Seòmar agus comataidhean

The National Framework for Adult Support and Protection (ASP) Learning and Development in Scotland provides a multi-agency, multi-disciplinary resource to ensure that all those involved in supporting and protecting adults are appropriately trained and skilled for their role. It prioritises workforce development and underscores the importance of dialogue, collaboration, and partnership across professional groups. The Framework aims to support a consistent approach across Scotland which can be adapted for local use to enhance existing local training approaches. An implementation plan has been developed and will be delivered by the by the National ASP Coordinator and supported by the multi-agency National Learning and Development Network. This includes work with early adopter sites to provide feedback and a multi-agency review on its use 10 months following publication. Colleagues in learning and development roles within multi-agency local partnerships are in a unique position to support best practice. They can develop the knowledge and skills required in practitioners across all organisations and services, promoting multi-agency, multi-service shared learning.

The Scottish Government remains committed to ensuring that all children and young people who require access to services are able to receive the best possible care and support wherever possible and benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put the patient at the centre of their care.

Whilst the Scottish Government provides the policies, frameworks and resources for high quality health care in Scotland, it is for each NHS Board to decide how best to deliver those services to meet the needs of the population to ensure they can provide safe and effective care for their patients. Operational matters - including staffing - are in the first instance the responsibility of the relevant NHS Board. This will depend on the service needs of each Board taking account of national, regional and local priorities, and we expect NHS Boards to plan and provide safe, effective and high-quality care, in line with their statutory service provision and workforce planning responsibilities.

All UK undergraduate education and training programmes recognised as a route into registered practice as a nurse or midwife are approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), which is the independent statutory regulator of these professions (and, in England, Nursing Associates). Nurses and midwives must comply with the NMC Code, which sets out the expected standards of professional practice in key areas such as prioritising people, practising effectively, preserving safety and promoting professionalism and trust. Registrants are also required to revalidate periodically, to demonstrate that they are keeping their skills and knowledge up to date and maintaining safe and effective practice. A key requirement of the NMC Code is that registrants must not undertake tasks for which they are not appropriately qualified and experienced.

The Scottish Government convened a Supplementary Staffing Task and Finish Group in late 2022 which, amongst other things, sought to strengthen arrangements for the recruitment and on-boarding of all bank staff. This resulted in the provision of additional guidance to Health Boards that highlighted the role of interviews, professional registration checks and induction shifts as mechanisms for ensuring bank staff demonstrated the necessary skills, knowledge and familiarity with services, systems and processes required to support the delivery of high-quality care. This aligns with the NMCCode (2018), which states that registrants are expected to ‘work within the limits of their competence’. Bank nursing staff, alongside others, have a professional responsibility to seek support, training and education as necessary to practise safely and to protect the public. This includes those working in psychiatric units. The Scottish Government recognises that demand for mental health support continues to grow along with a rise in complex support and services and ongoing staffing vacancies in some roles. This is why we are implementing the actions contained in the Mental Health and Wellbeing Workforce Action Plan that was published jointly with COSLA and the agreed actions from the Scottish Mental Health Nursing Review Report.

The National Framework for Adult Support and Protection (ASP) Learning and Development in Scotland provides a multi-agency, multi-disciplinary resource to ensure that all those involved in supporting and protecting adults are appropriately trained and skilled for their role. It prioritises workforce development and underscores the importance of dialogue, collaboration, and partnership across professional groups. The Framework aims to support a consistent approach across Scotland which can be adapted for local use to enhance existing local training approaches. An implementation plan has been developed and will be delivered by the by the National ASP Coordinator and supported by the multi-agency National Learning and Development Network. This includes work with early adopter sites to provide feedback and a multi-agency review on its use 10 months following publication. Colleagues in learning and development roles within multi-agency local partnerships are in a unique position to support best practice. They can develop the knowledge and skills required in practitioners across all organisations and services, promoting multi-agency, multi-service shared learning.

(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.

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.

Since the new representations process was introduced on 16 January 2026, members of the public are expected to send representations about applications for energy consent via the Energy Consents Unit portal. This process replaces emailed representations for all new consultation windows.

The change of process was made following feedback from the public that their representations were not being processed quickly enough, were not displayed clearly, and there was inadequate assurance that representations had been received and would be considered by Scottish Ministers. The portal-based submissions system addresses these concerns and will streamline the administrative handling of virtual representations, while maintaining equivalent accessibility for all members of the public.

The option to send written representations by post remains available for those who cannot or prefer not to use digital platforms, ensuring no group is excluded from participating.

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.

Consumer protection including the price of heat is a reserved matter. We are working with the UK Government and Ofgem to support the introduction of GB-wide heat network authorisations under the UK Energy Act 2023. Authorisations came into effect in January 2026 and will introduce rules around fair pricing, clear and transparent billing and other protections for heat network customers for the first time.

Both the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action & Energy and I have recently written to the UK Government to ask what action it plans to take to address the cost of electricity for heat networks. We await a response on this.

Meanwhile, we are developing further Scottish regulation under the Heat Networks (Scotland) Act 2021 and the future Buildings (Heating and Energy Performance) and Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill which will, in time, allow scrutiny of the expected outcomes and impacts on end users before projects begin construction. In March 2026 we will launch a public consultation on heat network licence proposals which will also set out our future plans in this area, in line with my statement to Parliament on 18 November 2026.

Our Heat Network Support Unit (HNSU) offers advice and grant funding for the pre-capital stages development including for feasibility studies, Outline Business Cases and strategic heat network support for local authorities to build on their Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies (LHEES). To date, the HNSU has formally supported 55 pre-capital projects in 18 local authority areas, with the Scottish Government committing approximately £3.2 million of financial support. The HNSU also hosts a District Heating Mentoring Programme in collaboration with the Danish Board of District Heating and the Royal Danish Embassy to link Scottish local authorities directly with district heating experience from Denmark to build the capacity and skills required to deliver district heating.

Scotland’s Heat Network Fund (SHNF) provides capital grant funding to public and private sector organisations to support the rollout of zero-emission heat networks across Scotland which meet key criteria including to provide low carbon and affordable heat to end users. In total, through the SHNF and its predecessor, the Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme, Scottish Government has committed approximately £62.6 million to 19 heat network projects, 11 of which are local authority led.

The Scottish Government recognises the important role that community organisations play in identifying and developing local energy solutions and encourage local authorities to undertake community engagement as part of their development of heat networks. As heat networks are inherently local assets, local authority involvement can help to align projects with LHEES and other local plans, and secure third party, private investment where needed. We are currently considering options for community heat network support.

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.