Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government recognises the challenges in diagnosing rare cancers, such as cholangiocarcinoma, often due to the presentation of vague, non-specific symptoms. We are committed to improving early detection as we know that the sooner cancer is detected and diagnosed, the better the outcomes are for the individual.

Through our Cancer Strategy for Scotland 2023-2033 and initial three year Cancer Action Plan for Scotland 2023 – 2026 published in June 2023, a new Earlier Cancer Diagnosis Vision was developed. This vision aims to reduce later stage disease by 18 percentage points in 10 years’ time, with a focus on reducing the health inequalities gap.

We are improving earlier diagnosis through our Get Checked Early and NHS Inform websites, which encourage individuals to contact their General Practice for early detection and referrals.

We are taking action to support Primary Care to ensure that patients are on the right pathways at the right time. In August 2025, we published the updated Scottish Referral Guidelines for Urgent Suspicion of Cancer. For the first time, the guidelines include criteria for non-specific symptoms, especially important for rare cancers like cholangiocarcinoma, where early signs and symptoms can be easily missed.

We also launched Scotland’s sixth Rapid Cancer Diagnosis Service this year. These services are ruling cancer in or out faster for those with non-specific symptoms.

Gateway C, a new free online primary care cancer education platform, launched in April 2024, further provides tailored information to support earlier cancer diagnosis and enable effective decision-making. This is accessible to all primary care clinicians and includes information about liver cancers.

We also understand the importance of expanded genomic testing for people with cholangiocarcinoma and its direct impact on their care and access to life-saving precision medicines. There is a wider programme of laboratory transformation and investment planning underway to support a sustainable expansion of genomic testing, as part of our long-term approach to deliver bold and ambitious action to reform and renew our health and care systems in Scotland.

Recognising the importance of genomic testing for cholangiocarcinoma patients and their families, we have asked NHS National Services Division to bring this testing into service ahead of the wider reform programme. Implementation planning is now progressing rapidly within the service.

We have also commissioned the Scottish Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Network to develop nationally standardised pathways for HPB cancers. This will include consideration of the distinct clinical management needed for a range of tumour subtypes, including cholangiocarcinoma, to ensure a person-centred approach to treatment and care.

The Scottish Government has engaged with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Association of British Credit Unions Limited (ABCUL) to understand the implications of the withdrawal and the support being provided to current policyholders. We will continue to work with stakeholders to ensure that those affected receive clear information about their options.

The estimated economic inactivity rate for people aged 16 to 64 in Scotland was 22.7% in June to August 2025. This was lower than the estimated economic inactivity rates for Northern Ireland (26.9%) and Wales (25.0%), but higher than the estimated rate for England (20.5%). ONS publish OECD economic inactivity rate statistics covering the 38 OECD countries. The most recent data were published on 14 October 2025, covering the period to Q2 2025 (April – June).

The estimated economic inactivity rate for Scotland in April – June 2025 was 21.9%. Comparison with ONS’s published international data suggests that Scotland’s economic inactivity rate in Q2 2025 was lower than the estimated OECD average rate (25.9%).

The Scottish Government is aware of the decision by Maiden Life, to withdraw the Family Protection Plan, which is a commercial matter for the insurer and its broker, CMutual. We have engaged with the Financial Conduct Authority and the Association of British Credit Unions Limited (ABCUL) to understand the implications of the withdrawal and the support being provided to current policyholders. We will continue to work with stakeholders to ensure that those affected receive clear information about their options.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41542 on 11 November 2025.

Status of major projects at outline business case stage or later – including NTC Forth Valley – is published on a 6-monthly basis in the Scottish Government’s major capital projects progress update. This is published on the Scottish Government’s website: Infrastructure Investment Plan: progress reports - gov.scot

As set out in the latest update (August 2025), the new ward continues to be delayed and an opening date is not yet confirmed for that ward. Work to agree a route to completion is ongoing. However, existing theatres (previously unused) have already been commissioned and in a phased opening, the National Treatment Centre began treating patients in October 2024.

There is an ongoing dispute with the contractor over final works required to bring the facility into appropriate condition for operational service. The final costs remain a point of negotiation and have not been finalised.

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 requires Local Authorities to estimate future housing need and demand in a report called the Housing Need and Demand Assessment (HNDA). This includes the use of National Records of Scotland (NRS) household projections and the Scottish Government also provides authorities with an Excel-based model, called the HNDA Tool, to help them do this.

The HNDA Tool includes the household projections, as well as several other data inputs, and is available on the Scottish Government website Housing Need and Demand Assessment (HNDA): tool 2020 - gov.scot. The household projections take account of assumptions about migration into and out of Scotland.

Local Authorities also have the option to detail the housing needs of Asylum Seekers and Refugees in their HNDAs. HNDAs are completed by all Local Authorities every five years and they are used as an evidence-base to formulate local housing policies within their Local Housing Strategy (LHS) reports.

The Scottish Government does not collect information on the immigration status of those applying to local authorities in Scotland for homelessness support.

The eligibility status for main applicants is collected, although this is not the same as immigration status.

The following table shows how many people associated with homelessness applications in Glasgow were in a temporary accommodation placement at any point between January and March 2025, broken down by eligibility status of main applicant.

Execution of warrants is a matter for Police Scotland, who remain focused on the investigation of crime and keeping our communities safe. The service has been clear that they prioritise all arrest warrants according to threat, risk and harm, deploying national specialist resources and intelligence techniques to locate and apprehend those who pose the greatest risk to communities.

The Scottish Government is investing a record £1.64 billion for policing this year, and our continued investment enabled Police Scotland to take on more recruits in the last financial year than at any time since 2013, including an intake this month. Scotland continues to have more police officers per capita than England and Wales and recorded crime has fallen by more than half since 1991.

The figures recently reported in the media stem from a Freedom of Information request made to Police Scotland and relate to a single day snapshot of the situation as of 3 September 2025.

The Scottish Government Trade & Investment (T&I) Envoy for Space was appointed in September 2024 to play a key role in promoting Scotland’s space sector internationally. Activity undertaken by the envoy is agreed with the Scottish Government, and has helped build strategic relationships, attract inward investment, identify commercial opportunities and represent Scotland in key global space forums. The approach of appointing a sector-dedicated envoy was recently endorsed by the Director General of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs who stated to the House of Lords UK Engagement with Space Committee that “The UK’s position is also boosted by Scotland, which nominated a trade envoy for space by the Minister for Business and is really promoting the Scottish space industry and encouraging partnerships.”

The Space Envoy operates within the Scottish Government’s wider T&I Envoy network made up of appointees who work on a volunteer basis to provide Ministers with strategic business insights and connections. While there is no formal measure of the value of new business secured as a direct result of T&I Envoys’ actions, the network brings together sectoral expertise to support exports, inward investment and strategic economic growth. Envoys provide valuable business intelligence, introductions and advocacy, and have been instrumental in delivering Scotland’s Inward Investment Plan and export plan, A Trading Nation.

With regards to which stakeholders were invited to the Wildfire Summit held on 14 October 2025, I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41157 on 6 November 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 did not keep a register of those that attended the Wildfire Summit.