out further details on the High Growth Unit, including its final structure and location, in due course.