Emma Harper

Answer · Mairi McAllan · 6 Feb 2026

The Scottish Government is taking a range of actions to support people to access affordable home ownership in rural and island communities.We operate the Low Cost Initiative for First-Time Buyers (LIFT), which includes:Open Market Shared Equity (OMSE) Scheme – helping eligible purchasers buy a home available on the open market.New Supply Shared Equity (NSSE) – enabling people to buy a newly built home from a housing association or local authority.At the National Farmers Union Conference later today, the First Minister will also make clear his intention to develop a Rural and Island Housing Grant Scheme (RIHGS) in collaboration with the rural and housing sectors. The scheme will have an indicative budget of up to £20 million over four years and will provide modest capital grants to help people secure properties as permanent homes in rural and island communities.We recognise that access to good-quality, affordable housing is essential to attracting and retaining people in rural and island areas. The new RIHGS will complement the Rural and Islands Housing Action Plan, published in October 2023, which was shaped through strong partnership working with stakeholders across rural and island communities.

Answer · Jenni Minto · 19 Jan 2026

I am pleased to announce that Phase Two of the Women’s Health Plan will be published tomorrow.Phase Two sets out action which will be taken forward over the next three years, driving towards our ambition that all women and girls in Scotland enjoy the best possible health, throughout their lives.New priorities in Phase Two of the Women’s Health Plan are focussed on tackling gynaecology waiting times, eliminating cervical cancer and prioritising women’s brain health.These priority areas are further supported by 40 new actions, reflecting the needs of women and girls across their lives.This phase is backed by additional funding of over £2.4 million to tackle gynaecological waiting times, bringing additional investment in gynaecology services to almost £13 million this year.Informed by a rich evidence base, including the voices of women and girls, Phase Two builds on the progress already made, including the appointment and work of the first Women’s Health Champion Professor Anna Glasier, development of a women’s health information platform on NHS Inform and our Women’s Health Research Fund.Phase Two will go live at 9am on Tuesday 20 January 2026 and can be accessed here: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806435562.

Answer · Neil Gray · 23 Dec 2025

In 2025-26 all ophthalmic procedures at National Treatment Centres (NTCs) have been cataract surgery. This will continue in to 2026-27. NTCs will not provide glaucoma treatments such as trabecular bypasses.The National Treatment Centres for ophthalmology deliver high flow cataract surgery to those who are assessed as being clinically low risk. Where a patient has a co-morbidity, then they would not be referred to a national treatment centre.Clinical management decisions are taken by Ophthalmology teams at NHS board level. If patients require cataract surgery and an additional procedure, surgery is likely to be undertaken in their Health Board of residence with an Ophthalmologist who specialises in the particular sub-specialty out with cataracts i.e. Glaucoma.

Answer · Neil Gray · 23 Dec 2025

We are utilising digital technology to improve ophthalmology services across Scotland with the present roll out of the Once for Scotland Ophthalmic Electronic Patient Record (EPR). This EPR allows clinicians to access and update patient records wherever the ophthalmic care is being delivered, allowing for quicker clinical decision making and more appropriate patient care. The EPR will reduce the duplication of tests, support Boards in working regionally to deliver patient care and improve waiting lists with patients being treated at the right time. In addition, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde noted an increased capacity through the rollout of EPR, as clinical teams are able to work more efficiently.The EPR is also accessible to community optometrists providing the community glaucoma service. They are managing lower risk patients, previously only cared for in a hospital setting, freeing up hospital capacity to see those referred in on a waiting list. In time the Ophthalmic EPR will be accessible to all community optometrists, aiding the ongoing management of patients with an ophthalmological condition, even when they are attending their community optometrist for their routine eye examination.New ophthalmology outpatient waits continue to show a downward trend, reflecting progress in reducing delays. We are working collaboratively with Health Boards to maximise capacity and shorten waiting times for patients waiting for treatment.We know many people are still waiting too long. This year we have allocated more than £135.5 million to health boards to help tackle the longest waits for appointments and procedures. The funding has been assigned to specialty areas where it can have the greatest impact against the longest waits, this includes more than £12 million for Ophthalmology. Additionally, Health Boards have been allocated additional funding for the community glaucoma service and the EPR.

Answer · Jenni Minto · 3 Dec 2025

On 14 February 2025, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published the final report of its market study into the UK infant and follow-on formula market. CMA set out 11 recommendations to the Scottish, Welsh and UK Governments and Northern Ireland Executive.Today, I can confirm the four nations have published a joint response: Infant formula: government response to CMA market study - GOV.UK to CMA’s recommendations. This response complements the range of measures taking place in Scotland to support new parents and carers on their infant feeding journeys, including our five year plan: 4. Our Vision - Breastfeeding and infant feeding: strategic framework 2025-2030 - gov.scot for infant feeding and breastfeeding, country wide accreditation of the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative and our continued commitment to protect all parents from inappropriate marketing of infant formula. Scotland can play an important and leading role in addressing Infant Food Insecurity given our Government’s core mission to eradicate child poverty.Whilst there are important measures to welcome, I have also reiterated to the UK Government the need to do more to address challenges which necessitate a strong four-nations response. This is particularly relevant for how and where retailers are located geographically, and where baby food and infant formula prices are further inflated in different parts of the UK. This has a particularly acute impact on rural and island communities in Scotland who already face higher prices for groceries, and I am considering how we may take rapid action to both assess and address how we might mitigate this for families.Getting the right nutrition at the start is crucial for a baby’s healthy growth and development. While we remain fully committed to supporting breastfeeding, which brings significant benefits for mothers and babies, we recognise that some families cannot, or choose not to, breastfeed. For families that do not exclusively breastfeed, infant formula is an essential item. The CMA makes a strong case that action is needed to give parents and carers confidence to choose lower priced products and encourage manufacturers and retailers to compete more on price.There are already regulations that require all infant formula and follow-on formula manufacturers to comply with robust nutritional and compositional standards, alongside rules on how formula milk products are labelled, presented and advertised to protect parents and carers from inappropriate claims or promotions. This means all infant formula sold on the UK market is safe, when used appropriately, and meets the nutritional needs of babies, regardless of the price or brand.In this joint UK response to the CMA’s recommendations, the four nations set out a strong package of measures. This package seeks to support parents and carers to make better-informed decisions if they need, or choose, to use infant formula and place downward pressure on the price. It focuses on ensuring comprehensive and accessible information in healthcare and retail settings, and places emphasis on encouraging retailers to voluntarily implement measures to better enable product comparison and stimulate competition between brands. In Scotland we will consider existing enforcement processes and update and clarify guidance to strengthen adherence, where needed.The UK Government has also committed to reviewing existing infant formula legislation to ensure retailers can accept food bank vouchers, gift cards and loyalty points as part or full payment for infant formula. The Scottish Government and Food Standards Scotland will work closely with the UK Department of Health and Social Care and the other Devolved Governments on guidance clarifying what is permissible under the existing legislation in Scotland. This is due to publish shortly.We will continue working with the UK Government and Devolved Governments. However, we will keep this package of measures under review t