- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 August 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 13 August 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what work has been done to provide extended resources to GP practices that will enable them to provide NHS prescriptions following a private diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Answer
GPs do not require “extended resources” to provide NHS prescriptions following a private diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. GPs are contracted and resourced to provide appropriate ongoing treatment and care to all their patients taking account of their specific needs.
GPs should use their own judgement about what treatment is appropriate for patients who have a private diagnosis of any condition.
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 August 2025
To ask the Scottish Government when the Abnormal Loads Legislative Reform sub-group last met, and what actions were agreed.
Answer
The Abnormal Loads Legislative Reform sub-group last met on 6 December 2024.
At this meeting, Police Scotland committed to an action to develop a proposal for a dedicated police unit to transport abnormal loads associated with onshore wind equipment. The Scottish Government also took an action to investigate any potential issues relating to the creation of a dedicated unit.
- Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 13 August 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-38909 by Jenny Gilruth on 22 July 2025, whether it will provide the information that was requested and confirm whether any additional Barnett consequential funding is available as a result of the UK Government’s reported additional investment for dealing with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in English schools.
Answer
We are not able to determine the detail of any consequential impact of the UK Government’s announcements on additional investment in relation to RAAC. These commitments form part of the UK Government’s decisions on departmental allocations at phase 1 and phase 2 of the UK Spending Review, which covers funding for 2025-26 onwards. At Spending Reviews, the Scottish Government receives additional Barnett funding for the net changes in departmental totals only, rather than being provided with a programme level breakdown.
However, through the £2bn Learning Estate Investment Programme, the Scottish Government will provide local authorities with significant funding support to replace 6 schools which contain RAAC.
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 August 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to reduce the requirement on Police Scotland of having to provide escorts for large vehicles associated with renewable energy projects.
Answer
The Onshore Wind Sector Deal, signed in September 2023, commits the Scottish Government and the onshore wind industry to working with Police Scotland to agree plans to ensure sufficient resources and the timely transportation of abnormal loads related to onshore wind.
Since then, Scottish Government officials have been working collaboratively with Police Scotland, the onshore wind industry and relevant stakeholders to develop a practical and effective approach to managing abnormal load escorts.
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 August 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its publications, Scottish Biodiversity Strategy to 2045 and Scottish Biodiversity Delivery Plan 2024–2030, what action it is taking towards implementing the goal of protecting 30% of the marine environment by 2030.
Answer
Scotland’s Marine Protected Area (MPA) network covers 37% of our seas, meeting the globally agreed target to conserve at least 30% of marine areas through protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures by 2030.
In addition to existing management arrangements, the Scottish Government is committed to introducing fisheries management measures within MPAs where such measures are required but not yet in place. This commitment also extends to a selection of Priority Marine Features (PMFs) located outside the MPA network.
Implementation of fisheries management measures for MPAs in offshore waters (beyond 12 nautical miles) is scheduled for 2025. A public consultation on proposed measures for MPAs and PMFs in inshore waters (within 12 nautical miles) is planned to commence in November 2025.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 13 August 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to incorporate awareness of chronic illnesses in the school curriculum.
Answer
The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all children and young people receive a broad, inclusive, and supportive education that meets their individual needs. Within Curriculum for Excellence, health and wellbeing is a key area of learning and a shared responsibility across the school community.
While the Experiences and Outcomes within Health and Wellbeing and Science currently do not refer explicitly to chronic illnesses, they do provide a framework for exploring the impact of health and wellbeing on learning, resilience, and quality of life. Schools are encouraged to tailor this learning to reflect the needs and experiences of their learners, including increasing awareness and understanding of long-term health conditions where appropriate.
Support for children and young people living with chronic illness is addressed through wider inclusive practices, including the Additional Support for Learning framework and Getting It Right for Every Child (GIRFEC). These policies ensure that individual health needs can be considered through personalised support planning and whole-school approaches to wellbeing.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 August 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what enforcement notices or other regulatory actions the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has issued in relation to the Mossmorran natural gas liquids plant since 1 January 2022, and what remedial steps were required in each case.
Answer
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) have not issued any regulatory enforcement action, as defined in Table A of SEPA guidance on the use of enforcement action, against Shell UK Limited FNGL Plant since 1st January 2022.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 13 August 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the PV2 assessment process remains an appropriate methodology for considering new pedestrian crossings.
Answer
In accordance with current guidance, the Scottish Government’s position is that the assessment process for new pedestrian crossings should address the three main objectives of safety, convenience and accessibility for the most at-risk users. The PV2 assessment process, which identifies suitable crossing facilities based on pedestrian and vehicle numbers at a location, was superseded in 1995. Decisions on suitable pedestrian crossing facilities require a more qualitative approach addressing a variety of site-specific factors. Data relating to pedestrian and vehicle numbers will have relevance to these considerations, but must be viewed in the wider context and should not be used as the sole basis for decisions.
- Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Kate Forbes on 13 August 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow’s turnover came from public entities, such as the Scottish Government, CMAL or Transport Scotland, in each year since it was taken into public ownership.
Answer
Information on the turnover of Ferguson Marine can be found in its published annual accounts. The percentage of Ferguson Marine’s turnover from public entities is a commercial matter for the yard to respond.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 13 August 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to ensure that pupils with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have access to the support that they require.
Answer
Education authorities and other agencies have duties under the Additional Support for Learning Act 2004 to identify, provide for and review the additional support needs of their pupils, which includes those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A formal diagnosis of ADHD is not required before appropriate support is provided in an early learning or school setting.
Education authorities can ask other agencies (including social work services, health boards and Skills Development Scotland) for help in carrying out their duties under the Act.
As well as providing funding for neurodevelopmental support services, in partnership with COSLA we have undertaken a review of the implementation of the National Neurodevelopmental Specification. This will inform improvements to support health boards and local authorities to deliver the Specification.