Chamber and committees

A final report of the first two years of Scotland’s early adopter Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Services, was published by the University of Strathclyde on Thursday 29 February highlighting its success, and can be found at: Final Report of the Evaluation of Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Services - Strathprints

The co-production process through which stakeholders are designing the Centre for Teaching Excellence will conclude in the first half of 2024, followed by a process to identify a suitable host institution(s). We expect the Centre for Teaching Excellence to launch shortly thereafter.

The Scottish Government has committed £97 million (over the 10 year period to 31st March 2029) to the Scottish Growth Scheme which was established in December 2018 and operational during financial year 2019-20. In the 4 year period to 31st March 2023 the Scottish Growth Scheme has invested £66.8 million in businesses as follows:

2019-20 = £13 million

2020-21 = £21.3 million

2021-22 = £17.5 million

2022-23 = £15 million

The non-statutory guidance on supporting Transgender Young People in Schools sets out a range of advice on legislation, policy and practice including illustrative examples. It is for education authorities and schools to use the guidance as they see fit, in line with local priorities and circumstances.

As would be usual with any relevant significant legal or policy developments, the Scottish Government will consider whether the guidance requires to be updated to reflect these.

The Home Energy Scotland (HES) Grant and Loan Scheme, launched in December 2022, offers homeowners and self-builders in Scotland a grant, interest free loan or a combination of both to support the installation of clean heating systems and energy efficiency measures. Prior to this, homeowners could access support for installation via the HES Loan and Cashback Scheme.

The following table details grant funding awarded for the installation of air, water or ground source heat pumps to homeowners in the Aberdeen City Council area in financial years through the HES Loan and Cashback Scheme or HES Grant and Loan Scheme, up to the end of the Quarter 3, December 2023. This does not include funding for other interventions such as energy efficiency.

The Scottish Government has funded Health in Mind to deliver a historic forced adoption peer support service and implement a comprehensive communication strategy to help raise awareness of this support. As part of this, Health In Mind has contacted all health boards in Scotland and asked them to share information about the service with their GP practices.

Health In Mind has also shared details of the service with adoption related organisations, social work departments, third sector organisations and a variety of community spaces such as libraries and churches, as well as on social media platforms. Further details of the peer support service are available online: https://health-in-mind.org.uk/how-we-can-help/national-services/historic-adoption-trauma-support-service/

When the National Standardised Assessments for Scotland were first being developed, it was agreed in consultation with Scottish literacy experts that the reading assessments should be based on specific organisers within the Curriculum for Excellence – these being “Tools for reading”, “Finding and using information”, and “Understanding, analysing and evaluating”. This was because the relationship between the assessments and CfE was deemed a more useful output for teachers than a notional reading age.

As learners can undertake the assessments at any time in the school year, teachers are able to compare learner outcomes against a cohort of learners who completed their assessments at a similar stage in the year, rather than by age. This comparison has been statistically validated through norming studies and provides valuable diagnostic information to teachers, helping to inform their wider assessment of learner progress in literacy.

As reflected in Scotland’s Cancer Strategy for Scotland, published June 2023, we are committed to “expanding and evaluating Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Services to ensure population-based coverage”.

The University of Strathclyde published a final evaluation report on 29 February 2024 reflecting on the first two years of RCDSs operating in NHS Scotland. This work was commissioned to inform roll-out, including optimal components and highlighting its success. Following its release, we’ll work with Boards across Scotland to consider the findings and ensure learning is embedded.

I refer the member to the answer to the Oral question‎ S6O-03126 on 27 February 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the Official Report can be found at Meeting of the Parliament: 28/02/2024 | Scottish Parliament Website

The Just Transition Fund has allocated £75 million to date, supporting projects and communities across the North East and Moray to create jobs, support innovation, and secure the highly skilled workforce of the future.