The Scottish Government is committed to improving life expectancy and tackling health inequalities across the whole population.

On 17 June 2025, the Scottish Government and COSLA published a Population Health Framework, which sets out a whole-system, cross-government and cross-sector approach to improving population health and reducing inequalities over the next decade.

There are no current plans for the Scottish Government to develop a specific strategy focused on men’s health; however, the Framework contains 30 initial actions, including in those areas that disproportionately affect men. For instance, the Scottish Government's commitment to develop a Healthcare Inequalities Action Plan to improve healthcare access and equity, as well as development of an Alcohol and Drugs Strategic Plan - building on the progress of the National Mission - which will be published in the new year.

Furthermore, the Scottish Government will shortly be publishing a new Suicide Prevention Action Plan, for 2026 – 2029. In view of the persistent trend of male suicide, the Scottish Government is determined to address and continue to test new, and creative, ways to reach and support men.

The Scottish Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce will look at the scope of a national review of maternity services based on the emerging themes and outcomes of the Healthcare Improvement Scotland Inspections of Maternity Units across Scotland, and any other area that the Taskforce might identify. As the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care made clear during the Maternity Service debate in the Scottish Parliament on 5 November 2025, the Taskforce will be asked to review specifically the issues in Caithness and other rural communities, including Stranraer.

A full workplan will be agreed by the Taskforce once it has been established, and Parliament will be updated in due course.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42499 on 29 December 2025. 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42499 on 29 December 2025. 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 requested information is shown in the following table:

Table 1: Total number of free prescriptions provided in the Clackmannanshire and Stirling local authority area for financial year 2024-25.

The Scottish Government does not currently have any plans to make bleed kits available nationally across Scotland. We encourage the public to focus on calling the emergency services for assistance in the case of an emergency and encourage members of the public to learn the basic first aid skills which could be vital in saving a life.

During incidents where bleeding control is required, it is important that bystanders are given the best advice on how to provide direct pressure to a bleeding wound using readily available items such as dry towels or clothing. Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) call handlers are well trained to provide first aid advice to bystanders before an ambulance arrives.

SAS follows the position of the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, which is supported by a number of UK organisations such as the London Ambulance Service and the NHS England London Violence Reduction Programme, in promoting bystander first aid but not the general role out of commercially available bleed kits.

The SAS major trauma team regularly reviews how best to treat patients experiencing significant bleeding, which includes reviewing and taking part in guidance and research.

The Scottish Government is committed to working in partnership with our recognised trade unions. The decision on the revised hybrid policy was informed by a working group which included trade union representatives. Following a decision being made by the Executive Team, full consultation took place with the recognised trade unions ahead of the revised policy coming into effect, for core Scottish Government directorates, in October 2025. While PCS initially entered into a dispute with regard to the Executive Team decision on hybrid, this dispute was resolved through further detailed consultation and ahead of the new policy coming into effect.

All planning applications should be determined in accordance with the terms of the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise, with each proposal being considered on its own merits. Where a proposed development would create a direct need for certain infrastructure or facilities, which could include housing, this need could be met by use of a planning condition or obligation. However, any condition or obligation to be imposed on a planning permission must fairly and reasonably relate to the development to be permitted and therefore cannot be a mandatory requirement.

We expect Health Boards to plan for their workforce in conjunction with their responsibilities under the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019. The Act places duties on Health Boards to ensure that at all times suitably qualified and competent individuals are working in such numbers as are appropriate for the health, wellbeing and safety of patients, the provision of high-quality care and the wellbeing of staff.

On 29 October I announced the establishment of the Scottish Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce. The Scottish Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce will complement the existing audit and inspection system in place in Scotland, and provide support and expertise on implementation of policy, service standards, and improvement activity across NHS Boards. It will be chaired by the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health.

The Scottish Government is also taking action as part of the Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce (NMT) to drive lasting change to improve retention and attraction into these professions. The NMT recommended actions are designed to have a meaningful and lasting impact on workforce wellbeing. They aim to address key issues such as workload, professional development, and workplace culture—to create a more supportive and sustainable environment for Nurses and Midwives to work.

Scottish Government published Guidance on the Provision of Equipment and Adaptations in 2023, and key actions were identified for each section of the guidance, with the expectation that all partnerships will review these. One of these actions is that “Integration Authorities (IAs) should work with relevant partners to capture data which evidences the value, effective and efficient community equipment and adaptation provision makes to the delivery of key service goals.”

Scottish Government expects that all local authorities collect data to monitor their performance, however, which data is collected is the decision of local authorities.

Through engagement with our Equipment and Adaptations Network, we know that some local authorities collect and monitor data via their community equipment stores. Some of this data is used to report on KPIs and influence service goals and delivery, specific to the needs of the local authority.