Chamber and committees

Through Scotland’s Rare Disease Action Plan, we are taking forward actions to improve support for people with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) and related conditions, including hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD). This includes work to support earlier diagnosis, increase awareness among healthcare professionals, and improve coordination of care and access to services. The Rare Disease Action Plan Progress Report, published on 27 February 2026, provides an update on progress to date.

While the Scottish Government sets the strategic policy direction for the NHS in Scotland, the delivery of healthcare services is the responsibility of local NHS Health Boards, in line with national guidance and population needs.

There is currently no fully established national clinical pathway for Ehlers–Danlos Syndromes (EDS) or Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD) specifically commissioned by NHS Scotland.

The development and implementation of clinical pathways is led by NHS under established clinical governance arrangements and informed by clinical evidence and service needs.

Where proposals are put forward for pathway development, these are considered through established, clinically led processes by NHS and relevant national delivery partners.

Transport Scotland have a number of measures in place to ensure adequate monitoring of the ongoing costs of the works.

Amey is ultimately responsible for undertaking the viaduct propping works, acting as both Principal Designer and Contractor, under the Network Maintenance Contract (NMC) with Transport Scotland.

Transport Scotland’s Project Team manage Amey’s performance with the support of the Performance Audit Group (PAG) who ensure value for money through auditing, monitoring and reporting on the financial and NMC contract performance aspects of these works.

In addition, Turner & Townsend has specifically been engaged by Transport Scotland to provide expert project controls assistance including Cost Management services.

As you are aware, Transport Scotland has established a Project Board to provide additional governance and oversight of the project.

I am, therefore, confident Transport Scotland have robust cost monitoring in place.

The Scottish Government is working closely with local authorities to understand their delivery plans, associated costs and implementation timelines to complete their roll out of 20 mph speed limits on appropriate roads. This collaborative process will inform a decision on the overall level of funding provided in 2026-27.

Extensive engagement ensured Enhanced Greening requirements are proportionate for farmers, crofters, and small farms.

Officials commissioned academic advice to model the impact of the changes to ensure the transitional change was proportionate and deliverable.

The Scottish Government worked with stakeholder organisations, including the National Farmers Union for Scotland and the Scottish Crofting Federation. Involved farmers and crofters directly through user research and workshops with advisors across Scotland, including Orkney.

This collaborative approach has led to the introduction of four new Ecological Focus Areas, and updates to existing EFAs, providing greater flexibility to reflect the diversity of farming systems including local practices found in Orkney.

Advisors in Orkney secured funding to analyse academic modelling specific to the islands and organised roadshows to help farmers and crofters prepare for the changes.

The Greening scheme £142 Million budget supports agriculture and the environment, this complements the other significant support packages that Scottish Government continues to provide in stark contrast to policies elsewhere in the UK.

Extensive engagement ensured Enhanced Greening requirements are proportionate for farmers, crofters, and small farms.

Officials commissioned academic advice to model the impact of the changes to ensure the transitional change was proportionate and deliverable.

Officials worked with stakeholder organisations, including the National Farmers Union for Scotland and the Scottish Crofting Federation. This involved farmers and crofters directly through user research and workshops with advisors across Scotland, including Orkney.

This collaborative approach has led to the introduction of four new Ecological Focus Area options, and updates to existing EFAs, providing greater flexibility to reflect the diversity of farming systems including local practices found in Orkney.

Advisors in Orkney secured funding to analyse academic modelling specific to the islands and organised roadshows to help farmers and crofters prepare for the changes.

The Greening schemes £142 Million budget supports agriculture and the environment and complements the other significant support packages that Scottish Government continues to provide in stark contrast to policies elsewhere in the UK.

(a) As noted in our 100-day commitment, we will launch a public consultation on a display ban of vapes and nicotine pouches as part of our on-going implementation of the 2026 Tobacco and Vapes Act (the Act). We also continue to work with the 4-nations on policies concerning restrictions on the packaging and device appearance of vapes using powers in the Act. Decisions on further legislative restrictions on displays, packaging and device appearance of vapes will be dependent on the outcome of consultations. As a result of the Act a free distribution and nominal pricing offence comes into force for vaping products on 29 October 2026 and from 1 June 2027 a comprehensive ban on advertising vapes will come into force.

(b) There are currently no plans to introduce regulations regarding the storage of lithium-ion batteries. However, the storage of lithium-ion batteries, which are used in a range of products, should be informed by a fire risk assessment carried out by a competent fire risk assessor. Fire risk assessments are already a legal requirement for duty holders of all relevant (non-domestic) premises.

In exploring the potential of permanent grassland greening requirements, Officials worked with stakeholder organisations, including the National Farmers Union for Scotland, Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board (ARIOB), Policy Development Group, and the Scottish Crofting Federation. This involved farmers and crofters directly through user research and workshops, with advisors across Scotland reviewing opportunities to recognise the policy contribution that farmers can make through permanent grassland (PGRS) using the existing Greening scheme.

Officials commissioned academic advice to model the impact of the changes to ensure the transitional change was proportionate and deliverable and to supply information to promote conversation and gather feedback

The Agricultural reform Program will continue to review opportunities to recognise efficient farming practice that align to the Scottish Government’s Vision for agriculture and officials will work collaboratively with the industry to ensure conditions are right before any final decision is made

The Scottish Government has accepted the findings of an Independent Review of Audiology Services in Scotland and we published our response to implementing the recommendations of the review in May 2025, which can be found here: Independent Review: Scottish Government report on implementation of recommendations – Audiology Services in NHS Scotland- all-ears.nhs.scot –

NHS Audiology has been re-categorised as a clinical priority area, and work to implement change is being progressed through National Planning and Delivery arrangements. While management of audiology services are the responsibility health boards, the Scottish Government remains focused on bringing down long waits and the 2026-27 Budget provides a record £22.5 billion for Health and Social Care.

As indicated in our 100 days prospectus, the Scottish Government also remains committed to working with its partners to determine how best to shift care into the community, alleviating hospital pressures and better supporting the people of Scotland through development of an integrated and community-based hearing service.

The M8 Woodside viaducts occupy a prominent position on the trunk road network and carry up to 150,000 vehicles per day.

No formal economic impact assessment was carried out in advance of lane restrictions being imposed, due to the emergency nature of the works. The likely impact on Glasgow and beyond was considered when installing propping rather than closing the viaduct as stakeholders expressed significant concern over the impact of lane closures, let alone full carriageway closures.

In July 2023, an assessment was made of the estimated costs to the economy of closing the viaducts which, at the time, was estimated to be in the region of £100m per year.

The economic impact of the works in their current form with 2 open lanes has not specifically been modelled but is likely to be significantly less that the full closure estimate.

More in depth impact assessments form part of the options appraisal process that is being undertaken to inform development of the permanent works solution.