Chamber and committees

We continue to work with NHS Ayrshire and Arran to reduce pressure across its acute hospitals by improving patient flow and ensuring people access primary and community care services when appropriate, allowing hospitals to focus on emergency and specialist care.

The Scottish Government recognises that Multiple Sclerosis is a lifelong condition which can affect people differently and can progress over time.

Our person-centred approach accounts for fluctuating and progressive conditions. Adult Disability Payment reviews are tailored to people’s circumstances, making sure they receive the appropriate support for their level of need. Existing information is considered, along with any new information gathered at review, to support the right decisions being made first time.

We have also introduced indefinite awards for people with the highest level of needs which are highly unlikely to change. This helps to avoid the stress and anxiety associated with reviews while providing long-term financial security.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00433 on 9 June 2026 which sets out our planned enhancements to the disability benefit review process. 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.

NHS Boards are responsible for the operational management of the walk-in pilot sites. I would advise that you contact them directly for up-to-date information on their staffing positions.

No formal review has been undertaken of the provision of sexual health clinics in rural areas. It is the responsibility of NHS Boards to ensure appropriate provision of services within their region.

As part of the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Action Plan (2023 to 2026), Scottish Government officials carried out a programme of local area visits across all NHS Boards in Scotland. The purpose of these visits was to identify barriers to delivery and opportunities for improvement, including challenges associated with the provision of sexual health services in rural areas.

These visits have now concluded, and the learning and insights gathered will help inform the development of future sexual health policy, including the next Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Action Plan.

Everyone should be able to access the services they need, when and where they need them and that is why we have provided a record £17.6bn to territorial health boards for 2026-27.

Further to this, we are providing an additional £90 million investment in planned care to reduce waiting times. I refer the member to the answers to questions S7W-02165, S7W-02166 and S7W-02170 on 17 August 2026 and S7W-02168 on 20 August 2026.

Our Health and Social Care Service Renewal Framework, as part of our wider Health and Social Care Reform Portfolio, sets out a ten-year strategic vision for reform focused on delivering sustainable health and social care services through prevention, integration, improved access, digital transformation and system redesign.

Following the election, work is underway to review and refresh programme priorities. Our Programme for Government will be put to Parliament in due course.

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 recognises the impact that delays in diagnosis and treatment can have on people with obstructive sleep apnoea, as well as the wider consequences for health services and the economy.

NHS boards are responsible for the planning and delivery of sleep services to meet the needs of their local populations. The Scottish Government is supporting boards through investment to increase NHS capacity and reduce waiting times across services, including diagnostic and treatment pathways.

The 2026-27 Scottish Budget provides a record £22.5 billion for health and social care, alongside an additional £100 million to build on progress made through the Operational Improvement Plan. This investment will support the creation of additional NHS capacity and further reductions in waiting times, particularly for those who have been waiting the longest.

Through this investment and ongoing engagement with NHS boards, we are supporting improvements to referral, diagnostic and treatment pathways, including for patients referred to sleep services, with the aim of reducing waits and improving timely access to assessment and treatment for conditions such as obstructive sleep apnoea.

Scotland’s National Severe Asthma Pathway was launched earlier this year and shared with all NHS Boards. The pathway supports early identification and management of severe asthma across NHS Scotland. It includes primary care use of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) for diagnostics and referral to secondary care. The Centre for Sustainable Delivery are working with Health Boards to support implementation.

The Scottish Government will continue to consider opportunities to engage with relevant stakeholders on developments in respiratory care and diagnostic services.

Responsibility for planning and delivering local respiratory services, including decisions on the provision of diagnostic equipment and testing pathways, rests with individual NHS Boards.

Increasing the availability of FeNO testing would have resource implications, including equipment, workforce and service delivery considerations. Any future funding requirements would need to be considered with NHS Boards and the National Respiratory Programme as part of service planning and implementation of clinical guidance.

While FeNO testing is included within current national clinical guidance, Scottish Government is aware it is not currently embedded routinely across all primary care settings in Scotland. Responsibility for the planning and delivery of primary care services rests with individual NHS Boards and General Practices.

The Scottish Government does not hold centrally collected information on the availability of FeNO testing in primary care settings and is therefore unable to provide the proportion of primary care settings that offer this test.

The Scottish Government is committed to strengthening Scotland’s international presence, in line with commitments set out in the manifesto, with the number of Scotland Houses expanded to over forty by the end of the Parliament.

An expanded Scotland House network will play an important role in attracting investment, supporting jobs and economic growth, and promoting Scottish Government priorities while helping Scottish businesses and key sectors access international opportunities.

Work is underway to develop options for delivery of these commitments, including consideration of future Scotland House locations. Decisions will be announced, and projected costs will be published, in due course.

The Scottish Government know that neurodivergent people, including autistic people face significant structural barriers to employment. We also recognise the valuable contributions that neurodivergent people bring to the workforce and are committed to supporting those individuals to both enter and sustain fulfilling employment.

Employability support in Scotland is delivered through our No One Left Behind approach in partnership with local authorities. This allows Local Employability Partnerships (LEPs) to design and deliver services that meet the needs of their communities and local labour markets. Through this approach, tailored support is available to people of all ages, who are furthest from the labour market, helping them to gain skills and confidence, helping them prepare for employment, training, education, and/or volunteering.

In addition, Specialist Employability Support is also available in all 32 Local Authorities, targeted specifically at disabled people and people with long term health conditions, including those with autism who may benefit from longer-term support. This service also has a particular focus on significant aftercare and in-work support to help people sustain and prosper in employment.

The Scottish Government has also committed to work closely with local authorities and delivery partners to identify and share good practice, strengthen local provision and ensure that employment support is responsive to the needs of neurodivergent people and disabled people across Scotland.

This includes developing a stepped care model for neurodevelopmental services and is working with NHS Boards, clinicians, people with lived experience and third sector partners to support its implementation. The model aims to provide earlier access to advice, support and interventions, while ensuring that specialist assessment services are available for those who require them.

Through these measures, we are helping to ensure that autistic people can access timely, person-centred support and clear pathways towards fair and sustainable employment.