Asked by: Eagle, Tim (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Highlands and Islands)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on virtual private network (VPN) services in each year since 2021.
Answered by Lochhead, Richard - Minister for Business and Employment
In keeping with our network security policy, we can neither confirm nor deny the use of VPNs by revealing any cost or lack thereof. This is consistent with our response to a recent FOI (202500480214) asking a similar question and aligns to the approach taken by government bodies across the UK. Providing details on the type of networking tools used could provide hostile actors with information on the setup, and potential weak points, of sensitive government systems.
Asked by: Lennon, Monica (Scottish Labour - Central Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether additional resources will be allocated to recruit and retain trained attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) specialists.
Answered by Arthur, Tom - Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing
Scottish Government sets the strategic policy direction for the NHS in Scotland, operational matters – including the recruitment and training of staff – are in the first instance the responsibility of the relevant NHS Board.
We continue to work closely with Health Boards and clinical professionals across Scotland to understand any specific challenges they are facing in the recruitment and training of specialist staff needed to support people with ADHD.
We continue to fund NHS Education for Scotland (NES) and the National Autism Implementation Team (NAIT) to deliver professional learning to improve the Scottish workforce’s knowledge and skills about Neurodivergence, including Autism and ADHD.
To address specific challenges in the recruitment and retention of psychiatrists in Scotland we established a Working Group which recently reported to Ministers, 23 June 2025. Funding also continues to be provided to Boards for the additional roles to help mental health pharmacy services including within community mental health pharmacy support to improve medication use and prescribing practices.
Asked by: Eagle, Tim (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Highlands and Islands)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown showing which organisations secured funding from the Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund in each year since 2021, including how much funding was awarded.
Answered by Fairlie, Jim - Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity
The information requested is available online, please find the details requested as follows:
2025 data is excluded as the fund is currently open for applications and results are pending.
Asked by: Eagle, Tim (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Highlands and Islands)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assistance is available to allow people in the Highlands and Islands region who reside outside Inverness to utilise the Nevis House rehabilitation service.
Answered by Todd, Maree - Minister for Drug and Alcohol Policy and Sport
The Scottish Government provided £2.4m to support the development of Nevis House, as part of our aim to increase residential rehab capacity – particularly for areas outside the Central Belt.
Nevis House will provide six beds, equating to up to 22 placements a year. It aims to support referrals from more remote parts of the Highlands alongside the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland.
Nevis House expands on existing work carried out at Beechwood House, offering residential rehabilitation, community outreach and social care to people affected by substance use in rural areas.
Asked by: Eagle, Tim (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Highlands and Islands)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-31416 by Neil Gray on 28 November 2024, how many Scottish Graduate Entry Medicine (ScotGEM) graduates from summer 2023 have since taken up GPST 1 posts in Scotland following completion of their foundation year 2, broken down by NHS board area.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
At the time of response six ScotGEM 2023 graduates have already taken up GPST 1 posts in Scotland, these are broken down by health board in the following table.
Health board | GPST 1 post taken up by 2023 ScotGEM graduate |
NHS Borders | 1 |
NHS Forth Valley | 1 |
NHS Grampian | 1 |
NHS Highland | 1 |
NHS Lanarkshire | 1 |
NHS Lothian | 1 |
The Scottish Government is currently undertaking an initial evaluation of the ScotGEM programme, which will include analysis of student destinations following undergraduate study.
Asked by: Kerr, Stephen (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Central Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has assessed any legal and diplomatic risks of using the term "genocide" regarding Gaza, in relation to live international conflicts.
Answered by Robertson, Angus - Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture
The Scottish Government has considered the legal and diplomatic risks. The International Court of Justice has held that actions of Israel in Gaza amount to a prima facie case for genocide and the International Courts are investigating those matters.
Asked by: Sweeney, Paul (Scottish Labour - Glasgow)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to prevent the permanent closure of Ballantine Castings Ltd, in light of reports that it is Scotland's last architectural ironworks.
Answered by Lochhead, Richard - Minister for Business and Employment
Whilst the Scottish Government are aware that Ballantine Casting Ltd is going through liquidation, we were not notified in advance of commercial decisions to appoint the liquidation. The business is not account managed by Scottish Enterprise. The individuals affected by these decisions are always our main priority and the Scottish Government will do everything in its power to help those affected through our initiative for responding to potential redundancy situations, Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE). PACE will work with the liquidators [Johnston Carmichael] to offer direct support to affected employees.
Asked by: Kerr, Stephen (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Central Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what legal advice it received before its ministers publicly stated its position that Israel is committing genocide.
Answered by Robertson, Angus - Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture
The Scottish Government has received appropriate legal and policy advice on the position in Gaza, and does not comment on legal advice.
Asked by: Kerr, Stephen (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Central Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there are any constraints against the establishment of new data centres in Scotland; if there are, what it considers that those constraints are, and what action it is taking to mitigate any such constraints.
Answered by Lochhead, Richard - Minister for Business and Employment
“Data centres, and the associated digital infrastructure required to service them, are the backbone of a vibrant digital economy. Increased data centre presence in Scotland will help the country to fully embrace new and emerging technologies and opportunities in the future and support the Scottish Government's policy ambitions.
There are a number of different considerations that can impact the establishment of new data centres including electricity network, planning and technical considerations and each site has its own challenges and opportunities. Working across Scottish Government and its agencies, in conjunction with the UK Government where appropriate, we are seeking to address these opportunities and challenges to support the realisation of data centre investment across Scotland, whilst maximising spillover benefits such as re-use of excess heat and economic additionality.”
Asked by: Kerr, Stephen (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Central Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many unfilled officer posts remain in Police Scotland as of the latest reporting date.
Answered by Constance, Angela - Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
As the recruitment and deployment of officers is a matter for the Chief Constable, the Scottish Government do not hold this information.
The Scottish Government is investing a record £1.64 billion in policing in 2025-26, an increase of almost £90 million of additional funding from the 2024-25 budget. Our investment in policing has enabled Police Scotland to take on more recruits in 2024-25 than at any time since 2013, with further intakes planned throughout 2025. Police Scotland has stated that it has a healthy recruitment pipeline