Achieving 24/7 access to thrombectomy across Scotland is a complex piece of work, requiring co-ordination of resources across all NHS Boards. While the Scottish Government cannot currently provide a target date for establishing a 24/7 thrombectomy service, NHS National Services Directorate have established a Task and Finish Group with the goal of producing a list of options for the timely expansion of thrombectomy services across Scotland.

The group met most recently on 4 December 2025, and is making positive progress towards delivering recommendations for expanding the thrombectomy service.

The First Minister’s proposal for a bank holiday to follow Scotland’s opening game at the men’s FIFA World Cup will create an opportunity for the country to come together and share this landmark occasion.

We would encourage employers, including NHS Boards, to be as flexible as possible to ensure their staff have the opportunity to celebrate the team's success.

The preferred source for data on business deaths is the annual Office for National Statistics (ONS) Business Demography series, the latest edition is available at: Business demography, UK - Office for National Statistics. Business deaths are a proxy for the number of businesses closed down. Business deaths are measured as businesses removed from the Inter-Departmental Business Register (IDBR), which is a database of all businesses registered for Value-Added-Tax (VAT) and/or Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) income tax. A business is removed from the IDBR if its turnover and employment are zero for several periods, or if the ONS is notified that the business has ceased trading through an administrative or survey source. Business deaths data for Inverclyde are provided in Table 1.

Table 1: Business Deaths, Inverclyde, 2020 to 2024

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

Regime restrictions can be applied by a Governor-in-Charge in order to maintain a safe and secure environment for those who live and work in our prisons. These are only ever used as a short-term response to establishment specific pressures. Due to the high prison population we are currently experiencing, we are having to implement local regime restrictions in restricted cases.

SPS recognise the impact that a regime restriction can have on those in our care, and that is why any restrictions are only applied by decision of the Governors in Charge and for as short a period as possible. Due to their often-spontaneous nature and short-term period of application, SPS do not routinely formally record their frequency, length or reason.

I can confirm that there has been no permanent removal of any scheduled activity and that all restrictions remain compliant with the Prison and Young Offenders Rules (Scotland) 2011.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on how much money recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 specifically originated from cryptocurrency or digital assets.

Employment and industrial relations are matters reserved to the UK Government and therefore the Scottish Government cannot mandate that employers engage with trade unions. The Scottish Government fully expects employers to maintain workplaces that are safe for workers in line with health and safety legislation, but cannot direct them in respect of these reserved matters. The Scottish Government promotes strong, constructive relationships between employers and trade unions, particularly where they are recognised, or where it is clear workers are seeking this collective representation.

With the exception of the Scottish Government’s statutory consenting function, issues relating to the design and operation of the electricity networks, including the process to obtain a grid connection, are reserved matters.

POCA receipts in Scotland are primarily used to fund the CashBack for Communities, which has been delivered successfully in each of its six phases so far. These funds are drawn from the overall level of POCA receipts rather than from any specific category of recovered asset.

In 2024-25, 15,077 young people at risk of becoming involved in anti-social and criminal behaviour were supported to take part in projects that promote safe spaces, trusted adults and a range of positive diversionary and support activities.

Phase 7 of CashBack for Communities will run from April 2026 to March 2029 and will be supported by a record budget of up to £26 million – an increase of £6 million from the previous phase. CashBack for Communities will continue to be funded entirely from POCA receipts.

The Scottish Government expects that the independent Sentencing and Penal Policy Commission’s full report and recommendations will be published by the end of February 2026.

The Scottish Government will carefully consider the recommendations made, and following publication, a Scottish Government response on key recommendations and planned actions will be provided.

The Scottish Government fully expects employers to maintain workplaces that are safe for workers in line with health and safety legislation, but cannot direct them in respect of these reserved matters. The Scottish Government promotes strong, constructive relationships between employers and trade unions, particularly where they are recognised, or where it is clear workers are seeking this collective representation.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42856 on 21 January 2026. 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.