Chamber and committees

Three Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Services (RCDS), formerly known as Early Cancer Diagnostic Centres (ECDC), have been established in NHS Scotland, and we are committed to ensuring equitable access across the country.

RCDS’s provide primary care with a new referral route for patients with non-specific symptoms suspicious of cancer (i.e. weight loss, fatigue, nausea), which can often be a sign of blood cancer. The Clinical Leads for two of the Services are Haematologists, reflecting the role that this new model can play in diagnosing blood cancers earlier.

Our NHS Recovery Plan commits to providing greater public awareness of signs and symptoms of cancer, with a new national campaign in development and website being re-designed.

The Scottish Government will continue to work closely with primary care clinicians, including the Scottish Primary Care Cancer Group, to identify possible symptoms as early as possible and support appropriate referral via the Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer.

The Scottish Government allocates funding to the Managed Service Network (MSN) for Children and Young People with Cancer on an annual basis for both children and teenagers and young adults services. This funding provides support for administrative and strategic roles within the MSN, and some clinical posts within NHS Boards to ensure that all children and young people in Scotland receive the right diagnosis, aligned with the right treatment, delivered by the right team in the right place.

The MSN works in partnership with charities and third sector organisations to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer in children and young adults. Examples include working with Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group on the Childhood Cancer Diagnosis Study and spearheading the Headsmart campaign with The Brain Tumour Charity.

Scottish Government officials have engaged with UK Government counterparts regarding the provision of support to consumers such as park home owners who are ineligible for the £400 Energy Bills Discount Scheme. Officials have provided details on the number and location of mobile home sites in Scotland to assist with identifying how best to distribute the funding.

On 8 September, the Prime Minister announced a package of measures to help mitigate the impact of rising energy prices on consumers. This stated that those households who are not part of the regulated market, such as those living in park homes, are set to receive support through a new fund. The Scottish Government has asked for further detail and clarification, and have been advised that this will form part of the Chancellor’s fiscal statement later this month.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-09995 on 16 August 2022. 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 Scottish Government does not hold data on the sector of how many caravan park owners and managers have met the criteria for the fit and proper person test or how many have failed the test. This is a matter for local authorities and the information requested is not held centrally.

The Scottish Government did not allocate any finance for the Young Islanders Challenge in 2021-22. However, £28,500 was allocated to our delivery partner, Youth Scotland, to support the Young Islanders Challenge in 2020-21.

As stated in the answer to S6W-10716 on 20 September 2022, work to develop an Islands Energy Strategy was delayed during the pandemic. In the interim period there have been significant changes to the policy landscape, including commitments to take forward an Energy Strategy Just Transition Plan for Scotland and the Carbon Neutral Islands Project. An Islands Energy Strategy will follow and build on these pieces of work in 2023 allowing alignment with Scotland's national plans. Stakeholder engagement on is ongoing. 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 recent targeted review of the Capital Spending Review does not include a new funding stream dedicated to supporting new theatre spaces. The Scottish Government currently considers any request for capital funding of cultural venues on a case by case basis, dependent on a robust Business Case. We have provided £5.5 million towards the Citizens Theatre refurbishment, including a recent £1.5 million of additional support through Regeneration Capital Grant Fund, and will provide £6.5 million to support the King’s Theatre Edinburgh redevelopment.

Data on developer led remediated buildings is not held by the Scottish Government.

The Scottish Government has committed to investing £10 million in Changing Places Toilets (CPTs) over this parliamentary term. This investment will increase the number of these facilities across Scotland and support mobile CPTs, to allow disabled people easier access to public spaces, events and venues around the country.

The funding will be delivered in phases over the course of the parliamentary term. Plans for the CPT fund are currently being developed and further information will be available in due course.