Chamber and committees

The reuse of surplus materials from rail projects is an issue for the asset owner. Where such materials are owned by Network Rail (as opposed to private contractors), these materials are utilised for future enhancement and renewals projects reducing the cost of these works.

This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. Such work may have been carried out by individual health boards as part of their planning processes.

This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

Public Health Scotland (PHS) uses the national waiting times datamart to collect electronic patient records covering the waits that patients experience waiting for treatment as an inpatient or day-case under the Treatment Time Guarantee.

This data source can be used routinely to identify the specialty of treatment. However, although the records are designed to collect coded information on the procedure that is planned for the patient, this information is often either incomplete, lacking in essential detail and/or its accuracy cannot be assured. In addition, the procedure(s) that was planned may not always reflect the procedure actually performed after the patient was admitted for treatment. The latter is not captured through the national datamart. Consequently, PHS is not currently able to report accurately on waiting times to this level of detail.

CalMac make every effort to avoid cancellations due to technical breakdowns, but it is impossible to completely remove the risk of this happening in technically complex vessels.

Between 2015 and 2024 CalMac have operated over 1.5 million sailings, with 5.2% cancelled. Of those cancelled sailings, 22% were for technical reasons and 62% were related to weather.

The arrival of 13 new vessels by 2029, which started with MV Glen Sannox in January this year, will help improve connectivity and resilience for island residents, businesses, and communities. These new vessels should be able to operate in more challenging weather and sea conditions and will also improve accessibility and route flexibility. Communities and services will also benefit from the provision of shore power upgrades and enhanced port facilities.

A delayed discharge occurs when a hospital patient who is clinically ready for discharge from inpatient hospital care continues to occupy a hospital bed beyond the date they are ready for discharge. Information held nationally on delayed discharges can identify the number of people aged 18 and over who were delayed in their discharge from hospital.

People delayed due to a lack of available social care packages can be identified using Delay Reason code 25D – “Awaiting completion of arrangements - in order to live in their own home – awaiting social care support (non-availability of services)”.

Figures from Financial Year 2020-21 to 2024-25 (inclusive) are shown in Table 1.

Table 1: Number of people delayed due to Awaiting completion of arrangements in order to live in their own home, awaiting social care support (non-availability of services) in the financial Years 2020-21 to 2024-25 by Health Board.

I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-37715 on 28 May 2025. 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 Government has secured £4.85m in funding from Great British Energy’s Local Power Plan in 2025-26. The Scottish Government will primarily deliver this funding directly through our Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES), providing support through the ‘Community Energy Generation Growth Fund’ to boost community owned renewable energy across Scotland. The £8 million fund, including £4 million from GB Energy’s Local Power Plan, will support community groups to develop their own renewable energy projects, including wind and solar PV projects.

Last year’s £1.5 million pilot fund supported 23 community energy projects – including solar PV installations on public buildings – at various stages of project development.

Due to differences in education systems and school-leaving ages across the different countries of the UK, direct comparisons are not possible.

Analysis has been carried out for Scottish leavers and is available on the Scottish Government website. Infographic overview of evidence on school leavers in Scotland - gov.scot

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that those living in prison have access to healthcare that is, as a minimum, equitable to that offered in the community.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

Any loss of life in the care of SPS is tragic no matter the circumstances.

The recently reviewed Death in Prison Learning Audit and Review (DIPLAR) process, supports our ability to improve and identify lessons learned following any death in custody.

We are also reviewing and overhauling our suicide prevention strategy, ‘Talk to Me’, supported by an independent expert review. We have implemented immediate measures identified following recommendations from Fatal Accident Inquires, including but not limited to mandatory observations of young people during their first 72 hours in custody.

Additionally, the implementation of SPS’ Alcohol and Drug Strategy, which was developed with partners, will compliment operational actions by using trauma informed practices to support those in our care who are affected by substance use.