Chamber and committees

This is a matter for NHS Health Boards. The information requested regarding data on emergency contraception prescribed in prisons is not held centrally.

From a funding perspective there was no funding committed to the National Care Service as a result of the original Financial Memorandum, its purpose was only to show, as a result of the Bill, the potential additionality of cost that could be incurred were the Bill to progress as introduced. This is also the case for the revision to the Financial Memorandum and the associated Shared Accountability costing.

The commitment to increase social care funding by at least £840 million over this Parliament has been surpassed 2 years early, with funding for social care increasing by over £1 billion compared to 2021-22. Furthermore, the 2024-25 draft Budget supports services with investment of over £2 billion to support health and social care integration.

Despite increased investment and vision of the National Care Service, it is noted that the system is under extreme pressure as a result of the ongoing impacts of Covid, Brexit and inflation. We will continue to work with partners across health and social to address these challenges and to take forward the reform that is essential for delivery of financially, environmentally and socially sustainable services for the people of Scotland.

We currently have no plans to amend the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020 to allow mountain hares to be hunted for the purposes of falconry.

The Scottish Government has a long-standing commitment to the principles of Fair-Work as we recognise and value the work that the social care sector do.

The £12 minimum pay-rate from April 2024 for Adult Social Care workers represents a 14.3% increase for these workers in the last two years; with pay rising from at least £10.50 per hour in April 2022.

Four out of five people who will benefit from this uplift in pay are women. Increasing pay not only helps the workforce in question but will also positively impact on our wider priorities on child poverty, Fair Work and post-Covid pandemic recovery in the health and care sector.

The creation of the National Care Service will help to provide consistency in further improved pay and conditions, access to training and development and ensuring a career in social care is attractive and rewarding – but we are beginning to make those improvements now .

I am delighted that both Staff Side and NHS Board representatives have worked in partnership with us to undertake an extensive review of the Agenda for Review framework, which included the existing pay structure.

I am now considering the recommendations of the review alongside the wider impact of any action we take and the budget that we need to operate within.

We will continue to engage fully with our partners on all aspects of the review, including next steps.

Decisions on the retrieval of loaned equipment are made at Board level and the Scottish Government do not have access to this information.

This is a matter for NHS Health Boards. The information requested regarding data on early medical abortion medication prescribed in prisons is not held centrally.

Risk assessments are a routine part of projects approved under the two established mechanisms for utilising private investment in nature in Scotland - the Woodland Carbon Code and the Peatland Code. We expect Agencies to adhere to the risk assessment process for the two Codes and also the principles set out in the Scottish Public Finance Manual. Scottish Government does not hold this information.

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

Decisions on the return and re-use of loaned equipment are made at Board level and the Scottish Government do not have access to this information.