Chamber and committees

We remain determined to reduce alcohol-related harms and take a proportionate, whole population approach to address them. For example, we are reviewing our world-leading Minimum Unit Pricing as well as Alcohol Brief Intervention Programme.

We are also working collaboratively with Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) across Scotland to understand and help resolve local issues and support them in identifying ways to improve services, such as monitoring waiting times. Last year, £106.8 million was made available to ADPs, and nationally there is ongoing work, including the upcoming UK Alcohol Treatment Guidelines and development of alcohol treatment targets for April 2024.

£250 million has been put in place over five-year National Mission to tackle drug-related harm and a substantial part of it offers help to those impacted by alcohol. This includes £100 million investment in residential rehabilitation, where the majority of patients are being treated for issues related either solely to alcohol or a combination of alcohol and drugs.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-17540 on 11 May 2023. 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 .

Circularity Scotland are working on the agreement currently and will update in due course. Producers can contact Circularity Scotland directly for updates.

The Scottish Government continues to make progress to deliver on the Programme for Government commitment to develop a framework for Scotland which effectively tackles and challenges men’s demand for prostitution, and to support those with experience of it.

Principles to underpin the Framework were published in December 2022. The principles have been adopted across Scottish Government and we will look to have them incorporated within the planned refresh of Equally Safe, Scotland’s strategy to take action on all forms of violence against women and girls. The principles will also inform relevant policy and practice across the wider public and third sector, in turn supporting Scotland’s collective approach to tackling Commercial Sexual Exploitation.

The key focus throughout 2023 will be to use the principles to define the component parts of a Framework that will improve access to support for any adult with experience of prostitution, and at the same time challenge men’s demand. We anticipate being able to outline the component parts of the framework before the end of the year.

As with the development of the principles, we will continue to work with stakeholders as this work progresses and keep them advised of progress.

The Scottish Government are investing £7.08m through the Scottish Safety Camera Programme in 2023-24 to reduce the number of casualties on Scotland’s roads by encouraging improved driver behaviour through the targeted deployment of safety cameras.

A range of safety camera resources are already deployed across the North Coast 500 and plans are in place to increase the level of resources during peak tourist season.

In addition, Transport Scotland are in regular discussions with local stakeholders to explore ways to further enhance road safety in the north of Scotland. This includes discussion through the Road Safety Framework Local Partnership Forum – North which next meets on 15 June 2023.

Highland Council-run services between the Ardnamurchan peninsula and Corran have been cancelled for at least seven weeks as two vessels are repaired. The implementation of any temporary replacement service is a matter for the local authority.

The Scottish Government understands that in addition to the alternative foot passenger routes in place, significant work has taken place to improve road safety measures for vehicles using the detour along the A861. We understand that 24-hour works have been ongoing on the A861 and since the start of these arrangements a number of additional passing places have been introduced and extended, as well as improvements to drainage, patching works and use of roadside recovery where required. Further information on mitigations taken by the local authority can be found here .

The Scottish Government continues to engage with the Council on this important issue and the Minister for Transport met with the Council on 26 April. We understand that the expected return to service of the MV Corran remains early June.

Furthermore, the Scottish Government recognises the challenge for local authorities, including The Highland Council, that have responsibility for ferries, and have provided more than £136m over the last 5 years to support the running of these services.

Highland Council is currently working with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to explore options for military support. Once those discussions are complete, it will be for Highland Council to decide whether to proceed with a request for Military Aid to the Civil Authority (MACA)), at which point it would request support in processing from the Scottish Government.

Scottish Government Directorates and Departments do not submit requests directly to the MoD. Applications are submitted through the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland. The Scottish Government is able to assist with this process, and the First Minister would consider whether to support any requests received.

The Scottish Government understands that the MoD was on site on 20 and 21 April to undertake an assessment of its capability to assist. The Scottish Government further understands that the Council has received a report from the MoD and this is being reviewed by the Council to determine what action, if any, can be taken as a consequence of the MOD’s findings.

NHS Scotland patients requiring transvaginal mesh removal surgery may opt either to have that surgery carried out by the specialist service provided by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, by an NHS England specialist centre, or by one of two independent providers. 23 removal surgeries were carried out by the Glasgow specialist service in 2020-21, 23 in 2021-22, and 34 in 2022-23. Meanwhile, as noted in response to S6W-17504 on 11 May 2023, 13 women have had removal surgery carried out by one of the two independent providers. None have opted for referral to an NHS England centre. 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 .

It is crucial that we prevent and reduce alcohol-related harms, but that aim has to be balanced with careful consideration of the impact restrictions may have on business.

We will not work with the alcohol industry on the development of health policy but will continue to engage with them around potential impacts of, and implementation, of alcohol harm prevention policy.

The Scottish Government funds for drug and alcohol programmes and services through a range of channels.

• In 2021-22 the total annual budget for drugs and alcohol was around £140 million, increasing slightly in 2022-23 to £141.9 million.