Chamber and committees

Both Employment law and the Employment Tribunal system are reserved to Westminster. The Scottish Government has had no discussions with the UK Government regarding the capacity of the reserved Employment Tribunal system.

NHS Lanarkshire submitted proposals in response to the initial Call for Proposals, with a site in Lanark approved for the second phase of the walk-in services pilot programme. As part of the second round of proposals, the Scottish Government requested that NHS Lanarkshire consider a service in Shotts.

Health Boards have been asked to generate proposals for the walk-in service pilot programme which take into account local issues and experiences. The Scottish Government recognises the needs of the population of North Lanarkshire and has therefore asked NHS Lanarkshire to explore the option of a service in Shotts.

Statutory undertakers perform functions under statutory powers or duties, for example in relation to utilities such as building and maintaining sufficient infrastructure to transport gas or electricity to residential homes. Where problems are encountered between a statutory undertaker and property owners, the Scottish Government expects all parties to engage in meaningful discussions to resolve any issues that are preventing a statutory undertaker from performing its functions.

Specialty is defined as a division of medicine or dentistry covering a specific area of clinical activity and identified within one of the Royal Colleges or Faculties. A Discipline is a non-medical profession related to healthcare, for which formal training leading to a recognised professional qualification is undertaken. Examples of disciplines are physiotherapy, nursing, pharmacology. This is set out in the Public Health Scotland’s Recording Manual Waiting Times Recording Manual.

Gynaecology is the care of women with problems of the female reproductive system (ovaries, tubes, womb, cervix, vagina). Some gynaecologists specialise in urogynaecology (bladder incontinence), reproductive medicine (fertility problems and recurrent miscarriage), colposcopy (dealing with abnormal smears), gynae-oncology (cancer of the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries), contraception and menopause. It is worth noting that some of these services do not fall under gynaecology waiting times.

Planning authorities have qualified planning officers who apply their professional analysis and judgement to inform decisions. National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) designates “Green Data Centres” as National Development. NPF4 must be considered, read and applied in the round, accounting for all of its relevant provisions when assessing planning applications. We are considering whether more formal guidance would also help planning authorities. We have already committed to publish guidance on what factors are prevalent in a “green” data centre.

An e-scooter, or an e-bike that does not meet the requirements for an electrically assisted pedal cycle, are treated as motor vehicles, and in relation to these Police Scotland can issue a fixed penalty notice for using the vehicle without insurance or without a licence, seize and remove the vehicle under road traffic law, and charge the rider with careless or dangerous driving. An e-bike that meets those requirements is treated as a pedal cycle, and the police can act against careless or dangerous cycling and against riding on a footway. Also, police can issue a warning to the driver if the vehicle is used in a manner causing alarm, distress, or annoyance. If caught repeating the antisocial behaviour within 12 months, officers can immediately seize the vehicle.

Public Health Scotland (PHS) publishes statistics on stages of treatment waiting times for gynaecology by board and length of wait. The most recent report was published on 26 May 2026 and can be found at

https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/stage-of-treatment-waiting-times/

This specific data file contains historic trends for ongoing waits at each quarter-end with a breakdown of waits by NHS board.

https://publichealthscotland.scot/media/38855/newop_apr26-data-file-up-to-31-march-2026.xlsx

Table 1.1 refers to new outpatients and the drop-down menu can be used to filter by gynaecology. Table 2.2 refers to inpatients and day cases and again, can be filtered by specificality, including gynaecology. This data is based on waits covered by the new outpatient and inpatient and day case waiting times standards, and as such there may be some gynaecology services that do not fall under these criteria and are therefore not included in published statistics.

Public Health Scotland (PHS) publishes statistics on stages of treatment waiting times for gynaecology by board and length of wait. The most recent report was published on 26 May 2026 and can be found at