Graham Simpson
Reform UK · Scotland
“We have a deluge of speculative applications for AI data centres across the country. We have heard already that the area that I represent, North Lanarkshire, is designated an AI growth zone.”
“[Made a request to intervene.] Murdo Fraser: Perhaps Mr Simpson has an explanation for that. Graham Simpson: I have personally congratulated Douglas Lumsden for winning that by-election. However, the only reason for the by-election was that I managed to get double jobbing banned.”
“If anything additional is needed—such as regulatory changes—as a result of this emerging technology, we need to be alive to that as well. I have been in post for three weeks in this area, but I want to ensure that this is taken forward. There is a great deal of interest in the issue across rural portfolios.”
“I move, That the Parliament recognises the importance of affordable bus services connecting people to employment, education and essential services; welcomes the success of the free bus schemes available to 2.4 million people, including all those aged under 22, over 60 and disabled people; believes that more can be done to make it easier a…”
“I want fare capping to succeed, as it has down south and as have similar schemes when tried elsewhere in Europe and indeed in these isles. The evidence is there already. In London, bus and tram travel is capped at £5.25 a day and £24.70 a week.”
“At the end, if franchising gets that far, there is the added hoop of having to get the whole scheme approved by an independent, unelected panel that is convened by the traffic commissioner for Scotland, who is a United Kingdom Government appointee. After years of effort, the whole thing could fall at that point, which is wrong.”
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Every one of 357 lines we hold for Graham Simpson, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 1 of 8.
“[Made a request to intervene.] Murdo Fraser: Perhaps Mr Simpson has an explanation for that. Graham Simpson: I have personally congratulated Douglas Lumsden for winning that by-election. However, the only reason for the by-election was that I managed to get double jobbing banned. Is it not ironic that Mr Fraser’s party leader, Russell Findlay, opposed that move? Would he care to condemn Mr Findlay for that now? Murdo Fraser: I thank Mr Simpson for that. That just shows what a wasted talent Mr Simpson is on the back benches, when he should be down the front, leading the charge for Reform. We can reasonably conclude from recent elections that peak Reform has already come and gone, and Scottish politics will be all the better for that.”
“If anything additional is needed—such as regulatory changes—as a result of this emerging technology, we need to be alive to that as well. I have been in post for three weeks in this area, but I want to ensure that this is taken forward. There is a great deal of interest in the issue across rural portfolios. I will ensure that the work is expedited so that planning officers are not placed in a position where they lack the information that is needed to proceed.”
“We have a deluge of speculative applications for AI data centres across the country. We have heard already that the area that I represent, North Lanarkshire, is designated an AI growth zone. Is not the truth that we need national guidance from the Scottish Government on where those data centres should be and on how many the country requires? That work needs to be expedited at pace over the summer. Gillian Martin: Graham Simpson is right that the UK Government announcing the AI growth zone in Lanarkshire has meant that there is an awful lot of speculation at the moment. Many of the speculative projects will not even make it to the planning stage. The member is absolutely right that the work is continuing. I have outlined some of the work that is under way with the national planning hub in order to inform decision making.”
“I move amendment S7M-00367.1, to insert at end: “; believes that any such legislation should aim to streamline the process of introducing franchising, and calls on the Scottish Government to speed up its work on introducing multi-modal smart ticketing across Scotland.” 15:31”
“Again, parts of England are way ahead on that model. The West Midlands probably provides the best example, but the broader lesson is that parts of England are moving ahead with integrated planning, ticketing and on-demand travel while Scotland is still talking about it. Last week, I suggested that once the cabinet secretary is back from the States, if he indeed goes—I hope that he does—he should use the summer to get out and about to see what is going on elsewhere. If ministers are serious about affordable public transport, the test is simple—to make it cheaper, make it easier and make sure that it actually turns up.”
