- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 11 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 29 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how many police officers have been refused permission to work second jobs in the past five years.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold this information. The assessment of requests and permission for officers seeking additional jobs or business interests are matters for the Chief Constable.
The Scottish Government values the dedication shown by police officers in Scotland. That’s why our police officers remain the best paid in the UK recognising the hard work and valuable contribution they make daily as well as our commitment to investing in policing.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 18 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 29 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce an NHS mobile app, similar to the NHS England app, to allow patients to, for example, arrange appointments and repeat prescriptions.
Answer
I can confirm that the initial release of an online app for Health and Social Care will be in December 2025. This is set out in our Operational Improvement Plan, as well as in the answer to question S6W-38145 on 11 June 2025.
Secure login using a unique ID through Scot Account
- Receive digital letters from the dermatology team
- View dermatology appointments
- Access personal health information, including demographics, medications and allergies
- Use a national service finder to locate health and care services
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 18 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 29 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what the timeline is for translating the guidance, Scottish Government Guidance on Welfare at the Time of Killing in Salmon Farming, published on 17 July 2025, into legislation, as recommended by the Animal Welfare Committee and the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission.
Answer
The Scottish Government’s guidance on Welfare at the time of Killing in Salmon Farming is based on the recommendations made by the UK Government's Animal Welfare Committee and developed in conjunction with the Scottish farmed salmon industry, Animal Plant and Health Agency (APHA) and animal welfare organisations.
The Scottish Government takes the welfare of farmed fish at the time of slaughter very seriously. This welfare is assured by the requirement at Article 3.1 of retained Council Regulation (EC) 1099/2009 that ‘animals shall be spared any avoidable pain, distress or suffering during their killing and related operations’. We have no current plans to introduce further legislation.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 07 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 29 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made towards meeting the British HIV Association’s standards for psychological support for people living with HIV in Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Government is currently undertaking a programme of Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus local area visits to Scottish territorial NHS Boards which provides an opportunity to explore the levels of psychological support available for people living with HIV.
Throughout visits we have observed areas of excellent practice in relation to psychological support for people living with HIV, including some Boards bringing clinical psychology pathways into routine HIV care to ensure holistic HIV management and digital solutions for those who live in more rural areas where peer support may be more challenging. We continue to work with NHS Boards and encourage sharing best practices to address any gaps identified throughout these visits.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 07 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 29 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure access to HIV support services for groups that reportedly experience worse health outcomes, including (a) migrants, (b) women, (c) older people and (d) those living in rural communities.
Answer
The Scottish Government is committed to equitable access to HIV support services and we continue to work with NHS Boards who provide targeted community outreach, peer support initiatives and digital health solutions particularly focused on underserved groups.
The landmark anti-stigma campaign had a significant impact and laid strong foundations to challenging HIV-related stigma and reducing barriers to HIV prevention. Building on this successful campaign, we are funding further training for health and social care staff to increase awareness and reduce stigma, particularly for underserved groups.
Recently, in partnership with Scotland’s Migration Service, we have developed tailored information on accessing sexual health and HIV services for new arrivals to Scotland, which can be found here Healthcare in Scotland | Scotland.org.
- Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 07 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 29 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how the planned long-term conditions framework will be (a) prioritised and (b) resourced to address the (i) current and (ii) future projected burden of disease for such conditions.
Answer
The Scottish Government published its Health and Social Care Service Renewal Framework (SRF) on 17 June 2025. This Framework provides a high-level guide for change, to ensure the sustainability, efficiency, quality, and accessibility of health and social care services in Scotland. Within the SRF, we set out our commitment to publish the Long-Term Conditions Framework and its aim and outcomes will be closely linked to the principles of the SRF.
We are considering using an evidence-based process to determine which improvement work will be prioritised and details of this will form part of the Long-Term Conditions Framework which we will publish in December 2025. Resources will be addressed as part of the ensuing series of action plans.
- Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 07 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 29 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has recently received from the UK Government regarding updating hydrogen transportation and storage regulations.
Answer
Regulations for hydrogen transport through pipelines and storage are reserved to the UK Government. As such, Scottish Government officials are in regular contact with UK Government counterparts on these matters as they relate to Scotland's hydrogen interests.
The UK Government has recently published a consultation on the economic regulatory framework for 100% hydrogen pipelines. This was published on the 15th of July and will run until the 9th of September and invites stakeholder's views on the suitability of the regulatory framework set out under the Gas Act 1986 for the needs of the hydrogen economy. The Scottish Government is currently considering the framework proposed and is formulating our response to be submitted in due course.
The Scottish Government continues to work with the UK Government to ensure the geographical variations across the UK, particularly in Scotland, are considered in any changes to hydrogen regulations, as well to ensure the UK Government develops a fit for purpose regulatory regime that enables us to achieve our shared hydrogen ambitions.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 07 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 29 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government on what dates the Scottish Screening Committee met since January 2023, and on what dates it will publish the minutes for any such meetings.
Answer
The dates of Scottish Screening Committee (SSC) meetings since January 2023 are listed below and hyperlinked to the published minutes where available.
18 April 2023 Scottish Screening Committee minutes
The SSC last met on 6 March 2024. The minutes for this meeting are due to be published shortly.
- Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 29 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is in place to ensure that schools remain politically neutral in how they present national symbols such as the Union Flag.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-39113 on 29 July 2025. 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: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 29 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to engage with community-led initiatives, such as the Kyles Coastal Community Group’s campaign for clean seas, to ensure that local knowledge and priorities are reflected in marine protection and wastewater management policies.
Answer
Protecting our marine environment is a shared responsibility and the Scottish Government welcomes community-led initiatives. The Kyles Coastal Community Group is a member of the Coastal Communities Network that engages directly with the Scottish Government on many marine issues. The Kyles Coastal Community Group can contact Scottish Water or the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to raise any local wastewater concerns.