Chamber and committees

To ensure capital funding is targeted effectively, we are working with all health boards to develop a whole-system NHS infrastructure plan for Scotland, which will inform future investment priorities.

As part of this, we are taking forward a primary care infrastructure investment strategy, as set out in the Infrastructure Delivery Pipeline published on 13 January 2026. An initial tranche of 12 priority areas has been identified, based on health needs, population demographics and the condition of the existing estate, with work on three projects commencing immediately. This programme includes the development of a sustainable revenue funding model to support further investment in primary and community care infrastructure, including a network of local care and wellbeing centres across Scotland. To accelerate delivery, business case development and the revenue model will be progressed in parallel.

On current assumptions, construction is expected to begin from around 2031.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00442 on 5 June 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00174 on 5 June 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

The £144m East Kilbride Enhancement Project electrified 22.4km of railway line and saw the relocation of Hairmyres station. Brand new, fully accessible stations were built at both East Kilbride and Hairmyres, including a transport interchange at Hairmyres. This work was completed in December 2025.

There are no current plans for improvements to the station at Thorntonhall, the station has step free access to the platforms and offers a waiting area for passengers.

The Clydebridge Steelworks site has been non-operational since 2022. At the meeting of the Public Audit Committee on 25 February 2026 Jeffrey Kabel, Chief Transformation Officer at the Liberty Steel Group, advised that options were being explored for the future of the site and that the business had been engaging with Scottish Enterprise. Mr Kabel further stated that they were close to a significant development project for the site and that this would probably involve selling the site.

Local authorities and Registered Social Landlords can already access funding of up to £25 million through the Rural Affordable Homes for Key Workers Fund to acquire or lease properties which can be used to provide homes to meet the needs of key workers. The Fund was launched in April 2023 and will run from 2023-24 to 2027-28. Information to assist local authorities and RSLs in acquiring properties is available on our website.

Local authorities and Registered Social Landlords should work closely with their Scottish Government area teams where they identify suitable projects.

The Scottish Government’s Infrastructure Delivery Pipeline sets out the infrastructure projects and programmes the Scottish Government will fund over the next four financial years.

The Scottish Government is working with all Health Boards to develop a whole system infrastructure plan to identify investment priorities across NHS Scotland. Projects that had previously begun the business case process but were then paused, such as the remaining National Treatment Centres, will be considered as part of this work.

The Scottish Government regularly engages with rural and island NHS Boards to ensure health workforce planning accounts for the unique recruitment and retention challenges faced in these areas. Any future expansion and improvement plans for Golden Hellos will be set out in due course.

The level of funding required to support any ferry service from Scotland to Europe will depend on the nature of the route, the strength of the commercial case and an assessment of value for money for the taxpayer.

Investment in ferry services to Europe from Scotland will be released once a full assessment of proposals for any such routes has been completed.