“At the end, if franchising gets that far, there is the added hoop of having to get the whole scheme approved by an independent, unelected panel that is convened by the traffic commissioner for Scotland, who is a United Kingdom Government appointee. After years of effort, the whole thing could fall at that point, which is wrong. Therefore, I support the Get Glasgow Moving campaign’s calls to simplify the existing legislation early in this parliamentary session. The cabinet secretary needs to look at that as a matter of urgency. The Government needs to commit to funding SPT for that work. We also need multimodal ticketing—the national smart ticketing advisory board is taking far too long in its work. The second part of my amendment calls for that work to be sped up, and I am glad that the Government recognises the need for that.”
“Franchising is allowed in Scotland but, so far, only SPT, which covers Strathclyde, is pursuing it. The frustration is that franchising exists in law but, for too long, it has looked easier to legislate for than to deliver. If it takes years of assessments, consultations, audits and approvals before a single new bus appears, passengers will wonder exactly what is going on. Scotland cannot keep congratulating itself for giving councils powers if using those powers is slow and cumbersome, with the result that communities see no benefit for years. The process here is heavily bureaucratic. A local transport authority has to go through multiple costly hurdles, as SPT is doing.”
“Surely that is a missed opportunity. Graham Simpson: Paul Sweeney is absolutely right. I, too, have been talking about advances in technology, both in public and in private. The Government needs to get on board with that. Why it has not done so is a mystery to me. I cannot answer for the Government, but I wish that it would get on with this. We have other examples. In Dublin, the fare for Leap card users in zone 1 is capped at €6 a day or €24 a week. Across England, many single bus fares are capped at £3. In North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany, the cap is a monthly spend of €63. The idea is good, and we want it to work, but making public transport cheaper will work only if it is there for people in the first place and if we make it easy to use. That is where my amendment comes in.”
“I want fare capping to succeed, as it has down south and as have similar schemes when tried elsewhere in Europe and indeed in these isles. The evidence is there already. In London, bus and tram travel is capped at £5.25 a day and £24.70 a week. Here in Edinburgh, Lothian’s TapTapCap system already caps journeys at £5.70 a day and £26.50 a week. Paul Sweeney: In the time that it has taken the Government to even consider introducing the equivalent of the Oyster card, the technology has been superseded not only by the tap-in, tap-out technology that Mr Simpson refers to but now contactless technology and even the use of phones in the form of things such as Uber for public transport, which means that we do not even need the fare-gate infrastructure that we once did. This is so easy to introduce, so why has the Government not done it?”
“We can only look south with envy at the £2 fare cap”.—[Official Report, 17 May 2023; c 27.] I tried again at First Minister’s question time in November of that year and, later that month at general question time, I was banging the same drum, when I said to a minister: “The minister is perhaps missing an opportunity here, because we could have a Scottish bus fare cap if she chose to consider it. Is the minister prepared at least to look at the proposal and what it might cost?”—[Official Report, 30 November 2023; c 7.] I kept on and on, and I was getting quite exasperated, but eventually the Government came round to the idea of a bus fare cap and, naturally, it badged that as a collaboration between it and the Greens, but such is life—it came to the right conclusion.”
“Graham Simpson: Well, everyone else is doing it. I have been talking about bus fare caps for at least three years, and I have been talking about simpler low fares for longer. At general question time in April 2023, I said: “If the minister was serious about getting people on to buses, he would take action on bus fares, as he is doing on train fares. Why does he not replicate what England has, which is a fare cap on local bus journeys?”—[Official Report, 20 April 2023; c 3.] I did not get anywhere then. In a debate on bus services the following month, I said: “fares can play a big part in getting people on to public transport. We await the introduction of a cross-modal travel card of the type that was given to delegates at the 26th United Nations climate change conference of the parties— COP26.”
“I congratulate the cabinet secretary on devising a motion that we can support. I am looking forward to working with him—I genuinely am. I have always been of the view that we need to make public transport easy and cheap to use and that it needs to cover all parts of the country. It is all very well having a bus fare cap, but that is no use if people do not have a bus that they can use. There are far too many bus deserts in Scotland, and they are not just in rural areas. Franchising, where it is wanted, could help to alleviate that, but there are other models, too. I said during the cabinet secretary’s first debate, which was on growth, that his predecessor in the transport brief often listened to me and took my ideas on board, and bus fare caps are an example of that. Stephen Flynn: No praise like self-praise.”
