Questions and answers

Question reference: S6O-05636

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 March 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to protect and strengthen schools in rural areas.

Question reference: S6W-43812

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 2 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care has had with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology regarding the potential for a respiratory Modern Service Framework to strengthen the UK's life sciences ecosystem by scaling up the adoption of new medicines and innovations for lung conditions.

Scottish Government Officials within our Directorates for Health and Social Care are engaged with the UK Office for Life Sciences and NHS England in line with the agreement made between Ministers at the Interministerial Group for Health and Social Care to seek where practical common solutions to common challenges and explore - as a priority - the potential for closer collaboration on innovation adoption initiatives to maximise impact and support our life science sector across all 4 nations.

Scottish Government Officials, alongside those from 4 nations have agreed, in principle, to engage collaboratively to maximise the scope and impact of the respiratory modern service framework preliminary market engagement and scope opportunities for Scotland within the future delivery of this framework. This will include ensuring that any opportunities represent the Scottish Health and Care system effectively, aligned to our principles for openness and transparency in working with parties across the independent sector, third sector and academia, and strategic objectives under our Service Renewal Framework, Population Health Framework and Public Sector Reform.

Question reference: S6W-43814

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 26 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care has given to the role of a respiratory Modern Service Framework in reducing winter pressures on the NHS by simultaneously improving outcomes for long-term respiratory conditions and short-term respiratory illness such as flu.

I refer the member to answer to questions S6W-43695 and S6W-43745 on 24 February 2026. The Scottish Government is aware of calls from respiratory stakeholders in England for a Modern Service Framework focused on respiratory care. To clarify, the UK Government has not introduced such a framework. Modern Service Frameworks are being developed for major conditions such as cardiovascular disease and dementia, but respiratory conditions are not currently included.

The Scottish Government will continue to monitor emerging approaches from across the UK while taking forward our own long term, evidence informed approach.

The Scottish Government’s strategic direction for respiratory care is currently set through the Respiratory care - action plan: 2021 to 2026 - gov.scot. This work supports resilience across the health system throughout the year, including during periods of increased pressure. Prioritising prevention, early detection and effective long term management helps reduce avoidable exacerbations which often drive urgent and unscheduled demand during winter.

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.

Question reference: S6W-43815

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 26 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care’s timeframe is for deciding on the second wave of the Modern Service Frameworks, and whether respiratory conditions will be considered.

Question reference: S6W-43813

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 24 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care has made of the (a) prevalence of respiratory disease and (b) number of emergency hospital admissions for respiratory conditions in Galloway and West Dumfries compared with national averages in each of the last three years, and what steps he is taking to ensure that respiratory health is prioritised nationally, including through the introduction of a Modern Service Framework for respiratory care.

I refer the member to answer to questions S6W-43676 and S6W-43744 on 24 February 2026.

Assessments of respiratory prevalence and emergency hospital admissions are produced and published by Public Health Scotland. These official statistics include data for every NHS Board area, as well as national level figures. The Scottish Government draws on these official statistics rather than undertaking separate board-level assessments.

Public Health Scotland 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.

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.

Question reference: S6O-05536

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 February 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how its draft Budget 2026-27 will ensure meaningful infrastructure improvements in the south of Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-43079

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 29 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what evidence and policy objectives underpin the proposal to remove small business rates relief from country sport shoots, and whether it will publish all impact assessments and the consultation analysis.

During Stage 3 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill Scottish Ministers committed to explore how non-domestic rates reliefs, particularly Small Business Bonus Scheme relief, can be better targeted.

Following consideration and engagement through the budget process, the draft Budget for 2026-27 set out that shootings and deer forests will be excluded from eligibility for Small Business Bonus Scheme relief and Fresh Start relief, with prescribed exclusions. For example, where shooting rights in shootings or deer forests are exercised solely for the purposes of environmental management, eligibility for Small Business Bonus Scheme will be maintained.

The Scottish Fiscal Commission, which is responsible for forecasting non-domestic rates income, has judged that the removal of some shootings and deer forests from eligibility for the Small Business Bonus Scheme falls below their materiality threshold.

To support deer management we have provided funding via pilot projects over the last few years intended to trial methods of supporting deer management and will continue to consider how we best provide support to deer managers directly.

We are aware of the concerns raised by the rural sector and will ensure these concerns are considered before the regulations are laid, to come into force, on 1 April.

Question reference: S6W-43080

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 29 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact will be on (a) rural employment and (b) local supply chains of the proposal to remove small business rates relief from country sport shoots, broken down by (i) local authority area and (ii) and rural area classification type, and what mitigations are planned.

Question reference: S6W-43081

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 29 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what effect the proposal to remove small business rates relief from country sport shoots is expected to have on conservation and land management associated with shoots, and how this aligns with its climate and biodiversity targets.

During Stage 3 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill Scottish Ministers committed to explore how non-domestic rates reliefs, particularly Small Business Bonus Scheme relief, can be better targeted.

Following consideration and engagement through the budget process, the draft Budget for 2026-27 set out that shootings and deer forests will be excluded from eligibility for Small Business Bonus Scheme relief and Fresh Start relief, with prescribed exclusions. For example, where shooting rights in shootings or deer forests are exercised solely for the purposes of environmental management, eligibility for Small Business Bonus Scheme will be maintained.

We recognise the vital role rural land managers have in delivering on key outcomes including reducing deer populations, and will ensure their concerns are considered to minimise any unintended consequences.

Question reference: S6W-43082

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 29 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) gross and (b) net revenue it forecasts over each of the next five years from the proposal to remove small business rates relief from country sport shoots.

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