Chamber and committees

We recognise that diabetic foot screening is a proven way to determine the chance of an individual with diabetes has of developing a future foot ulcer that may lead to amputation. Foot screening is also one of the key processes for good diabetes care.

Clinical guidance recommends that people who are deemed to be at low risk from diabetic foot complications are reviewed every two years whereas those who are deemed to be at medium or high risk should be referred immediately to podiatry services for assessment. Our expectation is that clinicians and GPs consult all relevant clinical guidelines when assessing someone with diabetes and refer for most appropriate treatment.

The Scottish Government remains intensely focussed on reducing waiting times. In 2025-26, we allocated more than £150 million additional funding to health boards to help tackle the longest waits for planned care. This funding delivered thousands more appointments, operations and procedures in 2025-26 compared to 2024-25. We are working with Health Boards to support the continuation of this progress in 2026-27.

The wellbeing of our health and social care professionals, including nurses, is vitally important to this government, and is fundamental to ensuring they can deliver high-quality, compassionate care to individuals and communities.

Scottish Government continues to engage with NHS boards, professional bodies and wider stakeholders on issues affecting the health and wellbeing of the nursing workforce, including burnout, stress and retention.

Following publication of the Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce (NMT) recommended actions in February 2025, the Scottish Government are working with health and social care staff, staff-side organisations, health boards and higher education institutions to deliver lasting positive change for our nurses in Scotland.

There are 44 recommended actions to deliver, with consistent and widespread consistent engagement across health and social care to support their delivery. This collective effort is focused on improving retention of our nurses and welcoming more people into this rewarding profession.

We recognise that throughout their career, employees, including nurses, will face differing demands on their time and energies at home as well as at work. That is why we developed the national Supporting Work Life Balance workforce policies. These are designed to provide staff with a range of flexible working options, to help them to balance their daily life, whilst maintaining and promoting the best possible service to our patients and service users.

Trading standards officers are appointed by local authorities in order to deliver their statutory obligations. Scottish Government does not centrally record workforce data.

Whilst it is up to each local authority to manage its own day-to-day business, including decisions in relation to the delivery of statutory services locally, the Scottish Government has a strategic interest in the effective delivery of trading standards services across Scotland.

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting local government to meet their statutory obligations in relation to trading standards. Scottish Ministers have asked Consumer Scotland to develop recommendations that will inform the Scottish Government’s approach to supporting local authorities to deliver effective, well resourced, services.

The Scottish Government has commissioned Healthcare Improvement Scotland to undertake an independent scalability assessment of our Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Service Pilots. This project will explore what our options are to expand access to non-specific symptom pathways for cancer in the most efficient and effective way, ensuring we reach population level coverage.

This initial phase of work is due to be complete by Spring 2027 after which point the we will work with Healthcare Improvement Scotland, the Centre for Sustainability and NHS Boards to develop an appropriate plan for service expansion.

Ministers are in the very early stages of considering how to take forward this commitment and cost estimates will be developed in due course.

We engage in regular discussions with the Scottish FA and SPFL about the need to tackle issues of disorder in football stadia.

In terms on the cost to Glasgow City Council of the clean up operation, that is a matter for them to discuss with the club.

The valuation of all non-domestic property is a matter for the Scottish Assessors who are independent of central and local government and are accountable to the courts. Proposals (the first stage of the appeals system) against revaluation can be lodged with the Assessor until 31 July 2026 or four months after the valuation notice has been received, whichever is later. Proposals can then be appealed in given circumstances and timescales to the Scottish Tribunals.

We remain committed to the delivery of a 24-7 thrombectomy service and Public Services Delivery Scotland are currently working with NHS Boards to fully establish the resources required to deliver this. Once this is established, we will work at pace to develop a delivery plan and timescales for service expansion.

The Scottish Government keeps emerging national and international evidence under review, including work from bodies such as UNESCO and the OECD, to understand how digital tools can support learning, wellbeing and positive educational outcomes. This research highlights both the opportunities offered by well-designed digital approaches and the importance of ensuring device use is purposeful and balanced. The Scottish Government will continue to consider international research and good practice.

The Scottish Government has committed to respond directly to the concerns of rural and island communities which includes the review and refreshment of existing financial incentives available to the sector, such as Golden Hello payments, to better support patient access in rural and island areas. This work is currently underway and we hope to have revised arrangements in place later in this financial year.