Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government has overall responsibility for health and social care policy in Scotland, however the statutory responsibility for delivering or commissioning services at a local level lies with local authorities, NHS boards and integrated health and social care partnerships. Operational decisions are therefore matters for these bodies.

Local Authorities have a duty to ensure that the resources available are used in the most effective way to meet the care needs of individuals within their area. This includes ensuring contingency plans are in place to minimise disruption to the service user; and that the contingency plans also respect the dignity and safety of the service user as is their basic human right.

The Scottish Government supports breastfeeding mothers through a number of initiatives including: publication of the Improving Maternal and Infant Nutrition: A Framework for Action (2011) and funding NHS boards to implement a range of breastfeeding support activities and interventions; appointment of a National Maternal and Infant Nutrition Co-ordinator to coordinate breastfeeding improvement activity; funding a Lead Officer post from UNICEF to support the implementation of the UNICEF BFI Standards across Scotland; the launch of a replacement of the Feedgood factor website in June 2016 and providing funding to support the National Breastfeeding Helpline.

The Scottish Government produced a leaflet on the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 which was issued to all employers in Scotland in 2006. It explains the implications of the Act for employers and employees and encourages employers to offer assistance to breastfeeding mothers. The leaflet is available online.http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/135079/0033433.pdf.

The recently published 2017 Programme for Government contains a commitment to provide additional resource to support breastfeeding. This will be used to update existing approaches including engagement with employers.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-13403 on 9 January 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

The Scottish Government has overall responsibility for health and social care policy in Scotland, however the statutory responsibility for delivering or commissioning services at a local level lies with local authorities, NHS boards and integrated health and social care partnerships. Operational decisions, including whether each local authority should provide stoma care, and the frequency of any visits for stoma care, are therefore matters for these bodies.

Local Authorities have a duty to ensure that the resources available are used in the most effective way to meet the care needs of individuals within their area. This includes ensuring contingency plans are in place to minimise disruption to the service user; and that the contingency plans also respect the dignity and safety of the service user as is their basic human right.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-13403 on
9 January 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

In line with the recommendations in the Stoma Appliance Service in the Community Quality and Cost Effectiveness Review (February 2016), the Scottish Government engages with the Scottish Stoma Forum and Reference Group - formerly the Scottish Stoma Forum - on a range of service and national policy issues.

The Scottish Government and NHS Scotland are represented on the Scottish Stoma Forum and Reference Group and attend its quarterly meetings. In addition, there is regular contact and meetings with key Forum members regarding the Stoma Appliance Service outwith the quarterly meetings.

Service issues or concerns identified with stoma services can be raised at Forum meetings where there are wider service and policy implications for the Scottish Government or NHS Scotland to act on. Where there are service issues relating to a specific locality then these should rightly be raised with the appropriate local authority, integrated authority or NHS board responsible for providing the service.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-13403 on
9 January 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

The National Manufacturing Institute for Scotland (NMIS) will be an industry-led centre of manufacturing expertise where research, industry and the public sector work together to transform skills, productivity and innovation.

Following the announcement on 11 December 2017 that the Institute will be hosted by the University of Strathclyde at Inchinnan, the Scottish Government is working with the University, Renfrewshire Council, our enterprise agencies, Skills Development Scotland and other partners to take forward the detailed planning and delivery of NMIS and associated Manufacturing Innovation District to meet industry needs. This will include consideration of childcare issues and skills development and employment opportunities for groups such as young parents and women returners. Connectivity and public transport issues will also be considered to ensure that NMIS and the Manufacturing Innovation District are accessible to businesses and people from across Scotland.

Forth Ports has not yet selected the construction company for the construction of the facility and is going through a tender process at present. Once operational it is envisaged that the facility will be used by local businesses helping to assist the growing logistics industry in the Grangemouth and Falkirk areas.

They also hope to see extended links to local schools and colleges once the facility is operational and already have 25 Modern Apprentices in training based in Grangemouth. Skills Development Scotland have been engaged with the company for a number of years, most recently discussing further work based learning opportunities.