“I move, That the Parliament recognises the importance of affordable bus services connecting people to employment, education and essential services; welcomes the success of the free bus schemes available to 2.4 million people, including all those aged under 22, over 60 and disabled people; believes that more can be done to make it easier and cheaper for everyone to get around and supports, therefore, the phased rollout of a £2 bus fare cap, building on its introduction in the Highlands and Islands; endorses the introduction of the £2 cap in Glasgow, Ayrshire, Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire, Lanarkshire and Inverclyde as quickly as is practicable as part of the next phase of a national rollout, and welcomes the opportunity to develop Better Buses legislation in the current parliamentary session to support the delivery of affordable fares nationally and foster new routes, not least in rural areas.”
“They are the glue that binds our service together—the friendly face on a dreich morning and the ones who hold the bus when we make that last-minute sprint to catch it. I say to them, the choices that we make in this Parliament will matter to you, and we will work with you and the public to make our bus service the best that it can be.”
“Our vision for transport is rooted in affordability, accessibility and sustainability. I note for Mr Hoy that, by the end of this session of Parliament, we will introduce legislation to put in place a £2 bus fare cap across Scotland, which will include our pilot in the Highlands and Islands. That step of providing more affordable bus travel will help to change lives and tackle the cost of living. Our action will benefit families, the economy and the environment, and I look forward to working with colleagues across the chamber to deliver that. However, before we get to that, I give the final word of my opening remarks to the unsung heroes of our buses—the mechanics, the office teams, the route planners and, indeed, the drivers.”
“We will engage with operators, local transport authorities and others to inform the development of our proposals. I look forward to working with members across the chamber to put the needs of passengers at the very heart of the process. Deputy Presiding Officer, I am conscious of the time, given the number of interventions that I have taken. To conclude, I repeat my view that affordable bus fares are essential for helping with the cost of living. For many of my constituents, particularly those who are under 22, older people and disabled people, the bus pass that this Government has delivered is making a huge difference to their lives. For some, it is the thing that breaks down the barriers of isolation and brings them into the heart of their communities and our society. We will go further.”
“It is essential that, if that is the route for buses that some choose to take, the business case is robust and considers all available evidence. As the First Minister said in Parliament two weeks ago, “We want to work with local authorities to advance such propositions, because they would be in the public interest.”—[Official Report, 4 June 2026; c 28.] With those words in mind, I advise Parliament that we will build on the work that has already been undertaken to date by developing better buses legislation during this session of Parliament. The legislation, which will take a considered—I am sure that members will be pleased to hear this—cross-party approach, will aim to help to enhance the delivery of bus services across Scotland.”
“The cabinet secretary has been extremely generous with interventions. I want him to address the question on franchising. I know that the issue precedes him, but there has been huge frustration about the time that it is taking in Scotland. Will he use the opportunity presented by any legislation that he introduces, or any other means, to speed things up? Stephen Flynn: I will come to that point in just a second. It is that interest that led us to work on a cross- party basis during the current budget process and to commit up to £4 million to support local transport authorities in developing business cases for local bus improvements through franchising, using the powers that were created in the legislation to which Mr Johnson referred.”
“It is right to have robust debates, but we should not be abusive, because if we are—if we turn our fire on individual MSPs in that way—it can have an impact and affect them. Therefore, let us not do that. We are all saying that now, and let us keep to that, because it really matters. I thank Jenny Young once again for bringing this debate to the Parliament. 18:44”
“I think that it comes from the language that we use, perhaps on social media, which is why we need to be careful. My plea to all of us is this: yes, we should remember Jo Cox and Sir David Amess, but we should also learn from those experiences. Over the next five years, let us do what was suggested by Liam Kerr and Stephen Kerr—the two Kerrs, who are both good friends of mine. Actually, when I look around the chamber, I see people in all parties whom I get on with and respect. I think that, over the next five years, that number will grow—I hope that it does, because that is the way that we ought to treat one another. Liam Kerr said that we need to be respectful in debates.”
