Miles Briggs

26 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many years it is committed to funding GP walk-in-centres, in the current parliamentary session.

Answer · Angela Constance: This year's Budget included £36 million for the walk-in pilot programme.

26 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment to public health and the environment and the safety of water users by ministers following sewage discharged into Portobello (Central) from a combined sewer overflow.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) are licensed by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). Assessment of bathing water quality and the environmental impacts of CSOs are matters for SEPA.SEPA monitors the quality of designated bathing water sites for t…

26 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many GP walk-in-centres are (a) currently operational and (b) operating seven-days-a-week.

Answer · Angela Constance: Six GP walk-in centres are currently operational, with the first delivered in February. Three of those are already operating seven days a week, with the remainder open on a phased basis, but all will move to full hours in due course. The intention of a phased…

26 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when construction on the replacement Princess Alexandra Eye Pavillion is expected to be completed.

Answer · Angela Constance: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00472 on 8 June 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/w…

26 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action has been taken by ministers following sewage discharged into Portobello (Central) from a combined sewer overflow,

Answer · Gillian Martin: As this is an operational matter for Scottish Water, I have asked them to respond. Their reply is as follows:Scottish Water teams have reviewed telemetry data, pump station monitoring and operational records and have identified no operational incidents. I am …

26 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been paid to kidney dialysis patients to reimburse patients for energy and heating costs in each of the last 10 years, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Maree Todd: This is a matter for each territorial NHS board. The information requested is not held centrally.

26 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when construction of the replacement University Hospital Monklands is expected to be completed.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government has confirmed that the replacement of University Hospital Monklands, Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion, Belford Hospital, and Barra and Vatersay Community Campus are strategic priorities. The 2026-27 Budget provides the necessary funding…

26 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has budgeted for a full feasibility study for the use of Tram-Trains on the South Suburban line in Edinburgh.

Answer · Stephen Flynn: As outlined in our manifesto, and as part of wider plans to support a just transition to net zero by 2045, the Scottish Government is committed to commissioning a feasibility study into the potential use of tram-trains on the South Suburban line in Edinburgh …

26 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has plans to commission a full feasibility study on the use of Tram-Trains on the South Suburban train line in Edinburgh.

Answer · Stephen Flynn: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00438 on 8 June 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/w…

26 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Network Rail Scotland with a view to increasing the number of passing loops on railways in Scotland to increase the frequency of trains serving for rural stations.

Answer · Stephen Flynn: Transport Scotland officials engage regularly with Network Rail Scotland to ensure that Scottish Minister’s requirements as specified here: Scottish Ministers’ High Level Output Specification (HLOS) - Control Period 7 - 2024 – 2029 | Transpo…

12 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what data it collects on how early learning and childcare funding is spent in local authorities.

Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: Local Authority level expenditure data is published annually in the Scottish Local Government Finance Statistics (SLGFS). This Official Statistics publication includes details of Local Authority spending on all pre-primary education and details spending on th…

12 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the number of children who take up a funded early learning and childcare place in a local authority other than the one in which they live.

Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: The Scottish Government does not hold this information.This data may be held by local authorities. It is the responsibility of each Local Authority to plan for, and manage, ELC placements in line with their statutory duties in relation to funded ELC delivery,…

12 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with COSLA about ensuring that children can access funded early learning and childcare even when taking up a place outwith the local authority in which they live.

Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: Local authorities have a statutory duty to make available funded ELC to the children residing within their own area and are also responsible for meeting the statutory guidance requirements in relation to cross-boundary provision.In light of the representation…

12 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it allocates national funding for funded early learning and childcare places, taking into account both the locations where children take up places and population data on where they live.

Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: The Scottish Government’s policy towards local authorities’ spending is to allow local authorities the financial freedom to operate independently. As such, the vast majority of funding is provided by means of a block grant. It is then the responsi…

12 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make the right for children to access funded early learning and childcare in any part of Scotland a statutory right.

Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: Local authorities have a statutory duty to make available funded ELC to the children residing within their own area and are also responsible for having regard to the statutory guidance requirements in relation to cross-boundary placements.There are no current…

11 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many breaches of the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019 have been reported to the Scottish Ministers in each year since the Act came into force on 1 April 2024.

Answer · Neil Gray: Health Boards are not required under the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019 (HCSA) to report individual breaches of the legislation. Health Boards are, however, required under the Act to produce an annual report on how they have carried out their …

10 Mar 2026 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make an announcement regarding the development of the Sheriffhall Junction before the end of the parliamentary session.

5 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the implementation of opt-out HIV testing in emergency departments, what discussions it has had with NHS (a) Greater Glasgow and Clyde and (b) Lothian on the compatibility of IT systems with infectious disease reporting systems.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Public Health Scotland (PHS) leads on the data monitoring of emergency department opt-out blood borne virus testing programme, including ensuring that appropriate data flows and reporting systems are in place. We are working with PHS and the Boards to ensure …

5 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether funding has been confirmed for the implementation of opt-out HIV testing in emergency departments in NHS (a) Greater Glasgow and Clyde and (b) Lothian, in 2025-26.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The funding package for implementing emergency department opt-out testing for blood borne viruses has been confirmed with all three participating NHS Boards. This includes funding for tests and laboratory costs, staff and support for patients. Funding has als…

5 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its planned introduction of opt-out HIV testing in emergency departments in NHS (a) Greater Glasgow and Clyde and (b) Lothian.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government continues to work closely with colleagues in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Lothian to support the implementation of emergency department opt-out testing for blood borne viruses. Both Boards have made substantial progress in pre…

5 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether opt-out HIV testing in emergency departments in NHS (a) Greater Glasgow and Clyde and (b) Lothian has commenced in March 2026 as previously indicated, and, if not, what the reasons are for any delay.

Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-44081 on 13 March 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…

5 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what level of priority is given to the implementation of opt-out HIV testing in emergency departments in NHS (a) Greater Glasgow and Clyde and (b) Lothian.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government has received assurance from the Chief Executives’ Offices of both NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Lothian that implementing emergency department opt-out blood borne virus testing is a high priority within their Boards. Team…

4 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many parents and families have had a funded cross-border nursery placement in each year since 2007, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: The Scottish Government does not hold this information.Data on ELC placements may be held by local Councils. It is the responsibility of each Local Authority to plan for, and manage, ELC placements in line with their statutory duties in relation to funded ELC…

4 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many parents and families have had a funded cross-border nursery placement ended in each year since 2007 to date, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: The Scottish Government does not hold this information.Data on ELC placements may be held by local Councils. It is the responsibility of each Local Authority to plan for, and manage, ELC placements in line with their statutory duties in relation to funded ELC…

4 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what audit of non-functioning community CCTV cameras has been undertaken by Police Scotland.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: Since the publication of the research report, Public Space CCTV in Scotland, the Scottish Government has been engaging with COSLA and Police Scotland to consider what the next steps in relation to public space CCTV should be. This includes consideration of wh…

4 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it did not inform the Scottish Parliament or patients that it had stopped funding Scotland’s national residential service for chronic pain in Glasgow after 10 years, in light of this service being created following a unanimous, cross-party vote of the Parliament in…

Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-44072 on 11 March 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…

4 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has withdrawn funding from Scotland’s national residential service for severe chronic pain, which it funded since its opening in 2015 and until 2025, to support areas such as the islands and rural areas, which are still without pain services for outpatients.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Funding for this Service has not been withdrawn. As the Scottish National Pain Management Programme (SNPMP) is now an established national specialist service, it is now funded in the same way as all other national specialist services, with money top sliced fr…

4 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many patients have opted to not attend an appointment following receipt of a text message in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. The member may wish to contact health boards directly.

17 Feb 2026 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent announcement that the freeze on council housing allocation in Edinburgh will continue until March 2027, what support it is providing to the City of Edinburgh Council to address the housing crisis. 

11 Feb 2026 · Written Question

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 propo…

Answer · Jenni Minto: 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 h…