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The Scottish Government is aware of the development of Modern Service Frameworks in England for major conditions such as cardiovascular disease and dementia. For clarity, these are being developed by the UK Government but have not yet been formally introduced.

In Scotland, our policy is guided by our own strategic frameworks, including the NHS Scotland Operational Improvement Plan, Scotland's Population Health Framework and the Health and Social Care Service Renewal Framework. Together, these set out our shared long-term vision for reforming and renewing health and social care services.

This work is underpinned by a ten-year programme focused on prevention, person-centred care, strengthened community services, digital innovation, and addressing the root causes of poor health.

The Scottish Government works closely with NHS Grampian and NHS Scotland Assure on all capital investment projects. Safety is always paramount and NHS Grampian is implementing several changes to the new hospital as a result of clinical recommendations, following a design review - this has impacted completion date and cost.

The Key Stage Assurance Review (KSAR) process is in place to ensure a safe, high quality healthcare facility is delivered. Infection prevention and control is embedded throughout the KSAR process.

We are focused on ensuring the ANCHOR Centre and Baird Family Hospital opens when it can operate safely and effectively.

Assessments of respiratory prevalence and emergency hospital admissions are produced and published by Public Health Scotland, including data for NHS Grampian and national averages. The Scottish Government draws on these official statistics rather than undertaking separate board-level assessments.

Public Health Scotland (PHS) data shows that respiratory conditions are a major contributor to unplanned hospital demand. Emergency inpatient activity accounts for almost half of all hospital admissions nationally, reflecting sustained pressure on acute services. Longer term projections indicate that unplanned acute inpatient admissions for respiratory conditions are expected to rise by around 23% between 2024 and 2034, confirming the growing burden of respiratory illness across Scotland. A link to PHS data can be found at: Projecting future demand for health and care services in Scotland (2024-2034) - Long term service demand projections in Scotland - Publications - Public Health Scotland.

The Scottish Government recognises these pressures and is taking action. We recently published the NHS Scotland Operational Improvement Plan, the Scotland's Population Health Framework and the Health and Social Care Service Renewal Framework in which we outline our shared, long-term vision for reforming and renewing health and social care services to ensure they are more sustainable, preventative, and equitable.

Our Respiratory Care Action Plan for Scotland has supported national work to strengthen prevention, diagnosis, care and support for people living with respiratory conditions. Through the Centre for Sustainable Delivery, national pathways are being developed for severe asthma, COPD, sleep apnoea and interstitial lung disease. Work is also underway to improve access to pulmonary rehabilitation, a key intervention for people with chronic respiratory conditions.

This work supports resilience across the health system throughout the year, including during periods of increased pressure. Prioritising prevention, early detection and supporting effective long term self-management helps reduce avoidable exacerbations which often drive urgent and unscheduled demand during winter.

Draft valuations for the 2026 revaluation were published on 30 November 2025. Valuations are carried out by independent Assessors and we recognise that while some ratepayers will see their rateable values fall, a number will see significant increases.

While Assessors may use local Practice Notes to value properties, all Assessors are voluntary members of the Scottish Assessors Association (SAA) which has subject-specific committees that regularly meet to discuss valuation matters pertaining to specific subject categories. It also publishes subject-specific Practice Notes to ensure consistency of valuation approach and practice by property type across Scotland, including self-catering holiday accommodation. Practice Notes are developed in conjunction with relevant bodies and affected stakeholders where appropriate and major changes to Practice Notes are consulted on. Individual valuations reflect the local information held by the Assessor responsible for valuing the property.

Valuations can be challenged via the appeals system, the first stage of which is the proposal system and the rules of procedures for which are set out in the Valuation (Proposals Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2025. In prescribed circumstances, the outcome of proposals can be appealed to the Local Taxation Chamber, first-tier Tribunal, which operates across all of Scotland. Decisions are published and serve as the case law basis for consideration of future cases on comparable matters.

An report on draft 2026 valuations was published on 13 January 2026, and further expanded on 11 February 2026. This includes, in Table 2a, a breakdown of changes by council area and property class. The report is available at: Non-domestic rates revaluation 2026: draft valuation roll statistics - gov.scot.

A further report will be published after final rateable values are available. This will include more detailed breakdowns, including by council area and property core description.

In 2026-27, NHS Grampian will receive nearly £1.5 billion in baseline funding, which equates to increased investment of £130.7 million from 2025-26 and ensures the Board is no further than 0.6% from its target share. Since 2021-22, NHS Grampian has received additional funding of £15.5 million specifically to support the Board's movement towards NRAC parity.

The Energy Company Obligation is a UK Government scheme. They have advised us that external wall insulation (EWI) was installed in 421 properties in Scotland as part of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) and Great British Insulation (GBIS) schemes. In Scotland a Building Warrant is required before external wall insulation can be installed, this provides additional safeguards compared with England and Wales.

Where these EWI installs have subsequently been audited by the UK Government, they have not reported any serious faults (e.g. health and safety risks due to poor ventilation). They reported non-compliance with scheme requirements as being 34% of the audited EWI cases in Scotland.

We anticipate that a small number of Scottish homes may have been affected by poor quality installation of external wall insulation with ECO4 and GBIS finance. We have requested that the UK Government provides further information about these cases to relevant local authorities and the Scottish Government.

The UK Government report that internal wall insulation (IWI) was installed in around 6,100 properties in Scotland as part of these schemes. This work does not normally require a Building Warrant but local authority consents may be required in some cases. The UK Government has advised us about 410 properties with IWI that were referred for auditing (i.e. this includes cases where a concern had already been raised). Non-compliance was reported in 31% of audited IWI cases. The UK Government reports that serious problems were identified in 12 properties and that all of these were successfully remediated.

The number of Scottish properties affected by poor quality or faulty installation of internal wall insulation is likely to be higher. However it seems likely that these issues have affected a minority of homes and can be successfully remediated in most cases. We have requested that further information about these properties continues to be provided to relevant local authorities and the Scottish Government.

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) is not a Scottish Government scheme. The Scottish Government does not operate a general scheme providing remediation or compensation for damage caused to people’s homes by third parties.

Property owners should first raise any concerns with the installer and ask them to make good any defects, faults or damage. If they are not satisfied with the installer’s response, they can raise this with TrustMark. TrustMark is the UK Government’s trusted trader scheme and members must agree to participate in their complaints process.

All Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) and Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) installers were required to be registered with TrustMark and part of industry based certification schemes. This was a requirement of eligibility for ECO4 or GBIS finance.

Consumer protection, product and business regulation are reserved matters. The UK Government has published advice for property owners about their key rights and protections under consumer law. Buying green heating and insulation products: consumer guide - GOV.UK

Home owners can contact their local Trading Standards Office or Citizens Advice Bureau for more advice about their rights, compensation and next steps if needed.