“If members are in a debate and lobbing grenades at individuals or parties, they should think about the effect that that might have on those individuals or the parties, and also what the effect might be outside the Parliament. Patricia Gibson said that all the MPs that she knows have had death threats, which is quite a stark point. I have never had a death threat—I have never even been threatened—but I had some nasty things said about me when I switched parties, and I felt under threat, so I needed to take some security measures, which I did not want to do. That is what I mean when I say that we should watch what we say about people, and we all need to do that. I am aware that some MSPs—not all, but maybe a handful—have had death threats. Where does the motivation for that that come from?”
“I, too, congratulate Jenny Young on bringing the debate to the Parliament. It is one of the first members’ business debates that we have held in this session, and this is a great topic to discuss. I will say a few words about my reflections on the debate and the tone of politics in Scotland today. What has come through in the debate is that everyone has said that we need to be more respectful. As David Linden said, we need to watch our language. That really matters, and it matters across the Parliament—I am speaking to every member. We all need to watch what we say to and about one another, because it can have an impact on people.”
“I do not think that I have asked the UK Government for any assistance with this scheme, but I will certainly take Mr Simpson’s suggestion on board. Road Infrastructure Commitments (North East Scotland) 5.”
“That scheme is so big that it is of UK significance, and it has always been my view that the UK Government should help to fund it. Has the cabinet secretary been in any direct discussions with the UK Government about sourcing funding for the scheme? Gillian Martin: I agree with the substantive premise of Graham Simpson’s question. Flood defences are for the Scottish Government to provide, but given the size of the scheme, any contribution would be welcome. Obviously, the UK Government has been working with the Scottish Government on issues around the industrial cluster, but the member raises an important point. In multifaceted schemes such as this one, we need to look at where we can find additional support where it is needed.”
“The First Minister has made some encouraging noises about recall in the past couple of weeks when I have asked him about it, as did Alex Cole- Hamilton. We need the Government to get behind that, because we cannot do it without the Government and we need to get recall on to the statute book. At the end of the day, we must do something to restore trust in politics. The Government needs to have a rethink and should back the motion. 16:41”
“The Murrell affair is not just about one man’s criminal conduct; it is about a system that failed, a culture that closed ranks and a public who deserve far better from those who seek to govern. Nicola Sturgeon has not been charged with anything in relation to the scandal, but we have to ask—and this could be a question for an inquiry— what she actually meant when she told members of her party’s NEC that they should “be very careful” when questioning the finances and that there was nothing to see, although there was? In the previous session, I introduced a bill that would have given us a system of recall. It fell because the SNP voted against it. Giving voters the ability to remove errant MSPs would have gone some way towards restoring trust in politics.”
“No, this cannot be brushed aside with the claim that the courts have done their job, so everyone else should just move on. Criminal liability is one thing; political accountability is another. This Parliament has a duty to ask the questions that the public are asking. How did this happen? What failures made it possible? What reforms are now needed to ensure that it can never happen again? There are questions for the Electoral Commission, the Crown Office, the police and the Lord Advocate. If the SNP has nothing to hide, it should welcome that scrutiny. If the party is serious about restoring trust, it should stop blocking, it should stop deflecting and it should start answering.”
“Instead of answers, there was evasion. Instead of proper accountability, there was the instinct—which we always see from the SNP—to circle the wagons and hope that the questions would go away. However, the questions have not gone away; they have only grown louder. Who knew what and when? Why were warning signs not acted on sooner? Why were legitimate concerns brushed aside? What does it say about the culture at the top of the SNP that such a serious breach of trust could occur under the noses of its leaders for so long? When the party of government is engulfed in a scandal of this scale, it drags down confidence in politics as a whole. It tells the public that those who demand trust from others are not always willing to submit themselves to the same standard. That is corrosive to democracy itself.”
