- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 23 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government how many specialist endometriosis centres are currently operating at full capacity in Scotland, and what additional funding or resource has been allocated in the 2026-27 Budget to address the backlog of patients waiting for laparoscopic diagnostic surgery and multidisciplinary care.
Answer
The three Accredited Endometriosis Specialist Centres in Scotland provide coordinated, multidisciplinary treatment to individuals with complex symptoms of endometriosis and to those requiring complex surgery. Understanding the potential capacity of services such as the Specialist Endometriosis Centres will be a central aspect of the National Gynaecology Plan.
Gynaecology waits of over 52 weeks reduced by 44.6% for new outpatients and by 21.8% for inpatient/day-case between 31 July 2025 and 31 January 2026 as a result of the almost £13 million additional funding we allocated to health boards in 2025-26 for gynaecology services.
The 2026-27 Budget provides almost £22.5 billion investment in health and social care services.
NHS Board planning for 2026-27 is underway, and dedicated funding will support the continuation of the progress delivered this year. However; NHS Boards are responsible for deciding the distribution of funding that they receive from the Scottish Government across the services they manage, including any funding directed towards laparoscopic diagnostic surgery and multidisciplinary care.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 23 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-44120 by Angela Constance on 10 March 2026, in light of paragraph 12.1 of the paper, Report on the Roles and Functions of the Scottish Law Officers, which states that the “research is intended to inform the preparation of a future consultation by the Scottish Government on the roles and functions of the Scottish Law Officers", by what date this research will commence and its findings will be published.
Answer
The Report on the Roles and Functions of the Scottish Law Officers sets out the findings of the research commissioned by the Scottish Government and carried out by Malcolm McMillan, former Chief Executive of the Scottish Law Commission. As specified in the terms of reference, the research analyses the history of the Law Officers’ roles and why and how they have developed to the current position; examines their current functions in detail (including the legal bases for those functions); considers examples of arrangements for Law Officers and prosecuting authorities in a number of other jurisdictions; and sets out the constitutional and legislative competence requirements for any reforms to the Law Officers’ roles in Scotland.
The research was not intended to make recommendations for any model or approach: rather, its purpose was to provide a detailed, robust foundation to inform any future consultation on the Law Officers’ roles. Decisions on that will be a matter for the next administration.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 23 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for Public Health and Women's Health held a ministerial cross party group meeting following the publication of the report, How Safe Are Our Scottish Hospitals, and, if so, when any such meeting took place, and what issues were discussed.
Answer
Following the publication of “How safe are our hospitals?” I convened a meeting with the relevant cross party group on 21 May. The Member who submitted this question was invited to attend and sent apologies, with Carol Mochan MSP attending in her place.
The meeting provided an opportunity for members to discuss the report’s findings in detail and what more could be done to address sexual violence in hospitals.
Officials and the Minister outlined the ongoing work to improve safety and transparency across our healthcare system, and agreed to remind Health Boards of their legal duties as an employer.
Officials continue to engage on this issue with Justice colleagues, Police Scotland, Health Board HR representatives, professional bodies and experts in Violence Against Women and Girls
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 23 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that some landlords applying to the First Tier Tribunal (Housing and Property Chamber) to seek an eviction order face at least a six-month wait for their case to be heard.
Answer
The scheduling and management of cases is a matter for the Chamber and the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service.
There are multiple factors which can impact the timescales for cases to be heard, such as the volume and complexity of legal issues or evidence to be considered.
The Scottish Government understands that the Housing and Property Chamber is receiving a high volume of applications and correspondence which is resulting in longer than usual waiting times.
The Scottish Government continues to engage with the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service in respect of wait times generally but cannot impinge on the independence of the Tribunal.
- Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 23 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether ministerial pay will be frozen in 2026-27, and the financial years immediately following.
Answer
The Ministerial element of Ministers' pay will be voluntarily frozen in 2026-27 at 2008-09 levels. I have voluntarily kept both the MSP and Ministerial elements of his pay frozen at 2008-09 levels. In declining to accept their full salary entitlement since 1 April 2009, Ministers will have collectively made approximately £2.39 million available for public spending from their own pay packets up to 31 March 2026.
Decisions on the Ministerial pay freeze for after the Scottish Parliament election on 7 May 2026 will be for the First Minister of the next administration.
- Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 23 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had any discussions with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) regarding the publication of guidance equivalent to the Charity Commission for England and Wales’ publication, How charities can respond to the current hostile environment.
Answer
We have held recent discussions with OSCR regarding concerns from stakeholders in the third sector about incidents of hostility that charity staff and volunteers have faced.
As OSCR is independent of government, it is for them to develop any guidance it feels would be appropriate for charities operating in Scotland. We are happy to work with OSCR and other partners on this matter.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 23 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what clinical governance arrangements are in place across NHS Scotland to oversee decision-making regarding extended, blanket and targeted antifungal prophylactic medications, including posaconazole, to prevent infection from water or airborne bacteria during cancer therapy.
Answer
Health Board Area Drug and Therapeutics Committees (ADTCs) are responsible for providing governance and oversight of medicines use, ensuring that local prescribing policies and practices are safe, effective and evidence-based.
- Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 23 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government when guidance for local authorities will be issued regarding the assessment of rent conditions required by the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025.
Answer
Provisions within the Housing (Scotland) Act, section 7, require Ministerial guidance on reports following assessments of rent conditions to be issued within 9 months of the coming into force date of 1 April 2026. This will also include Ministerial guidance on assessments of rent conditions.
- Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 23 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers by Angela Constance to question S6W-41854 on 25 November 2025 and question S6W-43390 on 28 January 2026, whether it will provide an update on any enquiries it has made regarding the likely timescales of the work conducted on behalf of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in relation to the Scottish Government’s commitment to hold an inquiry into malicious prosecutions relating to Rangers Football Club.
Answer
As previous answers indicated, COPFS advise Shelagh McCall KC has been instructed to independently consider reports of criminal conduct relating to the Rangers prosecutions to ensure any allegations are considered fairly and objectively. COPFS has also advised as the investigation by Shelagh McCall KC is being progressed independently of COPFS, the timescale for concluding the investigation is a matter for Shelagh McCall KC.
- Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 23 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the ability of charities to fulfil their charitable duties in the face of any hostility towards their work.
Answer
We fully appreciate the concerns being raised by the third sector about the rise in confrontational behaviour towards charity staff and volunteers. Officials in volunteering and in safer communities policy are working together with Police Scotland, local authorities and the third sector to identify and provide guidance and support.
While we are committed to upholding the rights to peaceful public assembly and freedom of expression, instances of hate, violence, or intimidation towards others will not be tolerated. We fully support Police Scotland to take appropriate action in response to criminal behaviour against charities and other voluntary organisations.