Portfolio Questions - 16 September 2026

The first portfolio this afternoon is justice questions. If a member wishes to request a supplementary question, they should press the rep request to speak button during the relevant question. I remind members that questions three and four are grouped together and I will take any supplementaries on these questions after both have been answered. Questions five, six, seven, and eight have also been grouped together and I will take any supplementaries on those after question eight. Amanda Bland. Thank you, presiding officer, to ask the Scottish government in light of a recent Police Scotland freedom of information response indicating that there have been 342 referrals involving Southeast Asian children since 2020, including cases of sexual exploitation. What action is is it taking to ensure that Vietnamese children at risk of trafficking are identified at an early stage, protected from exploitation, and provided with appropriate support. >> Minister, >> thank you, presiding officer. Child trafficking is a horrific form of child abuse that can have a devastating impact on children and young people. In all cases, the child's safety and well-being must be paramount, and support is provided through Scotland's child protection system. Tackling human trafficking requires a coordinated response involving the Scottish government, the UK government, Police Scotland, local authorities, and specialist support services. And the Scottish government provides over2 million pounds annually to Guardianship Scotland which provides specialist support to all unaccompanied asylumseeking children, victims of trafficking and children vulnerable to trafficking who arrive in Scotland. >> Amanda Bland, >> thank you for that response. What assessment has the Scottish government made of whether the current systems for identifying and recording child trafficking trafficking adequately capture the specific circumstances of Vietnamese children, including those who may initially be treated as missing children or immigration cases and what action it will take to improve early identification and information sharing between agencies. Minister, >> I'm grateful to the member for that question and also for the focus that she has there on partnership working. What I would say is that that there is data that tells us what the year-on-year numbers of children from Vietnam are who appear to be coming through um what could be trafficking. Um and a lot of that data indicates that the these children may be subject to force criminality specifically that has been the primary reason for referrals in since 2020. I would say though regardless of the type of exploitation a child who is suspected of being the victim of trafficking or exploitation should receive an appropriate protection response and that work with statutory safeguarding partners as she alluded to is absolutely key in our um accounting there. Question number two, David Barrett. >> Thank you. To ask the Scottish government what action it is taking to address criminal trade and counterfeit cigarettes in local communities, including what support it provides to trading standards departments. >> Minister, >> thank you, presiding officer. I recently met with the Scottish Groer Grocerers Federation to discuss the impact of illicit trade on legitimate traders and I fully recognize the harm caused to businesses by this kind of illegal activity. We are committed to doing everything we can to disrupt this damaging activity. We work with trading standards and law enforcement partners. We are engaging with a range of stakeholders as well as with the UK government's high street serious organized crime unit. And as we consider what action can be taken to further tackle high street criminality, that includes reviewing the framework for closure orders and any changes to the law that may be required there to strengthen enforcement. >> David Barrett, >> I thank the minister for that response and for the ongoing engagement I've had prior to this. I'm aware of one shop in my constituency that has no planning consent. They are selling counterfeit cigarettes at a third of the normal retail price, undercutting legitimate businesses. Trading Standards are aware of this situation, but states to me that they lack the powers to shut them down. Will the Scottish government's review include giving more powers to local authorities to allow these shops to be shut down and take organized crime off our high streets? >> Minister, >> I'm grateful to the member for that question. The first thing I would say is it's important that the member trading standards, anyone who has these concerns to please report these crimes to police Scotland. Trading standards do already have a wide range of enforcement powers available. They can seize elicit tobacco, take enforcement action, seek prosecutions, apply for banning orders. Um, working closely with HMRC and Police Scotland to tackle organized crime. And tackling elicit tobacco remains a priority for this government and our partners. For instance, through Operation CC, H partners, including Police Scotland, have seized more than 1.8 8 million elicit cigarettes and over 1,100 kgs of handruling tobacco in Scotland during 2025 to 26 demonstrates the significant enforcement activity underway. Importantly, in addition, the Scottish government is currently reviewing antisocial behavior legislation and that includes the framework governing closure orders and whether changes there would strengthen enforcement. David London. I'm >> very grateful deputy presiding officer and to pay tribute in particular to the minister who has been an advocate particularly on the issue of vapes as well as that of counterfeit tobacco. Um but my colleague Mr. Barrett is absolutely right that there is a role here for trading standards departments but the reality is that over many years trading standards departments have been hollowed out and we don't have as many staff. So can I ask the minister to work across government particularly with the colleagues in the education department to look at making sure that we have more apprentices going into regulatory standards so we can empower trading standards officers to shut down these type of shops that are selling counterfeit tobacco. >> Minister, >> I'm grateful to Minister London for his focus on this area. He'll know that the responsibility for workforce planning rest with individual local authorities and with Cosa and their role as employers. Nonetheless, I think it's an important point um and that there is um a conversation which has been happening in terms of progress there. The former cabinet secretary for public service reform asked Consumer Scotland to make proposals under section three of the Consumer Scotland Act 2020 to help inform the government's approach to trading standards services in Scotland. That report has now been received and we are looking at recommendations in order that we can be as effective as possible in this area. >> Mark Simpson. Thank you, Deputy. >> Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Um, does the Scottish government accept the growth of counterfeit tobacco as a sign that organized crime is gaining a foothold in local communities? >> Minister, >> organized crime is of serious concern to the Scottish government and is an issue which affects uh communities in Scotland and further a field. That's why the uh the the record funding which has been provided to police Scotland by the government is so important and that ability that police Scotland have to make the the best operational decisions in order to to deal with criminality where it exists. I think that that connection which the member has made between organized crime and the problem of elicit tobacco is a very valid one and I would assure him that that is a matter of ongoing consideration for the government. Julie McDougall. >> Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Um, back in March 2024, F Council's trading standards team made use of detection dogs provided by Consumer Protection Dogs UK. This resulted in the confiscation of nearly 3 kilograms of suspected counterfeit rollup tobacco in one operation. Can the minister confirm whether the government has considered providing more detection dogs to all relevant bodies who investigate the manufacturer and sale of these dangerous items? Thank you, >> Minister. I'm grateful to the member for that question and I must say to her that um I visited some of these detection dogs that she speaks of recently um and was very impressed by the effectiveness um and have been given other evidence uh to indicate that as one of a range of measures that is a helpful tool um in in order to help us to detect and deal with this particular kind of crime. the actions of local government, trading standards and and police Scotland in terms of the operation are really for them to determine. But I think that she makes a valid point in the value of that as one element that we can use. >> Question number three, Andrew Baxter >> to ask the Scottish government what action is it taking to address any barriers faced by victims of domestic abuse in rural and remote communities. Cabinet Secretary, >> Presiding Officer, our equally safe strategy recognizes that women in rural and island communities may experience distinct barriers to seeking support. Therefore, our program for government commits to ensuring that every woman and girl, regardless of where she lives, has access to safe and sustainable services. That includes developing a new multi-year fund for specialist organizations responding to what they need to sustain vital services and deliver critical preventative activities allowing them to respond flexibly to local need and further details will be set out in the next equally safe delivery plan which will be published later this year. >> Andrew Baxter, >> I thank the cabinet secretary for that response. Victims of domestic abuse in rural communities uh as he said can face additional barriers in accessing specialist support particularly where those services are spread across vast geographical areas. So, as part of the cabinet secretary's uh plan, will he commit to a specific rural domestic abuse delivery plan backed up by the secure long-term funding for local women's aid that he's just mentioned and other specialist services so that where a woman lives does not determine the support available to her? Cabinet Secretary >> presiding officer the um equally safe delivery plan that comes forward later this year will have at its core the elements that uh Mr. Baxter is asking for uh he should take some confidence in the fact that the delivery safe equally fund has benefited from a 5% increase in funding uh this year this financial year taking that total investment uh to almost 46 uh million pounds that's 23 millions pounds a year and of that 5.6 6 million pounds is going to projects that support women and girls in our most rural and island communities. But I'd be more than happy to continue that conversation with Mr. Baxter around how we can ensure that the delivery plan meets the needs of women and girls in rural and island communities. >> Question number four, Karen Adam. Thank you, presiding officer. To ask the Scottish government how it will ensure that women and girls in rural and coastal communities who exper experience domestic abuse and gender-based violence have equal access to specialist support and protection, including through the criminal justice system. >> Cabinet Secretary, >> presiding officer, our program for government commits to ensuring equal safe provision for women no matter where they are and recognizes the vital role of the criminal justice system in responding to such behavior. I welcome the fact that more women are coming forward to report crimes including historical and an increase in prose prosecutions and convictions especially in uh current and historical sexual violence uh through implementation of the victims witnesses and justice reform act. We will also establish a sexual offenses court as well as introducing statutory rights of anonymity and access to independent legal representation. >> Karen Adam, >> I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. Parliament heard evidence that Grampian's women's aid workers had to make up to 60 calls just to find one legal aid solicitor for a woman experiencing domestic abuse. For a woman already in crisis, that's another barrier and another delay in accessing justice. With the government now consulting on legal aid reform, how will the cabinet secretary ensure that women experiencing domestic abuse can access timely legal advice and representation regardless of where they live? Cabinet Secretary, >> I thank Karen Adam for that question and this was the topic of conversation um that I had with Dr. Marshall Scott from Scottish Women's Aid uh this morning um where we were discussing the work that Women's Aid Scotland Scottish women's aid are taking forward in their projects in Ortney and Shhatland as well as in Edinburgh to embed uh legal advice uh that the government is providing funding support for and how this might be spread wider and the fact that we are now consulting uh on uh reforms to legal aid for which I encouraged uh Scottish women's aid to uh feed into h because I do recognize the concern concerns that Karan Adam has raised on behalf of Grampian Women's Aid about the difficulties some women experience um around that have been experiencing domestic abuse face in accessing timely legal advice and representation. We remain committed to supporting women affected by violence and abuse including through the funding of the Scottish Legal Board and to the Scottish Women's Rights Center amongst other organizations. >> Maggie Chapman, >> thank you. The cabinet secretary will know that the Scottish Greens and others have called repeatedly for multi-year inflationproof funding and fullcost recovery for the life-saving services that support survivors of gender- based violence. Can he confirm whether this will form part of his budget discussions with colleagues? And will he also consider the introduction of a set of core minimum service standards that every survivor of gender-based violence would be entitled to access? Cabinet Secretary. >> This goes to the heart of uh the violence against women and girls uh section of the program for government that uh I know Maggie Chapman has taken a keen interest in. uh and we are talking in there about ensuring we've got multi-year funding available to uh support services and also that we need to shift our uh justice posture into a more preventative approach that we do have services available in the community for women and girls but also um that uh we have a better wraparound family support and and uh public protection uh posture to ensure that we are seeing fewer victims uh occur in the first place. And of course these will form part of the budget discussions that I expect to have with cabinet colleagues. >> Question number five, Neil Bbeby >> to ask the Scottish government what its responses to the report by the auditor general for Scotland criminal courts backlog followup. >> Cabinet secretary >> presiding officer. We welcome the auditor general's report and its recognition that justice partners have made progress in reducing the criminal court's backlog since the original audit. The report also highlights the increasing volume and complexity of serious cases entering the justice system and the challenges that this creates. We also recognize the distress that undue delay can cause and the need for further action to ensure victims uh see justice happen as quickly as possible. We accept the recommendations and we will continue to work closely with justice partners to strengthen collaboration, improve delivery, and support the long-term reform needed to ensure Scotland's justice system remains effective, resilient, and focused on the people that it serves. >> Neil Bee, >> thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. on recommendations. In 2023, Audit Scotland recommended the Scottish government and the Scottish courts and tribunal service develop equality impact assessments for all change projects within 12 to 18 months. 