“When SNP supporters donated money in good faith, they should have expected that it would be handled properly, but it was not. We know what Peter Murrell has been convicted of, but the question before this Parliament is not about the criminal case. The real question is, how on earth was this allowed to happen? How could someone so central to the running of the governing party abuse that position over such a long period? Where were the checks? Where was the scrutiny? Where was the accountability? Let us be frank: this affair did not emerge from nowhere. For years, there were concerns about transparency and about finances. There were concerns about money that had been raised for one purpose being used for another, and there were questions about how that money was being handled. Instead of openness, we have had defensiveness.”
“Well, what an extraordinary contribution that was. Kate Campbell got one thing right—only one—when she said that the SNP had no right to win after 19 years in government. She got that right. I did not think that I would be thanking Anas Sarwar any time soon, but I thank him for bringing this debate to the chamber. It is absolutely right that we should be discussing this, but all that we have heard from SNP members so far is deflection and lashing out. They have not addressed the problem. The details and the scale of the Murrell embezzlement are shocking. This whole affair is a scandal, and it cuts right to the heart of public trust in politics. People have a right to think that they can trust politicians and political parties.”
“Scotland’s economy must grow to pay for the public services that we all need. We need a coherent, cross-sectoral plan to achieve that—one that does not hammer businesses and individuals with more regular and high tax. Scotland needs to become more competitive than England. In short, Scotland needs reform. 17:35”
“I would act quicker, but, as most of us know, Transport Scotland does not work at pace, so we will perhaps need to wait. Duncan Massey’s amendment retains much of the cabinet secretary’s motion but adds the obvious line that lower taxes lead to growth and more revenue. That is something that a previous finance secretary—and all others since—have failed to grasp, and it is holding Scotland back. I have listened with interest to other members’ contributions, including that of Mr Flynn, who mentioned independence. He also mentioned having a faster planning system, but without saying how we would achieve that. Daniel Johnson made the same point. Like me, Jenny Young visited Forth Valley College this week, and she will have heard about the threat to our college sector from underfunding by the SNP over a period of years. That must stop.”
“Thirdly, the Scottish Tourism Alliance wants the Government to commit to no new regulatory and tax burdens on businesses or any policies that negatively impact on Scotland’s competitiveness. Instead, it asks the Scottish Government and MSPs to proactively partner with the sector to identify, shape and deliver a new set of ambitious policies to support the industry to grow in a sustainable and responsible way. All that may go against the grain for the SNP, but perhaps Mr Flynn will surprise us. In the first year, the Scottish Tourism Alliance wants to see the growth plan that I mentioned. It also wants the Scottish Government to identify a multiyear funding package for VisitScotland, EventScotland and destination management organisations. It is realistic in wanting better transport over the course of this parliamentary session.”
“I recommend that he gets out and about over the summer and that, when he returns, he meets the Government’s smart ticketing advisory board to ask it what the hold-up is. I would go a bit further, but politeness precludes me from saying what I really think about that. Digital connectivity is an ask of the Scottish Tourism Alliance, as is a call for a Scottish tourism and hospitality growth plan—we need to have one and it needs to lead to action. The Scottish Tourism Alliance set the Government several challenges in its first 100 days, in its first year and in this parliamentary session. We already have its ask for the first 100 days, which was for a dedicated, named cabinet secretary—let us hope that Mr Flynn can deliver. I have already mentioned its second ask, which is to accelerate business rates reform.”
“Smaller stores that are liable for basic and intermediate property rates will benefit from the Scottish Government’s new rates relief for the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors. That is welcome, but the poundage rates will still be above those that are levied in England, while the amount that can be claimed will be capped, unlike in England. Perhaps when Stephen Flynn is on his stateside jolly, he will check out the transport system there. In many parts of the world—and in many parts of Britain—transport systems are light years ahead of where we are in Scotland. Our transport system is not digitally connected, and we need multimodal smart ticketing. The technology exists and it is being used elsewhere in these isles—I will be happy to talk to Mr Flynn about that.”
