Chamber and committees

Provided below are details of salary scale and job titles for Scotland House London from 2017-18:

The UK Government notified its intention to ratify the UNESCO convention for safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage on 23 December 2023. The Scottish Government will work with the other UK nations alongside key Scottish stakeholders to consider the most appropriate methods of implementing the convention once ratified.

The Scottish Government is unaware of any cases of cultural, arts or heritage organisations which have agreed Intangible Cultural Heritage principles and then not abided by them.

A report detailing the impact of the initial pilot by Maggie’s can be found here .

From November 2021 to December 2023, 2494 people affected by cancer have been supported via Maggie’s.

During the initial pilot phase, people with 34 different cancer types, including those with multiple cancers, attended the prehabilitation workshops. 59% of attendees were people affected by prostate and bowel cancers. The trend is similar in the period from April to December 2023, however those affected by breast and lung cancers make up a larger percentage of attendees than in the pilot phase.

77% of those providing feedback said the prehabilitation workshops delivered by Maggie’s had a positive impact on their health engagement. In addition, more than 90% said they felt better able to make positive changes to their physical activity, emotional well-being, and diet/nutrition.

The prehabilitation website referred to in response to question S6W-24556 on
‎ 25 January 2024 is available to those who prefer to source information online, and a Scottish Health Technology Assessment is in progress to help Scottish Government understand the potential for digital solutions to delivering prehabilitation. Finally, in collaboration with NHS Education Scotland, a training plan is in development that will support national scale up of the Maggie’s workshops via other willing providers.

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 purpose of the ScotRail Peak Fares is broader, to find out whether such a measure helps move people from car to rail use, but also to help passengers facing cost of living pressures. We know that price and simplicity is crucial for people when choosing how to travel.

Many passengers will enjoy significantly reduced fares, with fares that are available all day, every day, which will hopefully encourage more people to reduce their car use and to use more public transport instead, in line with our Programme for Government commitment to encourage a shift towards sustainable transport.

The 2024-25 Scottish Budget is a budget built on our values - setting out, in tough times, to protect people, sustain services, and take pragmatic steps to addressing the climate emergency. All budget decisions are subject to robust assessment in line with the Fairer Scotland Duty Act of 2018, which requires Scottish Ministers, when making strategic decisions, to reduce the inequalities of outcome caused by socio-economic disadvantage.

We a re keenly aware of the pressures facing them as a result of the current financial climate. The funding in the budget for the Third Sector will continue to prioritise investment in key infrastructure organisations and programmes that provide critical support to help the wider sector navigate the challenging financial climate.

Questions regarding day-to-day operational matters of Historic Environment Scotland, including the cost of repair work on its closed assets and facilities, are best answered by Historic Environment Scotland.

I have asked Historic Environment Scotland to respond directly to the member with a full reply to his question in writing.

No changes have been made, or are currently being considered, to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NatureScot, Hampden & Co, Lombard Odier Investment Managers and Palladium.

It is clear that the High Speed Trains will need to be replaced as an early priority within a ScotRail fleet replacement programme. Work is currently underway, funded within existing rail budgets used for project development, to examine the business case of different options for replacement of these trains. Discussions continue to be held with railway unions to ensure that railway staff are properly engaged.

There are no additional social security benefits specific to autism however when someone is diagnosed with a long-term condition which may mean that they need a range of support they should contact Social Security Scotland for advice.

Social Security Scotland’s Local Delivery colleagues can guide people through the benefits they may be entitled to as well as helping people to apply for these benefits in a way which suits them best.

For Disability Payment applications, Social Security Scotland requires one piece of supporting information on an individual’s condition or disability to help them understand the impact the condition has on a person’s daily life.

Information to support an application often comes from medical professionals, both in the NHS and in the private sector, as long as they are familiar with the individual and their conditions, disability or needs in a professional capacity. Supporting information can also come from other professionals, such as those in health and social care, education, local authorities or the third sector. For example, if someone regularly sees a counsellor, physical therapist or support worker, they could be a better source of supporting information than a medical professional they may not have contacted for some time. Examples of supporting information include a diagnosis letter, a referral letter, a prescription list, a social work report, an additional support needs plan, a child’s plan or equivalent, this list is not exhaustive.

Social Security Scotland treats supporting information from professionals and the clients wider support network equally when they look at applications.

Social Security Scotland works with individuals and disability organisations to design services so that everyone who may be eligible for benefits understands how they can apply for and receive them.

Social Security Scotland is committed to continuously improving to deliver benefits for the people of Scotland based on dignity, fairness and respect.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information, however, it may be available from local Health Boards.