Chamber and committees

The information requested on how much has been spent on private agency staffing for all disciplines across the NHS in each of the last 10 years is not centrally available.

Information on Medical & Dental and Nursing & midwifery bank and agency spend by NHS Board since March 2014 can be found on the TURAS NHS Education for Scotland workforce statistics site at: NHSScotland workforce | Turas Data Intelligence Bank and Agency) tab.

Over £928,000 has been offered since Sept 2021 under the Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) to six separate projects that have invasive non-native species (INNS) management and control as a central priority for action. This figure includes a Galloway Fisheries Trust project entitled ‘Scottish Solway INNS Control and Knowledge Programme’ (£97,564), a Loch Lomond Fisheries Trust project entitled ‘Beyond the Endrick’ (£247,755) and a W L Farm project entitled ‘The Glen - Habitat Restoration’ (£126,740).

Three RSPB-led projects have also been funded on rainforest restoration (£180,000), the eradication of stoats from Orkney (£220,377) and the RSPB’s Biosecurity for LIFE project (£56,309) which is primarily focused on preventing INNS reaching islands rather than on eradication. I have included this last project for completeness and because preventing the establishment of INNS in areas where they are not present is also extremely important.

In the most recent call for applications to the NRF, a further five applications for projects involving INNS management and control have been received. Decisions have yet to be made concerning these and the successful projects will be announced in the coming months.

The information requested on what the average amount paid to private agencies for a (a) nursing, (b) consultant and (c) care assistant shift has been in each of the last 10 years is not centrally available.

Information on Medical & Dental and Nursing & midwifery bank and agency spend by NHS Board since March 2014 can be found on the TURAS NHS Education for Scotland workforce statistics site at: NHSScotland workforce | Turas Data Intelligence Bank and Agency) tab.

The information requested on how many NHS shifts have been covered by private agency staff in each of the last 10 years is not centrally available.

Information on Medical & Dental and Nursing & midwifery bank and agency spend by NHS Board since March 2014 can be found on the TURAS NHS Education for Scotland workforce statistics site at: NHSScotland workforce | Turas Data Intelligence Bank and Agency) tab.

This information is not held centrally; it is a matter for the individual Health Boards.

As autonomous institutions, universities are responsible for their own entry requirements and admissions policies, therefore the Scottish Government does not hold information on the number of eligible students resident in the UK that were not successful in gaining a place at Scottish medical school, or the reasons for these decisions by individual institutions. Higher education institutions can provide feedback, when requested, to anyone whose application to study has been unsuccessful.

This information is not held centrally; it is a matter for the individual Health Boards.

Information setting out the requested methodology is in the public domain: Heat in building strategy modelling: EIR release - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

We are committed to delivering a just and fair transition to net zero, where the distribution of costs and impacts protects those in the most vulnerable circumstances while also optimising benefits for everyone. This means continuing to take account of changes in the external environment so that our modelling of funding and support remains appropriate. We are currently reviewing our cost estimates to deliver the heat transition on this basis, and will provide a further update in due course.

The majority ofthis budget is directly allocated to Health Boards to support international recruitment and domestic recruitment. All of this budget is earmarked for allocation by financial year end, with £4.5 million of this funding already allocated thus far. A further £0.3m supports other initiatives including refugee doctors and nurses, marketing of NHS Scotland, and employability programmes.

My officials in Transport Scotland are currently considering the most appropriate route for continuity of these services. I will consider this advice as soon as I receive it. The most important factor for passengers and staff will be seamless provision, irrespective of future models considered.