Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-40845

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 29 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 28 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what urgent action it is taking to improve early diagnosis and outcomes for people affected by pancreatic cancer, in light of reports of extremely low survival rates in Scotland associated with late-stage diagnosis and limited access to robust diagnostics and treatment resources.

We know that the earlier cancer is diagnosed the easier it is to treat, and that early diagnosis is particularly crucial for people with pancreatic cancer due to known poor outcomes for this devastating disease. This is why we continue to invest in our Detect Cancer Earlier (DCE) Programme. Detect Cancer Earlier’s ‘Be The Early Bird’ campaign aiming to reduce fear of cancer and empower those with possible symptoms to act early. This re-ran in September 2025 to prompt health-seeking behaviour.

We published clinically refreshed Scottish Referral Guidelines (SRGs) for Suspected Cancer, including pancreatic, on 6 August 2025. These support primary care clinicians to identify those with symptoms suspicious of cancer and identify those who require urgent assessment by a specialist. This will ensure that people are on the right pathway at the right time. Furthermore, I joined the First Minister at a roundtable held with key stakeholders , including Sir Chris Hoy and Lady Sarra Hoy, in August to discuss what more needs to be done in Scotland, specifically to ensure those groups of men most at risk can access the diagnosis and support they need.

We have also launched six Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Services (RCDSs) across Scotland. These are ruling cancer in or out faster for those with non-specific symptoms, supporting our Earlier Cancer Diagnosis Vision. Hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) cancers, including pancreatic cancer, are among the most common cancers found through the RCDSs. Independent evaluation in 2024 found that HPB cancers made up 17% of the cancers found.

Further to this, we have committed in the Cancer Action Plan 2023-2026 to invest in improving the pathways of less survivable cancers, particularly hepatocellular carcinoma and pancreatic cancer, aiming to shorten the time to staging and agreeing treatment options.

To that end, the Scottish Government commissioned the Scottish Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Network (SHPBN) to develop standardised pathways that improve outcomes for people with HPB cancers, working with NHS Boards, third sector organisations and patients where most appropriate.

I will continue to keep Parliament updated as this work progresses.

Question reference: S6W-40877

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 28 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether, at the COP30 climate conference in Brazil in November 2025, it will make new commitments to the Climate Justice Fund in support of the communities most affected by climate change in the Global South.

Question reference: S6W-41151

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 27 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to update the Good Practice Principles for Community Benefits.

The Scottish Government is leading efforts to put communities at the heart of Scotland’s energy transition. In 2024, renewables developers offered around £30 million in community benefits, supporting local priorities and inclusive growth under our Good Practice Principles.

On 22 October, we published consultation responses and analysis on community benefits from net zero energy developments. This evidence will inform refreshed guidance to strengthen delivery, ensure meaningful outcomes, and support a just transition. We continue to engage stakeholders ahead of publishing updated guidance in the second half of 2026.

While community benefits remain voluntary, we continue to press the UK Government to introduce a mandatory scheme for mature technologies and a robust GB-wide voluntary framework for emerging technologies to ensure communities share in the wealth of Scotland’s natural resources.

Question reference: S6W-40841

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 29 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 27 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve data collection and monitoring on secondary breast cancer.

The Cancer Action Plan for Scotland 2023-2026 commits to improving data collection for secondary cancers, starting this process with secondary breast cancer. The Scottish Government is working with Public Health Scotland to review options in relation to collecting data on secondary breast cancer in Scotland.

Officials are expecting advice from Public Health Scotland imminently on this matter. We aim to make a final decision on data collection by the completion of the Cancer Action Plan in 2026.

Question reference: S6W-40846

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 29 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 24 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support ocean science and protect endangered species and fragile fisheries in the marine environment.

The Scottish Government continues to support a wide variety of marine science to ensure there is a strong evidence base to support marine management and the Blue Economy Vision. This includes the Scottish Government’s Science, Evidence, Data and Digital Portfolio, as well as directly commissioned science, and collaboration with a strong academic presence in Scotland through the Marine Alliance for Science and Technology Scotland (MASTS), other UK administrations and international partners. This is reflected in the Scottish Government’s Marine Science and Innovation Strategy, which was published in 2024, and the appointment of an independent Chief Scientific Advisor Marine. Furthermore, in 2025 following consultation with Scotland’s academic marine science community, the Marine and Freshwater Areas of Research Interest was published.