40 months on, despite a legal duty to carry out these assessments and the importance of considering in advance how reforms could affect groups such as women and children, the auditor general told the public audit committee last week these are not being carried out as they should. Can the cabinet secretary explain to the people that these reforms are meant to be helping why the government has failed to properly to consider them and carry out this basic legal requirement? Cabinet Secretary >> Presiding Officer, the report recommends strengthening equality impact assessment arrangements and ensuring that they are applied consistently across reform programs. Assessments are routinely carried out and published in relation to new legislation. However, we do recognize that the practice is less consistent in other areas of policy development and delivery and we therefore accept that recommendation and will continue to build on the existing work to support best practice in this area. Question number six, James Adams. Uh, >> thank you, presiding officer, to ask the Scottish government what action it is taking to reduce the backlog of cases in Scotland's courts and reduce waiting times for court proceedings. >> Cabinet Secretary, >> presiding officer, we recognize that the shape of criminal court business is changing and that places uh renewed pressure on the system and that we need to respond accordingly and in recognition of the distress any delays can cause. High court capacity will increase to 26 trials a day compared to 16 at the start of the decade from January. We also are we are also responding through changes we are taking forward with justice partners and stakeholders supporting the delivery of modern user centered digital services and this includes expanding digital evidence sharing capability and providing targeted investment to support a more efficient trauma-informed justice system. >> James Adams. I thank the cabinet secretary for her response. Uh the high court backlog has continued to rise to over a thousand outstanding scheduled trials, which is almost three times prepandemic levels. And meanwhile, Audit Scotland found that the Scottish government's justice program board has not met since summer 2024, and that its own modeling shows high court backlogs and waiting times are projected to continue growing until around March 2028. uh in light of Oric Scotland's findings uh that the progress on criminal justice efficiency projects has been mixed with some initiatives still not started limited evaluation and no equality impact assessments completed. What urgent steps will the government take to address these issues ensure that victims, witnesses and accused individuals are no longer suspect to prolong delays? >> Cabinet Secretary, >> presiding officer, I've already set out that the number of high court venues will increase by four from January. So in addition to the current 10 venues, the high court will now sit in air drain and firmland in Edinburgh and Glasgow sheriff courts as of January. Uh I think we've also uh got uh strong lessons to learn from summary court management uh pu uh improvements uh where the auditor general has set out in his report significant improvements that have been made as a result in in reducing the court backlog in in summary cases. We do have more work to do in in solemn cases. I'm I'm very well aware of that because of the increased successful um uh con uh prosecution uh and police investigation work uh for which I pay tribute to Police Scotland and the Crown uh we are seeing more and more complex cases coming forward that need to be dealt with and I'll continue to work with justice partners to ensure that they have the resources required in order to get through that backlog as quickly as possible. Question number seven, Finley Carson. >> Government, what its response is to reports that the waiting times for high court trials are expected to almost triple by 2028. >> Cabinet Secretary, >> presiding officer, as I said in my earlier answers, we will increase to 26 trials a day compared to 16 at the start of the decade from this January. I've met uh on a number of occasions with the Lord President and with the Scotch Courts and Tribunal Service to discuss the issues at hand and we'll work with them and other justice partners to explore what more can be done to address the challenges that our justice system faces. We will also invest 11.6 billion pounds across justice from 2627 to 2829 to support frontline services, safer communities and victims and witnesses. Fin Carson, >> I thank the cabinet secretary for the response. Cabinet Secretary, one of my constituents now been waiting years for her case to be heard in the high court. Despite facing multiple serious charges, the accused remains at liberty in the community on bail while my constituent is left in limbo. When she sought answers, the response from the Crown Office and Procreate fiscal service was that the delay was, in their words, understandably disappointing. But for victims of rape and serious sexual offenses, this is not merely disappointing. The offenses themselves, the years of uncertainty and the knowledge that the accuser remains accused remains free are traumatic, exhausting and deeply distressing. The Scottish government repeatedly promises a traumat traumainformed justice system. Yet many victims feel that currently the very system that is meant to support them is letting them down. So will the cabinet secretary meet with we me and my constituent to hear directly how these failures have affected her? And does he accept that right now when victims are left waiting years for trials while accused people remain on bail that the system is not trauma informed? It's retraumatizing. >> Cabinet Secretary, >> presiding officer, I first of all recognize the the trauma and distress that Finley Carson uh outlines in terms of a victim seeking justice. I of course understand that. He will also understand that theuling of businesses for the Scottish courts and tribunal service, the decisions around bail are for the judiciary to take. He I I know he is aware of that, but I of course be more than happy to meet with him and his constituent to discuss uh his that case uh recognizing the uh independence of the organizations that we're talking about. >> Question number eight, Carol Mockin, >> deciding officer to ask the Scottish government what its responses to reports that waiting times for high court trials are set to triple by 2028. Cabinet Secretary, >> presiding officer, as Miss Mochin has heard, uh we are aware of uh the potential waiting times um and predicted waiting times for uh trials. Sexual offense cases now make up around 70% of high court trials, and the number of cases continues to increase due to increased reporting and prosecution, which I think we would both uh welcome. I recognize that it is vital that we find a sustainable way of managing these cases and to improve uh on