Chamber and committees

In terms of daily dosage amounts, our advice is a supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D (400 IU). This applies to adults and children over one year of age. Ten micrograms per day is the average amount needed by the majority (97.5%) of the population to maintain adequate vitamin D levels when UVB sunlight exposure is minimal. This is to maintain bone and muscle health and is based on the recommendations of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN), as set out in its 2016 report Vitamin D and Health. SACN advises all devolved nations and UK Government on nutrition related matters.

The report is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sacn-vitamin-d-and-health-report

Further information on our current advice on vitamin D is available at https://www.gov.scot/publications/vitamin-d-advice-for-all-age-groups/

SACN published an updated rapid review on Vitamin D and acute respiratory tractinfections on 17 December 2020. SACN recommended the reference nutrient intake for vitamin D remain unchanged at 10 micrograms per day.

The rapid review is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sacn-rapid-review-vitamin-d-and-acute-respiratory-tract-infections

We currently have no plans to revise our advice on vitamin D supplementation. We will continue to be guided by SACN as the evidence on vitamin D develops.

On 26 April free lateral flow device (LFD) test kits were made available to everyone in Scotland, for twice-weekly asymptomatic COVID-19 testing via the universally accessible testing offer. In addition to this, free LFD test kits are available through the Scottish Government’s targeted asymptomatic testing programme which includes routine testing for:

• health care workers
• educational staff, senior phase pupils and HE/FE students
• prioritised workforces in the public sector and in critical national infrastructure
• high risk private sector settings such as food processing businesses

Free access to LFD test kits has been extended through the summer period until September, when a formal review will be undertaken by the Scottish Government. Workforce testing is currently being expanded and as now is open to all private sector organizations with more than ten employees.

The Scottish Government has no immediate plans to charge for LFD tests.

Sports sponsorship entails a range of alcohol advertising and promotional activity, which we know is seen by children and young people across Scotland. This influences positive attitudes towards drinking alcohol and can encourage them to start drinking alcohol or to drink more alcohol.

Whilst recognising the impact Covid-19 has had on the sporting sector as well as the importance of sponsorship income, we would encourage sports teams and organisations to diversify sponsorship away from alcohol brands. We applaud Scottish Women’s Football for the stance they have taken not to accept sponsorship from the alcohol or gambling industries.

We have committed to publicly consulting on a range of potential alcohol marketing restrictions to protect children and young people in Scotland. We are considering all methods of alcohol advertising and promotion in developing proposals for the public consultation.

In 2019, the Scottish Government launched Scotland’s first National Framework for Action on Neurological Care and Support 2020-25. Over five years we will invest £4.5 million of funding to implement the Framework’s 17 commitments to improve the provision of co-ordinated health and social care and support for people with neurological conditions, such as migraine.

Through our Modernising Patient Pathways Programme, we are currently engaged in establishing a multi-disciplinary team of experts across Scotland to develop a national headache pathway, which will seek to standardise approaches across the country based on the best available evidence. The assessment and treatment of Migraine will form a key element of this.

In terms of continuing professional development for healthcare professionals, NHS Education for Scotland have produced a Practice Based Small Group Learning module on Neurology, which specifically covers the primary care assessment of headache and the treatment of migraine.

We are currently considering options for pilots. These pilots will test out how to successfully rollout a programme of free bikes to school age children who cannot afford them, including what the eligibility criteria should be for children to access the scheme.

Access to the scheme in 2021 will initially be through pilot projects as set out in our ‘First Steps’ document.

There have been no discussions with the Scottish Government in regard to homeless people in Scotland being provided with e-cigarette starter packs for a research project led by London South Bank University and UCL.

We maintain an open, yet precautionary, approach to the use of electronic cigarettes and we are aware that many smokers use e-cigarettes to reduce their tobacco intake or to quit altogether. The consensus in Scotland based on current evidence, is e-cigarettes are definitely less harmful than smoking tobacco. However, we recognise that more research is needed to understand the risks and the benefits of e-cigarettes in the long-term.

A joint Scottish statement encourages current smokers to switch to e-cigarettes, health professionals not to dissuade individuals from using them and to discourage children and non-smokers from trying e-cigarettes.

In the Ending Homelessness Together action plan, we have committed to closer working between homelessness and health services, but this is a general commitment rather than specific to tobacco.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-00813 on 14 July 2021. 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

Since 2019-20, the Scottish Government has invested over £3 million in the Bikeability Scotland programme run by Cycling Scotland. Bikeability has three levels of competency which teaches children to ride and control a bike, learn to cycle on quiet streets and cycle independently on busier roads. All schools have the opportunity to participate in all levels of Bikeability, with access to free training resources and instructor training.

The most recent full academic year of delivery, pre-pandemic, was 2018-19. 47% of primary schools in 29 participating local authorities delivered Level 2 on-road training, with over 43,000 pupils receiving cycle training, an increase from 37% in 2015-16. This year, 31 local authorities are taking part in delivering Level 2 training.

17 secondary schools currently deliver Bikeability Level 3 training – to cycle independently on busier roads. In 2021-22, an additional 16 secondary schools will introduce this programme.

On 30 June 2021, I wrote to Jonathon McCreadie, Manager, Public Policy UK & Ireland at Amazon agreeing to meet him to discuss Amazon’s work in Scotland – the timing for which has still to be agreed. More recently, on‎ 20 July, the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture visited the set for one of Amazon’s Originals, which is being produced in Leith. This was an opportunity to visit the set and to discuss how Amazon might further support apprenticeships in Scotland.