- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answer expected on 5 August 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how many recorded (a) closures and (b) delays there have been on the Edinburgh City Bypass in each year since 1999.
Answer
Answer expected on 5 August 2025
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answer expected on 5 August 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how much has been spent on agency staff in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools, in each year since 1999, also broken down by local authority.
Answer
Answer expected on 5 August 2025
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 June 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 4 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-28109 by Jenni Minto on 25 June 2024, when it plans to next report on progress towards the Mental health and wellbeing strategy: delivery plan 2023-2025, and whether any such progress report will include an analysis of the impact of the strategy on addressing the mental health impact of non-communicable diseases, including chronic kidney disease, in light of Kidney Care UK’s report, Left to get on with it: The real impact of inadequate psychosocial support in kidney care, published in June 2025.
Answer
The Scottish Government published the Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy Delivery Plan and Workforce Action Plan: Progress Update and Next Steps on 11 June 2025. This update outlines progress made since publication of the Delivery Plan and includes information on the implementation of Psychological Therapies and Interventions Core Standards. A further high-level progress report is due to be presented to the Mental Health and Wellbeing Leadership Board on 21 August 2025.
The update does not include a specific analysis of the mental health impact of non-communicable diseases, such as chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, the Scottish Government remains committed to ensuring people living with long-term conditions, including CKD, have access to safe, effective and person-centred care, including appropriate psychosocial support. NHS Boards are expected to follow current best practice in delivering this care.
More broadly, the Scottish Government is currently consulting on a Long Term Conditions Framework, which will help inform future approaches to prevention, diagnosis and care, including support for mental health and wellbeing. We are also considering the findings of Kidney Care UK’s June 2025 report Left to get on with it and will reflect these in future planning where appropriate.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 June 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 4 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to draw on already-qualified counsellors and psychotherapists, who are not currently practising, to reduce any long waiting times for psychological therapies.
Answer
The Scottish Government recognises the importance of timely access to psychological therapies and continues to work with NHS Boards to reduce waiting times. We are taking forward targeted actions to expand the mental health workforce by making better use of qualified counsellors and psychotherapists who are currently not in practice. In collaboration with key partners, we are developing practical measures to support these professionals to return to the workforce. This includes exploring flexible employment opportunities, providing access to professional supervision, and ensuring alignment with the needs of mental health services. These efforts are part of our wider investment in workforce development and contribute directly to the implementation of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Workforce Action Plan. Workforce planning and service delivery are led locally, aligned with national frameworks and informed by local need.
The Scottish Government has provided substantial investment since the pandemic to help clear backlogs and to implement the Specification, leading to a 31.7% growth in the psychological therapies' workforce since March 2021.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 4 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what updated guidance it plans to publish in relation to a presumption against children and young people living in temporary accommodation being required to move schools.
Answer
Further to the answer to question S6W-36591 on 22 April 2025, provided by the former Minister for Housing Paul McLennan MSP, on plans to implement a presumption against children moving schools when they are placed in temporary accommodation, I can advise that the Scottish Government plans to cover this issue when it next updates the Code of Guidance on Homelessness. This guidance, used to guide local authorities in their duties to assist people who are threatened with or who are experiencing homelessness, was last updated in November 2019.
The Scottish Government is committed to a substantial review of the Code of Guidance once the Housing (Scotland) Bill is passed by the Scottish Parliament. The updated Code of Guidance will cover all legislation, policies and practices to prevent and resolve homelessness.
All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 June 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 3 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported findings in the Royal College of Radiologists report, Clinical Oncology: Workforce Census 2024, that 80% of cancer centre leaders reported that staff shortages have led to delays in patients starting systemic anti-cancer therapy treatment and 100% reported that shortages have caused radiotherapy delays in their hospitals.
Answer
The Scottish Government has established the National Oncology Coordination Group to provide a coordinated and collaborative response to immediate and foreseeable service pressures. This group provides rapid real-time assessment of highest risk services and proactively develops risk mitigation proposals, in line with the overall strategic aim for cancer. Officials also meet with Boards’ Cancer Management Teams monthly to identify immediate challenges, explore solutions and share best practice to reduce delays and improve patient outcomes.
We have mobilised an ambitious Oncology Transformation Programme and are working closely with NHS Boards and regional leaders from across the country to address longer-term pressures. We have also committed to further funding for chemotherapy and acute oncology services using a phased approach to ensure we build a sustainable workforce. The funding will reach up to £10 million per annum by 2027 and will support increased regional working, workforce recruitment, and maximise capacity across the existing workforce. £6.6 million has been provided in 2025-26 and will support NHS Boards to develop sustainable plans.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 June 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 3 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Royal College of Radiologists report, Clinical Oncology: Workforce Census 2024, how it plans to reduce any reliance by NHS boards on the outsourcing of radiology reporting, in light of the reported forecast that outsourcing spend could reach as much as £30 million per year by 2029.
Answer
As stated in the answer to question S6W-38508 on 18 June 2025, whilst Scottish Ministers are responsible for determining the strategic policy of the NHS in Scotland, NHS Boards are responsible for delivering their services, including making decisions to outsource NHS contracts to the independent sector where appropriate to meet the Board’s needs.
Scottish Government has committed to reduce the radiology backlog so that 95% of referrals are seen within six weeks by March 2026, through expanding to seven-day services, recruitment, and using mobile scanning units. More than £106 million has been allocated to NHS Boards in 25-26 to help address waits for procedures and operations, with £21 million for imaging.
All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 June 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 3 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Kidney Care UK’s recent report, Left to get on with it: The real impact of inadequate psychosocial support in kidney care, whether it plans to implement measures to train and upskill NHS kidney care teams, general practitioners and talking therapies professionals, to ensure timely referral and access to psychosocial support for people living with chronic kidney disease.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not currently have plans to introduce specific measures to train and upskill NHS kidney care teams in relation to psychosocial support.
NHS Boards are expected to follow current guidelines and best practice in delivering safe, effective, and person-centred care. Our Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2023 sets out a long-term vision for improving mental health, supported by the National Specification for Psychological Therapies and Interventions and the new Mental Health Core Standards, introduced in September 2023. Workforce planning and training are led locally, aligned with national frameworks.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 3 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what monitoring is in place to ensure consistency and quality in school-based counselling services across local authority areas.
Answer
Our national guidance for local authorities sets out expectations for monitoring and reviewing the service. The guidance also makes clear that the operation of the counselling service within the school should be reviewed annually and any necessary improvements made.
The Scottish Government facilitates a quarterly Counsellors Network to provide a forum for local authority representatives co-ordinating the school counselling service to discuss practice and delivery.
Local authorities also provide annual reports to the Scottish Government on counselling services. These returns provide national oversight and inform ongoing engagement with local authorities. A summary of these reports can be accessed here: .
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 3 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to extend access to counselling provision in primary schools, building on its existing commitment to secondary school counselling.
Answer
School counselling services are available to all pupils aged 10 and over, including primary and special school pupils.
The Scottish Government engaged with professional counselling bodies prior to establishing counselling services who advised that therapeutic counselling is not appropriate for younger pupils.
Counselling is just one of a range of mental health supports available for children and young people.
We are also providing local authorities with £15 million per annum to fund community-based mental health and wellbeing supports for children, young people and their families, which includes younger primary-school-aged children.
