Chamber and committees

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.

A skilled workforce is essential for achieving economic growth, through supporting increased productivity and innovation, and positioning Scotland to benefit from inward investment opportunities, our energy transition and future technological advances. Equipping people with the skills they need to engage in a changing labour market also helps more people enter or remain in good jobs, contributing to higher incomes and reduced economic inactivity.

Therefore, the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport will have a pivotal role in the delivery of apprenticeships and skills and workforce development, working across government with other portfolios. This collaborative approach aims to build a responsive skills system that meets the needs of Scotland’s economy, its businesses and its workers.

The Scottish Government is committed to using public resources more efficiently and effectively. Electricity is a matter generally reserved to the UK Parliament under the Scotland Act 1998, including electricity generation, transmission, distribution and supply, and the operation and management of the electricity network. Decisions regarding grid connections are the responsibility of the National Energy System Operator (NESO), not the Scottish Government.

While Scottish Ministers exercise devolved consenting functions under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 for generating stations in Scotland exceeding 50MW, applications must be considered and determined in accordance with the statutory framework established by that Act and any applicable regulations.

There is no restriction on any person making an application for consent under the Electricity Act 1989, or for planning permission under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, other than as stipulated under those Acts or any applicable regulations.

The Scottish Government acknowledges the findings of the Royal College of Radiologists' 2025 Clinical Radiology Workforce Census Report. The findings will be considered as part of ongoing workforce planning processes. 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 radiology. Over the last ten years we have increased the Consultant Radiologist workforce by 24% (from 325.4 WTE as of March 2016 to 403.8 WTE as of March 2026). Over the last five years, a total of 162 Clinical Radiology specialty training places were advertised for recruitment in Scotland, of which all posts were filled successfully.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring access to breakfast clubs for all primary school age children in Scotland by August 2027. Around 50% of primary schools in Scotland already have breakfast provision in place. To support further expansion, the Scottish Government is investing £15 million in 2026-27. From 2027-28, £44 million will be invested annually to support implementation of the national breakfast clubs offer.

The policy intention is that a breakfast club offer will be available nationally across all primary and special schools from the academic year 2027-28 beginning in August 2027. As part of the additional £15 million investment in 2026-27, to support a phased delivery of that offer, many children will have access to a breakfast club before that date.