The Scottish Government is in regular communication with a number of charities concerning the cost of living crisis and other welfare issues. No one wants to see beloved pets relinquished due to affordability and that is why we will continue to work with animal welfare charities and organisations such as the Scottish SPCA to monitor the on-going situation.

Delivering Scotland’s Blue Economy Approach is the first phase in how we will deliver our Vision and takes stock of how current, and forthcoming, actions across Marine Scotland and the wider Scottish Government will support the delivery of the six Blue Economy outcomes.

Ports and harbours are key Blue Economy infrastructure and Delivering Scotland’s Blue Economy Approach sets out action already underway that will support that infrastructure in progressing towards our outcomes. Action includes investment of £580 million over 5 years in vessels and ports supporting the lifeline ferry network through the Infrastructure Investment Plan; funding through Marine Fund Scotland to support projects focused on achieving an innovative and economically sustainable marine economy; and the Scottish National Investment Bank recently provided a £30 million loan to the Port of Aberdeen.

As part of our next steps, we will continue to engage with key stakeholders and our international neighbours to deliver a collaborative, inclusive approach to achieving our Vision and our joint ambitions for our shared marine space.

Six candidates were invited to be interviewed for the role of Women’s Health Champion. The Government will make an announcement on the outcome of this process shortly.

To support the Bill, provisions in the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill Financial Memorandum sets out an assumption of the range of required investments in pay and terms and conditions for frontline local government care staff, if all staff were to transfer to the National Care Service. This is set out at page 16, paragraph 53, table 8.

The method for the geographical and membership makeup of care boards will be considered as part of the collaborative design work with people who access and deliver health and care support, stakeholders and partners.

Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (TUPE) / Cabinet Office Statement of Practice (COSOP) principles will apply if the delivery of services is transferred from local authorities to care boards. If that is the case, the TUPE process would be followed. Decisions on whether any staff transfers take place will depend on decisions taken at a local level. Legal advice will be sought as required and external legal advice commissioned as necessary.

We are committed to working collaboratively to design the National Care Service with people, stakeholders and partners. We published a document on the National Care Service and the co-design process on 21 June 2022. This can be accessed at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/national-care-service-co-design-national-care-service/documents/

To find out more about what co-design is, the phases of work involved and the activities and tools that can be used to support we have been running introductory sessions for the public. Further information on upcoming sessions can be accessed at: https://www.gov.scot/policies/social-care/national-care-service/

To support the collaborative co-design we launched registration to Lived Experience Experts Panel and Stakeholder Register on 22 September 2022. Further information and registration details can be accessed at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/design-the-national-care-service/

As of 7 December 2022, we had 421 applicants registered with the Lived Experience Experts Panel.

As of 7 December 2022, we had 210 organisations sign up for the Stakeholder Register.

The Panel and the Register are both being actively monitored for demographics, geographic spread and protected characteristics to ensure we encourage a true representation of the population. Targeted engagement will be undertaken to address any gaps and ensure robust information gathering and development Promotion of the opportunities to register will continue throughout the life time of the programme.

The National Care Service (Scotland) Bill requires Ministers to have a strategic plan if they are delivering, or arranging for the delivery of, national services.

In order to ensure that national services remain aligned with changing population need it is important that Ministers regularly review, with partners, stakeholders and people, the strategic plan.

We will continue to liaise with those who plan and deliver services to ensure that the Bill sets out appropriate national and local strategic planning requirements.

Provisions related to Anne's Law are included within the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill.