- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Falkirk West, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 February 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 12 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported marine energy sector calls for it and the UK Government to work together in delivering policies that are required to support commercialisation.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43978 on 12 March 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: Michael Matheson, MSP for Falkirk West, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 February 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 12 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting Scotland’s marine energy sector to protect its home-grown, innovative skills and knowledge base, and how it is working with partners, including the UK Government, to develop policy to achieve this.
Answer
Scotland has developed one of the world’s strongest concentrations of marine energy expertise, built through significant investment to date by Scottish Government and its Enterprise Agencies in research and development which has leveraged additional support. The Scottish Government invested over £70 million into Wave Energy Scotland, and £15 million into the European Marine Energy Centre site to date. Further investment is now needed from the UK Government and its bodies to support the sector which is where the main levers sit for commercialising these emerging technologies.
We are very fortunate that our domestic skills base spans engineering, research, manufacturing, project development, offshore operations, and advanced subsystem innovation which is in demand not only across tidal stream and wave but also floating offshore wind. This cross fertilisation of innovative skills and knowledge between sectors offers a wider range of opportunities to individuals and also benefits the advancement of key industries.
The Scottish Government, alongside the UK Government and the Welsh Government, is participating in the work of the Marine Energy Taskforce which is tasked with making recommendations on how best to accelerate the UK’s marine energy sector and is due to report this summer. We look forward to working with governments across the UK to consider these recommendations.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Falkirk West, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 February 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 12 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to research suggesting that Scotland’s marine energy sector could generate over £8 billion for Scotland’s economy, creating over 60,000 jobs, by 2050, and what it is doing to support the sector to deliver this.
Answer
The successful commercialisation of the marine energy sector in Scotland certainly has the potential to grow our economy. While the research referenced shows promising projections for the marine energy sector, the realisation of these projections is reliant on significant technological advances being made in very short order.
To get to commercialisation, the sector will need to demonstrate sufficient technical maturity at utility scale and cost competitiveness with other marine energy technologies. The main levers for enabling the commercialisation of emerging, pre-commercial technologies lie with the UK Government (e.g. Contracts for Difference) and bodies such as GB Energy whose remit includes providing market confidence in nascent and growth clean energy sectors.
We will continue to make representations to the UK Government, encouraging them to provide sufficient support for the development of the sector, including through the UK industry-led Marine Energy Taskforce.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Falkirk West, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 March 2026
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Current Status:
Due to be taken in the Chamber on 18 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support local authorities, including Falkirk Council, to deliver vital services, including those aimed at reducing child poverty.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 18 March 2026
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Falkirk West, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 16 January 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 29 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what role integration joint boards have in monitoring funding allocated by the Scottish Government to hospices.
Answer
Financial monitoring requirements, as set out in legislation and statutory guidance, apply to Integration Joint Boards (IJBs) for functions that are delegated to IJBs.
IJBs commission palliative care services, including independent hospices, to meet the needs of their local communities. This commissioned work is set out through service level agreements, which include monitoring and reporting requirements as set by the IJB.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Falkirk West, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 January 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 23 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to increase awareness of the medical condition, eosinophilic oesophagitis, in NHS Scotland, in both primary and secondary care settings.
Answer
The Scottish Government recognises the importance of improving awareness of gastrointestinal conditions, including eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE), across NHS Scotland and is committed to ensuring that people living with these conditions receive safe, effective, person-centred care.
We expect healthcare professionals in both primary and secondary care to remain informed about emerging evidence and best practice for the diagnosis and management of EoE and to maintain and update their clinical knowledge and understanding through continuous professional development.
NHS Education for Scotland provides a range of educational resources and training programmes for healthcare professionals that encompass gastrointestinal conditions, including EoE.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Falkirk West, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 January 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 23 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to mark Eosinophilic Diseases Awareness Month in May 2026.
Answer
The Scottish Government recognises the impact that Eosinophilic Diseases can have on those affected and their families, and remains committed to ensuring access to safe, effective and person-centred care for people living with these conditions in Scotland.
Whilst we do not currently have any plans to mark Eosinophilic Diseases Awareness Month in May 2026, we welcome and value the work of third sector organisations, such as Guts UK and the EOS Network, whose ongoing awareness raising activities and support for people living with these long-term conditions make an important contribution to improving understanding and supporting those affected.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Falkirk West, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 January 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 23 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to further its understanding of the medical condition, eosinophilic oesophagitis, and support diagnosis and treatment of patients.
Answer
NHS Education for Scotland provides a range of educational resources and training programmes for healthcare professionals that encompass gastrointestinal conditions, including eosinophilic oesophagitis(EoE).
The Scottish Government expect clinicians and NHS Boards to adhere to current clinical guidelines and follow best practice including from authoritative sources such as the guidelines from British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) and British Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (BSPGHAN) joint consensus guidelines on the diagnosis and management of eosinophilic oesophagitis in children and adults and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Budesonide orodispersible tablet for inducing remission of eosinophilic oesophagitis | Guidance | NICE.
The management of patients includes access to endoscopy for both diagnostic purposes and treatment where appropriate.
The Scottish Government is working through national programmes to improve waiting times and ensure timely access to endoscopy services.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Falkirk West, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 January 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 23 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what data it holds on the prevalence of eosinophilic oesophagitis, and whether it has observed any changes in the level of prevalence over the last five years.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold any data on the prevalence of eosinophilic oesophagitis in Scotland.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Falkirk West, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 January 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 20 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to support research and clinical trials for the medical condition, eosinophilic oesophagitis.
Answer
Within the Scottish Government, funding of Health and Care Research comes under the remit of the Chief Scientist Office (CSO).
CSO funds research projects via its Translational Clinical Studies (TCS) Committee and the Health Improvement, Protection and Services Research (HIPS) Committee
https://www.cso.scot.nhs.uk/grant-funding/response-mode-funding-schemes/
CSO funds capacity building research via its Fellowship Funding programmes
https://www.cso.scot.nhs.uk/fellowship-funding/
Research funding is not allocated to any particular condition and CSO funds research across the clinical spectrum. All applications go through a process of independent expert review to allow funding decisions to be made. Applications on eosinophilic oesophagitis are welcomed and CSO's role is well known across the Health and Care research community in Scotland