current waiting times as well as mitigate any uh future delays. In time, uh the sexual offenses court uh initiative that was not supported by the Labor Party will play a key role in helping us to manage the growing pressure on the courts and impact it has on v victims. Carl Mockin, >> thank you to the cabinet secretary for that answer. And of course, she did mention that sexual offenses crimes account for 70% of high court business. A recent report by the Scottish Women Convention found that only 8% of surveyed respondents felt that women have fair access to justice in Scotland. And of course, we heard in last night's debate on violence against women and girls that access to justice and support services can be extremely challenging and geographical inequalities persist. Given the government's commitments to tackle these issues, can the cabinet secretary tell us whether the Scottish government will lodge a draft misogyny bill in parliament before Christmas recess? >> Cabinet Secretary, >> presiding officer, in direct answer to the last part of Miss Mockin's question, we will we've got a a program for government commitment to uh progress uh the misogyny bill as a year one bill. Uh I will also continue to work to ensure that women are well served within our justice system. I I said in answer to Miss Mockin's first question that I think the fact that we are seeing a higher rate of um police investigation and charges being brought, a higher rate of uh prosecutions being taken forward and longer sentences demonstrates the improvements that are being made in our justice system to ensure that women are being better served. There is more work to do and I think the debate yesterday absolutely highlighted that with some exemplary contributions highlighting the gravity of the situation that we face. That's why the first minister has made violence against women and girls such a prominent issue of his uh time as first minister and ensuring that it's central to our program for government. >> Alan Brown. >> Uh thank you presiding officer. One of the highlights of the report was the summary case management project within the summary courts which the cabinet secretary already touched on. led to earlier resolutions without trials, 18,000 fewer witness citations, including 11,000 fewer police witness citations. Obviously, frees up police resources. So, is this something that could be rolled out in so courts as well? >> Cabinet Secretary, >> presiding officer, I I welcome Alan Brown's question that highlights the incredible measures that have been taken forward by my predecessor to ensure improvements in summary court management. there are some areas that can uh be taken as learning into the solemn cases but it's a bit more complex than that in in solemn business. Uh but it is certainly an area that I am looking uh to work with justice partners to ensure that we can make uh similar improvements uh to how we work in solemn business as has been uh delivered through summary case management. >> Question nine has been withdrawn and a reasonable explanation has been given. Question number 10 Craig Hoy. Thank you, deputy presiding officer, to ask the Scottish government what plans it has to increase funding for poling and community safe safety initiatives in rural areas in light of recent data indicating upward trends in criminality in dumpries and Galloway. >> Minister, >> thank you. Presiding officer, police and police staff play a vital role in keeping our communities safe. That's why we're investing record funding of over 1.7 billion pounds in poling in 2026 to 27. And while decisions on the deployment of officers and staff, operational policing priorities, and the allocation of resources across local areas are matters for the chief constable, Police Scotland continues to place significant emphasis on community policing and engagement with local communities, including in rural areas such as the um members. As set out in Police Scotland's 2030 vision and three-year business plan, community policing remains central to keeping people safe and our record investment is ensuring Police Scotland has the resources needed to respond to local demands across the country. >> Craig Hoy, >> I thank the minister for that answer, but overall crime rates in my local poling division have hit 552 per 10,000 residents, 3.5% higher than in the previous year. In 2023, police numbers in Dfree and Galloway were the lowest in Scotland. But in recent weeks, local officers left by Chief Superintendent Cla Doson have been touring towns and villages with a recruitment van to generate a pipeline of new officers, and I commend them for this positive and visible initiative, but does the minister accept that it is more difficult to recruit officers in rural areas? And what more can the Scottish government do to support police Scotland both uh financially and practically as they uh seek to attract new recruits in hard to hire areas such as the precia >> Minister >> I'm grateful to Craig Hoy for his focus on the importance of police officer numbers and of course we have more officers in Scotland than in England and Wales per head of population. Our officers also receive the best basic pay in the UK at the minimum and maximum of each rank. Really important when we think of recruitment decisions. Our record investment in placing does continue to allow police Scotland to recruit new officers with over 160 new recruits in July 2026. Further recruitment planned throughout the year and Police Scotland has confirmed a healthy recruitment pipeline. I do commend Craig Hoy, as I say though, for his focus and support for Police Scotland as they go about that important work of making sure that we have that proper pipeline of recruitment in place. >> David Green. >> Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Recent months have seen a worrying rise in reported incidents of vandalism across my constituency. In Tain, both a high street shop and the much-loved rose garden suffered significant damage. In Thzo, homes and cars were vandalized and even the entrance of Thzo police station was targeted. So what action will the minister therefore take to ensure that local officers have the resources they need to tackle these crimes? And will she heed calls from across the highlands to restore the lost control the local control loss to the centralization of police? >> Minister, >> thank you presiding officer. The importance of poling having a a local focus in terms of uh more rural areas as the member has described is really important. Rural crime can impact on individuals, communities and and businesses and that's why that important local focus that police Scotland has is so vital as they go about their business. Uh there's also the focus which the Scottish partnership against rural crime known as spark has the that organization is chaired by police Scotland and brings together key justice enforcement and rural sector partners to make sure that there is that coordinated multi- agency approach to making sure that we can prevent and reduce crime in more rural areas. They also support intelligence gathering as well as enforcement in order that there is practical crimerevention activity taking place in communities such as his. >> And for a brief question, Jamie Langan. >> Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. Would the minister concede that the closure of over 200 police stations has disproportionately affected public safety in rural areas such as the Scottish borders and South Lannshire? >> Minister, >> thank you. presiding officer. The the important focus that that police Scotland have on making their own operational decisions so that the chief constable is able to determine where best and how best