Chamber and committees

In September 2025, following a thorough review of options and in consideration of the economic value the Alexander Dennis workforce, skills base and manufacturing capability bring to Scotland, Scottish Ministers agreed to award a time limited and capped grant subsidy to Alexander Dennis in support of the company furlough scheme. Alexander Dennis accepted the terms and conditions of the grant offer, including the evidencing of contracts, before any payment from the Scottish Government could be made. The business has since changed its manufacturing plans for Scotland and consequently is unable to satisfy the agreed grant conditions. For this reason, the Scottish Government has not paid furlough support to Alexander Dennis.

We continue to work closely with the company to secure continuity of employment for the highly-skilled workers at Alexander Dennis, and the future of manufacturing in Scotland.

The largest level increases in the devolved public sector headcount over the year from March 2025 to March 2026 were in the NHS Scotland and Local Government workforces. Our priority is to protect the roles that deliver vital services to the public, focusing on enabling frontline workers to do what they do best, supported by more effective back-office systems and shared services.

Between March 2022 and March 2026, the core Scottish Government workforce reduced by 11.4%, including both directly employed FTE staff and contingent workers, as a result of enhanced recruitment controls being implemented and taking effect. These controls have driven a significant reduction in the size of the core Scottish Government civil service over the past four years and are now being rolled out more widely across public bodies.

Our commitment remains to deliver a managed reduction in the size of the public sector workforce through reform, efficiency and natural attrition, while protecting frontline services. The commitment to reduce headcount by an average of 0.5% per year applies across the five-year period and is not expected to be delivered on a linear basis. This reflects the fact that some workforce changes will require longer-term restructuring, including reforms to public bodies, health boards and local government set out in the Programme for Government.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-03102 on 24 September 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.

As outlined in the answers to questions S7W-01924, NHS Scotland is required to consider recommendations made by the Scottish Health Technologies Group (SHTG). That remains unchanged. It is not for the Scottish Government to consider or accept those recommendations made by the SHTG for NHS Scotland.

NHS Boards are responsible for designing and delivering services to meet the needs of their local populations.

We continue to support NHS Scotland partners to develop their approach to build on these recommendations to inform sustainable, consistent and effective service delivery across Scotland.

The Scottish Government does not procure buses. Bus services are predominantly provided by commercial operators, with local authorities and other public bodies procuring or supporting services where appropriate. As these organisation are autonomous contracting authorities they are responsible for their own procurements and must determine, on a case-by-case basis, how to conduct their own procurements, including how to consider community benefits, the sustainable procurement duty social value and other relevant elements.

The Scottish Government is committed to promoting social and economic benefits with measures such as Fair Work First implemented during the last parliament, and the Programme for Government 2026 setting out a range of measures to deliver this. Bus is one of the most used forms of public transport and provides wider benefits through affordable transport to work, education and essential services, reducing transport emissions and growing the economy.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-03096 on 24 September 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.

Information on the Scottish Stroke Care Standards can be found at:

The Scottish Government expects the same standards of behaviour of all people resident in Scotland.

Violence against women and girls is a fundamental violation of human rights and has no place in our vision for a safe, strong and successful Scotland. Equally Safe, Scotland’s strategy for preventing and eradicating violence against women and girls, recognises that such violence and abuse is not the preserve of one community but exists across Scotland. We must come together to tackle this blight on our society.

Scotland has a long history of welcoming people of all nationalities and faiths, including those seeking refuge and asylum, who enrich our nations fabric and help to make Scotland stronger.

We are committed to supporting New Scots integration into our communities and providing the safety and security they need as they begin to rebuild their lives.

Public procurement rules do not disadvantage domestic suppliers.

As required by international agreements, Scottish public procurement legislation places a duty on contracting authorities to treat bidders from the UK and countries with which a relevant agreement applies equally and without discrimination.

It also explicitly prohibits contracting authorities from awarding contracts on the basis of lowest cost or price only.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-03096 on 24 September 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.