Chamber and committees

Details of defence programme contractual arrangements, including associated jobs, are a matter for individual companies. Information on contracts awarded through the UK Government Ministry of Defence are published and publicly available.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring public bodies deliver services that are high-quality, provide best value and contribute to economic growth.

The Scottish Government has not exercised a statutory power of direction in respect of NatureScot, SEPA, or Creative Scotland in the past decade. A directive was given to the SQA in 2020 in regards to how exam appeals should be handled during the pandemic.

Ministers retain oversight of these bodies and provide strategic direction, but the use of statutory powers of direction would be for the most exceptional circumstances.

Scottish Government engage regularly with the National Shipbuilding Office on matters including proposed procurement exercises, and we are aware that Damen have been awarded work to deliver tug vessels for the Royal Navy under a contract won by Serco. The delivery of these vessels is a matter for Serco, in partnership with Damen. In line with our national policy and legislation, the Scottish Government will continue to seek opportunities to achieve economic, social and environmental benefits in Scotland through our procurement activity.

The City of Edinburgh Council has published detailed information on the implementation of its visitor levy scheme, including the treatment of advance bookings. The Council has committed to providing further practical guidance and support to accommodation providers, including a payment platform and training from March 2026. The Scottish Government continues to engage with the Council and the wider sector to support effective implementation.

We continue to consider the findings of Sarcoma UK’s recent report and recognise the recommendations made within it.

We are working to improve access to timely and accurate diagnosis and on improving referral pathways to specialist care. We published the Scottish Referral Guidelines for Sarcoma on 6 August. These support primary care clinicians to identify those with symptoms suspicious of Sarcoma and identify those who require urgent assessment by a specialist.

Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Services are a useful addition to how cancer can be diagnosed in Scotland. They provide primary care with access to a new fast-track diagnostic pathway for people with non-specific symptoms suspicious of cancer, such as weight loss and fatigue, important for those with Sarcoma. We introduced another RCDS this year, situated in NHS Forth Valley.

We are investing in research and clinical trials. The Chief Scientist Office (CSO) directly funds research projects and fellowships. All funding decisions are made based on an independent expert review process and we welcome applications for sarcoma-specific research.

The CSO also provides funding for NHS Research Scotland (NRS) whose role is to facilitate and develop the capacity of the NHS to support clinical research.

The Scottish Government is further committed to supporting patients to deal with the financial, emotional, and physical health effects of cancer.

We are currently working in partnership with Macmillan to improve the service we offer patients with cancer through the Transforming Cancer Care Programme (TCC).

This joint partnership with Macmillan is worth £27 million and is the first of its kind in the UK. The programme ensures that people affected by cancer in Scotland have access to a specialist key support worker, who can provide financial advice and emotional and practical support.

All cancers, including Sarcoma, remain a priority for the Scottish Government and wider NHS Scotland.

The Scottish Government published our Cancer strategy 2023 to 2033 - gov.scot along with an initial three year Cancer action plan 2023 to 2026 - gov.scot in June 2023.

Our strategic aim is to improve cancer survival and provide excellent, equitably accessible care. The strategy and plan take a comprehensive approach to improving patient pathways from prevention and diagnosis through to treatment and post-treatment care and will focus on reducing inequities in access to cancer care and cancer outcomes. This means treatment and care will be equally good for everyone, including for those with Sarcoma and we are taking action to achieve this.

For example, on 6 August we published the clinically reviewed Scottish Referral Guidelines for Sarcoma to help ensure the right person is on the right pathway at the right time. These guidelines support primary care clinicians to identify those with symptoms suspicious of Sarcoma and identify those who require urgent assessment by a specialist.

We do not expect to conduct a specific review for sarcoma care and treatment at this time.

Following announcement of the additional £40m in targeted voids and acquisitions in my statement to Parliament on 2 September, the 2025-26 budget for AHSP is £807.745m and represents an increase of £251.883m when compared to the original published 2024-25 budget of £555.862m. The 2025–26 budget not only restores but exceeds the 2023–24 budget.

 In Scotland, we have built a radically different system to change the way disability benefits are delivered. We ensure that the impact of fluctuating health conditions like PMDD have on people’s lives are fully taken into account when someone applies for a social security benefit.

For example, we have removed anxiety inducing and unreliable private-sector assessments which only offer a snapshot of an individual’s needs and fail people with fluctuating conditions like PMDD. Our person-centred approach ensures that the full impacts of a long-term health condition, including the impacts of pain and fatigue, are taken into consideration during the decision-making process.

The Sottish Government is committed to protecting and enhancing the social security system. We therefore welcome this comprehensive report and will carefully consider its findings alongside the Independent Review of Adult Disability Payment, which Scottish Ministers are committed to responding to by January 2026.

We know that cancer, and its treatments, can have a significant impact on an individual’s physical health. Scottish Government recognises the impact that a cancer diagnosis can also have on individuals financially and emotionally and is committed to supporting them.

People with cancer can apply for financial support through Social Security Scotland, including for Disability Living Allowance.

Further to this, we are currently working in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support to improve the service we offer patients with cancer through the Transforming Cancer Care Programme (TCC). This partnership programme is worth £27 million and ensures that people affected by cancer in Scotland have access to a specialist key support worker, who can provide financial advice and emotional and practical support.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of clear public communication and is working with VisitScotland and other partners to develop guidance and support materials. It is primarily for local authorities to make visitors aware of any levy in operation in its area, given these can vary by local authority. Businesses must also make clear that any visitor levy is included in the total price paid by the guest or that it is liable to be paid directly to the accommodation.