Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 04 March 2026 [Draft]
04 Mar 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Portfolio Question Time
NHS Agenda for Change Staff (Working Week)
Yes—and this also addresses some of what Richard Leonard was looking for. We have invested a total of £300 million, which is recurring, to boards to help implement agenda for change workforce reforms. That includes the reduction of the working week to 36 hours for all agenda for change staff. I have written to NHS boards this week to confirm that they remain on track to implement the final hour reduction on 1 April and that they will continue to work closely with trade unions to ensure that that is facilitated.
In the same item of business
6. Richard Leonard (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I remind the chamber of my voluntary entry of trade union interests. To ask the Scottish Government whether it is confident that the changes to the working w...
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care (Neil Gray)
SNP
Yes, the final 60-minute reduction in the working week for NHS agenda for change staff will be implemented on 1 April 2026.
Richard Leonard
Lab
When half an hour was supposed to be reduced from the working week on 1 April 2024, it was only partially implemented. When half an hour was supposed to be r...
Neil Gray
SNP
With your forbearance, Presiding Officer, I would like to take what may be the last opportunity for me to pay tribute to the contribution that Richard Leonar...
Colin Beattie (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the 2026-27 Scottish budget, which provides record funding to our NHS and its dedicated staff. Can the cabinet secretary explain how measures in th...
Neil Gray
SNP
Yes—and this also addresses some of what Richard Leonard was looking for. We have invested a total of £300 million, which is recurring, to boards to help imp...