Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43303 on 5 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.

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

The most recent assessment of the condition of Scotland’s road network is contained in Chapter 4 of the 2024 National Transport Statistics document, which was last published in March 2025 (National Transport Statistics).

The appointments per week on average delivered using the Near Me service in each financial year are detailed in the following table. There are no data for group calls prior to January 2022, and data for period 2025-2026 have been collected until the end of January 2026.

A total of 164 Clinical Radiology specialty training places were advertised for recruitment in Scotland over the last five years. The breakdown per year is: 34 in 2021, 37 in 2022, 36 in 2023, 23 in 2024, and 34 in 2025. All of these posts were filled successfully.

While part funded by the Scottish Government, Near Me is also funded by and delivered through partner organisations. As a result, the Scottish Government does not centrally hold the information required to provide a ‘cost per appointment’. However, I can confirm that in 2025-26 the Scottish Government contributed £1,640,000 to the service.

The current contract ends in March 2027 and we will be considering service delivery and expenditure based on future requirement.

Scottish Canals is sponsored by Transport Scotland and operates within a well-established governance and accountability framework that ensures robust oversight of its performance, delivery and use of public funds.

This includes compliance with its Framework Document, regular sponsorship meetings and Ministerial engagement, scrutiny of corporate and business plans, monitoring of performance data, oversight of financial management and annual accounts in line with the Scottish Public Finance Manual. Officials also attend Board meetings. In my Ministerial capacity, I also meet with Scottish Canals’ Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board regularly to discuss and review performance.

Together, these arrangements provide continuous assurance over Scottish Canals’ governance, delivery and stewardship of public funds.

Neil Gray: Public Services Delivery Scotland (PSDS), formerly known as NHS Delivery, will be established on 1 April 2026. It will bring together the functions - and existing budgets - of NSS and NES under the Common Services Agency, building on the strengths of both existing organisations. The Scottish Budget provides a real-terms increase to the combined legacy NES and NSS budgets, in line with the approach applied across Health Boards. This reflects non-recurring funding moving into baseline, new recurring allocations, a 2% baseline uplift, and additional pay cover. Together, these elements take PSD Scotland’s baseline funding to £1,275.1 million in 2026-27. While the organisation’s priorities and strategic direction will continue to be shaped by Ministerial expectations and national policy objectives, it will be for PSDS to set out its detailed financial plan within this overall funding envelope.

Animal and Plant Health Agency undertake either scheduled inspections of salmon slaughter facilities, or when a complaint of a potential welfare issue has been made.

Questions regarding day-to-day operational matters of Historic Environment Scotland, including queries relating to any opportunities for partnership working with the National Heritage Memorial Fund, are best answered directly by Historic Environment Scotland.

I have asked Historic Environment Scotland to respond directly to the member with a full reply to his question in writing.