Chamber and committees

As Scotland’s seaweed cultivation industry grows, we must ensure we manage this in a sustainable manner, addressing and mitigating any impact on the natural environment. Research will be key to better understanding the sustainability aspects of growing seaweed cultivation, and as part of our next steps of the aquaculture regulatory review, I have approached the Scottish Science Advisory Council to examine the use and communication of science in aquaculture consenting.

The seaweed sector is being considered as part of our broader regulatory review on aquaculture, beginning with the independent report by Professor Russel Griggs published earlier this year. As a next step and in response to the recommendations set out by Professor Griggs, I have set up and Chair the Scottish Aquaculture Council, which represents a range of stakeholders interested in the aquaculture sector and its environmental, economic and social impacts.

The updated information requested is contained in the following table:

The Scottish Government has committed to the introduction of a Human Rights Bill within this Parliamentary session (2021-26) and we will consult on proposals this year.

The Human Rights Bill will incorporate the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which includes a right to adequate food as an essential part of the overall right to an adequate standard of living, into Scots law, as far as possible within devolved competence.

The updated information requested is contained in the following table:

The Scottish Government is committed to developing a new Palliative and End of Life Care Strategy that takes a whole system, public health approach to achieve the very highest standards of care right up to the end of life, and ensure that everyone who needs it can access seamless, timely and high quality palliative care. We are currently taking stock of the leadership, resources and partnerships we need to deliver this.

We will continue to plan a series of engagement events with partners across the sector to think strategically about improvements and priorities across the wide range of services and support. This will contribute to a holistic, integrated and multi-disciplinary approach which will ensure access to palliative and end of life care wherever and whenever it is needed, and which has the person and their families and carers at the centre. Development of the strategy is likely to continue into 2023 to enable meaningful engagement and ensure alignment with the development of the National Care Service.

The Scottish Government greatly values the hard work and dedication of the local government workforce. We also recognise the challenges across the public sector, including local government, in ensuring that pay increases are affordable to employers but are fair to employees against the backdrop of the cost of living crisis.

Local government pay negotiations are entirely the responsibility of local authorities and COSLA. However, both the Scottish Government and COSLA are working to jointly explore all of the options available to find solutions.

As agreed by the Ministerial-led working group on Safe Access Zones, independent research has been commissioned by the Scottish Government; part of this research will involve more formal monitoring of the prevalence, nature and impact of any vigils or protests with NHS Boards.

The Scottish Government also continues to discuss with NHS Board staff whether they have experienced issues or concerns relating to protests of vigils outside abortion clinics. We will continue to work with key stakeholders to ensure that evidence is gathered .

The Scottish Government is aware that recent vigils or protests have been held at the following locations in Glasgow: the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, the Sandyford clinic and Glasgow Royal Infirmary. Vigils or protests have also been held earlier this year outside the Chalmers clinic in Edinburgh and Aberdeen Maternity Hospital. While there has been activity at other locations in the past, the Scottish Government is not aware of activity at any other locations having taken place during the past year.

I am pleased to advise Parliament that the Scottish Government is continuing to deliver on its commitment to give people the information they need to make an informed choice about their future, and is today publishing Renewing Democracy through Independence .

As our second scene-setting paper for the Building a New Scotland prospectus series, the paper sets out the evidence in support of the democratic case for independence. Renewing Democracy through Independence sets out the Scottish Government’s view that the people of Scotland have the right to choose their own future, and the opportunities for democratic government offered by Scotland becoming an independent country.

Building a New Scotland: Renewing Democracy through Independence is available to view on the Scottish Government website from today:

• https://www.gov.scot/newscotland

The Heart Disease Action Plan (2021), sets out a strategic vision to ensure that everyone with suspected heart disease in Scotland has equitable access to timely and evidence-based diagnosis, treatment and care. Priority 2 in the plan contains a focus on improving access to diagnostics, including imaging.

There are no Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) guidelines for takotsubo cardiomyopathy. The decision to create, update and/or replace any SIGN guideline is made independently by the Evidence Directorate Work Programme Committee in Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS). Any group or individual can propose a guideline topic to SIGN. Guideline topics are selected on the basis of burden of disease, the existence of variation in practice, and the potential to improve outcomes.

Chief Scientist Office (CSO) is not currently directly funding research into Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy, though there is an active programme of research into this condition led by the University of Aberdeen. This research has taken place with Scotland-wide recruitment of participants with the support of NHS Research and Development which is funded by CSO.