Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-40522 on 29 September 2025. 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.

The Digital Front Door programme has progressed over the summer to ensure we launch the Health & Social Care online app this year. In recent months, the programme has worked collaboratively with stakeholders on technical delivery, organisational readiness and branding of the service.

Following the conclusion of the work on branding, I am pleased to confirm Scotland’s app will be called MyCare. Like any digital service, good practice means the first version of MyCare will be evaluated thoroughly in Lanarkshire before it is rolled out across Scotland for the population from April 2026. With the delivery of MyCare, Scotland’s app will go further than other models proposed elsewhere in the UK and will support services in both health and social care.

Furthermore, today the Scottish Government has published an update on our approach to rolling out MyCare.scot across Scotland and the anticipated timelines. Members can read this publication at: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806431717

Scottish Government officials have attended four governance meetings between Scottish Ministers and senior NDA officials in the last five years. Scottish Ministers also have a role in approving governance documents such as the NDA Business Plan and NDA Strategy documents. This requirement is enshrined in the 2004 Energy Act.

The Scottish Government’s formal role in NDA governance is underpinned by a strong partnership approach to ensure NDA are implementing devolved policies and contributing their expertise to our future policy development. For example, Scottish Government Officials are also members of a number of UK wide networks that oversee key themes related to the NDA’s work.

The Scottish Government understands the importance of sport and physical activity for women and girls in Scotland and the positive impact that has on their physical, mental, and social health across all stages in life. We recognise the importance of having a proper fitting sports bra to support women and girls in sport and physical activity, and to reduce barriers to participation.

The Female Athlete Performance Working Group at the sportscotland Institute of Sport has developed a range of resources for female athletes and anyone supporting and working with girls and women in sport at any level. This includes a learning module on bras and breast health, amongst other female athlete health modules. These are available on Brightspace, free of charge. These modules have been promoted by a number of Scottish Governing Bodies of Sport, as well as through our national agency for sport, sportscotland.

The two main pieces of dog control legislation are the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (“the 1991 Act”) and the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 (“the 2010 Act”). In general terms, Police Scotland will deal with offences under the 1991 Act, and local authority dog wardens will deal with matters under the 2010 Act.

The training of police officers in relation to the enforcement of the 1991 Act is an operational matter for Police Scotland to consider. Equally, the training of local authority dog wardens is an operational matter for local authorities.

The Scottish Government is committed to ongoing engagement with Police Scotland, local authorities and other relevant stakeholders, in order to consider any issues, concerns, or barriers to effective dog control enforcement including in relation to how best dogs can be identified.

Earlier this year the Scottish Government provided Police Scotland with funding to assist with the training of police officers who would be tasked with identifying prohibited dog breeds. Separately, the National Dog Warden Association also received funding from the Scottish Government to help improve how dog wardens are trained.

Please see the news release issued by the Scottish Government on 8 April 2025 for details: https://www.gov.scot/news/investing-in-community-safety/.

The Centre for Good Relations has been grant funded to carry out three strands of work – civic diplomacy in relation to marches and parades; civic mediation and facilitation of dialogue in relation to protest and demonstrations; and steward and marshal training for those involved in organising and running processions and protests.

This work is funded and delivered on the submission of a business plan, a condition of which is the completion of quarterly reports with clear deliverables and an annual review. Additionally, feedback sought from stakeholders who engage with the Centre for Good Relations has continued to be positive. This ensures that the Centre for Good Relations continues to effectively address community tensions and improve the quality of stewarding for marches, parades and protests.

The breakdown of funding is set out in the following table:

Since the question, S6W-00259, was answered in 2021, the Scottish National Centre for Craniofacial Surgery for Children & Young People in Glasgow has introduced craniofacial endoscopic strip craniectomy with helmet therapy.

Endoscopic strip craniectomy (ESC) is a minimally invasive surgical procedure offered as a treatment choice for children who meet specific clinical criteria presenting to the craniofacial clinic under 16 weeks of age. It is estimated that approximately 20 endoscopic procedures will be undertaken in Glasgow per year.

As a result of the introduction of ESC in Glasgow, NHS National Services Scotland’s National Services Directorate, who commission the craniofacial service, have no plans to review the pathway to Great Ormond Street Hospital for craniofacial therapy.

The referral pathway guidance was last revised in 2023, reflecting the changing landscape and improving specialist expertise within NHS Scotland, and the Scottish National Centre’s understanding of the need to operate within the critical window. This guidance is next due for review in July 2026.

The Scottish Government can confirm that the first meeting of the Strategic Business Forum on 28 August, which I chaired. Attendees included leads from a range of sectors as well as Business Representative Organisations and the discussion focussed on priority areas for the economy in the next Scottish Budget, the Scottish Spending Review and Public Sector Reform.

Representatives attended from Scottish Chambers of Commerce, FSB Scotland, IoD Scotland, CBI Scotland, Prosper, Scottish Retail Consortium, Scottish Tourism Alliance as well as industry leaders representing the Construction, Energy, Life Sciences, Aerospace & Defence, Retail, Space, Forestry & Wood and Chemical Sciences sectors.

The total cost of chartering MV Alfred, from the commencement of the charter in April 2023 to the end of September 2024, amounted to £16.2m. From October 2024 onwards i.e. the beginning of CY9, costs are estimated to be in the region of £1m per month. The current charter agreement with Pentland Ferries will conclude at the end of December 2025.

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.