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.

Through Scotland’s Rare Disease Action Plan, we are taking forward actions to improve support for people with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD). This includes work to improve healthcare professionals’ education and awareness. The Rare Disease Action Plan Progress Report, published on 27 February 2026, provides an update on progress to date.

Management of the progress of criminal cases is an independent matter for Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service and the judiciary. In individual cases, effective judicial management of the progress of a criminal case is an important element of the role of the judiciary. Where trial dates are sought to be moved by either the prosecution or the defence, the judiciary will consider carefully whether a move of date is in the interests of justice. The length of time a case waited for trial and the number of times a trial may have been moved back are relevant factors the judiciary will consider in any request to move a trial date. The judiciary must ensure the overall fairness of a trial when making decisions about moving trial dates and the Scottish Government has no direct role in such decisions.

Maree Todd: The Scottish Government published data on alcohol, tobacco and vape use among young people under the age of 18 in 2023 through the Health and Wellbeing Census 2021-22 and this can be found at:https://www.gov.scot/publications/health-and-wellbeing-census-scotland-2021-22/.

Since 2024, the Scottish Government has also funded an annual boost to the Scottish sample in the ASH Smokefree GB Youth Survey to support understanding of young people’s behaviours and attitudes towards smoking, vaping and other nicotine products. The latest report was published in August 2026 and can be found at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/vaping-smoking-scottish-adolescents-results-ash-smokefree-gb-youth-survey-2026/pages/3/. The next wave of data collection is expected to take place in March 2027.

Separately Public Health Scotland commissions the 4-yearly Health Behaviours in School Age Children (HBSC) survey. The survey covers alcohol, tobacco and vape use among 11, 13 and 15-year-olds in Scotland. The latest published report, from 2022, can be found at:https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/healthwellbeing/research/mentalhealth/projects/healthbehaviourinschool-agedchildrenhbscscotlandstudy/. The next report, based on 2026 data, is expected to be published in 2027. The study has also produced a dedicated report on trends in young people’s substance use in Scotland, which can be found at:https://www.gla.ac.uk/media/Media_1070957_smxx.pdf.

Every effort is made to ensure that young people and staff in schools are not over-burdened by research. This is achieved through a combination of national level surveys and locally driven data collection. There are no current plans to commission any additional data collection on these topics.

Decisions on the scheduling of individual criminal cases are a matter for the independent Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service. It is important that delays in the criminal justice system are minimised insofar as possible and statutory time limits exist to prevent unnecessary delays in criminal cases coming to trial and help the judiciary to effectively manage the progress of cases. This is particularly important in trials for offences of rape, serious sexual assault and domestic abuse where delays can impact on complainers.

Different time limits apply depending on whether an accused is in custody or in the community and prioritise cases where an accused person has been remanded in custody prior to trial, recognising the particularly importance of minimising the length of time which an accused person who has not been convicted of a criminal offence spends in custody prior to their trial.

Section 65(1) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 (the 1995 Act) provides that in any case where an indictment has been served on a person, the trial must commence within 12 months. A stricter time limit applies where the accused has been remanded in custody prior to trial. Section 65(4) of the 1995 Act provides that where an accused has been remanded in custody prior to trial, the trial must commence within 140 days failing which the accused shall be released on bail. These time limits can all be extended by the court on a case-by-case basis. These time-limits apply to all cases and are not specific to rape or sexual offence cases.

The Scottish Government continues to support reforms across our justice services – responding to society’s changing needs, removing duplication and ensuring there are modern user-centred digital services which deliver best value for money and fully support all users of the justice system, including expanding digital evidence sharing capability and enabling police and expert witnesses to give their evidence remotely.

The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) is an independent, judicially led, public body, chaired by the Lord President. The scheduling and delivery of programmes, including database integration, are operational matters for the SCTS Board and the Scottish Prison Service.

Scottish Ministers welcomed the Competition and Market Authority's 2024 house building market study and considered its recommendations.

Scottish Government welcomes the UK Government’s commitment to the impact economy. The PfG published earlier this month announced the development of a new Social Economy Strategy, enabling the future development of social enterprises and other forms of socially oriented business models. This work will be led by the Scottish Government's Economy Directorate, demonstrating Scottish Governments commitment to the social economy being at the heart of our wider economic growth. In developing the new social economy strategy Scottish Government will ensure that their is alignment with the Third Sector Partnership Agreement that is being progressed within SG communities.

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Cost of Living Crisis resulted in the planned actions from the Tenement Condition: Workplan for 2021 not being completed.

However, we have since progressed recommendations of the Scottish Parliament Working Group on tenement maintenance by instructing the Scottish Law Commission (SLC) to undertake a law reform project on mandatory owners associations for tenement properties.

Officials are now undertaking further scoping work following receipt of the SLC report and recommendations and other relevant information on the current arrangements to common repairs in tenements in Scotland.

Recipients of public funding associated with delivery of the Life Sciences Strategy for Scotland 2035 Vision are not required to demonstrate consideration of the 3Rs principles solely as a condition of that funding. The Strategy is intended to support growth, innovation and competitiveness across the life sciences sector. Any requirements relating to animal use in scientific procedures are governed separately under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.