Chamber and committees

The medicines reconciliation process is set out at a national level, and the responsibility lies within each Health Board to enact and monitor adherence.

Board specific policies detail the roles and responsibilities of healthcare professionals when completing and updating medicines reconciliation forms during admission, transfer, and discharge.

Arrangements may vary, therefore specific details could be obtained directly from the Health Boards.

The Scottish Government welcomes this report and recognises that reaching our target of a 20% reduction in car km by 2030 will require a broad combination of interventions, including infrastructure, incentives and disincentives.

I further refer the member to the answer to question S6T-01336 on 25 April 2023, with regard to investment in public transport. All answers to oral parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, which can be found at: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/search-what-was-said-in-parliament/meeting-of-parliament-25-04-2023?meeting=15260&iob=130152

Destinations signed on Scotland’s roads, including the strategic trunk road network managed by Transport Scotland, are determined in accordance with national guidance in ‘Local Transport Note 1/94 Design and Use of Directional Traffic Signs’. The guidance presents a list of 43 ‘Primary Destinations’ in Scotland which are prioritised for inclusion on trunk road directional signing. Factors influencing what is appropriate as a Primary Destination may include population, the levels of traffic attracted to the destination, the strategic position of the destination relative to key junctions and route-finding, and the geographical density of destinations within the local area. The guidance emphasises the need for continuity, and provides recommended limits on the number of destinations included on each sign, to ensure clarity.

We are currently reflecting on the wide-ranging feedback we received from stakeholders during the recent stakeholder roundtables and are working with an independent contractor to analyse the public consultation responses to understand the views and perspectives of those that responded.

We will publish both the roundtable notes and the consultation findings later this year, which will inform the potential content and scope of any policy proposals and our consideration of appropriate next steps for this work.

There is no clear scientific consensus relating to muirburn on peatlands. A 2022 report by NatureScot has shown that there is limited and unclear evidence on the impact of muirburn on the total carbon budget. Therefore no specific assessment has been made of any climate implications of redefining the definition of deep peat from 40cm to 30cm in relation to the muirburn licensing provisions of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill.

When in good ecological condition, peat can store significant amounts of carbon and that this can help address the impacts of climate change. The provisions in the Bill take a precautionary approach aimed at allowing muirburn to continue as a land management tool, and as a method of controlling the risk of wildfire, alongside reducing the risk and volume of carbon emissions.

The Bill contains regulation-making powers which will allow further changes to the new law on muirburn to made by secondary legislation, should further relevant scientific evidence come to light.

The risk assessment in relation to inflation on the delivery of the remainder of Control Period 6 (April 2019 – March 2024) and for Control Period 7 (April 2024 – March 2029) is reflected in the draft forecasts presented by Network Rail and the amount of risk funding allocated to it.

The impact or risk of inflation in Control Period 6 continues to be monitored by Network Rail and reported to Transport Scotland as part of the normal four weekly monitoring process.

As for Control Period 7, the potential impact of inflation is being considered by Network Rail in their planning for Control Period 7 via the ongoing Periodic Review 2023 process. This will be assessed and regulated by the Office of Rail and Road and be reflected in their final determination for CP7.

Monthly statistics on the number of Council Tax Reduction recipients since the scheme’s commencement in April 2013 are available at Council Tax Reduction: local authority tables and charts - April 2013 to February 2023 - (www.gov.scot) . March 2023 data will be published on 16 May 2023.

Prior to April 2013, the UK Government was responsible for Council Tax Benefit with associated data available at Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit statistics - (www.gov.uk) .

We are committed to finding ways to make alternative travel modes more attractive, and supporting people to take fewer journeys by car. The Scottish Government’s plans to encourage the use of public transport and active travel alongside plans to reduce car use, are set out in the draft route map on 20% reduction in car kilometres by 2030, jointly developed with COSLA. We have also set out our future transport infrastructure priorities in the second Strategic Transport Projects Review published on 8 December 2022 which includes a focus on active travel, mass transit and bus priority for mode shift away from the predominance of cars.

However, the evidence is clear that incentivising sustainable alternatives alone will not be sufficient to bring about the behaviour change to deliver the scale of 20% car KM reduction. Therefore as outlined in our draft 20% route map, we have commissioned research exploring equitable options for demand management to discourage car use.

The most direct levers on the cost of buying or running a petrol or diesel car – fuel duty and vehicle excise duty – are currently reserved, and the recent rises in the cost of motoring underline the unfairness of the current, regressive motoring tax regime. As such, we will continue to press the UK Government for a fair and progressive future transport tax system that better incentivises the transition to zero-emission vehicles, reduces unnecessary journeys and raises revenues to fund policies to support a shift to more sustainable travel.

The final version of the route map to achieving a 20% reduction in car km in Scotland by 2030 will be published alongside the public consultation analysis of the responses to the draft version of the route map, and the commissioned demand management research, in the coming months.

As indicated in response to S6W-17504 and S6W-17508 on 11 May 2023, a number of women have been referred to the independent providers and have undergone surgery. The present contracts with the providers are due to conclude at the end of August. However, NHS National Services Scotland is undertaking a procurement process to renew contracts with the independent providers of mesh removal surgery for a further year. 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 .

We will publish both the stakeholder roundtable notes and the consultation findings later this year, which will inform the potential content and scope of any policy proposals and our consideration of appropriate next steps for this work.

If we are to take forward any restrictions on alcohol advertising and promotion, further more detailed consultation would take place alongside engagement with stakeholders.