to deploy officers is central to both prevention and uh detecting crite. And I would say that there is significant work going on in all localities in terms of partnership work with partners and police Scotland which ensures that we have that local focus whilst appreciating that deployment is for the chief constable. The next portfolio questions is health and social care questions. Again, if a member wishes to request a supplementary question, they should press the request to speak button during the relevant question. I'll give the front bench a moment to take their places. >> Question. >> Question number one, Jack Middleton [snorts] >> to ask the Scottish government for its assessment of NHS Grampian's grace project and its use of AI in detecting lung cancer. Cabinet Secretary >> Siding Officer NHS Grampion is responsible for delivery and evaluation of the Grace project which was developed through the North of Scotland innovation hub and it's worth putting on record the NHS Grampion is the first board in Scotland to use AI and a cancer pathway. The Scottish government has considered learning from the Grace project as part of the development of a national approach to delivering an AI enabled chest X-ray pathway across NHS Scotland to support earlier diagnosis of lung cancer. This work is being progressed through our accelerated national innovation adoption pathway which brings together Scottish government and NHS Scotland partners to assess evidence and take collective decisions on innovations for national adoption. >> Jack Middleton. >> Thank you Cabinet Secretary for that response. Given the obvious success of the grace project and NHS Grampion as you've touched upon and its integration into the lung cancer pathway, can the Scottish government commit to a full national roll out of this transformational project and give an understanding to the chamber of what phasing will be in place for that roll out? Thank you, >> Cabinet Secretary. >> Siden officer firstly in July the Scottish government and NHS leaders approved a national chest X-ray AI program. Work is now progressing with NHS boards to establish the national reporting hub and put the necessary clinical digital and governance arrangements in place over the next 12 months. So uh we're shortly moving into that 12 month pre-implementation phase to finalize the clinical pathways and this supports that once for Scotland approach uh to a wider roll out helping to identify lung cancer earlier and speed up treatment. And the Scottish government and partners have also been developing a policy framework for EI and recently published interim guidance following discussions with trade unions and how EI can better support staff to deliver highquality care in addition uh to the plan to develop an EI hub to accelerate safe adoption of EI and health and care settings. Question number two, Kate Campbell >> to ask the Scottish government when it anticipates the GP walking clinic in Muselbrra will be operational. >> Cabinet Secretary, presiding officer, as a government, we have made a clear commitment to expand walk-in services including in Muselbrra that is part of improving access to care and reducing pressure on accident and emergency services. While I have approved the inclusion of a service in Musra as part of the expansion of the pilot, it is for NHS Lotheian to design and deliver the walk-in service, including determining when a safe operational date will be. Kate Campbell um to thank the cabinet secretary for her answer. I welcome the Musl Clinic. It will be a lifeline to the local community but access to health care is coming up in other parts of the constituency that I represent areas like Trinent as well and it demonstrates the huge demand for these type of services. On Monday I met with Queen Margaret University who are really keen to support community health on campus. They would like to maximize the use of their facilities while also supporting learning. So would the Scottish government support this type of innovative approach and will they continue to look at opportunities to expand community health care across a range of settings? >> Cabinet Secretary Officer, Miss Campbell raises an important point around improving access to same day primary and community care and in particular to respond to local population health needs. I also very much welcome the interest shown by the Queen Margaret University and other local partners. We are always willing to explore opportunities that could improve access to community-based health care. And as the member suggests, it is important that we continue to think about how we make best use of community facilities and local assets as set out in the new improving flow plan. uh that we are developing that national vision for community infrastructure including the role of community hospitals, GP surgeries and other local facilities that can play a vital role and we will set out further detail on this uh soon. >> Jackie Bailey, >> thank you presiding officer. The BMA has described GP walk-in clinics as short-term headline grabbing non-evidence-based initiatives. Now the cabinet secretary has said that these clinics will take the strain away from acute services like A&E. Yet A&E data shows that Scotland has its worst summer on record for those waiting over eight hours for treatment. So can the cabinet secretary explain why she's continuing to pursue this policy against the expert advice of GPS when the money could be better spent invested in improving access to existing health centers. Cabinet Secretary officer I am of course well aware of the views of the the BME h and I am aware that there are a range of views um on this matter as well. What I would want to stress it's not either or. Uh we are investing uh heavily in GP care 1.3 billion pounds core funding and with the 531 million additional funds uh over uh three years all of that part of a bigger package of investment in primary care and we have 900 GP practices across the country and this is about complementing the work of GP practices h supporting them to do what they do best in terms of quant continue to care in terms of that family doctor role. But same day access is crucial to preventing problems uh becoming a crisis. We have to respond uh to that need and of course she's quite right to raise the challenges around accident emergency and that's why we're taking a whole system approach looking at health and social care together. >> Question number three, Callum Carr. Thank you, presiding officer, to ask the Scottish government whether it considers that its proposed reforms of NHS boards will make it easier to access appropriate assessment and support for neurody divergent people, particularly adults. >> Minister, >> the proposed reform of NHS boards provides an opportunity to think differently about how services are planned and delivered, including for neurodeivergent people. will work closely with NHS boards during the reform process to support joined up approaches across health and social care and community services ensuring that patients remain at their heart. In fact, just last week we announced a 7.6 million pound neurodedevelopmental support fund for children and young people to help to strengthen local support for children and families as part of work being taken forward with local government and partners across Scotland. Scotland. The member is also aware that we've committed to adopting the Royal College of Psychiatrists National Pathway for Neurodedevelopmental Conditions for adults and we'll publish our root map in the autumn setting out how that will be taken forward so that adults with neurodedevelopmental conditions with or without a formal diagnosis can be better supported. >> Callum