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The Scottish Government recognises the important contribution that the Scottish Drugs Forum (SDF) has in delivering services to people who use substances. The Scottish Government has provided funding to the SDF for a number of projects over the past five years (2021-22 – 2025-26) from both Alcohol and Drugs Policy and Sexual Health and Blood Borne Viruses Policy.

A list of SDF projects delivered with Scottish Government funding is provided below. Total funding for each year is provided in response to question S6W-43679 on 25 February 2026.

Drugs Policy Funded Projects by year

2021-22

The Scottish Government notes that SFC’s 2024–25 guidance directed colleges to prioritise senior-phase pupils and cap activity outwith the senior phase at 1.5% of credits, and colleges have responded accordingly. Senior-phase enrolments rose by around 7% to over 30,000, while primary and S1–S3 enrolments fell by 19.2%. This shift shows that colleges are directing capacity toward senior-phase learners and 16–24-year-olds. Given the small, capped, and declining scale of activity for younger pupils, the Government assesses that their enrolment does not constrain colleges’ ability to meet demand from priority age groups.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43703 on 20 February 2026.

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

College enrolments for school pupils b demonstrate the important role colleges play in supporting an improved learner journey for all age groups. Between 2023-24 and 2024-25 enrolments below the senior phase fell by 19.2% (from 11,420 to 9,230), while senior-phase enrolments rose by 7.4% (from 27,950 to 30,030), in line with Scottish Funding Council (SFC) guidance directing colleges to prioritise senior-phase learners and limit activity for younger pupils to 1.5% of credits. Given this clear shift in activity, the small and regulated scale of below-senior-phase provision, and the safeguards in SFC credit guidance to avoid duplication of funding between schools and colleges, the Government considers current enrolment levels to represent value for money. SFC has confirmed that it will review this approach for future years in consultation with the sector.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is conducting a Service Delivery Review (SDR) to enable the organisation to respond to current and future risks. SFRS acknowledges that it cannot eliminate risk but it aims to reduce risk to a point where it is manageable, proportionate, and consistent with its legal and statutory duties, strategic aims, and the benefits that the proposed changes in the SDR are expected to deliver.

If SFRS considers the risk to be manageable, well understood, controlled and proportionate it can consider this tolerable. Throughout the SDR, SFRS has identified associated risks to demonstrate sound process and methodology to its approach. This allows SFRS to have informed data led considerations, based on evidence, robust modelling and professional judgement to maintain crew, partner and public safety while delivering organisational improvement within its allocated budget.

An agreement in principle between the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) and the Fire Brigades Union on additional duties for Scottish firefighters has been in place since 2022. However, the anticipated cost of this agreement has meant the proposal has been unaffordable over the last 3 financial years. The Scottish Government continues to work closely with SFRS concerning options for the expansion of the role of firefighters, which is a priority included in the Fire and Rescue Framework for Scotland 2022.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) do not systematically record all of this information but reports that they are aware of the following:

This information is not held centrally. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) publishes its incident statistics annually in October. SFRS’s latest incident statistics can be found on its website at Statistics | Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

The Charter of Patient Rights and Responsibilities (Patient Charter) was established by the Patient Rights(Scotland) Act 2011 which enshrined the right to request a second opinion. It works along with the Scottish Patient Safety Programme’s work in the recognition, response and review of deteriorating patients which includes a strong focus on listening to and acting on the concerns of patients, their families, carers and staff, to ensure action is taken.

It also sets out the rights of everybody in Scotland when using the NHS, including the right that the health care they receive will consider their needs, and what would most benefit their health and wellbeing, encouraging them to take part in decisions about their health and wellbeing, and providing them with the information and support they need to do so.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6O-05505 on 12 February 2026. All answers to Oral Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at Meeting of the Parliament: 12/02/2026 | Scottish Parliament Website