Chamber and committees

Public Health Scotland (PHS) are responsible for the delivery of the Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) audit which was commissioned by Scottish Government in July 2024. PHS has informed Scottish Government that there was a delay in recruitment required for audit development, however this has now been completed. PHS are now working at pace in line with the business case requirements to establish this new audit.

The Scottish Government is committed to improving health and reducing health inequalities, and supporting our more vulnerable communities, which can include our former coalfield communities.

We know that poverty and unemployment are key drivers of ill health and health inequalities. That is why, we continue to support the health of Scotland’s population through a number of measures including:

• allocating around £3 billion a year since 2022-23 to tackle poverty;
• initiatives to promote healthy lifestyles through tobacco control, preventing alcohol related harm, promoting healthy eating and physical activity; and
• the creation of a Population Health Framework to take a preventative approach in which we address health problems at the root as well as build a Scotland in which our places and communities can positively support health and wellbeing.

In addition, we deliver significant investment through a range programmes to support economic growth and regenerate communities, which contribute to addressing underlying poverty by creating jobs and employment opportunities. Our regeneration programmes are delivered through established relationships with local government and communities, focussing investment in areas of priority need including former coalfield communities. These programmes include our Investing in Communities Fund, which is being delivered over 2023-24 to 2025-26 with an annual budget of circa £9m. It is currently supporting 20 projects in coalfield communities investing nearly £3.5 million to date.

I was pleased to meet with the Scottish Huntington’s Association (SHA) recently to discuss the provision of Huntington’s Disease services.

The Scottish Government is currently supporting the SHA’s youth services through the Children, Young People, Families Early Intervention and Adult Learning and Empowering Communities Fund, to improve the resilience and confidence of young people with Huntington’s and support young carers.

Through the Neurological Care & Support Framework 2020-25, we have been working to ensure that everyone with a neurological condition, including Huntington’s Disease, can access the care and support they need. As the formal Framework strategy concludes, we have been engaging with clinicians, patients, carers and third sector organisations to explore a joined-up policy approach to long-term conditions. A full public consultation will commence shortly, following which a strategy will be developed and published later in 2025.

We have recently established a Neurological Conditions Improvement Network and are working with providers across Scotland to consider ways of ensuring statutory and third sector organisations collaborate on decision-making around the provision of care. This aims to ensure the best use of resources while encouraging person-centred support for people with neurological conditions.

The Scottish Government wants to ensure families affected by Huntington’s Disease are given the best possible care, information and support and I was pleased to meet with the Scottish Huntington’s Association recently to discuss services in Scotland.

The Scottish Government provides funding to Health Boards and Local Authorities, and it is ultimately for local partners to agree a joint, integrated budget which will enable them to meet the needs of local people in line with their Strategic Objectives.

While agreeing budgets is the responsibility of partnerships, we expect that these decisions be made in consultation with people who use services.

The Scottish Government is absolutely committed to improving healthy life expectancy and addressing the underlying inequalities that contribute to health disparities across Scotland – and as part of that recognises the importance of addressing the wider determinants of health that are set out under Sir Michael Marmot’s eight principles.

We are currently working with local, regional and national level partners to develop a Population Health Framework, which will be co-published with COSLA in Spring 2025. The Framework will set out a cross-government and cross-sector approach improve the key building blocks of health which include: good early years and education; good work and income; healthy places; and equitable health care. It will have an overarching aim to accelerate the recovery and improvement of population health in Scotland.

In addition, Professor Sir Michael Marmot is currently working with Public Health Scotland, with councils and health boards (over the next two years), through the Collaboration for Health Equity in Scotland, in three ‘Marmot Places’: North Ayrshire, Aberdeen City and South Lanarkshire.

The Collaboration is intended to help these local areas reduce health inequalities and improve wellbeing in their communities. It will gather, integrate and share learning from all parts of the system (the NHS, local government, community and voluntary sectors, and businesses) about what is and isn’t working, towards improving health equity across the whole country.

A significant amount of work has been undertaken to date, to progress the implementation of the 55 recommendations made as part of the Independent Review of Audiology Services in Scotland, involving a wide range of stakeholders across the public and third sector. We continue to work with the NHS, Third Sector and private providers to identify and cost an appropriate model of community care for any future service reform and ensure that the voices of those with lived experience inform this work.

A report outlining how each of the 55 recommendations set out in the Independent Review have been closed or transitioned, and the rationale for that, will be provided to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee imminently and will be made available on both the Committee website and https://www.all-ears.nhs.scot/

The Scottish Government has no powers over the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS).

Ofgem and Energy UK are leading a cross-industry response to the RTS shutdown which includes a public awareness campaign. However, progress has been slow. Ofgem’s data from suppliers show that between October 2024 and January 2025 around 18,700 RTS meters were replaced in Scotland. As of January 2025, there were still 146,302 RTS consumers in Scotland who need to have their meters replaced. The switch-off date has already been extended three times and a further extension is not expected.

People who rely on the RTS will experience real and considerable detriment unless meters are replaced by the switch-off date. This is especially true for those in our rural and island communities where expensive electric storage heaters are more prevalent. The Scottish Government continues to consistently convey this message to the UK Government, Ofgem, and suppliers.

Since the creation of the RTS Taskforce in autumn last year, the energy industry has progressed a series of pilot projects in areas with high numbers of RTS customers. These pilots have been intended to target several upgrades at once while understanding and addressing technical challenges. However, many still wait for engineers who simply do not turn up or are insufficiently trained to upgrade the meter in question. The Scottish Government has asked for additional enforcement action to be put in place to reduce these instances and ensure that every household is fitted with a fully functioning meter before the deadline.

While we do not hold the necessary powers to direct Ofgem or suppliers, we are committed to raising awareness and working with those responsible to ensure consumers are not negatively affected by the switch-off. This includes contributing to RTS related engagement, consultations, and roundtables as well as raising the media profile of the switch-off. We have written to the UK Government, Ofgem, and industry on several occasions to press them to take the necessary steps to protect consumers in Scotland from detriment – highlighting the specific needs of rural and island communities and the availability of working smart meters as a viable solution – and continue to advocate for Scottish RTS users at every opportunity.

Any consumers experiencing difficulties with their supplier should contact Advice Direct Scotland (ADS). ADS receives funding from the Scottish Government as part of our devolved responsibilities for consumer advocacy and advice. Services include the free national energy advice helpline, available on 0808 196 8660 or at energyadvice.scot.

With just over three months to the deadline, and no clear Plan B, the UK Government and Ofgem must use their relevant powers to take urgent and proportionate action to substantially increase the number of properties upgraded. This is particularly pressing in rural and island areas where the number of RTS meters is disproportionate and where the impact on already high levels of fuel poverty could be significant.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-35647 on 21 March 2025. 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.

A conditional marketing authorisation was granted by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency for givinostat (Duvyzat®) on 20 December 2024. A conditional marketing authorisation is an early temporary licence.

The pharmaceutical company that markets Duvyzat® has offered a national Early Access Programme which provides free of charge access to the medicine for the treatment of ambulant young people aged six years and older with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. This has been in place since late December 2024.

It is for individual Health Boards to consider the implementation of any new medicine, and ultimately for the clinician in charge of a person’s care to advise on suitable treatment options. The Scottish Government is aware that Health Boards are currently considering how to schedule offering this medicine in the most fair and equitable manner.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-35647 on 21 March 2025. 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.