Chamber and committees

The available information is published on a monthly basis, as experimental statistics, by Public Health Scotland: Primary Care in-hours General Practice activity visualisation - as at 30 June 2023

This exploratory work aims to illustrate the type of activity information captured within General Practice clinical systems. Not all activity is currently recorded on the clinical systems and therefore the activity reported here does not represent all the work happening within a general practice setting. Work is ongoing to enhance this data. This collaborative effort between ourselves, the profession, National Services Scotland and Public Health Scotland, is a significant step on our journey to improving access to General Practice data.

The available information is published on a monthly basis, as experimental statistics, by Public Health Scotland: Primary Care in-hours General Practice activity visualisation - as at 30 June 2023

This exploratory work aims to illustrate the type of activity information captured within General Practice clinical systems. Not all activity is currently recorded on the clinical systems and therefore the activity reported here does not represent all the work happening within a general practice setting. Work is ongoing to enhance this data. This collaborative effort between ourselves, the profession, National Services Scotland and Public Health Scotland, is a significant step on our journey to improving access to General Practice data.

Skills Development Scotland (SDS) has a dedicated website, Apprenticeships | Apprenticeships.scot: Work, Learn & Earn , where Training Providers and/or employers can advertise their Apprenticeship opportunities. SDS holds data on the vacancies posted there including; total number of vacancies posted, number of applicants and employer location. SDS can provide specific information upon request.

It is worth noting that this information only relates to new vacancies advertised on Apprenticeships.scot and does not capture uptake of Apprenticeships by employers looking to upskill existing members of staff.

Some adverts on Apprenticeships.scot do not have a direct application route, as some employers post a link to their own recruitment portal for applicants. SDS are unable to track information of applications on websites other than their own. In addition, some employers may not advertise vacancies on Apprenticeships.scot and choose to advertise via their own websites, so SDS do not hold this information.

We have not had any direct discussions with Local Authorities to date regarding the potential banning of disposable vapes.

However, a stakeholder roundtable was held on 6 September 2023 by the Ministers for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity and for Public Health and Women's Health to discuss the findings of the Zero Waste Scotland report on the environmental impacts of single use vapes, which will include representation from local government.

The Scottish Government does not hold data on recreational vaping. However, the Scottish Government published a report earlier in 2023 which examined the extent of use of e-cigarette in adults and children. The numbers will include those using e-cigarettes to quit smoking tobacco, as well as recreational use - Vaping - understanding prevalence and trends among adults and children: research - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

Although challenging to establish a precise estimate of use, key messages from the report include:

The percentage of adults in Scotland reporting current use (generally includes those who vape once a week or more and those who vape only occasionally) is likely to be somewhere between 5% according to the Scottish Health Survey (SHeS 2021) and 13.2% as shown by the Smoking Toolkit Study (STS 2022). The most recent data suggest that the percentage reporting current vaping has increased over time, despite the SHeS 2021 indicating a decrease since 2019.

Although based on different samples by age, surveys from across the UK show that the percentage of current young users (both regular and occasional) could be somewhere between 1.1% of 10-15 year olds ( Understanding Society 2020/21 ) and 7% of 11-17 year olds ( ASH GB Youth Survey 2022 ). Current use appears to be increasing.

Scottish Government commissioned Zero Waste Scotland to undertake a review of the environmental impacts of single use e-cigarettes, the report was published in June 2023. The report identifies several environmental impacts, including littering, wasteful use of resources and carbon emissions. Further detail is available in the report. The environmental impact of single-use vapes (zerowastescotland.org.uk) . The Scottish Government is considering the findings of the report and will set out next steps in the autumn.

The Scottish Government will publish a refreshed Tobacco Action Plan in Autumn this year, which will include further action on nicotine vaping products.

We work with Public Health Scotland, Scottish Government analysts and a range of academics and stakeholders to understand the evidence. This is an ongoing process to ensure that the Tobacco Action Plan is based on the latest evidence.

In May 2023 we published “Vaping – understanding the prevalence and trends among adults and children – research” ( https://www.gov.scot/publications/understanding-prevalence-trends-vaping-adults-children/pages/2/ ). This analysis of data on vaping from twelve surveys conducted at UK or regional level, with a focus on current use, ever tried and dual use of vaping products, and differences by socio-economic status. It helps understand the potential extent of any issues.

The Scottish Government has not considered introducing changes to building regulations for non domestic toilet provision.

The current building standards in Scotland require that new non domestic buildings are designed and constructed in such a way that sanitary facilities are provided for all occupants of, and visitors to, the building in a form that allows convenience of use and that there is no threat to the health and safety of occupants or visitors. This includes appropriate consideration of the provision of male, female or unisex facilities. The building standards regulate the design and construction of buildings up to the point of completion. The management of buildings and the configuration of toilet facilities is the responsibility of the building owner or operator.

Changes to these regulations and supporting guidance is normally led on an evidence based approach.

It is not for the Scottish Government to apply for Home Office licenses to establish Drug Checking in Scotland.

The application process requires specific information provided by the pilot cities of Dundee, Aberdeen and Glasgow. Therefore, the organisations must submit applications in order for permission to be granted to establish these facilities in these areas.

The Scottish Government is committed to delivering drug checking facilities in Scotland and have highlighted our desire to introduce these facilities to the Home Office and the UK Government has indicated they are open to discussing this.

One of the key principles of the Guidance on the Provision of Equipment and Adaptations is to ensure that people are able to access support at the point they feel they need it, including for advice and signposting. Fair and consistent access to suitable assessments should be available on a non-discriminating, tenure neutral and human rights basis.

The timely provision of equipment and adaptations can reduce risk and injury, help with people’s confidence and their mental well-being, and may prevent unnecessary admission to hospital or care settings.

It is also a cost-effective solution which can contribute significantly to the streamlining of service responses and pathways, and support wider agendas including, hospital discharge and avoidance of admission, prevention and early intervention, frailty pathways, Anticipatory Care Planning, Mental Health & Dementia, child development, and the management of long-term conditions, including end of life care.

These interventions can allow people to do more for themselves and avoid the need for additional, more expensive, input from other services, and compliments rehabilitation intervention, for people of all ages.

A national STIs and Safer Sex awareness campaign led by Public Health Scotland launched in July.The first phase is focussed on condom use and knowing the signs and symptoms of STIs.A second phase planned for later in 2023 will focus on testing.

A national project to develop online STI testing has been underway since 2021. The Scottish Government provided £0.5 million for an initial pilot in NHS Lothian and scoping work is now being carried out for a national service.

In addition, we are currently developing a new Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus plan, which is due to be published by the end of Summer 2023 and will set out our priorities for the next three years. A key focus of the plan will be improving the accessibility of sexual health services, including STI testing.