Asked by: Eagle, Tim (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Highlands and Islands)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to identify language skills gaps in the tourism sector, particularly in the Highlands and Islands, and what action it is taking to remedy any such gaps.
Answered by Flynn, Stephen - Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport
The Scottish Government is providing national leadership for skills planning while supporting regions to identify and respond to their own workforce and skills priorities in line with national objectives. Strengthening regional skills planning is a core part of wider reform, recognising the important role of regional partners in providing labour market insight and informing skills provision across key sectors.
Addressing workforce and skills challenges within tourism and hospitality remains a priority. We continue to work collaboratively with the sector through the Tourism and Hospitality Industry Leadership Group and the Tourism and Hospitality Skills Group to support actions that help employers attract, develop and retain the workforce they need.
Through our ongoing engagement with industry and regional partners, we continue to consider the skills needs of the tourism workforce and the barriers that employers face in accessing the skills required to support visitors and grow the sector.
Asked by: Chapman, Maggie (Scottish Green Party - North East Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that a gap exists in the availability of grant schemes for electric vehicle chargepoint installation for homeowners in non-rural areas, in light of the Scottish Domestic Chargepoint Scheme being limited to rural areas and the UK Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant Scheme excluding homeowners.
Answered by Flynn, Stephen - Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport
The Scottish Government is currently prioritising support for those households facing the greatest barriers to EV adoption, including those in rural and island communities who often face higher travel costs. This helps ensure limited public funding is directed where it can have the greatest impact. Eligibility criteria are reviewed and updated annually.
Asked by: Nevens, Kate (Scottish Green Party - Edinburgh and Lothians East)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is regarding proposals to reopen the Edinburgh South Suburban Railway for passenger services, which would provide an orbital rail service for residents from Craiglockhart to Portobello.
Answered by Flynn, Stephen - Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport
I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-02426 on 2 September 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
Asked by: Eagle, Tim (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Highlands and Islands)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action VisitScotland is taking to promote Scottish cruise tourism in international markets, including in the US and Germany.
Answered by Flynn, Stephen - Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport
I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-03360 on 29 September 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
Asked by: Leask, Kristopher (Scottish Green Party - Highlands and Islands)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many performances were supported by funding from its Scotland on Tour Fund in (a) 2022 and (b) 2023, how many audience members these performances reached, and whether it has produced a report evaluating the outcomes of the fund.
Answered by McAllan, Màiri - Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic
The Scotland on Tour programme supported 365 performances between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023, reaching a total audience of more than 20,300 people. The information requested for 2022 and 2023 separately is not available in the programme evaluation report which reports outcomes for the programme period as a whole. An evaluation report, the Scotland on Tour Final Report (August 2023), was produced by Active Events and assessed the outcomes of the programme.
Asked by: Eagle, Tim (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Highlands and Islands)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many Scottish Cabinet meetings have been classified as "Travelling Cabinets" and held at locations outwith Edinburgh since May 2024, broken down by venue, and what the total cost associated with each meeting was.
Answered by Hepburn, Jamie - Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans
The information requested can be found on the Scottish Government website at www.gov.scot/publications/cabinet-event-costs/.
Asked by: Sweeney, Paul (Scottish Labour - Glasgow)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what specific support or interim financial relief it will provide to congregations and dioceses experiencing significant VAT shortfalls on active conservation projects following the closure of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, including Carntyne and Cranhill Parish Church and listed churches within the Archdiocese of Glasgow.
Answered by McAllan, Màiri - Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic
I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01941 on 19 August 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
Asked by: MacDougall, Julie (Reform UK - Mid Scotland and Fife)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce waiting times for patients requiring treatment for lung conditions, in light of the Asthma + Lung UK Scotland findings that people with lung conditions in Scotland can face some of the longest waiting times for respiratory care in the UK.
Answered by Constance, Angela - Cabinet Secretary for Health and Care
I am committed to ensuring that people with respiratory conditions receive timely access to high-quality care and treatment to enable them to live longer, healthier, and more independent lives.