Carr. >> Uh thank the minister for that comprehensive answer. In NHS borders, there's currently no pathway for adult ADHD or autism assessment unless someone is in mental health crisis. I also hear from constituents who struggled to access treatment after moving to the borders because diagnosis recognized elsewhere are not accepted. Now I recognize the steps being taken to address this including NHS borders holding a workshop this month to look at demand and capacity for neurody divergent services but we really do need that reassurance from the minister that improving access to assessment and support for neurode divergent adults will be a priority as these reforms progress. >> I thank the member for that supplementary question. I absolutely am willing and happy to reaffirm our commitment to supporting the needs of people with neurode divergence including adults here today in the chamber. I recognize and I'm sympathetic to concerns raised regarding access to adult pathways in NHS borders and the challenge being faced by the board. Um, NHS Borders is responsible for taking decisions on planning and delivering services and we fund the national autism implementation team to support all health and social care partnerships to help meet their responsibilities on neurodedevelopmental pathways and services and that activities complemented by our plans on the national root map. I also recognize the issues around private diagnosis. I'd be more than happy to correspond with the member or to hear from with the member of particular issues. These are clinical matters taking account of patient safety, professional guidance and local governance arrangements. We have published through through Nate, we published guidance on prescribing ADHD medication to adults following private sector diagnosis in Scotland that was drafted in consultation with professional bodies and clinicians and shared with all health boards. >> Julong, >> I thank Callum Care for raising this question and the minister for comments on this topic at the health committee this morning. Um, what level of resource has the Scottish government identified as necessary for the sustainable roll out of improved neurodedevelopmental assessment support pathways and will we see that in December's budget? >> Minister, >> so you'll certainly see investment in mental health and investment in child and adult adolescent mental health services in December's budget. We are at an early stage of development as we discussed this morning at um committee. We're at a relatively early stage of building an entirely new system that we need to respond to the needs from um the the vastly increased number of people who are coming forward um to seek diagnosis and to seek support. I mentioned some of the funding that we've put in um to uh developing cohesive services for children and young people. The 7.6 6 million announced last week and I look forward to updating the member on further investments as we develop the system moving forward. >> Miles Briggs. >> Thank you. Deputy presigning officer. Charities and organizations supporting people who are neuro neurody divergent in Scotland have expressed their intense disappointment that Eldam bill was not included in the program for government. But what we've heard today is no vision for what the Scottish government actually want to do. People across our country have been left in limbo as members have highlighted. So can I ask the minister to confirm today under government reforms whether or not we will see the development of a pathway for adults and children within the NHS? >> Minister um let me be absolutely clear the fact that we are not progressing with the Eldan bill does not mean that we are deprioritizing either learning disabilities or neural developmental disorders. We are fully and absolutely committed to responding to those issues. Part of the challenge is that there has been a really sharp increase in the number of people who are seeking a diagnosis and support and that's overwhelmed our current systems. So we are having to build from um quite a low baseline an entirely new system that can cope with a very high volume of referrals. What we are absolutely committed to is ensuring that children and young people and adults get the right support in the right place at the right time at the point that they request it. Now at the moment the focus is very much on diagnosis because that is seen as a way to get support actually what people want to support and that's what I'm focusing on building in our communities. >> Question number four Alan Brown. >> Uh thank you presiding officer to ask the Scottish government what assessment is made of the availability of African nature donor eggs for in vitro fertilization IV IVF treatment within the NHS. Minister, >> I recognize that there has been interest previously in findings by the human fertilization and embryology authority in relation to the under representation of Asian and black egg donors compared to the donor population. The availability of donor gates for use in NHS IVF treatments a matter of for NHS boards. I expect boards to meet the needs of all of those people who are eligible for NHS IVF treatment who require donor gimmites for their treatment. However, we are looking more broadly at the availability of gimmites in uh Scotland and I'd be very happy to consider any specific concerns that Mr. Brown is keen to raise. Alan Brown. >> I thank the minister for our answer that under representation he speaks about it's been illustrated for my constituents James and the catches whose NHS funding IVF treatment is currently on hold due to a lack of donor eggs of a African ethn ethnicity meaning an unknown weight for them possib. But they they've actually as a solution they've come up with themselves. They've offered to buy donor eggs. Um but NHS Greater Glasgow is advising they can't do a mix of private and NHS treatment even though they want to use a partner clinic of the assisted conception service. So is there any way a compromise can be found for couples such as these and such events? Minister. >> So I absolutely appreciate your constituents concern and I can confirm that the Scottish government expects NHS boards to meet the needs of all couples who are eligible for NHS fertility treatment and who require donor GETS whether that be eggs or sperm for that treatment. We have always been very clear that couples should not pay for any aspect of their NHS IVF treatment and that includes the purchase of donor gummites. That is the responsibility of NHS boards. I'm very happy to pursue this matter further with the relevant board if Mr. Brown would care to write to me with more details. >> Question number five, David Lindon >> to ask the Scottish government what discussions it's had with the Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership regarding funding for day centers for older people. >> Minister, >> I recognize the value of day centers for older people and the important role that they play in well-being and socialization. I I understand there's a review underway as part of a wider program of work that Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnerships undertaking to secure future financial sustainability. Staff and unions I understand are currently being consulted and the future shape of services but no decision about these specific services has been made at this stage. >> David Lindon >> I'm grateful to the minister for that answer. Um, of the 10 elderly daycare centers in Glasgow, two of them are in my constituency in bailist and spring boy and I visited them in in recent weeks and the minister's right to recognize this is a decision for the health and social care partnership. But given any decisions that