Our intention to reform health and social care is now well established, outlined in our Programme for Government, the Policy Prospectus and in my statement in Parliament in June on my vision for health and social care.

Primary care and community health is a core part of this work on reform, as a key building block of a reformed sustainable system supporting early intervention and prevention; and care closer to home. Our strategic priorities for primary care reform focus on shifting the balance of care closer to people’s homes and driving a proactive approach of early intervention and prevention, promoting value for money across the health system. The Scottish Government is developing a reform Route Map to further enhance sustainability of Primary Care, aligned to wider reform of Health and Social Care.

To answer your specific questions. Since the introduction of reforms NHS dental services have performed well nationally, with official statistics published on 27 August 2024 showing that over 2.7 million courses of treatment have been delivered to patients since 1 November 2023. In addition, we are currently considering the longer-term actions required to improve the dental workforce and ensure sustainable access to NHS dental services.

To support mental healthcare, we published our Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy, jointly with COSLA, in June 2023, and the accompanying Delivery Plan and Workforce Action Planin November 2023. The Strategy sets out a vision of a Scotland, free from stigma and inequality, where everyone fulfils their right to achieve the best mental health and wellbeing possible. It describes the support that anyone should be entitled to receive when they ask for help for any aspect of their mental health and wellbeing.

Regarding the reintegration of face – to – face GP appointments we want to emphasise that General Practice continues to see patients. The General Practice Access Principles report sets out a clear framework for the core principles of how GP services should be delivered – equitably, sensitively, reasonably and appropriately, making the most effective use of resources and systems currently available.

The Scottish Government welcomes the publication of the Scottish Veterans Commissioner’s 2024 Annual Report and the independent scrutiny it offers to both Government and its partners in delivering against the Commissioner’s recommendations.

I was pleased that, overall, the Commissioner has assessed that the Scottish Government continues to make progress against the majority of the recommendations and that none of the ‘RAG’ assessments have regressed – all have either improved or stayed the same. This is a testament to the great work going on across government and throughout the sector to support our veterans and their families. I was encouraged in particular that the Commissioner noted progress that we continue to make across the areas of Health and Wellbeing and Employment, Skills and Learning.

However, I do recognise that the Commissioner has highlighted two particular concerns in the areas of mental health support and homelessness. I will be meeting with the Commissioner soon to discuss these and her report more generally.

naValue GmbH is the ferry design company which assisted CMAL and Transport Scotland in the concept design stage of SVRP Phase 1. Addleshaw Goddard provided contractual and legal advice.

I have asked Janet Egdell, Interim Chief Executive of National Records of Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

National Records of Scotland (NRS) have today published: ‘Scotland’s Census 2022: Health, disability and unpaid care’. This is the final topic release from Scotland’s Census 2022. Later in 2024, NRS will publish multivariate data. This means we will publish tables which include more than one census topic variable. More detail about the schedule for future reports can be found here.

Scotland’s Census results are designated as Accredited Official Statistics and form an integral part of the statistical system in the UK. The Office for Statistics Regulation, the independent regulatory arm of the UK Statistics Authority, awards Accredited Official Statistics designation based on the quality, good practice and comprehensiveness of official statistics.

The Scottish Government has today published a consultation seeking views on allowing proxy voting by councillors. The consultation is available at - http://www.gov.scot/ISBN/9781836018704

The Scottish Government encourages all building owners to be open and transparent about the presence of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in their properties, including making information available on websites (although there is no duty on the part of local authorities to gather information on RAAC in privately owned buildings). Information on the presence of RAAC in the public sector can be found in a recently published Scottish Government report: https://www.gov.scot/publications/raac-in-the-public-sector/

The Scottish Government encourages all building owners to be open and transparent about the presence of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in their properties, including making information available on websites. Information on the presence of RAAC in the public sector can also be found in a recently published Scottish Government report: https://www.gov.scot/publications/raac-in-the-public-sector/

Menstrual health and wellbeing education is a key part of relationships, sexual health and parenthood (RSHP) education. RSHP education is an integral part of the health and wellbeing area of the Scottish curriculum, Curriculum for Excellence. Learning about RSHP education begins early on in primary school and continues right up to S4-S6. RSHP education is delivered in an age and stage appropriate manner and is intended to enable children and young people to build positive relationships as they grow older. Schools will equip young people with information on a wide range of issues, including menstrual health and wellbeing, depending on their age and stage of learning. Learning should present facts in an objective, balanced and sensitive manner within a framework of sound values and an awareness of the law.

An online RSHP teaching resource, (www.rshp.scot) was published in 2019 and provides age and stage appropriate learning activities on RSHP education for use in all education settings and is aligned to Curriculum for Excellence. This resource includes learning activities on menstruation from second level (P5 to P7), with endometriosis introduced at third/fourth level (S1 to S3).

The RSH teaching resource was subject to a significant review and refresh in 2023 to ensure it remained up-to-date and fit for purpose. Teachers continue to access the resource regularly.

Successive Scottish budgets have demonstrated Scotland’s commitment to addressing the climate change crisis, using all resources at our disposal to accelerate the just transition to a net zero, climate-resilient and biodiverse Scotland. The 2024-25 Budget committed £4.7 billion for activities with a positive impact on our climate change goals.

Use of ScotWind revenue is an action we would rather not take but must carefully consider given the fiscal challenges faced and the limited options available under existing fiscal framework arrangements. We will seek to minimise usage of ScotWind in 2024-25 – just as we did in 2023-24.

It is for local planning authorities to implement relevant planning legislation, policies and guidance as they deem appropriate and to ensure that the provisions of the planning system are applied properly within their areas. General guidance on the processing and determination of planning applications is available in Planning Circular 3: Development Management Procedures.

In line with long-established planning legislation, planning applications are determined in accordance with the development plan unless material planning considerations justify a departure from the plan. National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) forms part of the development plan, alongside the local development plan for each area.

NPF4 signals the key priorities for ‘where’ and ‘what’ development should take place and is combined with national planning policy on ‘how’ development planning should manage change. It places climate and nature at the centre of our planning system. NPF4 Policy 11 provides support in principle for all forms of renewable, low-carbon and zero emission technologies including small-scale renewable energy generation proposals. However, it also confirms that potential impacts on communities and individual dwellings, the environment and other receptors are important considerations in the decision-making process.

In some instances, solar panels and wind turbines can be installed on domestic properties under permitted development rights without the need for a planning application. Guidance on this is contained in Section 6 of Planning Circular 1/2024: Householder Permitted Development Rights.