I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-26543 on 17 April 2024. 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 .

Individual voluntary sector organisations are not routinely involved in Scottish Government Resilience Room meetings.

The Scottish Government welcomes the participation of civil society in developing local responses to issues affecting people in Scotland.

It is for Local Authorities, Health Boards and other public services to best engage on issues regarding service delivery at a local level, and the Scottish Government encourages all voluntary and community organisations to work with public bodies for the best outcomes for their communities.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-26745 on 18 April 2024. 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 nature of Scottish Government funding for bus and rail sectors is fundamentally different. Funding provided to the bus sector is primarily through reimbursement for concessionary travel schemes which provides free bus travel for eligible passengers, and the Network Support Grant to support local bus services. This makes fares more affordable for the public, whilst supporting bus operators. Funding for rail provides subsidy to ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper which is necessary to provide services, with the majority of funding supporting Network Rail Scotland to operate, maintain, renew and enhance the rail network infrastructure.

Almost one half of all bus journeys in 2022-23 were made under the National Concessionary Travel scheme, 12 percentage points more than in 2021-22. In early 2022, the scheme was expanded to include those aged under 22.

The Scottish Government takes animal welfare very seriously and is committed to the highest possible welfare standards. There is however a balance to be struck between protecting animal welfare and protecting public safety.

The scheduling of court cases is an operational matter for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) who operate independently from the Scottish Government. It would therefore not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to comment or intervene on such matters.

£11.3 million of additional funding has been directed to support Cancer Waiting Times improvements in our NHS across 2023-24, of which NHS Ayrshire & Arran received a share of £838,000.

Funding has been targeted towards the most challenged specialties, including breast, colorectal and urology. This funding includes investment to support extended working days and weekend working to increase capacity and treat patients as timely as possible.

In addition, NHS Ayrshire & Arran have established a Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Service (RCDS). The RCDS provides primary care with access to a new referral pathway for people with non-specific symptoms suspicious of cancer. The Services are a useful addition to how cancer can be diagnosed in Scotland providing a new fast-track diagnostic pathway for people with non-specific symptoms suspicious of cancer, such as weight loss and fatigue.

The NHSScotland Special Leave policy provides the staff member and their partner initially up to one working week of paid compassionate leave. Additionally, managers hold the discretion to extend this leave by an additional week thereby providing a total of 10 days paid special leave to support healing and recovery.

Achieving the commitment to protect 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030 (30 by 30 commitment) is a key component in our ambition to halt biodiversity loss by 2030 and substantially restore it by 2045. The target has already been achieved at sea with the suite of Marine Protected Areas. On land, our existing protected areas cover 18.2% of Scotland. It is envisaged that the 30 by 30 commitment will be achieved on land by improving the condition of existing, as well as creating new, protected areas, alongside developing a network of ‘Other Effective [area-based] Conservation Measures’ (OECMs).

Our 2023 consultation on Scotland’s Strategic Framework for Biodiversity included a draft policy framework on our 30 by 30 commitment, which was co-designed with over 100 organisations and individuals representing a diverse range of interests. We are considering responses from that consultation, which will inform the final framework to be published later this year.

A further consultation, to gather views on whether the legislative framework for our current protected areas needs to be strengthened, was launched on 3 April and will run until 24 May 2024. It can be accessed at: https://consult.gov.scot/environment-forestry/meeting-our-30-by-30-commitment-a-consultation/ . This will inform any requirements within the Natural Environment Bill.

A stakeholder group convened by NatureScot will help develop the OECM criteria which sites must meet to be considered within the ‘30 by 30’ network. This work is being carried out in parallel, and in discussion with, the other UK administrations to ensure a degree of consistency of approach.

I refer member to the answer to question S6W-23766 on 4 January 2024 and S6W - 26466 on 16 April 2024 I also wrote to the member addressing this on 19 January 2024. 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 .