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Ferguson Marine is currently focused on developing its long-term strategy and actively pursuing future commercial contracts. The Scottish Government remains firmly committed to supporting the yard to competitively bid for future contracts and to securing a sustainable, long-term future.

The Hughes report was commissioned by the UK Government and was concerned in the first place with patients in England. But patients across the UK were affected by transvaginal mesh and by valproate, and this is acknowledged by the UK Government. The Scottish Government is unable to reach a view on the report until the UK Government sets out its position on the UK-wide aspects, including regulation.

Scottish Government Ministers stand ready to discuss the report with UK Ministers, and with Ministers from the other Devolved Governments. The Cabinet Secretary and I have offered to meet with the UK Government on three occasions since the July 2024 UK General Election. While the UK Government has agreed to a meeting in principle, and liaison between officials continues, no arrangements have been made and no proposals that could be discussed among Ministers have been offered. Ministers in Wales and Northern Ireland have also sought meetings.

We will keep the Parliament informed of significant developments as the Government is acutely aware of the cross-party interest in this important issue.

Former UK Ambassador to the United States, Lord Mandelson, was present during the First Minister’s discussions with the President and was fully briefed on the First Minister’s objectives for the meeting ahead of their visit to the White House.

During development of the Property Factors (Scotland) Act 2011, careful consideration was given to homeowner redress. The First-tier Tribunal for Scotland was established as an independent judicial body to hear disputes and, where appropriate, issue Property Factor Enforcement Orders (PFEOs).

Failure to comply with a PFEO is formally notified to Scottish Ministers and informs the assessment of whether a property factor remains fit and proper. Ministers’ initial approach is to work with the factor to restore compliance and ensure service standards are met.

Removal from the register is considered only where compliance cannot be achieved, as this prevents the factor from operating anywhere in Scotland and affects all homeowners they serve. Therefore, full consideration of legal requirements, including Tribunal decisions, is essential.

Further to Parliament’s approval of the 2025-26 Scottish Budget on 25 February 2025, the Scottish Government has been engaging closely with NHS boards to support the allocation of resource for new specialist support for Long COVID, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and other similar conditions.

Boards told us that having funding only for a single financial year would be a barrier to their ability to develop new support. Therefore, following further assessment in line with Scottish Government spending controls, we wrote to NHS Board Chief Executives on 18 September to confirm that this funding will now be made available on a recurring basis. This commitment provides the longer term assurance necessary to enable boards to plan on a sustainable basis, and support the recruitment and retention of the skilled members of staff required for the delivery of services.

NHS Boards’ shares of the available 2025-26 funding will be allocated in full on an recurring basis. From the financial year 2026-27 onwards NHS Boards will receive the £4.5 million resource annually.

In 2025-26 the £4.5 million funding is being provided in addition to remaining resource of approximately £3 million from the £10 million long COVID Support Fund (established 2022). The £10 million fund will be fully disbursed by the end of the 2025-26 financial year.

A breakdown is as follows:

Further to Parliament’s approval of the 2025-26 Scottish Budget on 25 February 2025, the Scottish Government has been engaging closely with NHS boards to support the allocation of resource for new specialist support for Long COVID, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and other similar conditions.

Boards told us that having funding only for a single financial year would be a barrier to their ability to develop new support. Therefore, following further assessment in line with Scottish Government spending controls, we wrote to NHS board Chief Executives on 18 September to confirm that this funding will now be made available on a recurring basis. This commitment provides the longer term assurance necessary to enable boards to plan on a sustainable basis, and support the recruitment and retention of the skilled members of staff required for the delivery of services.

NHS boards’ shares of the available 2025-26 funding will be allocated in full on a recurring basis. From the financial year 2026-27 onwards NHS Boards will receive the £4.5 million resource annually.

In 2025-26 the £4.5 million funding is being provided in addition to remaining resource of approximately £3 million from the £10 million long COVID Support Fund (established 2022). The £10 million fund will be fully disbursed by the end of the 2025-26 financial year.

A breakdown is as follows:

Yes, the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office were engaged about the First Minister’s meeting with the President of the United States and fully supported the First Minister’s engagement with the President and the US Government on whisky tariffs. The First Minister was hosted at the British Ambassador’s residence in Washington D.C and was accompanied by the former UK Ambassador to the United States, Lord Mandelson, during his meeting with the President in the Oval Office.

A note of the meeting was taken in accordance with section 11.14 of the Scottish Ministerial Code. A summary of the meeting was published on the Scottish Government website shortly after the First Minister met with President Trump. The statement can be found at: Talks at the White House - gov.scot

The First Minister did not raise Scottish independence during his meeting with President Trump and the US Secretary of State.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-40538 on 25 September 2025, which covered the costs of the current charter agreement between CalMac Ferries Limited and Pentland Ferries Limited. 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