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It has been over a year since the extent of financial mismanagement at the University of Dundee first emerged.

Since then, the Scottish Government has worked closely with the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) and the University of Dundee to help the University chart a route to recovery, while clearly respecting its autonomy.

From the independent investigation led by Professor Pamela Gillies, the Strategic Advisory Taskforce led by Sir Alan Langlands, workshops with the University, expert advice and due diligence from contractors, and expert support and advice from the SFC and scrutiny by its Board, substantial work and resource has been deployed to support the University to create a path to recover.

In June, I informed the Parliament that the Government would make unprecedented use of section 25 of the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 2005 to offer up to £40 million direct funding via SFC to give the University the support it needs to identify and build on its strengths, engage fully with staff, and focus on income generation as well as reducing costs.

It has taken longer than anticipated to develop the stable leadership and focus required to move the university forward. This has affected staff and students directly, who have been living with instability and uncertainty in their place of work and place of learning.

However, significant advancements are now underway, and I can advise parliament that the SFC has issued the University with clear, fair, proportionate and achievable funding conditions. These have been published by the SFC ( alongside a cover letter (), and shared with the University's leaders and court.

The expert SFC Board undertook careful scrutiny and debate and concluded that the conditions as drafted are reasonable, feasible and justifiable, while providing essential assurance for the provision of additional public funding. Crucially, these conditions have been drafted to avoid any impact on the University's status as an independent autonomous institution.

These conditions do not yet provide a firm offer of funding, as the University must be given an opportunity to consider and feedback. The SFC Board is clear that the conditions set the appropriate balance, and the Scottish Government agrees with this assessment.

The University remains autonomous and responsible for its own governance and financial planning. The conditions provide an appropriate framework for this during the recovery period when it is receiving additional Government funding.

Following a period of engagement a formal offer will be made, and it will be for the University Court to decide whether to accept or reject. I will ensure Parliament is kept updated as the situation progresses.

The Scottish Government does not collect data on the number of callers who report being unable to access care after multiple attempts to contact NHS 24.

The Scottish Government continues to support NHS 24, including revising performance indicators to better reflect demand and improve service delivery. Over the past two financial years, NHS 24 has received £28.3 million in additional funding, enabling the recruitment of 22 extra clinicians and achieving its highest-ever treatment capacity.

The Scottish Government is confident that NHS 24 operates a robust triage system that prioritises patient safety.

NHS 24 will always refer patients on to other areas of the healthcare system when appropriate to do so and in the best interests of the patients care.

NHS 24 performance is subject to regular monitoring, and NHS 24 continues to meet statutory and clinical obligations.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information.

Road safety is of paramount importance to the Scottish Government. Transport Scotland assesses the safety performance of the trunk road network on an annual basis. The trunk road safety annual assessment process is a robust, evidence-based approach which ensures that the funding available can be prioritised to those locations that offer the possibility of delivering the greatest casualty accident savings across the country to support the effective delivery of the Scottish Government’s 2030 casualty reduction targets.

Through this process, Transport Scotland has undertaken, and continues to undertake where identified, road safety schemes related to the A9/A923/A822 Dunkeld junction. In November 2021, works were carried out to introduce solar road studs, refresh road markings, and upgrade local signage. In 2023, solar road studs and enhanced road markings were introduced on the section of the A9 between Bankfoot and Dalguise as part of the £5M A9 short-term measures announced by the then Transport Minister in December 2022.

Following engagement with the local community, Transport Scotland is currently reviewing signage associated with the A9/A923 Dunkeld junction and adjacent junctions. Any improvement works identified will be implemented during the 2026/27 financial year.

In 2024, following requests from the local community, a study was undertaken to assess the potential for a roundabout at the Dunkeld junction. A wide range of options were evaluated in terms of safety, operational performance, construction impacts on existing traffic, land requirements, environmental considerations, geotechnics, public utilities, construction programme, road geometry, public acceptability, and cost. The assessment concluded that roundabout options were costly, would likely be replaced by the A9 dualling in a few years, were disruptive to construct, and ultimately did not accommodate the traffic volumes at the junction.

As a result, and following discussions with the local community, Transport Scotland agreed to investigate traffic signalisation as an alternative. Our Operating Company BEAR Scotland has been instructed to examine the feasibility of introducing traffic signals and reducing the speed limit. This investigative work is scheduled for completion by the end of the 2025/26 financial year.

The A9/A923/A82 Dunkeld junction was identified in Transport Scotland’s 2026/27 Annual Road Safety Review report as a site requiring further investigation, which will take place during the 2026/27 financial year.

There are no payments outstanding for applications approved in previous financial years.

The Community Needs Assessments (CNAs) for Arran (including the Ardrossan-Brodick route) and Campbeltown are part of a wider programme of assessments for Clyde and Kintyre routes plus Islay, Jura and Gigha, and are scheduled to be carried out during 2026.

CNAs are underway for routes within the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service. These include assessments for Coll, Colonsay, Iona, Kerrera, Lismore, Mull, Tiree, and the Sounds of Barra and Harris services. These assessments are expected to be completed by summer 2026. CNAs for the Outer Hebrides (mainland routes), Small Isles, Skye and Raasay are scheduled to commence later this year.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41933 on 27 November 2025. 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41873 on 27 November 2025. 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41869 on 27 November 2025. 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.