Rennie writes to Minto for maternity investigation clarity

Scottish Liberal Democrat Willie Rennie MSP has written to the Scottish Government Minister for Women’s Health, Jenni Minto, over concerns that the government may be reneging on their promise to conduct an independent, national investigation into maternity services.

In November, the Scottish Parliament voted in favour of a motion which called for a national review into maternity services.

Following this, it was widely understood that an investigation, which was both national and independent, would take place, with the government appearing to confirm that position.

In the Scottish Parliament this week, Willie Rennie asked for an update on the government’s progress towards the investigation.

In her response, however, Jenni Minto appeared to suggest that it may not happen, stating it would only take place “if it is deemed necessary”.

Mr Rennie’s letter to the minister is as follows:

Dear Jenni,

I am writing to you following our exchange in the Scottish Parliament about maternity services.

During this, you indicated that it may not “be deemed necessary” to conduct a national investigation into maternity services.

As you will remember, on 5th November 2025, the Scottish Parliament voted in favour of a motion which called on the Scottish Government to conduct a national investigation into the design and delivery of maternity services.

During the debate on the motion, I made clear that the investigation should be independent of government, and no minister challenged that criteria.

Following the debate and the vote, it was widely understood, including by families, that this independent, national investigation would take place.

In voting for the motion, parliament also voted in favour of an amendment, which I proposed, that called for a separate, independent review of maternity services in Caithness.

It has, however, since emerged that there will be a government-chaired review of Caithness services, falling significantly short of the independent review that parliament agreed. This does nothing to allay concerns that the Scottish Government are not also now reneging on their commitment to conduct an independent, national investigation.

I am therefore writing to you today to ask if you can provide clarity on the following points.

Firstly, can you confirm that an investigation into maternity services, which is both national and independent, will take place, and can you set out what the timescale will be for this?

Secondly, if the government is now reneging on its commitment for an independent, national investigation, how will you guarantee that services can be properly reviewed and improved?

Thirdly, can you provide assurances that the Scottish Government will be commissioning a separate and fully independent review of maternity services in Caithness, as agreed by parliament, and not simply a taskforce with a government minister as its chair?

Yours sincerely,

Willie Rennie

MSP for North East Fife