Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

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Question reference: S6W-43531

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to recent reports that the number of women travelling from Scotland to England to access later-stage abortion care has increased.

Question reference: S6W-43185

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 29 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government where the location will be for the first roll-out of self-sampling for cervical screening, which is expected to take place in spring 2026.

The first phase of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling pilot within the cervical screening programme will begin in some of Scotland’s most deprived areas within the Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and Arran, Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and Lothian health board areas. Eligible women who have never, or have rarely, attended a cervical screening appointment will be offered a self-sampling kit when they visit participating GP practices. Following this initial phase, the pilot will expand into additional GP practices and healthcare settings within these health boards.

The learning from this pilot will be used to inform the national roll out of self-sampling, which is currently in the planning stages. This work will play a key role in increasing uptake of the cervical screening programme, supporting Scotland’s ambition to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040.

Question reference: S6W-43184

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 29 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication of the Women’s Health Plan: Phase 2 (2026-2029), by what date it will publish the Action Plan for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer, and what the timeline is for its implementation.

The Scottish Government intends to publish the Cervical Cancer Elimination Action Plan in spring 2026.

In the meantime, progress is already under way towards our goal of eliminating cervical cancer by 2040. This includes the upcoming launch of a cervical screening pilot for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling, which is expected to begin in March. Self-sampling will be offered in selected GP practices within some of Scotland’s most deprived areas to women who have never, or rarely have, been screened. This pilot will inform the planning of a national roll-out of self sampling, and increase uptake within the cervical screening programme.

Question reference: S6W-43186

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 28 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication of the Women’s Health Plan: Phase 2 (2026-2029), when it will (a) launch and (b) issue the national survey on women and girls health in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-43182

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 28 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) working, (b) reference, (c) policy sub, (d) network and (e) other groups have been established in relation to its delivery of Phase 2 of the Women’s Health Plan; what the full name of each group is, and to whom each group reports.

Phase Two of the Women’s Health Plan was published on 20 January 2026.

Its implementation will be supported by a ‘Women’s Health Plan Ministerial Oversight Group’, chaired by myself. This Group will provide strategic oversight and governance for Phase Two and support partners across Scotland in delivering the Plan.

Additional governance and working groups to support the delivery of Phase Two are currently being determined and will be in place by Spring 2026.

Question reference: S6W-43183

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 26 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication of the Women’s Health Plan: Phase 2 (2026-2029), by what date it will publish the National Plan for Gynaecology, and what the timeline is for its implementation.

The development of this plan is in the very early stages; therefore, there has not yet been a decision around publication or timescales.

We continue to focus on reducing long waits for all patients including those awaiting gynaecology appointments and treatment, while a longer-term plan is developed.

We have already allocated over £10.5 million additional funding to Health Boards to target long waits for gynaecology this year. The further £2.4 million I announced, alongside the publication of Phase 2 of the Women’s Health Plan, brings the total investment to almost £13 million, demonstrating our commitment to improving care and ensuring women and girls receive a timely diagnosis and access to the support they need.

The latest data shows our plan is working, with waits of more than a year down 18.1% for new outpatients and down 3.9% for inpatient and day-case procedures between July and November 2025.

Question reference: S6W-42842

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 23 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that NHS Dumfries and Galloway has issued an apology, what its response is to reports of physical and sexual abuse at the Ladyfield psychiatric unit for children.

The Scottish Government unequivocally condemns the abuse experienced by children and young people at the Ladyfield psychiatric unit for children. We offer our full and unreserved apology and recognise the courage of survivors in coming forward to share their experiences. Ladyfield was examined during Phase 9 of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry’s public hearings, and the Inquiry’s findings are awaited. The Scottish Government continues to fully participate in the Inquiry process.

NHS Dumfries and Galloway no longer provides inpatient mental health care for children and young people; these services are now delivered at Skye House by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Across Scotland, assurance of CAMHS inpatient services has been strengthened through joint inspections/visits led independently by Healthcare Improvement Scotland and the Mental Welfare Commission. This is the first time these joint inspections have taken place, providing additional assurance on safety, quality, accountability, and improvement alongside the Mental Welfare Commission’s regular visits. The first report, on the Melville Unit in NHS Lothian, was published in October 2025, with reports on the remaining units to follow. A joint final report that will make future recommendations will be published in 2026.

Question reference: S6W-42824

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 20 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the ongoing work to map out existing mental health services as part of the Delivery Framework for Miscarriage Care in Scotland, and a timeline for its publication.

Question reference: S6W-42812

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any price gaps between the purchase costs of gluten-free products and the NHS reimbursement rate for pharmacies, what steps it is taking to ensure that those with coeliac disease have sufficient access to prescriptions for gluten-free products.

Question reference: S6W-42813

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the NHS reimbursement rate for pharmacies purchasing prescriptions for gluten-free products.

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