Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-02033 on 20 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.

Scottish Government recognises the unique challenges faced by off-grid communities and we are committed to supporting them to develop sustainable, resilient and locally appropriate energy solutions that can improve energy security and help address energy costs.

The cancer waiting times standards were originally monitored against 10 major cancer groups: breast, colorectal, head and neck, lung, lymphoma, ovarian, melanoma, upper gastrointestinal, urological and cervical cancers. These were selected because they accounted for a large proportion of cancer cases and referrals, allowing meaningful performance measurement.

Many rarer cancers, such as endometrial cancer, have very small patient numbers, making quarterly reporting less statistically reliable and potentially raising patient confidentiality concerns when results are published by NHS Board and tumour type.

However, The Scottish Government commitment to ‘carrying out a clinically led review of latest data and evidence to determine whether there is merit in specific additional or alternative cancer waiting times standards for different types of cancer and cancer treatment’ is underway.

A project steering group is being established which will support the review, determining if any amendments to the standards would enhance patient experience and meet the needs of the NHS for the future.

Evidence review commissions were shared with key partners in April with the full clinical consensus review expected to conclude with recommendations within 18- 24 months.

Monitoring and accountability of standards of care for endometrial cancer is still provided through a number of different means including national set of Quality Performance Indicators (QPIs), developed through the Scottish cancer quality programme and overseen by Healthcare Improvement Scotland, with performance reported by Public Health Scotland. These indicators are used to support continuous quality improvement in cancer services across NHS Scotland.

Full assessment of future childcare delivery options and costs will be undertaken as part of the parliamentary and budgetary processes. While a definitive assessment of scope or costs of any new policy position is not available at this time, information relating to previous limited considerations of this matter was released as part of a Freedom of Information request in May 2026. It can be found in the following document (document 33):

FOI+202600511271+-+Information+Released+-+Attachment+3.pdf

Yes. All special advisers are provided with an individual Scottish Government email account for the conduct of official business.

I also refer the member to the answer to question S7W-03424 on 29 September. 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 does not hold records of how many GP practices have opened or closed since 1999.

Arrangements with GP contractors are a matter for health boards.

The Scottish Government does not hold records of how many GP practices have opened or closed since 1999.

Arrangements with GP contractors are a matter for health boards.

AI is currently at different stages of deployment across a wide range of clinical and administrative functions. This includes AI-enabled diagnostic pathways for lung cancer, stroke and breast screening, use of Microsoft Copilot to support administrative productivity, and evaluations of Ambient Voice Technology in clinical settings.

NHS Boards are responsible for ensuring that technologies, including software and AI, are deployed safely and used appropriately. Any use of AI is subject to relevant safety, governance and assurance processes, with human oversight remaining a key principle. The Scottish Government published Interim Guidance on the Use of AI in Health and Social Care in August 2026 and will publish an AI Policy Framework for Health and Social Care later this year further clarifying appropriate safeguards. We will also be responding to the recommendations made by the National AI Commission on regulatory and assurance frameworks for AI in healthcare.

The then Minister for Public Finance, Ivan McKee MSP, met with Jeff Kabel, Chief Transformation Officer, GFG Alliance on 26 January 2026 to discuss matters including the plans for the restart of operations at Dalzell.

I met with Blair McDougall MP, UK Government Minister for Reindustrialisation on 4 September 2026 to discuss Liberty Steel.

These matters fall within the responsibility of train operators in their capacity as employers.