Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)

Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

Question reference: S6W-44011

Asked by: Roz McCall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 10 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the £24.311 million allocated in 2026-27 to the Level 4 budget line of Other Spend, under the Level 3 budget heading of Social Care Support in the Health and Social Care portfolio, specifically detailing (a) how much is allocated to sensory impairment services, (b) which specific services and initiatives will be supported and (c) how this compares to the allocation for sensory impairment support services in (i) 2025-26, (ii) 2024-25 and (iii) 2023-24.

The level 4 breakdown provided in the budget tables is the lowest breakdown currently available as spending plans are still being finalised by policy leads.

However, we can confirm that £320,000 from this budget will be included in the Local Government Finance settlement for sensory impairment in 2026-27. This is consistent with the allocation in 2025-26, 2024-25 and 2023-24.

The Scottish Government’s policy towards local authorities’ spending is to allow local authorities the financial freedom to operate independently. As such, the vast majority of funding is provided by means of a block grant. It is then the responsibility of individual local authorities to manage their own budgets and to allocate the total financial resources available to them, on the basis of local needs and priorities, having first fulfilled their statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities.

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Question reference: S6W-44011

Answer