Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-43581

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what process ministers follow when considering byelaws submitted under section 12 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, in cases linked to proposed large-scale tourism or leisure developments.

Question reference: S6W-43582

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what timescales typically apply for the ministerial determination of byelaws submitted under section 12 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, where the byelaw relates to land affected by a proposed development.

Question reference: S6W-43584

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how ministers ensure transparency in decision-making when determining byelaws under section 12 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 that relate to land subject to ongoing development proposals.

Question reference: S6W-43585

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) guidance and (b) criteria ministers apply when considering whether proposed boundaries in byelaws submitted under section 12 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 are proportionate and applied consistently, including how any concerns regarding inequitable or inconsistent boundary definitions are assessed as part of the determination process.

Question reference: S6W-43586

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether the (a) submissions made to it from Scottish Borders Council and (b) ministers' response in relation to the application made under section 12 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 for the Center Parcs proposal in the Scottish Borders will be published and made publicly available.

Question reference: S6W-43583

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what opportunities there are for communities affected by a proposed development, such as the Center Parcs proposal in the Scottish Borders, to have representations considered by ministers once a byelaw application has been submitted for determination.

Question reference: S6W-43264

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 5 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the impact on mothers, expectant mothers and partners in the Scottish Borders of the potential loss of long-established specialist perinatal mental health services that currently provide an alternative referral pathway alongside NHS provision.

The third sector continues to play a key role for families in providing access to perinatal mental health support across Scotland. In 2019, the Scottish Government established the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health (PIMH) Fund, administered by Inspiring Scotland.

Between October 2024 and March 2026, we are investing £1.5 million through this fund to support third-sector organisations delivering vital (non-clinical) mental health support during pregnancy and the early years.

Following a robust assessment of applications, Inspiring Scotland distributed this funding to 16 organisations, geographically spread across Scotland, including the Scottish Borders.

Inspiring Scotland’s most recent reporting shows that the Fund continues to have a resoundingly positive impact. The Scottish Government continues to work closely with Inspiring Scotland to monitor the impact of the Fund, and to ensure that service design and future funding decisions are informed by local need.

Subject to Parliamentary approval of the 2026-27 Scottish budget, we have committed to continue to fund these vital supports in the coming financial year.

Question reference: S6W-43265

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 5 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has engaged with NHS Borders on the role that independent charitable perinatal mental health services play in supporting statutory services, and whether any options exist for direct or indirect NHS funding to support their continuation.

The Scottish Government recognises the important role that third sector organisations play in supporting perinatal mental health outcomes, including working alongside NHS Boards to complement statutory services.

While engagement on perinatal mental health takes place regularly between Scottish Government officials and NHS Boards, decisions on how Boards work with and fund third sector partners are a matter for individual boards, based on local needs and priorities.

In 2019, the Scottish Government established the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health (PIMH) Fund, administered by Inspiring Scotland.

Between October 2024 and March 2026, we are investing £1.5 million through this fund to support third-sector organisations delivering vital (non-clinical) mental health support during pregnancy and the early years. This funding has been distributed to 16 organisations, geographically spread across Scotland, including the Scottish Borders. Inspiring Scotland’s most recent reporting shows that the Fund continues to have a resoundingly positive impact.

Subject to Parliamentary approval of the 2026-27 Scottish budget, we have committed to continue to fund these vital supports in the coming financial year.

Question reference: S6W-43266

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 5 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that any changes to funding criteria for mental health support do not disadvantage specialist services providing individual or family-based therapeutic interventions, particularly in rural and remote communities.

The Scottish Government maintains its ongoing commitment to funding perinatal and infant mental health support through the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health (PIMH) Fund, administered by Inspiring Scotland.

Funding previously allocated directly to NHS Boards to improve specialist perinatal and infant mental health services as part of the Enhanced Mental Health Outcomes Framework has now been baselined directly into core NHS Board budgets. This provides greater long term funding stability and allows for better planning and continuity when making local spend decisions and providing local services and support.

All of our funding arrangements with partners are regularly reviewed to ensure they support a balanced range of provision and align with the aims and principles of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

We regularly engage with stakeholders to monitor impact of funding, to ensure that service design and future funding decisions are informed by local need.

Question reference: S6W-43263

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 29 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the sustainability of third sector and charitable perinatal mental health services in rural areas, including the Scottish Borders, in light of reports that demand for specialist one-to-one counselling and therapy remains high but funding streams are increasingly focused on community-based provision.

The third sector continues to play a key role for families in providing access to perinatal mental health support. In 2019, the Scottish Government established the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health (PIMH) Fund, administered by Inspiring Scotland.

Between October 2024 and March 2026, we are investing £1.5 million through this fund to support third-sector organisations delivering vital (non-clinical) mental health support during pregnancy and the early years. This funding has been distributed to 16 organisations, geographically spread across Scotland, including rural areas such as the Scottish Borders, Western Isles and Dumfries and Galloway. Inspiring Scotland’s most recent reporting PIMH Progress Update: April - September 2025 - Inspiring Scotland shows that the Fund continues to have a resoundingly positive impact.

Subject to Parliamentary approval of the 2026-27 Scottish budget, we have committed to continue to fund these vital supports in the coming financial year.

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