might be taken in terms of the future of these services and the impact that it would have on loneliness and isolation, not to mention moving that vital middle step between living in the community independently and then going into the crisis of being in permanent residential care. Would the minister back my calls to the HSCP to keep these things in mind as it makes these decisions going forward? >> Minister, >> I note that he has two services in Bison and Springboy. I also have Derek in my own area. So I'm not a averse to discussions on this. I note that Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership have published figures showing that 661 service users were attending per month against a capacity of 1500 places. Um but I I note what he says around uh consultation and involvement and the importance of these services to the local community and I've asked my officials to keep in close contact with Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership to understand any changes they seek to make. >> Question number six, Arshad Akmed. Thank you presiding officer to ask the Scottish government what model of financial support it is considering as part of its program for government commitment provide additional support with energy cost for people with a terminal illness including its plan and timing for delivering this work. >> Minister >> I thank him for the question. Um, we're determined that everyone receives compassionate and high quality care and there should be no different at the end of a person's life. And in our program for government, we've committed to working with key stakeholders on how we'll best deliver further support for the energy costs of those with a terminal illness. Supporting this outcome will be a cross government priority and delivery plans will de be developed over the coming months and parliament will be kept updated. Of course, it's also important for me to point out to the member that he may wish to engage with his UK Labor government colleagues on the steps that they could be taking more widely to reduce energy costs for households. >> Thank you, Minister, for that answer. The need for good palative care was a rare point of cross party agreement at the end of the last session. What assurance can the minister give me that the palative care delivery plan is leading to better end of life care and services are receiving more support? >> Minister, >> I I thank him for that. Work's already underway to deliver on the actions set on the strategy delivery plan. For example, uh we launched Scotland's first pilot of care learning hub in January 2026, which provides free palative care education resources. uh and that palative of care guidelines have also been developed by a multi-disiplinary group of professionals which are available on the right decision website and app and work is continuing to be ongoing in this area. >> Question number seven, Patrick Harvey >> to ask the government whether the commitment in the program for government to ensure that by the end of 2031 no one waits more than 26 weeks for treatment applies to all forms of health care including gender identity services. Minister, >> it's important to recognize that waiting times to access gender identity services remain unacceptably long and I'm fully aware of the impact that this can have on the people who are waiting and on their loved ones. The 26-week target set out in the program for government relates specifically to elective inpatient and new outpatient weights. That covers around 40 specialty path specialty pathways that patients follow when accessing acute surgical and medical specialist services on a scheduled basis including orthopedics, opthalmology, and cardiology. And to support that, we've announced a further 90 million funding to help those waiting the longest for elective treatment. We continue to support specialist gender identity services and have invested almost 8.5 million since December 22, including more than 7.2 million directly to the health boards delivering those services to improve service delivery and to reduce waiting times. >> Patrick Harvey, >> I think many of my constituents who are waiting years will be deeply disappointed if an apparently clear statement in the program for government simply doesn't apply to them. The minister will know that waiting times even for a first appointment are measured at over five years in Glasgow and waiting times for treatment are measured in the decades. It's simply unrealistic uh to imagine that we can go on this way. Does the minister accept that nothing less than transformational change is necessary and that this must include decentralization of these services. Minister. >> So I do uh recognize the situation that Patrick Harvey is describing and I do agree that we need to think about a different way of delivering care. We recognize that the performance is not yet at the level that we all want to see at certain identity clinics and gender identity clinics particularly in NHS Greater and Glasgow and Clyde. I did have the privilege actually over the summer of visiting the Highland gender identity clinic which is functioning really well and I was delighted to hear about the managed clinical network which is now reconvening which I think will be an opportunity for areas to share expertise and good practice and increase the performance across the country. >> Questions and answers should be more brief. Gary Bouse. >> Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. [clears throat] Can the minister speak to the specific challenges with recruitment to staff in these gender identity services clinics? And does she agree with with me that we should all be mindful as parliamentarians with the language being used to ensure people accessing these services um feel supported? Minister, >> the member is absolutely uh right in his questioning this issue. Gender identity health care services are specialized. Clinics across the UK have reported challenges in workforce recruitment and retention. Since det as I said since December 22, we've invested more than 7.2 million directly into the health boards delivering these services to help the address these challenges. However, that is on a background on which these services have been the subject of highly polarized discourse at the center of which are real patients and hardworking staff who support them. The clinics have cited toxic media discourse as a factor in these recruitment difficulties and I absolutely profoundly agree that all of us here all politicians should be mindful of this when speaking on this matter. >> Mark Simpson. >> Uh thank you deputy presiding officer. um to ask the minister, given continued pressures on NHS services, um can the minister confirm that reducing waiting times for patients with life-threatening and clinically urgent conditions will remain the first priority in meeting the 26- week target. >> Minister, >> so there is not an eitheror here um at all. We know that trans people continue to suffer poorer outcomes relative to the wider population, including in both mental and physical health. We are committed to promoting, protecting, and realizing the right to health of everyone in Scotland, including trans people. In my first answer to the member, I gave some detail around who is included in the waiting list target and where the funding is going. Question number eight, not lodged. Question number nine, Adam Harley. >> Thank you, presiding officer, to ask the Scottish government whether it will provide an update on the provision of services for people with type 1 diabetes across Scotland. >> Minister, >> improving outcomes for people living with type 1 diabetes is a priority for this government. The health secretary