- Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 February 2026
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 24 February 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the potential role of a
respiratory Modern Service Framework, as introduced in England, in reducing winter pressures on NHS
services in Scotland by simultaneously improving outcomes for long-term
respiratory conditions and short-term respiratory illnesses such as the flu.
Answer
The Scottish Government is aware of calls from respiratory stakeholders in England for a Modern Service Framework focused on respiratory care. To clarify, the UK Government has not introduced such a framework. Modern Service Frameworks are being developed for major conditions such as cardiovascular disease and dementia, but respiratory conditions are not currently included.
In Scotland, we continue to monitor emerging approaches from across the UK while taking forward our own long term, evidence informed approach.
The Scottish Governments strategic direction for respiratory care is currently set through the Respiratory Care Action Plan for Scotland. This work supports resilience across the health system throughout the year, including during periods of increased pressure. Prioritising prevention, early detection and effective long term management helps reduce avoidable exacerbations which often drive urgent and unscheduled demand during winter.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 February 2026
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 24 February 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what legal advice it has received regarding pupils' rights to opt out of religious observance in schools.
Answer
Scottish Government does not disclose the content of legal advice it receives. This is in accordance with longstanding practice and the principle of legal professional privilege and ensures that Ministers can receive full and frank advice on all relevant matters.
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 February 2026
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 24 February 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to implementing Modern Service Frameworks, as introduced in England.
Answer
The Scottish Government is aware of the development of Modern Service Frameworks in England for major conditions such as cardiovascular disease and dementia. For clarity, these are being developed by the UK Government but have not yet been formally introduced.
In Scotland, our policy is guided by our own strategic frameworks, including the NHS Scotland Operational Improvement Plan, Scotland's Population Health Framework and the Health and Social Care Service Renewal Framework. Together, these set out our shared long-term vision for reforming and renewing health and social care services.
This work is underpinned by a ten-year programme focused on prevention, person-centred care, strengthened community services, digital innovation, and addressing the root causes of poor health.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 February 2026
-
Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 24 February 2026
To ask the Scottish Government how many retail workers have been threatened with weapons, including knives or machetes, in each of the last three years.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not have the information requested as the data we receive from Police Scotland is a simple count of the number and type of crimes and offences recorded. While we do hold data on Threatening and abusive behaviour of a retail worker, we do not hold further details as to whether any of these crimes involved a weapon, including knives or machetes.
The number of recorded crimes of Threatening and abusive behaviour of a retail worker in the last three years, from the most recent data available, is provided in the following table.
Police recorded crimes of threatening and abusive behaviour of a retail worker, year ending September 2023 to 2025, Scotland.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 February 2026
-
Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 24 February 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its publication, Our Health and Social Care App: MyCare.scot - National Rollout High-Level Summary, what the total annual estimated cost is of building and operating the MyCare.scot app in each financial year from 2025-26 to 2029-30.
Answer
The Full Business Case for the Digital Front Door (DFD) programme has been approved and includes a range of financial projections over the five-year period, and delivery options. The wider DFD programme includes the delivery of the MyCare.scot app and all associated non-digital support that is required.
The DFD programme represents a significant, long-term investment in Scotland’s digital health and care infrastructure, spanning build and operation phases over a ten-year horizon. DFD’s purpose is to transform how people across Scotland access and interact with health and social care services, through development and delivery of digital channels including MyCare.scot
DFD encompasses more than the MyCare.scot app alone. It includes the design, build and operation of the underlying common and reusable platform infrastructure, organisational readiness across all implementing organisations, digital inclusion, equality and accessibility work, staff costs and ongoing service development in response to user needs.
The business case brings together capital and revenue needs for the whole programme and has been developed in line with best practice guidance for major IT and digital programmes.
Funding has been allocated to a number of delivery partners to support implementation of the wider programme. A total of £17.650 million has been allocated to NHS Education for Scotland (NES), including £12 million confirmed for financial year 2025-26. Funding beyond 2025-2026 remains subject to future budget approval through the normal Scottish Budget process. A detailed breakdown of expenditure to date is set out in the answer to question S6W-39294 on 29 July 2025.
The costs of MyCare.scot cannot be isolated from the wider DFD programme costs without misrepresenting the programmes overall scope. These figures therefore reflect the full DFD programme, of which MyCare.scot is the central delivery:
2026-27 - Capital £10.4m, Revenue £28.3m
2027-28 - Capital £9.7m, Revenue £31.2m
2028-29 - Capital £3.2m, Revenue £28.5m
2029-30 - Capital £3.2m, Revenue £21.1m
These estimated figures exclude optimism bias, which has been considered as part of the Business Case process, in line with best practice guidance.
