Chamber and committees

The latest Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service monthly statistics, published on 19 July, show that there were 37,174 scheduled trials at the end of June. It is not possible to state how many of these trials relate to sexual offence cases, due to the data being held on a live case management system that is designed to meet operational needs, rather than provide statistical breakdowns by offence type.

The Scottish Government continues to support justice agencies to address the backlog to ensure cases can be progressed, including sexual offence cases. In 2021-22 we committed an additional £50m to support our ‘Recover, Renew, Transform’ programme for the Criminal Justice System. This included setting up 16 additional solemn and summary courts from September 2021, increasing the system’s capacity to progress cases, including for the most serious offences. We have committed a further £53.2m in 2022-23 for recovery, renewal and transformation activity across the justice system. Recent statistics published by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service demonstrate that measures introduced to address the backlog, including the additional trial courts, are having a positive impact on court throughput, and the total number of scheduled trials outstanding has reduced each month in 2022.

We recognise that sexual offence cases can be particularly distressing to those involved, and we are committed to improving victims’ experiences of the justice system. We understand the value that criminal justice advocacy services offer to victims navigating the system, and that is why - following a competitive bidding process - we are providing Rape Crisis Scotland’s National Advocacy Project with more than £6 million over the next three years, through the Victim Centred Approach Fund. The National Advocacy Project provides invaluable practical and emotional support to victims of sexual crimes throughout the court process.

We welcome the Together for the One in Six report produced by the Neurological Alliance of Scotland (NAoS). We are determined to improve the provision of neurological care which is why we funded the NAoS to help facilitate this survey in Scotland.

It is vital that people with neurological conditions feel enabled and involved in their care. Understanding the perspectives of those who access health care in Scotland will enable us to work together to identify good practice and drive up standards.

We continue to implement the commitments of the Neurological Care and Support - a National Framework for Action, as a priority. We will continue to work with the Neurological Alliance of Scotland to ensure that all people living in Scotland with a neurological condition are able to access the best possible care and support throughout and beyond the lifespan of the Framework.

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.

I refer the member to questions S6W-08085 and S6W-08129 answered on 18 May 2022 and 3 May 2022, respectively. 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 welcomes the announcement that the former Dawnfresh site in Uddingston will continue to operate under new owners, Thistle Seafoods, and understands that the sale included the transfer of 40 employees. We strongly encourage the company to take forward its plans to develop and grow the business with Fair Work as a key driver for achieving sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

Scottish Enterprise, Scotland's national economic development agency, has engaged with Thistle Seafoods and is arranging a meeting with the company to understand its future plans for the business and will explore potential support, whilst outlining the expectations of businesses trading in Scotland including around Fair Work and Net Zero ambitions. In line with the Bute House Agreement, the Scottish Government will introduce a requirement on public sector grants recipients to pay at least the real Living Wage to all employees and to provide appropriate channels for effective workers’ voice, such as trade union recognition.

It is important to note that while employment law remains reserved to the UK Government, we will use our Fair Work policy to promote fairer work practices across the labour market in Scotland.

Infection Prevention control (IPC) measures remain important in care homes but with high levels of vaccination and new treatments, the risk of serious illness from COVID-19 has decreased and the protective measures in adult social care including care homes have reduced in response to this.

IPC measures to prevent spread and manage a range of infections are common practice in care homes and will remain of upmost importance during COVID-19 outbreaks, in the same way as they do for other infectious pathogens such as influenza outbreaks. Care home staff have worked incredibly hard to adopt IPC guidance throughout the pandemic.

We are currently reviewing the guidance on the extended use of face coverings by staff in adult social care including care homes. The review is in partnership with ARHAI Scotland, SG Clinicians and Public Health Scotland and is considering the risk of Covid-19 transmission, the current rates within the community and the impact of removing this final layer of protection could have on transmission to vulnerable people, and staffing resources, alongside the human rights and wider harms to individuals in receipt of care or support including individuals whom live in care homes. It is anticipated that this review will be completed by the end of July. As it has been throughout the pandemic, guidance will be updated in line with the results of the review.

COVID-19 Financial Support for Adult Social Care Providers has been in place since the outset of the pandemic and was intended as time-limited financial support as services navigated and responded to COVID-19.

In both 2020-21 and 2021-22, the Scottish Government provided additional funding for COVID-19 costs in full. In 2022-23, the Health and Social Care Portfolio is required to accommodate all further COVID-19 activity, including additional Test & Protect and Vaccinations costs, without any further UK Government consequentials.

Recognising that flexibility is still required for responding to pandemic pressures, we have committed to continuing elements of financial support beyond 30 June 2022, this includes: the Social Care Staff Support Fund until 30 September 2022; and financial support arrangements for testing and vaccinations until the 31 March 2023. In addition, the current local PPE Hub arrangements will continue until 30 September 2022.

The Scottish Government vision is for Scotland to be a leading Fair Work Nation by 2025, where fair work drives success, wellbeing and prosperity for individuals, businesses, organisations and society. This includes tackling the drivers of workplace inequality for women and ensuring they are supported to enter and progress in all of Scotland’s workplaces.

Menstrual health and menopause are top priorities in our Women’s Health Plan, published in August 2021. Scottish Government has committed, through the Women’s Health Plan, to develop a menopause and menstrual health workplace policy, as an example of best practice, starting with NHS Scotland, and promote this across the public, private and third sector.

Our recently launched NHS Inform Women’s Health platform includes accessible information to help women feel more informed and confident about the menopause and includes information on menopause and the workplace, for those experiencing the menopause as well as line managers and employers. It also includes new and refreshed resources for girls and women on menstrual health including managing symptoms, PMS, conditions such as endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome.

The platform can be accessed at: https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/womens-health

Through our Fair Work First policy we are leveraging employers’ commitment to fair work by applying Fair Work criteria to public sector grants, other funding and contracts where it’s relevant and proportionate to do so. Through this we are asking employers to adopt fair work practices such as enabling workers to have an effective voice, tackling gender pay gaps and offering flexible working from day one of employment which can especially benefit women experiencing menstrual or menopausal issues while at work.

Local authorities are responsible for the recruitment and deployment of their staff. They have the autonomy to provide incentives to attract teachers to their area, and we know some have offered initiatives like free housing for an extended period.

During their probation year, Newly Qualified Teachers on the Teacher Induction Scheme (TIS) choose five local authorities where they are willing to work to complete their probation year, and are allocated a place balancing their choice with local need.

The Scottish Government intends to publish the Implementation Plan for the Framework for Pain Management Service Delivery in summer 2022. As advised in a letter to the Convenors of the Cross Party Group on Chronic Pain on 15 June, Ministers intend to meet with patient representatives of the Group once it has been published.

Extensive engagement of people with lived experience was carried out at all stages to develop the Framework. This includes through representation on the National Advisory Committee for Chronic Pain and a national survey of people with chronic pain and their carers. We have also sought input from other stakeholder groups during the development of the Framework including NHS staff, service planners and third-sector partners. This has included work to bring together the diverse clinical disciplines involved in pain management in order to inform and support activities to improve chronic pain services.

The draft Framework also underwent public consultation with a high level of responses from people with chronic pain and other stakeholders. We are grateful for the views and ideas shared through the consultation which have been used to inform the Aims and Actions we will set out in the forthcoming Implementation Plan. Officials will provide a draft of the Plan to Ministers within the coming weeks and publication is anticipated shortly after this.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-09303 on 5 July 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 .