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Public Health Scotland (PHS) implemented the changes to the national data mart to ensure consistency in reporting of Accredited Official Statistics across all health board data for Stage of Treatment waiting times, aligned with the Waiting Times Guidance 2023.

For local reporting of Stage of Treatment waiting times, the implementation of the new reporting methodology requires a software update, which Boards are gradually implementing. All NHS Boards are working closely with their software suppliers to agree a suitable switchover date. To date, one Board has successfully enabled the updated functionality, and further Boards are expected to apply the guidance through software updates over the coming months.

PHS has undertaken a comprehensive assessment of the impact of moving from the previous reporting methodology to the new approach, ensuring that any differences are fully understood and managed. Original PHS estimates are in line with the impact on official statistics, however PHS is unable to verify how system upgrades have impacted the calculations on local systems.

The Scottish Government has engaged with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Association of British Credit Unions Limited (ABCUL) to understand the implications of the withdrawal and the support being provided to current policyholders. We will continue to work with stakeholders to ensure that those affected receive clear information about their options.

The estimated economic inactivity rate for people aged 16 to 64 in Scotland was 22.7% in June to August 2025. This was lower than the estimated economic inactivity rates for Northern Ireland (26.9%) and Wales (25.0%), but higher than the estimated rate for England (20.5%). ONS publish OECD economic inactivity rate statistics covering the 38 OECD countries. The most recent data were published on 14 October 2025, covering the period to Q2 2025 (April – June).

The estimated economic inactivity rate for Scotland in April – June 2025 was 21.9%. Comparison with ONS’s published international data suggests that Scotland’s economic inactivity rate in Q2 2025 was lower than the estimated OECD average rate (25.9%).

The Scottish Government has increased police funding to £1.64 billion in 2025-26, an increase of £90 million on 2024-25.

As Public Inquiries are independent of Ministers, it is for the Chair to direct how an Inquiry carries out its duties whilst being mindful of their responsibilities under section 17(3) of the Inquiries Act 2005 to avoid unnecessary costs.

While this particular issue has previously been raised by Police Scotland, it is for public bodies to determine whether to apply to be core participants in a public inquiry and the extent of legal representation required.

Police Scotland is operationally independent of the Scottish Government, and decisions on the allocation of resources are for the Chief Constable, under the oversight of the Scottish Police Authority. This includes the allocation of budget and staff to support the work of Public Inquiries.

Public inquiries are set up when no other avenue is deemed sufficient given the issues of public concern. In many cases, such as the Sheku Bayoh Inquiry and the Emma Caldwell Inquiry, they are set up with the support of, or in response to calls from, the Scottish Parliament.

We support the permanent employment of teachers by providing £186.5m to local authorities in 2025-26 to restore overall teacher numbers across the country to 2023 levels and maximise the number of teaching posts available. In addition, we are also providing Local Authorities with £28 million to support better outcomes for children with ASN including the recruitment and retention of the ASN workforce.

The recruitment of teachers including recruitment practices are matters for individual local authorities. The use of supply contracts is a long-standing feature of local authority recruitment practice.

Supply teachers play an important role in guaranteeing that any teacher's absence from the classroom can be covered, while also providing flexibility for teachers who choose to work part-time. It also serves as an opportunity for teachers seeking to re-enter the teaching profession after a break, as well as for retired teachers wishing to engage in part-time employment.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information. The figures recently reported in the media stem from a Freedom of Information request made to Police Scotland and relate to a single day snapshot of the situation as of
3 September 2025. Police Scotland do not publish the figures as a matter of course, given the day to day fluctuation around the number of outstanding warrants.

Police Scotland have been clear that they prioritise all arrest warrants according to threat, risk and harm, deploying national specialist resources and intelligence techniques to locate and apprehend those who pose the greatest risk to communities.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41542 on 11 November 2025.

Status of major projects at outline business case stage or later – including NTC Forth Valley – is published on a 6-monthly basis in the Scottish Government’s major capital projects progress update. This is published on the Scottish Government’s website: Infrastructure Investment Plan: progress reports - gov.scot.

As set out in the latest update (August 2025), the new ward continues to be delayed and an opening date is not yet confirmed for that ward. Work to agree a route to completion is ongoing. However, existing theatres (previously unused) have already been commissioned and in a phased opening, the National Treatment Centre began treating patients in October 2024.

There is an ongoing dispute with the contractor over final works required to bring the facility into appropriate condition for operational service. The final costs remain a point of negotiation and have not been finalised.

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-41530 on 11 November 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.

The Scottish Government recognises the challenges in diagnosing rare cancers, such as cholangiocarcinoma, often due to the presentation of vague, non-specific symptoms. We are committed to improving early detection as we know that the sooner cancer is detected and diagnosed, the better the outcomes are for the individual.

Through our Cancer Strategy for Scotland 2023-2033 and initial three year Cancer Action Plan for Scotland 2023 – 2026 published in June 2023, a new Earlier Cancer Diagnosis Vision was developed. This vision aims to reduce later stage disease by 18 percentage points in 10 years’ time, with a focus on reducing the health inequalities gap.

We are improving earlier diagnosis through our Get Checked Early and NHS Inform websites, which encourage individuals to contact their General Practice for early detection and referrals.

We are taking action to support Primary Care to ensure that patients are on the right pathways at the right time. In August 2025, we published the updated Scottish Referral Guidelines for Urgent Suspicion of Cancer. For the first time, the guidelines include criteria for non-specific symptoms, especially important for rare cancers like cholangiocarcinoma, where early signs and symptoms can be easily missed.

We also launched Scotland’s sixth Rapid Cancer Diagnosis Service this year. These services are ruling cancer in or out faster for those with non-specific symptoms.

Gateway C, a new free online primary care cancer education platform, launched in April 2024, further provides tailored information to support earlier cancer diagnosis and enable effective decision-making. This is accessible to all primary care clinicians and includes information about liver cancers.

We also understand the importance of expanded genomic testing for people with cholangiocarcinoma and its direct impact on their care and access to life-saving precision medicines. There is a wider programme of laboratory transformation and investment planning underway to support a sustainable expansion of genomic testing, as part of our long-term approach to deliver bold and ambitious action to reform and renew our health and care systems in Scotland.

Recognising the importance of genomic testing for cholangiocarcinoma patients and their families, we have asked NHS National Services Division to bring this testing into service ahead of the wider reform programme. Implementation planning is now progressing rapidly within the service.

We have also commissioned the Scottish Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Network to develop nationally standardised pathways for HPB cancers. This will include consideration of the distinct clinical management needed for a range of tumour subtypes, including cholangiocarcinoma, to ensure a person-centred approach to treatment and care.

Supply teachers play an important role in ensuring continuity and quality in education by guaranteeing that any teacher's absence from the classroom can be covered, while also providing flexibility for teachers who choose to work part-time.

Like all teachers in Scotland, supply teachers are required to be registered with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) and are therefore required to undertake professional learning and development in order to maintain their registration and uphold the high professional standards expected within the teaching profession.

Local Authorities carry the statutory responsibility for the delivery of Education in Scotland. It is therefore their responsibility to ensure they have planned for the adequate number of staff required during the academic year. To support them in this endeavour, the Scottish Government has provided them with £186.5m during this financial year to increase teacher numbers back to 2023 levels.