The Digital Front Door programme is aligned with the Scottish Government Service Reform agenda and supports delivery of the Operational Improvement Plan, the Population Health Framework, and the Health and Social Care Service Reform Framework. It contributes to improving access to services, strengthening workforce capability and supporting sustainable reform across health and social care.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 February 2026
-
Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 24 February 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of Police Scotland officer time is currently spent on non-crime-related activity.
Answer
This information is not held by the Scottish Government as the deployment of officers is a matter for the Chief Constable.
The Scottish Government recognises the hard work and valuable contribution that officers make daily to protecting our communities and is committed to reducing wider demands on policing. We are doing this by supporting initiatives such as Digital Evidence Sharing Capability and Summary Case Management, which has helped reduce the number of police officers having to attend court to give evidence. We have also continued with our delivery on Programme for Government commitments since 2023 to reducing mental health demands on police officers through improved frontline multi-agency responses.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 February 2026
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 24 February 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the budget for the Young Patients Family Fund being reduced by almost £2 million since its launch, what action it will take to ensure that sufficient resources are available to expand the fund’s eligibility criteria to include all children and under 25s, as proposed by the charity, Young Lives vs Cancer, and the UK Government accepting the charity’s proposal for a £10 million young cancer patient travel fund.
Answer
The Young Patients Family Fund (YPFF) is designed to support the families of all babies, children and young people from birth to age 18 who require inpatient care in Scotland, regardless of diagnosis.
The YPFF is a demand-led fund and the Scottish Government has ensured full funding against demand in each year since its launch on 26 July 2021. The 2025-26 budget has been set based on expected demand levels and the Scottish Government remains committed to provide full funding for the YPFF in 2025-26.
Financial support for travel to hospital appointments is available through the patient travel expenses reimbursement schemes. Under these schemes, patients and authorised escorts may reclaim reasonable travel costs associated with attending hospital appointments, subject to eligibility criteria and clinical requirements. These arrangements apply across Scotland and provide support to eligible young people and their families irrespective of condition.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 February 2026
-
Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 24 February 2026
To ask the Scottish Government how many prosecutions have been brought under the Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Act 2021 in each year since its enactment.
Answer
The following table provides data on proceedings under the Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Act 2021.
The most recent information on proceedings and convictions is available for the financial year 2023-24.
Number of people prosecuted in Scottish courts under the Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Act 2021, where main charge, 2021-22 to 2023-24.
| | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 |
Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Act 2021 | 28 | 173 | 429 |
Source: Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings database.
Please note: data for 2021-22 and 2022-23 are affected by the pandemic, subsequent court closures, reduced court capacity due to physical distancing measures and delays to cases where key participants were forced to self-isolate after testing positive for COVID-19, and the subsequent court recovery from the pandemic and may not be considered indicative of long term trends.
- Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 February 2026
-
Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 24 February 2026
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the responses, including its own, to the consultation on a cruise ship levy.
Answer
The Scottish Government continues to review relevant evidence and analysis as part of our ongoing consideration of a cruise ship levy. This work has been delayed given the need to focus on preparing the Visitor Levy (Amendment) Bill, which is currently progressing through Parliament. The formal analysis of the cruise ship levy publication consultation will be published in the coming weeks.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 February 2026
-
Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 24 February 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-35293 by Paul McLennan on 7 March 2025, when it plans to publish the next local authority analysis for the Scottish House Condition Survey.
Answer
Further to the response provided in question S6W-35293;
The Scottish Government publishes local authority analysis using a three-year pooled data set to ensure sufficient sample sizes. As set out in the Scottish House Condition Survey 2023 Key Findings Report (available at Scottish House Condition Survey: 2023 Key Findings - gov.scot) the lack of SHCS data for 2020 and the enforced changes for 2021 cause issues with the production of this analysis for two reasons.
Firstly, there is no SHCS data for 2020 so we cannot produce a three-year average for the 2019 to 2022 survey years. Secondly, the data from the 2021 external+ SHCS is not directly comparable with that from other survey years due to the methodological differences and it would therefore not be appropriate to combine it with the data for 2022 or 2023 to produce a multi-year average.
With the publication of the 2024 SHCS key findings report, on February 24th 2026, we will have a three year pooled data set (2022-2024), and a Local Authority level analysis will follow.
We have pre announced these statistics for publication in May 2026 and will confirm the date in due course.
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.
