- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 March 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 16 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government how many parents and families have had a funded cross-border nursery placement ended in each year since 2007 to date, broken down by local authority.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold this information.
Data on ELC placements may be held by local Councils. It is the responsibility of each Local Authority to plan for, and manage, ELC placements in line with their statutory duties in relation to funded ELC delivery, including having regard to the statutory guidance on cross-boundary placements.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 March 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 13 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the implementation of opt-out HIV testing in emergency departments, what discussions it has had with NHS (a) Greater Glasgow and Clyde and (b) Lothian on the compatibility of IT systems with infectious disease reporting systems.
Answer
Public Health Scotland (PHS) leads on the data monitoring of emergency department opt-out blood borne virus testing programme, including ensuring that appropriate data flows and reporting systems are in place. We are working with PHS and the Boards to ensure that IT systems are suitable for delivering opt-out testing.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 March 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 13 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what level of priority is given to the implementation of opt-out HIV testing in emergency departments in NHS (a) Greater Glasgow and Clyde and (b) Lothian.
Answer
The Scottish Government has received assurance from the Chief Executives’ Offices of both NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Lothian that implementing emergency department opt-out blood borne virus testing is a high priority within their Boards. Teams in both NHS Boards have committed to ensuring the safe and effective roll-out of this important intervention in their areas by the end of June 2026.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 March 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 13 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether funding has been confirmed for the implementation of opt-out HIV testing in emergency departments in NHS (a) Greater Glasgow and Clyde and (b) Lothian, in 2025-26.
Answer
The funding package for implementing emergency department opt-out testing for blood borne viruses has been confirmed with all three participating NHS Boards. This includes funding for tests and laboratory costs, staff and support for patients. Funding has also been made available to support Boards with any start-up costs.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 March 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 13 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its planned introduction of opt-out HIV testing in emergency departments in NHS (a) Greater Glasgow and Clyde and (b) Lothian.
Answer
The Scottish Government continues to work closely with colleagues in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Lothian to support the implementation of emergency department opt-out testing for blood borne viruses. Both Boards have made substantial progress in preparing for the safe and effective roll-out of this important intervention, including putting in place robust digital solutions to support test ordering and results management. Due to the challenging nature of some of these IT solutions, and existing Board pressures, it has taken longer than expected to implement this programme however it is vital we do so in a sustainable and robust manner. Subject to final operational readiness, opt-out testing is now expected to go live in both NHS Boards by the end of June 2026.
As part of the first phase of implementation, NHS Grampian commenced opt-out testing in the emergency department at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in October 2025.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 March 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 13 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether opt-out HIV testing in emergency departments in NHS (a) Greater Glasgow and Clyde and (b) Lothian has commenced in March 2026 as previously indicated, and, if not, what the reasons are for any delay.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-44081 on 13 March 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: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2026
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Current Status:
Answer expected on 25 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the number of children who take up a funded early learning and childcare place in a local authority other than the one in which they live.
Answer
Answer expected on 25 March 2026
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2026
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Current Status:
Answer expected on 25 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with COSLA about ensuring that children can access funded early learning and childcare even when taking up a place outwith the local authority in which they live.
Answer
Answer expected on 25 March 2026
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2026
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Current Status:
Answer expected on 25 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what data it collects on how early learning and childcare funding is spent in local authorities.
Answer
Answer expected on 25 March 2026
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2026
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Current Status:
Answer expected on 25 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government how it allocates national funding for funded early learning and childcare places, taking into account both the locations where children take up places and population data on where they live.
Answer
Answer expected on 25 March 2026