Parliamentary questions
Pam Duncan-Glancy
1,119 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
8 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will support (a) local authorities, (b) regional transport partnerships and (c) the Traffic Commissioner for Scotland to identify areas where there are lower levels of accessible buses that are compliant with the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 (PSVAR), and …
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Vehicle accessibility legislation is set out in the Public Service Vehicle Accessibility Regulations (PSVAR) 2000.PSVAR applies in England, Scotland and Wales and are the responsibility of the UK Government Department for Transport. The Department for Transpo…
23 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to use the allocation of over £7 million to support the implementation of improvements in neurodevelopmental assessments, as announced in its draft Budget 2026-27.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The draft Budget 2026-27 includes additional investment of £7.65 million to improve access to neurodevelopmental support for children and young people.We know that long waits for support are unacceptable and we are committed to improving timely access t…
20 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to issue statutory guidance on the assessment of capacity for the purposes of the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill.
Answer · Neil Gray: Liam McArthur’s Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill is still to go through a further amending stage (Stage 3), before MSPs are asked to vote on whether or not to pass the Bill. The guidance that will constitute statutory guidance wi…
12 Jan 2026 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to findings published by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow indicating that a majority of clinicians anticipate practical challenges in implementing the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill.
12 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the responses to its consultation Support for part-time study and disabled students, which closed on 9 October 2025
Answer · Ben Macpherson: Responses to the Citizen Space consultation on Support for Part-Time Study and Disabled Students were published on 9th January 2026 at https://consult.gov.scot/.An analysis report of the consultation findings will be published in spring 2026.
11 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) standards and (b) requirements breast screening centres must meet to provide reasonable adjustments and supportive equipment for women with limited mobility.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Breast Screening Service is committed to improving accessibility and ensuring as many eligible women as possible can participate in breast screening. Guidance, developed and issued by Public Health Scotland, is followed by all health boards to en…
11 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how NHS Scotland is working with mammography machine manufacturers to improve the adaptability of its equipment to enhance access for women with (a) mobility impairments and (b) physical disabilities.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Breast Screening Service is committed to improving accessibility and ensuring as many eligible women as possible can participate in breast screening. While the NHS does not have direct input into the manufacturing of mammography equipment, carefu…
11 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the recorded number of women who cannot undergo a complete mammography due to mobility impairments or restrictions.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government does not collate information nationally on the number of women who cannot undergo a complete mammography due to mobility impairments or restrictions. Individual screening centres hold this information as women are requested to contact …
4 Nov 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer given to question S6W-30642 by Jenny Gilruth on 7 November 2024, whether it has completed its analysis of bids to the school meal debt fund and followed up with local authorities on the information provided and, if so, whether it will confirm how much fun…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Following analysis of local authority bids to the School Meal Debt Fund, £2,887,345.58 was allocated to 30 local authorities who applied for support. A breakdown of allocations is as follow:Local AuthorityGrant amountAberdeen City£411,977.90Aberde…
4 Nov 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-30646 by Jenny Gilruth on 8 November 2024, whether it will provide an update regarding what processes for monitoring and measuring outcomes it has implemented to gather evidence on the effectiveness of the delivery of its school meal debt fund.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: In line with grant conditions, local authorities have reported to the Scottish Government on how they used their funding allocations and how they continue to support families through the implementation of the Good Practice Principles for the Management of Sch…
4 Nov 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-30645 by Jenny Gilruth on 8 November 2024, whether it has completed its analysis of bids to the school meal debt fund and followed up with local authorities on the information provided and, if so, whether it will confirm how many (a) child…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The local authorities who received support to clear their known school meal debt to 31 March 2024 have now reported on the funding they received. While this report will be published in due course, it is clear that local authorities collect data in different w…
30 Oct 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review and update current SIGN guidelines to make discussions regarding Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) a mandatory part of epilepsy care.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The decision to create, update and/or replace any SIGN guideline is made independently by the Evidence Directorate Work Programme Committee in Healthcare Improvement Scotland. Proposed guidelines under consideration can be found on the SIGN website: Our guide…
30 Oct 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to improve awareness and consistency of communication about Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) among neurologists and other healthcare professionals across NHS Scotland.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Health and Social Care Standards, published in 2017, set out the expectation that care should be provided by health and social care professionals based on the most relevant evidence, guidance and best practice, as is appropriate to their profession and pa…
30 Oct 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that all patients diagnosed with epilepsy and their families are fully informed about the risks of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP).
Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the Member to the answer to question S6W-41594 on 10 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-committe…
22 Oct 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the December 2025 publication of Summary Statistics for Schools in Scotland has been cancelled.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The content previously included in the “Summary Statistics for Schools in Scotland” statistical release will now be released as three separate publications:Pupil and teacher characteristics - covering information from the current academic year&rsq…
23 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the reported 30 schools for which there is no recorded last condition survey date are recorded as being in "Good" condition in its School Estate Statistics 2025.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Schools built within the past five years may not yet have had a condition survey and the condition rating is based on the state of the school at the time of completion of the building works.In situations where schools were built under PPP (Public-Private Part…
23 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to including outdoor shelters in its guidance for school suitability.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The importance of play, learning, active time and socialising in outdoor environments has been reflected in the Learning Estate Strategy which was co-produced by the Scottish Government and COSLA. For example, it includes a guiding principle which makes clear…
23 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the guidance suggesting that such a survey should be carried out every five years, for what reason a reported 120 schools are not recorded as having a suitability survey since 2009 or earlier in its School Estate Statistics 2025.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: It is the statutory responsibility of authorities to manage their school estate, and we expect them to undertake suitability surveys at least every 5 years, in line with the suitability reporting core facts guidance which the Scottish Government co-produced w…
23 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Governmente for what reason its School Estate Statistics 2025 record Beath and Queen Anne high schools in Fife as having last undergone school conditions surveys under the 2017 guidance but state that each school's latest survey was carried out in 2007.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The School Estate Statistics reflect information reported to the Scottish Government by local authorities.In the case of Beath and Queen Anne High Schools, both were rebuilt in the early 2000s under Public Private Partnership (PPP) contracts and remain within…
23 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the guidance suggesting that schools should have such a survey every five years, for what reason a reported 34 schools are recorded as not having had a condition survey since 2015 or earlier in its School Estate Statistics 2025.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: It is the statutory responsibility of local authorities to manage their school estate, and we expect them to undertake condition surveys at least every 5 years, in line with the condition reporting core facts guidance which the Scottish Government co-produced…
22 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to continue the Children Young People Families Early Intervention Fund beyond March 2026.
Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: The Scottish Government acknowledges the vital role that organisations across the third sector play in improving outcomes for children, young people and families. Through the Children, Young People, Families, Early Intervention and Adult Learning and Empoweri…
29 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with trade unions to discuss the Tertiary Education and Training (Funding and Governance) (Scotland) Bill; what was discussed during the meeting, and what changes it plans to make to the Bill as a result of the meeting.
Answer · Graeme Dey: I most recently met with the Scottish Trades Union Congress, and relevant member trade union representatives, to discuss a range of matters relating to the Tertiary Education and Training (Funding and Governance) (Scotland) Bill and skills reform programme on…
19 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the next release of data will be published on the number of people with learning disabilities across Scotland who have received a Scottish Annual Health Check.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The data for reporting period 1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025 was published on 26 August and can be accessed here https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-annual-health-checks-for-people-16-with-learning-disabilities-2024-25/
19 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many eligible individuals in Glasgow received a Scottish Annual Health Check from their GP in the most recent year for which data is available.
Answer · Tom Arthur: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde deliver annual health checks via a nurse led team and in the most recent reporting period offered 1,468 annual health checks and completed 743. The full publication for the most recent reporting period can be accessed here; https…
9 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to use data collection and reporting to improve transitions to adulthood, including the effective planning and commissioning of local services.
Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: The Scottish Government has outlined a number of actions that will be undertaken to improve data collection – both qualitative and quantitative - in the recently published National Transitions to Adulthood Strategy. The intention is to utilise this data…
9 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what data that it collects will be made available as a result of the new transitions to adulthood strategy.
Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: The Scottish Government and its partners already collect and publish evidence on the outcomes of disabled people. However, we recognise that there are some areas where additional data publication would be valuable. The Data Collection and Measurement section …
9 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support local planning partners to better assess, resource and deliver services that support young disabled people to experience a smooth transition in the move from children’s to adult services.
Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: The Scottish Government has outlined commitments to supporting local planning partners within the National Transitions to Adulthood Strategy. This includes considering how to make the current children’s strategic planning environment as effective as it …
9 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consistent, national standards for transition practices it will put in place, as per the transitions to adulthood strategy, and how it plans to enforce them.
Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: As set out in the Foreword of the National Transitions to Adulthood Strategy, the seven Principles of Good Transitions, developed by the Association for Real Change (ARC) Scotland, and endorsed by the Scottish Government, COSLA and many other partners, serve …
9 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that planning for transition to adulthood is available from age 14, so that children’s plans and assessments are adopted by adult services and that transition planning and support should continue to age 25, as per its national transition to adulthood strategy.
Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: ARC Scotland’s third Principle of Good Transitions states that Planning should start early and continue up to age 25. ARC Scotland also provide the descriptors to this principle which are:Planning should be available from age 14 and be proportionate to …
9 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what specific action it will take to ensure seamless communication and collaboration across sectors in relation to young people’s transition to adulthood.
Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: There are a number of existing frameworks and legislative measures that already facilitate better joining up of activities across sectors, including:the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 and associated Regulationsthe Children and…