Chamber and committees

£17 million was allocated in the 2026-27 Scottish Budget to support the development of thrombectomy services.

The Scottish Government has approved funding for the procurement of an artificial intelligence solution to support the expansion of thrombectomy services.

The Scottish Government does not currently plan to provide regular updates to Parliament on progress towards delivery of a 24/7 thrombectomy service. However, significant developments will be communicated through the usual parliamentary and public reporting arrangements.

The Scottish Government's ambition is that, subject to clinical eligibility, patients will be able to receive thrombectomy procedure at a hub hospital, regardless of their geographical location at the time they suffer a stroke.

The Scottish Government has not conducted a specific assessment of additional clinical workforce required to provide a national 24/7 thrombectomy service.

We will work with Public Health Scotland to develop appropriate targets and performance indicators to support service planning, performance monitoring and continuous improvement. These measures will be incorporated into the Scottish Stroke Care Audit.

The Scottish Government recognises the seasonal dangers and damage associated with disposal barbeques.

I welcome the steps the UK Government took to temporarily restrict the sale of disposable barbeques across the England, Scotland and Wales given the risks they can pose to the environment, local communities and agricultural land, particularly during periods of warm and dry weather when the risk of wildfire is heightened.

I believe there needs to be consideration of this issue on a more permanent basis when there is a high risk of wildfires and a more permanent approach would provide greater protection for communities and the environment. This is therefore an issue I will look to raise with the UK Government in early course.

In Scotland, local authorities have powers to ban the use of disposable barbeques within relevant spaces. Whilst it is for Scottish Ministers to approve byelaws proposed by local authorities, it is a matter for each council to decide how to manage its day-to-day business, including whether there is a need to introduce byelaws within their local areas to implement a ban on the use of barbeques at times of high risk.

This includes new wildfire prevention byelaws that came into effect in the Cairngorms National Park. This means that fires and barbecues are banned in public places within the National Park between 1 April and 30 September every year unless there is a lawful authority to do so.

Thrombectomy services are delivered on a regional basis through three hub centres serving the North, East and West of Scotland.

The progressive rates and bands for residential Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) and the first time buyer relief that increases the nil rate band to £175,000 are intended to support first-time buyers in Scotland.

The Scottish Government has no current plans to review LBTT for the purpose of enhancing the benefits available through the First Homes Fund. However the Scottish Government keeps all taxes under review as part of the annual Budget process and wider tax policy development.

Work to publish the delivery plan for 24/7 thrombectomy, as committed to in the Programme for Government, will begin after Public Services Delivery Scotland(PSDS)have obtained the necessary clinical, planning, financial and workforce information from NHS Boards. This work will help establish what is required to make 24/7 thrombectomy available across Scotland.