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The following table sets out the total number of premises currently contracted to receive connections through the R100 North contract by 2028, the number of premises connected as of 31 January 2026 and the number of premises yet to be connected as of the same date. Further information can be found on the Scottish Government’s Data Insights webpage at https://digitalconnectivity.campaign.gov.scot/data-insights.

Our demand-led R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (SBVS) remains available for those not expected to benefit from superfast broadband through R100 contract or commercial build plans.

The Scottish Government wants people to be treated as close to home as clinically possible. However, it may not always be possible for Health Boards to provide access locally for all patients and for all services where Health Boards are, for example, constrained by geography or specialist services. In addition, some patients may be offered alternatives out with their local health board area to reduce their waiting time.

We continue to work with NHS Boards to limit the need for travel where possible and clinically appropriate. This includes through increased use of digital and technological solutions, such as Near Me, to improve flexibility of care.

Where travel is necessary, the Scottish Government expects local Health Boards to work collaboratively with each other and transport providers to make suitable arrangements to ensure that the necessary treatment can be provided in a patient-centred way and that disruption to key appointments is kept to a minimum.

Financial support for travel is available for patients and authorised escorts, according to eligibility criteria and medical requirements.

All Boards are expected to support patients and their families in identifying and accessing available support and Board patient travel contacts can provide advice on eligibility and assistance available with bookings and advance payments, where necessary.

Since 2020, the Scottish Government has awarded over £150 million to support the bus sector transition to zero-emission fleets. This is comprised of:

• £50 million through the Scottish Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme (SULEBS) to deliver 272 ultra-low emission buses and associated infrastructure.
• £62 million through the first phase of the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB1) supporting delivery of 276 zero-emission buses and associated infrastructure.
• £368,000 through the Market Transition Scheme to help SME operators plan their transition to zero-emission fleets; and,
• £41.7 million through ScotZEB2 to support delivery of around 252 zero-emission buses and associated infrastructure

Up to £45 million through ScotZEB3 has been made available over the next two financial years to continue this progress and support the sector ahead of new zero-emission requirements under the UK Bus Services Act 2025.

In addition, the Scottish Government is supporting a just transition through targeted investment in workforce skills, including £400,000 through the Zero Emission HDV Skills Challenge Fund to help operators and supply-chain staff prepare for zero-emission technologies.

We are also supporting community-based transport providers through the Plugged-in Communities fund, which has made £4 million available in its latest round, building on over £4.2 million already awarded to support zero-emission vehicles and charging infrastructure for community operators.

Decisions on any future national strategy will be for the new administration to consider after the Scottish Parliament election in May.

Under the current administration, we have been working to improve prevention of young sudden cardiac death (SCD) through delivery of the Heart Disease Action Plan (2021) and the Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Strategy (2021-2026).

We funded the West of Scotland Inherited Cardiac Conditions Service to strengthen the SCD pathway, including screening first-degree relatives affected by SCD. This project has received national scale-up funding from the British Heart Foundation.

Health Boards might arrange treatment for some patients outwith NHS Scotland in exceptional circumstances. In all cases, the originating Health Board retains responsibility for funding consultation, diagnosis and treatment for their patients and we expect Scottish NHS Boards to have appropriate processes in place to enable this access.

The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. The Scottish Ambulance Service, which holds the licence for the GoodSAM app in Scotland may be able to provide this information.

The Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB) contributes to Scotland's Net Zero transport targets by supporting the bus sector to transition to zero emissions. To date, £104 million has been awarded through ScotZEB to support delivery of 528 zero-emission buses and associated charging infrastructure, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality across Scotland. A further £45 million is being invested through the third and final phase of the scheme (ScotZEB3) over the next two financial years.

Through encouraging investment, building skills, and providing long-term certainty to operators, ScotZEB supports immediate emission-reduction milestones and the broader shift to a cleaner, more sustainable public transport system.

Transport Scotland is undertaking consultation and engagement on the strategic approaches for the M8 Woodside Viaducts Permanent Solution project through the current public exhibition process, which runs until 25 March. This consultation is open to all stakeholders, including users of the wider trunk road network such as the M74. In addition to holding two in-person public exhibitions in Glasgow on 25 February at Dundasvale Residents Hall and 4 March at Woodside Halls, a virtual exhibition room was launched on 25 February, to allow those unable to attend the in-person events to view the exhibition material and provide feedback. To maximise awareness and participation, Transport Scotland has taken a range of proactive steps to promote the consultation, including:

The Scottish Government acknowledges the Scottish Health Technologies Group recommendations regarding specialist interventions for managing chronic non-malignant pain in adults. NHS Scotland is required to consider SHTG recommendations and discussions are underway to understand how those recommendations can inform sustainable, consistent and effective service delivery across Scotland.

We continue to work with work with clinicians, third sector organisations and people with lived experience of chronic pain to deliver the actions in our Pain Management Service Delivery Framework.

We have set out the wider policy within which NHS Scotland is expected to deliver services and expect all NHS Boards, including NHS Highland, to provide high quality care that is safe, effective and person-centred. We expect that decisions about the appropriateness of treatment for chronic pain, or specific medications for pain management, will be made by the clinician in discussion with the patient to ensure the most suitable treatment is made available based on their medical history.

The Scottish Government is committed to introducing 20mph limits on appropriate roads across Scotland by the end of March 2026. Of the 75 locations on the trunk road network that were assessed as being appropriate for a reduced speed limit. Good progress has been made in implementing these with 64 already having a 20mph speed limit in place. 10 of the remaining locations are currently programmed to have a 20mph speed limit in place by 31 March 2026. The exception is the A78 in Greenock. While Transport Scotland will have the necessary Temporary Traffic Regulation Order made and associated works on the trunk road complete by 31 March, the 20mph speed limit will not become live until Inverclyde Council complete their works on the adjacent side roads. Inverclyde Council have indicated that this will be done on 27 April.