“If he has met representatives of the tourism and hospitality sectors, he will have been left in no doubt that they want help. Parts of the sector, which is so vital to the economy of this country, are on their knees. Tourism levies will not help and sky-high business rates are more likely to lead to businesses closing, when we should be aiming for the opposite. The hospitality sector is crying out for business rates reform, which needs to happen quickly. Action on business rates is also vital for rejuvenating our high streets. According to the Scottish Retail Consortium, shops that occupy medium-sized and larger premises in Scotland are set to face £162 million more in business rates over the next three years than their equivalent- sized counterparts down south.”
“If, like his predecessor in the transport portfolio, he wants to listen to my ideas, he might get some credit if he introduces some of them, and that may help with any future ambitions that he may harbour; I do not know what those may be. The cabinet secretary’s motion is surprisingly encouraging. It references growth and how that is key to delivering prosperity and improving public services—that is a good start. Unfortunately, there is no admission of the SNP’s failures, which are caused by its high-tax, high-regulation approach that is backed by their pals in the Scottish Greens. Mr Flynn will no doubt have had a flurry of meetings with people—he is perhaps trying to squeeze them in before he abandons ship and heads to America.”
“It is good to be making my first speech of the session; members might be thinking, “I wish he’d waited a little longer.” I have asked a few questions in the chamber and I have got used to being shouted at by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport, whom I warmly welcome to his new role. I hope that his somewhat robust approach to business in the Parliament does not translate into how he goes about what is a very serious and wide-ranging portfolio—[Interruption.] I spoke too soon there, Presiding Officer—he is at it already. He should know that I am not really into those antics; I would rather have a constructive dialogue with Mr Flynn over the years.”
“I move, That the Parliament recognises that higher economic growth is essential to delivering long-term prosperity, tackling child poverty, improving public services and achieving climate ambitions; agrees that supporting enterprise, investment, innovation and trade is key to maximising productivity and increasing sustainable and inclusive economic growth; supports action to remove unnecessary barriers to success; acknowledges Scotland’s economic potential, including its key strengths in sectors such as energy, food and drink, financial services, and space, and endorses a continued focus on economic growth to build a more resilient, prosperous, and fairer Scotland for all. 16:05”
“When I was elected to this Parliament, I could barely hide my delight—so much so that I could not even get my words out when I was sworn in. The reason why I was so happy was because I believe that this Parliament can deliver on Scotland’s potential. To be a part of that story should be a special thing for us all, delivering a productive, dynamic, prosperous Scotland, where growth is a real thing that changes people’s lives through the jobs that they can get, the homes that they can afford, the businesses that they can build and the confidence that they can have in their future. That is not just my mission; it should be this Parliament’s mission.”
“They want to hear that their jobs of today can be protected so that they can have access to the jobs of tomorrow. I want them to know that we hear them and will do our part to deliver the opportunities for a future that they and their communities deserve. None of that will be easy. We can shout about the energy profits levy that is choking investment and creating a cliff edge for jobs. We can yell that energy security matters, and that jet fuel from Grangemouth would have been better than jet fuel from outside Scotland. However, to be successful, we need Westminster to listen. Although it may well try to ignore this Parliament, we will not let it do so, because the issue matters so much to those residents and to Scotland’s future.”
“The cabinet secretary has made a good point about speeding up the planning system; however, we have been talking about that for years. Does he have any specific proposals for achieving it? Stephen Flynn: If Graham Simpson has been talking about it for years in the chamber but not been able to deliver it, that may be a reflection on his abilities. However, I am new here, and I give him the commitment that we can—and, indeed, will—do so. In short, we want the planning system to act as an enabler rather than a barrier. I am conscious that, to anyone who lives near Mossmorran or Grangemouth, or in my home city of Aberdeen, all of this may feel a mile away from their lived reality, in which deindustrialisation is leaving them without hope for the future or the certainty that they crave for their family.”