wrote to all NHS boards in May to ask them for an update on their provision of hybrid closed loop systems as we provide baseline funding of 14.4 million each year. I expect NHS boards to ensure that they are delivering on national policy and providing hybrid closed loop systems in line with clinical guidance and individual clinical need including for children and young people living with type 1 diabetes. Adam Harley, >> I thank the minister for that answer. My constituent Christine Essen has been in contact with me to raise concerns about the withdrawal of central funding for hybrid closed loop systems for those living with type 1 diabetes and migration away from support provided by the national team. While Misss won't lose access to the system, it does raise questions about others gaining access to it. Can the Scottish government reassure Missan that those living with type 1 diabetes do not see a reduction in their support and care due to these changes and ensure that diabetic patients are not subject to a postcode lottery of care? >> Minister, >> so let me be absolutely clear on this issue that we have not withdrawn funding and we have not instructed NHS boards to cease the provision of this technology. Absolutely. Um the opposite in fact we have um provided 14.4 4 million of baseline funding from this year onwards in order to support that um provision. There is work going on in the um center for sustainable delivery in looking at expansion of access to hybrid closed loop loop systems. But let me take the opportunity to be clear to the chamber. We have not asked anyone to cease prescribing these systems while we wait for their work to report. And the member mentions the on boarding system which has proved very effective at ensuring that we have equity of access and equity um of treatment across the country um from the center of sustainable deliveries work. >> Filton McGregor. >> Thank you for following on from Adam Harley's question. can ask the minister of what action the Scottish government is taking to ensure that people with type 1 diabetes who have been assessed is clinically eligible for insulin pump therapy have timely and equitable access to that treatment regardless of which NHS board they receive their care from and this has been a bit of an issue for some of my constituents and what oversight it has in general of NHS board funding and waiting times for insurance pump provision >> minister >> so I I I recognize that there have been challenges in terms of equity um of access over the years for a number of people across Scotland. Actually baselining the funding in this way is meant to provide certainty to every health board area that that funding is there and that funding will continue to be there and that should iron out some of the inequity of access. There are also that we're using the center for sustainable um delivery to improve on the delivery and access to the support that's required to onboard people onto the system. and we've asked them to do a further piece of work um around introducing it and expanding access. I have to say um actually this challenge probably highlights one of the um most um crucial issues within our NHS at the moment and one of the strongest reasons for reform of how we delivery deliver our NHS to try to tackle these geographical inequities and to try to tackle this unwarranted variation that we face in Scotland and I think our opportunity of reform gives us an opportunity to improve that. I would ask for shorter answers from the minister to allow more backbenchers to ask questions. Benley Carson, >> around 35% of adults with type 1 diabetes and free gallery are currently using insulin pumps and a further 251 patients are clinically suitable for the therapy with some waiting more than 12 months because demand is outstripping available resources. Does the cabinet secretary accept to be a false economy to allow access to insulin pumps and hybrid closed loop systems to stall because of local budget pressures when evidence shows these technologies improve outcomes and reduce the risk of costly long-term complications? And will the government therefore guarantee that the NHS boards have sufficient funding to meet rising demand for type 1 diabetes technology? >> Minister. >> So, thanks thanks for the promotion, Mr. Carson. I'm delighted to to be addressed as cabinet secretary. Actually, all of the um work that I've outlined already, the 14.4 million baseline funding is intended to ensure that health boards have certainty that the funding is there and that the funding will continue to be there year after year to support that. Now, closed loop symptoms systems are now an established part of diabetes care for people with type 1 diabetes in Scotland. the that position has been set out by sign guidance and Scott Scottish health technology groups that the closed loop system technology should be the standard of care for people with type 1 diabetes who wish to use it and we are targeting our funding to ensure that it absolutely is in every part of Scotland. >> Question number 10, Jenny Mento. >> Thank youing officer. Thank you presiding officer to ask the Scottish government what discussions it has had with the Argyland but health and social care partnership and NHS Highland regarding the provision of kidney diialysis services to ensure that people are receiving treatment close to home. >> Minister, >> I appreciate Miss Mento's campaigning on this issue. We engage regularly with NHS boards and health and social care partnerships on the planning and delivery of renalist services including dialysis provision. decisions on the location and configuration of diialysis services are however for NHS boards. We recognize the importance of providing care close as close to home as possible and support a range of approaches including satellite diialysis units and home dialysis where appropriate and our program for government commits to shifting more health care closer to home through a community first approach maximizing the opportunities for people to get the care that they need in their own home or local community. >> Jenny Mento, >> I thank the minister for her response. As a result of the diialysis unit being temporarily closed due to staff recruitment issues in Campbell Town, constituents are having to travel to Glasgow for their diialysis. There's also a campaign which I'm supportive of to provide diialysis in Lauren and Isles Hospital in Oben to avoid people having to travel to Fort William. It concerns me that crucial at crucial points in people's health journeys, decisions are being made that don't put people at the heart of them. As the minister just indicated, as the reform of of the NHS in Scotland progresses, how will the Scottish government ensure that concerns about perceived reductions in care are not ignored as we rightly move to a sustainable health service? Minister, >> I recognize the concerns that she's raising of the people in Campbell Town who've been affected by the changes to their services and the impact that they are having that this is having on their lives. As we go forward with this, we'll actively engage with patients, carers, communities, and staff as the re reforms are developed, ensuring that local experiences help shape those future services. And a key objective of the reforms that we're going ahead with is to strengthen the community- based care and improve access to services closer to home wherever it's safe and clinically appropriate to do so. The next item of business is a debate on motion 1177 in the name of Patrick Harvey on hypers scale data centers. Members wishing to speak should press their respect to speak buttons now and I'll give the front bench a few moments to take their place.