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The Scottish Government has not made an assessment of the impact of severe weather conditions in Scotland on the port infrastructure supporting private ferry services operated between Scotland and Northern Ireland. Port authorities across Scotland continue to assess the impact of changing conditions on their operations.

Regarding assessment of the impact of severe weather conditions on the road network, our Operating Companies are required to prepare and maintain a Disruption Risk Management Plan. This brings together the range of processes, tools, records, and operational plans that collectively describe the activities undertaken to enable timely and effective action to mitigate the effects of emergencies, as they affect the trunk road network.

The Transport Scotland Manual for the Management of the Risk of Unplanned Network Disruption provides direction to Operating Companies on managing and mitigating the effects of disruptive events, such as those caused by weather events. The on-going recording of events and subsequent revisions to the plans provide a platform for early detection of changing conditions that may have an impact on the network.

Operation Overflow at Castle Kennedy has provided HGV parking facilities for wider civil contingencies issues in the area such as severe weather. Several mobilisations were stood up for severe weather events affecting the Irish Sea ferry operations, with the most recent activation in January 2026.

Transport Scotland officials regularly liaise with UK Government officials across a range of transport issues, but there are no current specific plans to discuss the impact of severe weather on the port infrastructure and road network supporting the ferry services between Scotland and Northern Ireland.

(a) We know that the earlier all cancers, including lobular breast cancer, are diagnosed the easier they are to treat and even cure which is why we continue to invest in our Detect Cancer Earlier (DCE) Programme. Detect Cancer Earlier’s Be The Early Bird campaign launched in March 2023 aiming to reduce fear of cancer and empower those with possible symptoms to act early.

Following successful independent evaluation, the campaign re-ran several times (September 2023, August 2024, March 2025 and September 2025) to prompt health-seeking behaviour, targeting those aged 40+ from areas of deprivation.

The Scottish Referral Guidelines (SRGs) for Suspected Cancer support primary care clinicians to identify those with symptoms suspicious of cancer, including lobular breast, and identify those who require urgent assessment by a specialist. A clinical review of SRGs has been completed with updated guidance published on 6 August 2025.

(b) Breast tomosynthesis, or 3D mammography, is a low-dose X-ray imaging technique that creates 3D images of the breast and is more effective at detecting lobular breast cancers. This advanced technology is now available in all six breast screening centres.

Transport Scotland officials meet regularly with Network Rail to discuss and monitor the resilience of Scotland’s rail infrastructure, especially in the context of our changing climate.

The Scottish Government is committed to the continued investment in our railways, including in strengthening its resilience. It is investing £4.2 billion in Control Period 7, 2024-29, which includes additional spending of circa £400m to improve the network’s resilience to climate change and to strengthen its ability to withstand extreme weather events.

A table has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (BIB Number 66507) that provides delays and cancellations of CalMac Ferries and Serco NorthLink Ferries.

Weather related cancellation and delay figures for CalMac Ferries have been provided to the end of January 2026 as February’s statistics have still to be validated.

The Scottish Government does not hold the information for Orkney Ferries Ltd. You may wish to request this information directly from Orkney Ferries Ltd.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information. The member may wish to request this information directly from Western Ferries and Pentland Ferries which are both privately owned and operated companies.

I refer the member to the answers to question S6W-40743 on 25 September 2025 and question S6W-40895 on 21 October 2025.

As set out, further to Parliament’s approval of the 2025-26 Scottish Budget on 25 February 2025, the Scottish Government engaged 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.

NHS boards were contacted on 10 January 2025 inviting feedback by 22 January on activities which could be delivered and supported by single-year funding of £4.5 million allocated on a non-recurring basis in the financial year 2025-26. A further opportunity to provide feedback was provided on 29 January with feedback invited by 4 February.

Boards told us that having funding only for a single financial year would be a barrier to their ability to develop new support. To enable a case for multi-year funding to be considered, on 2 May NHS boards were requested to provide by 16 May an indicative multi-year proposal covering the financial years 2025-26, 2026-27 and 2027-28. Responses beyond this date were accommodated in instances where NHS boards indicated that additional time was required.

On 6 August NHS boards were requested to provide finalised versions of the indicative proposals supplied in May. Boards were provided with the option of two deadlines for returns, 18 August and 11 September.

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 would 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.

These shares were reflected in NHS boards’ allocation schedules for 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.

Scottish Government Officials within our Directorates for Health and Social Care are engaged with the UK Office for Life Sciences and NHS England in line with the agreement made between Ministers at the Interministerial Group for Health and Social Care to seek where practical common solutions to common challenges and explore - as a priority - the potential for closer collaboration on innovation adoption initiatives to maximise impact and support our life science sector across all 4 nations.

Scottish Government Officials, alongside those from 4 nations have agreed, in principle, to engage collaboratively to maximise the scope and impact of the respiratory modern service framework preliminary market engagement and scope opportunities for Scotland within the future delivery of this framework. This will include ensuring that any opportunities represent the Scottish Health and Care system effectively, aligned to our principles for openness and transparency in working with parties across the independent sector, third sector and academia, and strategic objectives under our Service Renewal Framework, Population Health Framework and Public Sector Reform.

This is an operational matter for ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper. The member may wish to contact them directly for the information.

In addition, the ORR publishes statistical information on performance data regularly. Information can be accessed here: Passenger rail performance | ORR Data Portal

The Scottish Government notes the opinion of the Court of Session that was delivered on 17 February in the appeal by Raeshaw Farms Limited against the Scottish Ministers.

It would not be appropriate to comment further, as this is a live case and could be subject to further legal proceedings.

NHS boards’ shares of the £4.5 million funding for specialist support for long COVID, myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and other similar conditions were included in their funding allocation schedules for September 2025.

In allocating this resource to NHS boards, we have been clear that it should be used entirely for the purpose provided and should not be top-sliced or used for any other purpose.