Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-43782

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Independent
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 24 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether an (a) Equality Impact Assessment and (b) Economic Impact Assessment has been carried out for the bird gathering general licence, and, if so, whether it has been made public.

The Scottish Bird Gathering General Licence is applied in accordance with Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/263 article 4(4) and 6(2), and with article 4 of The Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (Scotland) Order 2007 and is therefore subject to a Risk Assessment carried out by the Animal and Plan Health Agency (APHA). As such, there is no legal requirement to carry an Equality Impact Assessment, or Economic Impact Assessment, on the impacts of the licence.

The licence measures are designed to regulate the gathering of birds in Scotland to ensure that such events do not significantly increase the risk of the transmission of the avian influenza virus.

Furthermore, the risk-based nature of the measures applied in the general licence means that the licence is amended on a regular basis to meet the varying risk of incursion from avian influenza, and so any equality or economic impact assessment undertaken would be temporary in its conclusions. The most recent risk assessment on which this licence is based is published on GOV.SCOT.

It is recognised that failure to control and eradicate avian influenza in Scotland could have the most profound economic impact on the poultry, game and bird show sectors. It is important to note that Scottish Bird Gathering licensable activities and requirements can differ from those applied in England and Wales (as is currently the case) and keepers are always advised to make themselves familiar with the relevant licensing measures.

Question reference: S6W-43850

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Independent
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 February 2026
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Tom Arthur on 20 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its commitment to invest £10 million to increase the number of Changing Places toilets across Scotland.

Access to toilet facilities is a fundamental human right. Changing Places Toilets (CPT) offer a vital facility for people with disabilities and their families and carers whose needs cannot be met through standard accessible toilet provision.

The Scottish Government committed £10 million over two years through its Changing Places Toilets Fund for the development of new facilities across Scotland.

In December 2025, I announced awards of £4.7 million from the first tranche of funding for 59 projects across Scotland. I am delighted to confirm that I have now approved funding for an additional 25 projects, bringing total confirmed awards to over £7 million for 84 projects.

I am very grateful to Mr Balfour for his continued commitment to and engagement on this issue. As Mr Balfour is aware, the Scottish Government has included in its draft budget an additional £10 million for Changing Places Toilets over the next three financial years, which would bring total investment to £20 million.

Question reference: S6O-05560

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Independent
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 February 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether regulations rectifying the oversight whereby children in receipt of the Scottish Child Disability Payment were not receiving an exemption under the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024 will be introduced before the end of the current parliamentary session.

Question reference: S6W-43468

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Independent
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 12 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of a year having passed since it paused researcher access to the 2021-22 Scottish Government Health and Wellbeing Census, following ethical concerns about the way that sensitive personal data from over 130,000 school children in 16 local authorities had been gathered without parental consent, shared with the Scottish Government and then promoted to external researchers, whether it will confirm whether (a) this data has now been deleted and (b) any organisation or department of the Scottish Government still has access to it.

Question reference: S6O-05465

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Independent
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 January 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been allocated in its draft Budget 2026-27 to replace the Investing Communities Fund when the current funding ends in March 2026.

Question reference: S6W-42629

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Independent
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 6 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) adult and (b) child disability payment tribunals the Social Security Scotland tribunal system has heard in the calendar year 2025; how many have been held (i) in person, (ii) online, (ii) by telephone and (iv) by correspondence, and what information it can provide regarding how many cases are competed in an average (A) morning, (B) afternoon, (C) all day and (D) multiple day session.

Question reference: S6W-42442

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Independent
Date lodged: Monday, 08 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 22 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the release of the 2024 Scottish Cancer Patient Experience Survey (SCPES) results and the survey having not run in 2021 as expected, (a) when the next CPES will be conducted, and (b) what steps are being taken to ensure that the SCPES data is available by more distinct age ranges, specifically for people aged 16 to 24, in light of the lowest age group currently available being 16 to 64, which does not allow an adequate assessment of differences or inequalities in experience due to age.

The Scottish Cancer Patient Experience Survey (SCPES) is vital in proving information on improving our understanding of peoples experiences as they navigate their own cancer pathway. Findings published from the 2024 survey show that for those aged 16 and over, 95% of people are positive about their overall cancer care experience, illustrating that that we are progressing towards our aim to put people with cancer at the heart of all decision and actions involving them.

The timing and frequency of SCPES are not fixed. Surveys have been conducted in 2015, 2018, and most recently in 2024, from which we are still taking learning.

The number of children and young people diagnosed with cancer in Scotland is small compared to other cancers.

To protect confidentiality, cancer groups with fewer than 50 responses cannot be analysed, as this helps minimise the risk of individuals being identifiable within the dataset.

Understanding the unique support needs of children and young people with cancer is a priority for both the Scottish Government and the Managed Clinical Network for Children and Young People with Cancer (MCN CYPC), who are responsible for the implementation of the Collaborative and Compassionate Cancer Care: cancer strategy for children and young people 2021–2026.

The MCN CYPC have a number of support programmes including the National Youth Advisory Forum and Buddy Support Network, which enable young people to share experiences, identify gaps, and help improve service quality through feedback.

Question reference: S6W-42443

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Independent
Date lodged: Monday, 08 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 22 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made towards ensuring that the experiences of children and young people under the age of 16 with cancer are captured, for example through the implementation of a dedicated under-16 Scottish Cancer Patient Experience Survey.

Understanding the unique support needs of children and young people with cancer is a priority for both the Scottish Government and the Managed Clinical Network for Children and Young People with Cancer (MCN CYPC), who are responsible for the implementation of the Collaborative and Compassionate Cancer Care: cancer strategy for children and young people 2021–2026.

The number of children and young people diagnosed with cancer in Scotland is small compared to other cancers. Due to small patient numbers it is challenging to produce detailed, anonymised data.

To protect confidentiality, cancer groups with fewer than 50 responses cannot be analysed, as this helps minimise the risk of individuals being identifiable within the dataset.

The MCN CYPC have a number of support programmes including the National Youth Advisory Forum and Buddy Support Network, which enable young people to share experiences, identify gaps, and help improve service quality through feedback.

Question reference: S6W-42440

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Independent
Date lodged: Monday, 08 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 18 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will implement the recommendation of the independent review of Adult Disability Payment to give consideration to granting automatic entitlement to Adult Disability Payment when a person satisfies certain conditions or is in receipt of other forms of assistance without having to satisfy the qualifying period.

The Scottish Government commissioned the Independent Review of Adult Disability Payment to ensure the benefit continues to meet the needs of disabled people in Scotland. We appreciate the comprehensive recommendations this report provides for how we may improve Adult Disability Payment.

We are considering the feasibility of the recommendations, including the potential impact on fairness, sustainability and delivery. An initial response to the review will be published in January 2026.

Question reference: S6W-42441

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Independent
Date lodged: Monday, 08 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 18 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will use any learnings from the independent review of Adult Disability Payment and apply them, as appropriate, to Child Disability Payment.

The Scottish Government commissioned the Independent Review of Adult Disability Payment (ADP) to ensure the benefit continues to meet the needs of disabled people in Scotland. We appreciate the comprehensive recommendations it provides on how Adult Disability Payment may be improved.

The review focused specifically on Adult Disability Payment and many of the review’s recommendations would be neither relevant nor appropriate beyond that. However, as part of our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement, we will consider whether there are any insights and learning which may be relevant more broadly across our new disability benefits.

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