The Respiratory Specialty Delivery Group, within the Centre for Sustainable Delivery is developing a number of national pathways for conditions including COPD, severe asthma, bronchiectasis and sleep apnoea. This work aims to improve referral processes, support earlier intervention and ensure that patients receive the right care, in the right place and at the right time.
We are also improving access to respiratory services, including pulmonary rehabilitation through digital, community and specialist provision to increase capacity and reduce variation across Scotland. This includes work with Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland to develop pulmonary rehabilitation resources and a digital-first offer through their My Lungs, My Life platform, and setting up pulmonary rehabilitation pilots in central and rural areas, helping to ensure people can access consistent support regardless of where they live.
In addition, recommendations from the Long Term Conditions Advisory Group on Respiratory Conditions which will inform the Long-Term Conditions Strategy, due to be published in March 27. This will help inform future action to support equitable and sustainable access to services, including respiratory care.
More broadly, the commitments set out in the 2026-27 Budget will deliver record investment of £22.5 billion for health and social care, supporting delivery of planned care and increasing capacity across NHS Scotland. We have invested an additional £100 million this year to build on progress made through the NHS Operational Improvement Plan and have announced a further £90 million to support those waiting longest for treatment and create additional capacity across the healthcare system.
Asked by: MacDougall, Julie (Reform UK - Mid Scotland and Fife)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to increase the number of facilities for pulmonary rehabilitation, in light of reported figures indicating that one in five people are living with some kind of lung condition.
Answered by Constance, Angela - Cabinet Secretary for Health and Care
I recognise that pulmonary rehabilitation is a key intervention for people living with chronic respiratory conditions and that many people across Scotland are affected by lung disease. Improving access to pulmonary rehabilitation remains a priority.
Through the Respiratory Care Action Plan for Scotland, pulmonary rehabilitation was identified as an important area for improvement. The Scottish Respiratory Advisory Committee has endorsed a new national three-tier model comprising universal digital services, targeted community-based provision and specialist hospital-based support for people with more complex needs.
We are working with Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland to develop a digital-first pulmonary rehabilitation offer through the My Lungs, My Life platform, providing rehabilitation resources, self-management support and educational materials that can be accessed across Scotland. In addition, two targeted pulmonary rehabilitation programme pilots are being developed in both central and rural settings.
Alongside this, Short Life Working Groups are developing national referral criteria and implementation tools to support NHS Boards in expanding pulmonary rehabilitation capacity, reducing geographical variation and improving equitable access. This includes promoting virtual and hybrid rehabilitation models where appropriate, helping to address workforce and travel barriers and enabling more people to benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation closer to home.
Asked by: Ross, Angela (Reform UK - Edinburgh and Lothians East)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its forthcoming childcare delivery plan, (a) whether it will include the fully costed delivery plan and timetable referred to in Motion S7M-00128 as amended on 27 May 2026, (b) when it will be published for consultation and (c) whether any expansion of provision will be phased by age or introduced at the same time for all eligible children.
Answered by Brown, Siobhian - Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise
As set out in the Programme for Government in early September, we will publish and consult on a blueprint for a transformed childcare offer in 2027, focussing on what matters most to families. Given the scale of our ambition to transform childcare, it is only right we take the time to develop that blueprint and we will publish it for consultation next year. Decisions on future delivery and costs will be considered through the appropriate parliamentary and budgetary processes.
As we develop our blueprint for the future, we are already making significant new investments in 2026-27, improving the affordability and flexibility of childcare and supporting access to work, education and training. Through the Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan, ‘Bringing Hope, Building Futures’, we are providing up to £15 million of funding during 2026-27 to support low income families with their childcare costs. This funding will start flowing to families in the next month, providing real practical help at key moments of challenge.
Delivery will be phased across the Parliamentary term, with families able to access breakfast clubs across Scotland from August 2027, and a new after school and holiday childcare offer for primary school children available from August 2029.