The Scottish Government does not have responsibility for addressing the improper disposal of used hypodermic needles. We expect that NHS Boards, drug and alcohol treatment services, and third sector organisations will have their own plans in place to address this issue.

Injecting equipment provision (IEP) is a key harm reduction intervention. Public Health Scotland publish information on IEP in Scotland, including the number of outlets, attendances, and the types of injecting equipment distributed to people who used illicit drugs. The latest release, covering 2022-23, is available at https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/injecting-equipment-provision-in-scotland/injecting-equipment-provision-in-scotland-2022-to-2023/.

Public Health Scotland publish information on drug-related hospital admissions. Data from 1996-97 to 2022-23 is available at https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/drug-related-hospital-statistics/drug-related-hospital-statistics-scotland-2022-to-2023/. The release of data covering 2023-24 is expected in the spring. The accompanying Data Explorer Dashboard provides a more comprehensive breakdown of the statistics, including by location, and provides information for both NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Glasgow City Alcohol and Drug Partnership.

The Scottish Government or Public Health Scotland do not currently publish information on the outcome or discharge status of admissions and are therefore unable to provide information on hospitalisations specifically attributed to non-fatal drug misuse.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally as local authorities are responsible for paying the Scottish Recommended Allowance for Foster and Kinship Carers.

The Scottish Government welcomes the publication and thanks the Chair, Edel Harris for her work. The Scottish Government is now carefully considering these initial findings, including the areas the Chair considers may be capable of early action. A written response to the final report will be published within six months, following assessment of policy and delivery implications and the affordability of proposals.

The final subsidy for ScotRail for the financial year 2024-25 will be known when the accounts for this year have been finalised and published. Subsidy provided to other train operating companies is a matter for the UK Department for Transport, Transport for London and the Welsh Government.

Low Carbon electricity generation is defined for Scottish Government energy statistics reporting as electricity generated by renewable, nuclear or pumped hydro storage (PHS) technologies.

896km of 2695km in Scotland is already electrified, based on ORR figures to 31 March 2024. However, 75% of ScotRail journeys are already made on electric trains. Future plans will be outlined in the refreshed Decarbonisation Action Plan.

Information is not available centrally on the number of people who have received hospital treatment after being accidentally stuck by improperly disposed hypodermic needles.

Injecting equipment provision (IEP) is a key harm reduction intervention. Public Health Scotland publish information on IEP in Scotland, including the number of outlets, attendances, and the types of injecting equipment distributed to people who used illicit drugs. The latest release, covering 2022-23, is available at https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/injecting-equipment-provision-in-scotland/injecting-equipment-provision-in-scotland-2022-to-2023/.

I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-31908 on 11 December 2024. 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

The 2026 Commonwealth Games will be delivered by the Glasgow 2026 Organising Company, in partnership with the Commonwealth Games Federation and Commonwealth Games Scotland. Glasgow 2026 Ltd is the corporate vehicle established to deliver the Games. The event will be privately funded by the Commonwealth Games Federation, commercial income from ticketing, broadcast revenue, sponsorship, hospitality and merchandising, and additional investment from Commonwealth Games Australia.

This private investment will provide direct economic benefit for the Scottish supply chain. Glasgow 2026 Ltd has committed to the creation of a Scotland-focused procurement strategy which will provide operational and event-based contracts for Scottish suppliers and ultimately create a number of Scottish jobs, in line with other similar sized events. In addition, Glasgow 2026 Ltd will seek to make best use of the world-class event specialists in Scotland as it works to deliver the Games, providing further employment opportunities.

Visitors to the event are also expected to provide further direct spending into the economy. It is anticipated that approximately 500,000 tickets will be available for sale. Past Commonwealth Games have strongly supported the visitor economy, driving tourism and footfall. For example, 34% of all visitors to the West Midlands in 2022 said they were influenced to attend because of the Games. As with all major events it will undoubtedly bring visitors and media attention to the city, provide an opportunity to promote Scotland to key Commonwealth markets as well as reinforce our reputation as the perfect stage for events.

At this stage, Commonwealth Games Scotland estimate the total economic value of the Games to Scotland to be £150 million. Anticipated benefits will be assessed throughout the project planning phase and the event will be subject to a final socio-economic impact evaluation.