Chamber and committees

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.

The Scottish Funding Council collects data on the number of students who have graduated from pre-registration children’s nursing courses across Scotland.

There are no pre-registration neo-natal programmes available in Scotland. Instead, qualified nurses can undertake a specific neonatal qualification post registration course known as Neonatal Care - Qualified in Speciality.

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.

Health Boards are responsible for the operational management of walk-in services, including all decisions on staffing. I am aware that there are some staffing challenges in Hawick and my officials remain in regular contact with the affected site to work together to find solutions.

The information requested on how many anaesthetist posts are currently vacant, broken down by NHS board can be found on the TURAS NHS Education for Scotland workforce statistics site at: 02 June 2026 Workforce | Turas Data Intelligence (Vacancy tab).

The Scottish Government remains opposed to the development of new nuclear power stations in Scotland under current technologies and has therefore not undertaken any such discussions with the UK Government.

There are currently 472 anaesthetist training positions across Scotland. This includes posts in Core Anaesthetics and Acute Care Common Stem (ACCS) Anaesthetics, as well as in Anaesthetics higher specialty training.

Local authorities are responsible for determining their own approach to properties affected by RAAC to ensure the response takes account of local circumstances and there is no duty for local authorities to report to Scottish Government on their approach to RAAC. However Scottish Government engage with local authorities as required. The most recent meetings between the Scottish Government and Angus Council to discuss RAAC are as follows:

• Scottish Government officials met with officers from Angus Council on 27 March 2026 to discuss their approach to RAAC in Monifeith and what options the Council are considering for both council-owned properties and owner-occupied properties affected by RAAC.
• Elected members and officers from Angus Council attended the RAAC in Housing Leadership Group meeting, chaired by the former Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Mairi McAllan, on 28 January 2026. This meeting focussed upon the guidance published by the Institution of Structural Engineers to identify, assess and remediate RAAC.
• The former Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Mairi McAllan, met with Dundee and Angus residents and elected members on 27 August 2025 to hear directly from people impacted by RAAC.

The former Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Mairi McAllan, invited local authorities to submit proposals for financial flexibility to support solutions for RAAC affected properties. Angus Council have not submitted any requests to date.

The Scottish Government has an important role in managing Scotland’s marine space, ensuring the interests of all marine users are appropriately considered. We want to see a prosperous future for the offshore wind and fisheries sectors.

The UK Government’s Nuclear Regulatory Review specifically excluded devolved issues in Scotland and Wales in its consideration. Therefore, recommendations covering such matters are set out for England only.

The Scottish Government remains firmly opposed to new nuclear power stations in Scotland under current technologies and so recommendations regarding new nuclear energy will not be considered. Where there are recommendations about the wider management of existing nuclear sites concerning devolved areas of competence, we will consider the merits of any measures once we receive more detailed proposals from UK Government. Our focus remains on managing Scotland’s nuclear legacy in a way that protects people and the environment.