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We are working with all health boards to develop a whole-system NHS infrastructure plan. This will reflect on needs across Scotland and support continued safe operation of existing facilities, as well as determination of longer term investment priorities. The National Treatment Centre (NTC) programme is currently paused and the development of the NTC Ayrshire and Arran remains under review at the current time.

As detailed in the 2025-26 budget, we are funding a £139 million additional investment across NHS infrastructure to support improvement and renewal. We will seek to progress the development of business cases projects and invest an extra £20 million in equipment to bolster productivity. Any final decision to progress to construction will be subject to the outcome of the Scottish Government Investment Infrastructure pipeline.

Social Security Scotland is successfully delivering 16 benefits - seven of them only available in Scotland. Since it was established in 2018 it has provided essential support to help more than one million people heat their homes, feed their families and meet the additional costs of disability.

The importance of value for money is clearly stated in the unanimously agreed Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 and was reiterated by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance in her Medium Term Financial Strategy statement on 25 June where she set out Social Security Scotland’s “focus on how to process and deliver benefits with dignity, fairness and respect, while driving important efficiency savings and ensuring that people access the support they are entitled to.”

Following discussions facilitated by the Scottish Government between the Scottish Ambulance Service and trade unions, a working group has been established to seek to resolve the complex issues surrounding rest break compliance. The group will meet fortnightly, with an oversight group established which includes representation from the Scottish Government. This oversight group will meet regularly to monitor the progress of the working group.

We recognise the critical importance of ensuring that patients can access targeted cancer medicines promptly when associated genomic tests are required.

The development of a sustainable and more reactive funding model for genomic testing is a core commitment within the Genomics in Scotland strategy. Work to develop new funding mechanisms continues to progress, however, this process takes time and significant negotiation across Scottish Government and the entirety of the NHS in Scotland.

The Scottish Government remains committed to delivering equitable access to genomic tests associated with Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) approved medicines without unnecessary delay.

Our Programme for Government 2025-26 sets out a range of actions to make it easier for businesses in Scotland to grow and prosper, secure investment and compete globally. Working in tandem with the Scottish Government, our enterprise agencies are focused on helping businesses to grow. They provide financial support to businesses in the form of grant funding, equity investments and loans. They also provide a broad range of expert support and advice, including helping businesses to access finance and attract other investment to support their growth. Information on the enterprise agencies’ support for businesses within the last 5 years can be found in their annual reports and accounts, which are published on their websites.

Businesses in Scotland of all sizes, and in all sectors, can access support from the enterprise agencies and other public sector organisations through the ‘Find Business Support’ website. The Scottish Government does not collate information on the percentage of eligible businesses accessing public sector support.

The Biosecurity for Scotland project is currently leading a series of co-design workshops to develop a plan for a long-term biosecurity programme and discussions are taking place around securing funding for this work beyond March 2026. The project has received over £350,000 from the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund.

In addition, work is underway on developing a Scottish Plan for Invasive Non-native Species Prevention, Surveillance and Control which we aim to publish later this year. In developing our plan we will be considering what measures we need to put in place to ensure the continued biosecurity of Scotland’s islands. In particular we recognise that it is vital that Scotland’s globally important seabird populations are protected from invasive mammalian predators such as rats and mice. Discussions are underway with NatureScot and stakeholders to ensure the new National Islands Plan features tangible actions in support of our islands’ biosecurity, including in relation to invasive non-native species.

We are committed to developing Just Transition Plans that provide certainty for workers and communities. To that end, we published our draft Transport Just Transition Plan in February, our Grangemouth Just Transition Plan in June, and we intend to publish the consultation on our Land Use and Agriculture plan later this summer.

The judgements and issues we are considering will be informed and influenced by recent developments in the UK Government’s energy policy and court decisions. We are taking time and care to analyse the impact of these developments on Scotland. Our just transition planning to date will also be reflected in the next Climate Change Plan, which will be published in draft form later this year.

The Core Scottish Government reports the following figures for waste generated by its operations across premises over the past five financial years:

• 2019-2020: 1,497 tonnes total waste , includes 92.76 tonnes of landfilled waste
• 2020-2021: 867 tonnes total waste, includes 128.94 tonnes of landfilled waste
• 2021-2022: 1,648 tonnes total waste, includes 136.72. tonnes of landfilled waste
• 2022-2023: 1,760 tonnes total waste, includes 69.28 tonnes of landfilled waste
• 2023-2024: 1,127 tonnes total waste , includes 58.61 tonnes of landfilled waste

No landfilled waste was sent to England during this period.

The Core Scottish Government does not forecast future waste generation. Waste data is reported retrospectively after the end of each financial year.

The Core Scottish Government remains committed to reducing all forms of waste across its operations and continues to implement measures to improve sustainability and resource efficiency.

As set out in answer S6W-38507, Scottish Government recognises that throughout their career, employees, including radiologists and oncologists, will face differing demands on their time and energies at home as well as at work which may lead to them leaving the workforce below the age of 50.

The national ‘Supporting Work Life Balance’ workforce policies provide staff with a range of flexible working options to help them to balance their lifestyle whilst maintaining and promoting the best possible service to our patients and service users.

Further, Scottish Government are supporting staff throughout the NHS, including radiologists and oncologists, through funding of over £2.5m annually to support staff wellbeing. Evidence shows that positive wellbeing enhances staff retention and engagement, which in turn raises standards of patient safety and quality of care.

This funding provides our workforce with access to psychological interventions and therapies, self-service resources through the National Wellbeing Hub and the National Wellbeing Helpline delivered by NHS 24. Registered staff also have access to confidential mental health services through the Workforce Specialist Service (WSS).

Following discussions facilitated by the Scottish Government between the Scottish Ambulance Service and trade unions, a working group has been established to seek to resolve the complex issues surrounding rest break compliance. The group will meet fortnightly, with an oversight group established which includes representation from the Scottish Government. This oversight group will meet regularly to monitor the progress of the working group.