- Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 03 August 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 21 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings from SEPA’s expanded per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) monitoring programme, which detected PFAS at almost 90% of monitored surface water sites and around 60% of monitored groundwater sites, whether PFAS monitoring, source protection measures and treatment requirements will be explicitly provided for in its investment objectives for Scottish Water under the Strategic Review of Charges 2027 (SR27) to ensure that PFAS levels do not contravene environmental standards.
Answer
The draft Ministerial Objectives for Scottish Water for 2027-33 were published in January 2026 as part of the Strategic Review of Charges process. The Objectives set strategic investment priorities, outcomes and expectations for Scottish Water. They do not make explicit provision for individual pollutants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), nor do they prescribe specific monitoring, source protection or treatment measures.(Water services - investing in and paying from 2027: consultation - gov.scot)
However, Scottish Water already undertakes monitoring and assessment activity in relation to PFAS. This includes a nationwide risk-based sampling programme and participation in collaborative initiatives such as the water industry’s Chemical Investigations Programme and the One Health Breakthrough Partnership. These initiatives are helping to improve understanding of PFAS sources, occurrence and behaviour in wastewater systems and the wider environment. Evidence from this work, alongside emerging scientific evidence and any future statutory or regulatory requirements, will inform consideration of any future investment measures that may be required in relation to PFAS.
SEPA's recent report presents findings from an initial scoping study on PFAS in Scotland's water environment. SEPA has indicated that it will expand its monitoring programme to strengthen the evidence base around PFAS sources, concentrations and environmental pathways.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 August 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 21 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Clyde Cod Targeted Science Programme, for what reason a memorandum of understanding was entered into that allows one stakeholder, the Clyde Fishermen's Association, to formalise a preference regarding the marine scientists appointed to the programme.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-02285 on 21 August 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.
- Asked by: Adam Harley, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 03 August 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Kirsten Oswald on 21 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will increase the support it provides to local authorities and Police Scotland to help address increased reports of antisocial behaviour and better support local communities, in light of the duty under section 1 of the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004, which requires local authorities and the chief constable to maintain a strategy for dealing with antisocial behaviour in their area.
Answer
The 2026 – 27 Scottish Budget provides a further real-terms increase in funding for both the Local Government Settlement and Police Scotland.
The Scottish Government’s policy towards local authorities’ spending is to allow local authorities the financial freedom to operate independently and the vast majority of funding is provided by means of a block grant. It is then the responsibility of individual local authorities to manage their own budgets, and to allocate the total financial resources available to them on the basis of local needs and priorities. This includes decisions on how they and police resource the antisocial behaviour strategies which they are required, by law, to have for their respective areas.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 August 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 21 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Clyde Cod Targeted Science Programme Working Group, what issues were discussed and recorded in the minutes at the inception meeting held before the end of February 2026, as referred to in the memorandum of understanding.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-02285 on 21 August 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.
- Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 03 August 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 21 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), what action SEPA will take at the locations where elevated concentrations have been identified, whether the planned expansion of monitoring from around 300 to 500 samples in 2026 is fully funded, and when it anticipates that environmental standards will be reviewed in light of developing evidence in the UK and EU.
Answer
SEPA has committed to increasing the number of samples of PFAS collected in 2026 to 500 which is fully funded through SEPA’s existing Grant in Aid arrangements. SEPA has stated that outcomes from its 2025 Water Quality Monitoring Report will be used to inform this extended programme of monitoring and investigation where necessary at specific sites.
The Scottish Government is currently reviewing the changes that the EU recently made to its list of Priority Substances for the Water Framework Directive, which includes the introduction of an environmental quality standard for 25 PFAS.
- Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 30 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 21 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the minimum standards set for the operating life of hearing aid batteries within the current national hearing aid battery contract, and how compliance with those standards is monitored.
Answer
These questions relate to the procurement, specification, quality assurance, performance monitoring and contract management of hearing aid batteries supplied through National Procurement arrangements. This is a matter for Public Services Delivery Scotland (PSDS) and NHS Boards and the information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.
Prior to 1 April 2026, these functions were undertaken by National Services Scotland and now sit within PSDS. While the Scottish Government sponsors PSDS and provides strategic oversight, operational responsibility for procurement and contract management rests with PSDS, while the delivery of audiology services is a matter for NHS Boards.
PSDS has advised that NHS Boards may raise supplier or product performance concerns through National Procurement's complaints process where products supplied under the framework do not meet the required standards. PSDS has also advised that it holds no record of a formal complaint relating to hearing aid battery performance under the current framework agreement that has resulted in contractual remedies being exercised since the commencement of the contract.
- Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 03 August 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 21 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings from SEPA’s expanded per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) monitoring programme, the EU’s increased protections and the UK Government’s plans to consult in 2026 on the introduction of a statutory limit covering a wider list of PFAS compounds in England’s public supply regulations, whether it will review the current drinking water standard, which is based on the sum of 20 named PFAS compounds.
Answer
SEPA’s findings relate to the presence of PFAS in the wider water environment rather than compliance with drinking water standards, and no detections exceeded applicable environmental or groundwater standards. Similarly, the recent EU measures referenced concern environmental and groundwater standards rather than changes to drinking water standards. While the UK Government has committed to consulting on the introduction of a statutory limit for PFAS in public drinking water supplies in England, it has not yet published proposed limits or compounds that may be covered.
Scotland’s drinking water standards are set out in regulations, most recently updated in 2022 to establish statutory limits for PFAS and implement the EU Directive 2020/2184, and are kept under review in light of emerging evidence. Separately from the prescribed standard, regulation 5(2) of the Public Water Supplies (Scotland) Regulations 2014 requires Scottish Water to monitor any substance it has reason to suspect may be present at a concentration constituting a potential danger to human health. This duty extends to PFAS compounds beyond the 20 named in the standard.
The Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland (DWQR) issued an Information Letter to Scottish Water’s Chief Executive in December 2022, setting out how it expects that duty to be discharged in relation to PFAS, including risk assessment of supplies and monitoring where a risk is identified. The framework it sets out applies to any PFAS compound detected in water supplied to consumers, irrespective of whether it falls within the 20 named in the standard. A copy of the Information Letter is published on the DWQR website. (Information Letter 1/2022 – DWQR.scot)
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 31 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 21 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment eligibility rules for people who reach State Pension age after the qualifying week in September but before the end of the winter period, and what assessment it has made of the impact of the current arrangements on such people.
Answer
At present, there are no plans to review the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (PAWHP) eligibility rules. The delivery of PAWHP relies on data received annually from the Department for Work and Pensions and Ministry of Defence. The qualifying week is set out in regulations and supports the efficient delivery of automatic payments by ensuring eligible individuals can be identified ahead of winter period.
People who reach State Pension age after the qualifying week are not entitled to PAWHP for that winter and will become eligible from the following year. We recognise that the increase in State Pension age means some people will not reach pensionable age by the end of the qualifying week and therefore not qualify for a payment that year.
- Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Date lodged: Thursday, 30 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 21 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Tayside regarding the quality and lifespan of hearing aid batteries currently being distributed, in light of reported concerns raised by patients and audiology staff.
Answer
These questions relate to the procurement, specification, quality assurance, performance monitoring and contract management of hearing aid batteries supplied through National Procurement arrangements. This is a matter for Public Services Delivery Scotland (PSDS) and NHS Boards and the information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.
Prior to 1 April 2026, these functions were undertaken by National Services Scotland and now sit within PSDS. While the Scottish Government sponsors PSDS and provides strategic oversight, operational responsibility for procurement and contract management rests with PSDS, while the delivery of audiology services is a matter for NHS Boards.
PSDS has advised that NHS Boards may raise supplier or product performance concerns through National Procurement's complaints process where products supplied under the framework do not meet the required standards. PSDS has also advised that it holds no record of a formal complaint relating to hearing aid battery performance under the current framework agreement that has resulted in contractual remedies being exercised since the commencement of the contract.
- Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 30 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 21 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact that hearing aid batteries with a shorter-than-expected operating life may have on patient care.
Answer
These questions relate to the procurement, specification, quality assurance, performance monitoring and contract management of hearing aid batteries supplied through National Procurement arrangements. This is a matter for Public Services Delivery Scotland (PSDS) and NHS Boards and the information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.
Prior to 1 April 2026, these functions were undertaken by National Services Scotland and now sit within PSDS. While the Scottish Government sponsors PSDS and provides strategic oversight, operational responsibility for procurement and contract management rests with PSDS, while the delivery of audiology services is a matter for NHS Boards.
PSDS has advised that NHS Boards may raise supplier or product performance concerns through National Procurement's complaints process where products supplied under the framework do not meet the required standards. PSDS has also advised that it holds no record of a formal complaint relating to hearing aid battery performance under the current framework agreement that has resulted in contractual remedies being exercised since the commencement of the contract.
