The Scottish Parliament

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

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

Question reference: S7W-03351

Asked by: Angela Ross, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Reform UK
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 28 September 2026

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.

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.

Question reference: S7W-03350

Asked by: Angela Ross, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Reform UK
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Alison Thewliss on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding NHS dental services for people with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), for what reason Type 3 EDS is not currently recognised as meeting the criteria for specialist or priority dental treatment, whether it plans to review the relevant NHS Scotland guidance and eligibility criteria to ensure that people with Type 3 EDS can access appropriate specialist dental care, and, if so, when it expects any changes to be introduced.

NHS Scotland does not generally determine access to specialist dental services on the basis of a medical diagnosis alone. Referrals to the Public Dental Service, Special Care Dentistry, or secondary care services are made based on an individual's assessed clinical needs, the complexity of treatment required, and any factors that may affect their ability to receive care safely within a general dental practice.

Following referral, decisions on the most appropriate treatment pathway, including whether specialist services are required and the priority assigned to a patient, are matters for NHS clinical teams.

Question reference: S7O-00136

Asked by: Angela Ross, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Reform UK
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether the publication of the draft Curriculum Improvement Cycle, which introduces new concepts, big ideas and a Know-Do-Understand framework, reflects an assessment that the existing skilled-focused approach within Curriculum for Excellence has not achieved its intended outcomes for pupils.

Question reference: S7W-02469

Asked by: Angela Ross, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Reform UK
Date lodged: Friday, 14 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 14 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the Parliament's agreement of motion S7M-00128 on 27 May 2026, which called on it to set out a fully costed delivery plan and timeline for its commitment to extend year-round childcare support to every child from nine months old to the end of primary school, when it plans to publish the delivery plan and timeline, and by what means it will present this information to the Parliament.

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Question reference: S7W-03351

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Question reference: S7W-03350

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Question reference: S7O-00136

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Question reference: S7W-02469

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