This evidence base has been critical in delivering a range of programmes that can also protect Scotland’s iconic marine species. This includes the publication of the Scottish Seabird Conservation Action Plan, which identifies over 50 priority actions aimed at improving the conservation status of Scotland’s seabirds; and the development of a UK Cetacean Conservation Strategy to address threats to cetaceans in UK waters. Furthermore, work on the Future Catching Policy, Bycatch Mitigation Initiative, marine litter and Marine Protected Areas have all been shaped by a robust evidence base and help to protect internationally important sensitive species including cetaceans, seals, seabirds, and elasmobranchs.

With regard to fisheries, we take an evidence-based approach to its management, with a range of policies and actions focussed on managing marine fish stocks sustainably, and in a way that is supportive of the achievement of the fisheries objectives set out in the Fisheries Act 2020, the Joint Fisheries Statement and other legislative commitments. Alongside delivery partners, Scottish Government is also progressing actions under Scotland’s Wild Salmon Strategy Implementation Plan to ensure the protection and recovery of wild Atlantic salmon populations in Scotland. This work is underpinned by advice from the Wild Salmon Strategy Science and Evidence Board.

Question reference: S6W-40847

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 24 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to support the Scottish Association for Marine Science to help Scotland provide leadership in building a sustainable and resilient blue economy.

The Scottish Government recognises the vital contribution from the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) in advancing marine science and innovation. SAMS is a recipient of Scottish public support through funding mechanisms administrated by the Scottish Funding Council as well as individual grants for goods and services paid for by the Scottish Government.

The Scottish Government is investing £3.5 million in Argyll and Bute Growth Deal projects led by SAMS including: £1 million for SAMS’s Centre for International Seaweed and Shellfish Development (C-SSIDe), commercialising world-leading research in seaweed and shellfish and driving growth in these high-value sectors; and £2.5 million for STEM Hub North, an ocean-focused outreach centre to develop marine skills that will help grow the region’s blue economy, located at the European Marine Science Park which is run by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, in partnership with SAMS and Scottish Development International.

The Scottish Government continues to support SAMS marine research endeavours, e.g. contributing to tendered grants through the Marine Fund Scotland and to PhD studentships, in addition to a long history and ongoing collaboration with Marine Directorate scientists, which underpins many aspects of SAMS's work and jointly contributes to Scotland's leadership in a sustainable and resilient blue economy.

Question reference: S6W-41408

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 18 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-39405 by Tom Arthur on 6 August 2025, whether bereavement and grief support provided by NHS boards or third sector organisations is always available free of charge; and whether the Maternity and Neonatal Psychological Intervention services can be accessed at any time following pregnancy or baby loss.

Question reference: S6W-41414

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve early diagnosis, treatment and survival rates of cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer).

Question reference: S6W-40942

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 16 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the designation of green data centres as a national development in the National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), what its position is regarding whether NPF4 is consistent with local authority approval being given for data centres for AI and related purposes without sufficient associated renewable generation to meet their future needs.

Scotland’s abundant renewable energy generating capacity presents an opportunity for the country to become a leader in green data centres. In 2023, 70% of electricity generated in Scotland was from renewable sources – a marked increase compared to 32% in 2013 - and, as of June 2025, there is an estimated capacity of 76.5 GW of renewable energy projects, including storage, in the planning pipeline in Scotland.

Where new development proposals come forward, all planning applications must be determined in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicated otherwise. In Scotland the development plan consists of National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) and the relevant Local Development Plan. National development status does not grant planning permission for the development and all relevant consents are required. Designation establishes the need for such infrastructure and means that the principle of the development does not need to be agreed in later consenting processes, providing more certainty for communities, business and investors.

Question reference: S6W-40943

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 16 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether the AI Growth Zones initiative, as set out in the Infrastructure Investment Plan 2021-22 to 2025-26: progress report 2024 to 2025, will require all data centres for AI and related purposes that are supported by it, to be what it considers "green data centres".

While the Infrastructure Investment Plan 2021-22 to 2025-26 Progress Report for 2024-2025 refers to the AI Growth Zones initiative, it is led by the UK Government.

The Scottish Government is in regular engagement and discussion with officials at the UKG’s Department of Science, Innovation and Technology and will continue to press Scotland’s policy interests in this area.

This includes securing data centre investment that makes best use of Scotland’s capacity to generate energy from renewable sources. There is an opportunity for the country to become a leader in green data centres, powered by our abundant renewable energy generating capacity and benefiting from the dynamic innovation and tech ecosystems that exist across Scotland.

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