Sanne Dijkstra-Downie

16 Jul 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to make teplizumab available through NHS Scotland and, if so, what is the anticipated timescale for its introduction.

9 Jul 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made towards the introduction of utilities-based statutory undertaker rights for heat network developers, and when it plans to bring forward the necessary legislation. 

9 Jul 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce a statutory obligation or financial incentives to ensure that heat network zone delivery is more effectively driven through Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies, and, if so, what timeline it is working to. 

9 Jul 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the contribution that heat networks can make to tackling fuel poverty in Scotland, and how this is reflected in its current and planned policy and funding commitments. 

9 Jul 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the extent to which local authorities are effectively incorporating heat network zones into their Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies, and what action it is taking where progress is insufficient. 

9 Jul 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has made available or plans to make available for key enabling infrastructure to support heat network delivery, and how it is working with industry to develop a strategic approach to the rollout of heat networks. 

9 Jul 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the forthcoming Buildings (Heating and Energy Performance) and Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill will include a requirement for public buildings to connect to heat networks where these are available, and what assessment it has made of the potential impact of such a requirement.

9 Jul 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding has been allocated to Scotland's Heat Network Fund for the current financial year, and whether it will  commit to maintaining this fund across the full current parliamentary session, with flexible timelines to account for rising delivery costs. 

9 Jul 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to introduce the revised Buildings (Heating and Energy Performance) and Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill, and what its key provisions will be compared to the version of the Bill that was previously considered.

16 Jun 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any child who has had a deferred entry into P1, and whose birthday falls before March 2021, remains eligible to apply for a Best Start Grant School Age Payment.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Eligibility is based on when a child is first old enough to start primary school and is not affected by deferred P1 entry. The current application window is for children born between 1 March 2021 and 28 February 2022, with the application dates for children b…

16 Jun 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the decentralisation of funding for diabetes technologies in April 2026, whether it will legislate to ensure that the SIGN guideline 170, Optimising glycaemic control in people with type 1 diabetes, is adhered to.

Answer · Maree Todd: Clinical guidelines are intended to support and inform professional clinical judgement, not to replace it. Decisions regarding any specific clinical procedure or treatment must always be made on the basis of the individual patient’s clinical condition, …

4 Jun 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7F-00008 by John Swinney on 4 June 2026, when it anticipates that the full national roll-out of the £2 bus fare cap will be completed.

Answer · Stephen Flynn: We will take forward legislation to put in place a £2 bus fare cap across Scotland by the end of this Parliament.

4 Jun 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7F-00008 by John Swinney on 4 June 2026, for what reason the west of Scotland was chosen for the next stage of the roll-out of the £2 cap on bus fares.

Answer · Stephen Flynn: The extension of the £2 bus fare cap pilot to the west of Scotland will help address cost of living pressures for people in that region. Once introduced, it is our priority to then take forward legislation in this parliament to put in place a £2 b…

4 Jun 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7F-00008 by John Swinney on 4 June 2026, when it anticipates that the roll-out of the £2 bus fare cap to the west of Scotland will take place.

Answer · Stephen Flynn: The Scottish Government is working to assess how the extension of the £2 bus fare cap pilot to the west of Scotland can best be taken forward as quickly as is practicable. It is crucial that we work with the industry to understand the practical, operati…

4 Jun 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7F-00008 by John Swinney on 4 June 2026, whether it will provide information on the estimated cost of extending the £2 bus fare cap to the west of Scotland.

Answer · Stephen Flynn: The costs for implementing new policies will be detailed during the standard budget setting process.

3 Jun 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to amend schedule 1 of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 to include data centres.

Answer · Hannah Mary Goodlad: The Scottish Government has no plans to amend schedule 1 of The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 (the EIA Regulations). Decision-makers have a responsibility to consider the environmental implications of …

3 Jun 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to amend schedule 1 of the The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 to include large battery energy storage systems (BESS).

Answer · Hannah Mary Goodlad: The Scottish Government has no plans to amend schedule 1 of The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 (the EIA Regulations). Decision-makers have a responsibility to consider the environmental implications of …

3 Jun 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to develop guidance on cross-pavement solutions for charging electric vehicles.

Answer · Stephen Flynn: The Scottish Government is committed to supporting the transition to EVs by ensuring that charging infrastructure is comprehensive, convenient and accessible.The Road (Scotland) Act 1984 identifies that responsibility for the road network, including control o…

3 Jun 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government under what circumstances young people leaving kinship care might not be eligible to access the Care Leaver Payment.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Care Leaver Payment (Scotland) Regulations 2026 state that in order to be eligible for the payment, a young person must have been looked after under section 17(6) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 on or after their 16th birthday, and they must also have…

3 Jun 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether young people placed in kinship care under section 11 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 are eligible for the Care Leaver Payment and, if not, for what reason.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Care Leaver Payment (Scotland) Regulations 2026 state that in order to be eligible for the payment, a young person must have been looked after under section 17(6) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 on or after their 16th birthday, and they must also have…

3 Jun 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether young people placed in kinship care under provisions other than section 17(6) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 are eligible for the Care Leaver Payment and, if not, for what reason.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Care Leaver Payment (Scotland) Regulations 2026 state that in order to be eligible for the payment, a young person must have been looked after under section 17(6) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 on or after their 16th birthday, and they must also have…

3 Jun 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether eligibility for the Care Leaver Payment isdetermined by the nature of the care order, or the provision of the Children(Scotland) Act 1995 under which a young person was placed in kinshipcare. 

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Care Leaver Payment (Scotland) Regulations 2026 state that in order to be eligible for the payment, a young person must have been looked after under section 17(6) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 on or after their 16th birthday, and they must also have…

27 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its position regarding the funding of the Edinburgh tram extension has changed from that set out by the then Cabinet Secretary for Transport on 1 May 2024.

Answer · Stephen Flynn: Our funding position has not changed, and we maintain that decision making on local transport priorities remains the responsibility of individual local authorities and the Scottish Government cannot intervene in this process.