“Scotland has consistently missed its woodland planting targets. The statement shows that, and the statistics show that we are still doing that. I welcome the cabinet secretary to her role. Can she tell us how she is going to improve the Government’s record in this area? Gillian Martin: I have to take slight issue with the assertion that we are missing targets. We are actually doing exceptionally well when it comes to woodland planting. It is of great comfort to me that Graham Simpson seems to remain as he was in the previous session, in that he has an understanding of climate action as an imperative for this session. I wonder how he is going to get on with the climate change deniers in his group, and I wonder—”
“I move, That the Parliament recognises and commends the hard- working staff across Scotland’s NHS; thanks them for the significant progress they have delivered, including long waits down 11 months in a row, and welcomes the Scottish Government’s commitment to working with all staff across Scotland’s Health and Social Care sectors to deliver further reform and renewal.”
“The progress that we are making is undeniable, but I do not shy away from the fact that there is much more work to do. We must do the hard work of reforming our public services, cutting unnecessary bureaucracy and making access to healthcare easier for the people we all serve. Above all, this is about people—the staff who deliver dedicated care each and every day and the patients and families who depend on our health and care services. They will be at the heart of absolutely everything that I do.”
“We estimate that 130,000 dermatology referrals a year could be made through that service, which would reduce dermatology waiting lists by up to 50 per cent. Let me respond to Mr Simpson’s point. In April, we made MyCare.scot available nationally. MyCare.scot gives people a simple, secure way to see and manage aspects of their own health and social care online. A downloadable version of the MyCare.scot app will be available in app stores early this summer. We are committed to NHS Scotland data always being in the hands of the NHS, unlike what has happened elsewhere. Data will remain in the control of our NHS, and we will not get involved with the likes of Palantir. I make it clear, for the avoidance of doubt, that Scotland’s NHS will never be up for sale.”
“From 1 April, we brought together the functions previously delivered by NHS National Services Scotland and NHS Education for Scotland within a stronger, more streamlined national delivery body. PSD Scotland supports our once-for-Scotland approach, strengthening national capability while remaining responsive to local needs. It is important to stress that PSD Scotland is not only for the health service but can bring other benefits to the public sector. Looking to the future, digital infrastructure and technological innovations are key, and we are already making marked progress. Our digital dermatology service, which was introduced last year, is now available across all GP practices in Scotland.”
“The service responds to around 10,000 calls from the public each month. Our manifesto commits to doing more. Today, the First Minister visited the nook in Glasgow, which is run by Scottish Action for Mental Health. We will be supporting SAMH to deliver more drop- in mental health centres across Scotland and expanding the use of mental health triage cars, which the Ambulance Service already utilises in Fife, Inverness, Dundee and Glasgow. I am confident that the progress that I have set out provides a strong foundation to build on, and I am clear about my determination to do just that. A significant step in our programme of public service reform is the establishment of Public Services Delivery Scotland.”
“In the first 100 days of this Government, we will consult on a ban on vape and nicotine product displays. Alongside improvements in other areas, mental health remains a key focus. The subject area is very close to my heart—I am a former social worker and mental health officer who worked for several years at the state hospital and in three prisons. I am conscious that access to service is improving, particularly for our young people. The number of long waits for child and adolescent mental health services is at a historic low and we have met and maintained the standard for CAMHS waiting times a year ahead of target. We have also invested an additional £3.5 million to improve our 24/7 response to mental health emergencies. That includes the expansion of our existing NHS 24 mental health hub to include psychological therapies.”
“The cabinet secretary may not have the answer to this question yet, because she is new to the job, but when can we expect to see an NHS app with functionality like the one that exists down in England? I have been asking for that for years. Frankly, patients in England are doing a lot better than ours are. Angela Constance: I will come to that very issue in a moment—there is some important progress for us to update the Parliament on. I hope that it will reassure Mr Simpson in relation to that functionality and how we will end up with the best app on these isles. If he bears with me, I will come to that. My remarks before that intervention were about public health and protection. The Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026, which gained royal assent in April, is a landmark step in delivering a tobacco- free Scotland by 2034.”