Chamber and committees

Both organisations serve different functions. Scottish Rail Holdings Ltd oversees, on behalf of the Scottish Ministers, the delivery of rail services by ScotRail Trains Ltd.

Consideration of the appropriate arrangements concluded the current structure to be consistent with Scottish Government guidance on best practice for governance of such bodies.

Following industrial action within the college sector in 2019, the then Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science committed to undertaking a further lessons learned exercise to break the cycle of annual disputes within the sector.

The Scottish Government commissioned Strathesk Resolutions in 2021 to take forward a lessons learned exercise. The purpose of the exercise was to attempt to reduce the likelihood of future industrial dispute and industrial action, with a view to identifying factors that have led to dispute in recent years and to create an environment for more productive dialogue in future negotiations.

The final report compiled by Strathesk Resolutions, dated 25 March 2022, provides the findings and recommendations to the Scottish Government from the lessons learned exercise. At present, the Scottish Government is awaiting formal responses to the recommendations from partners in the Collective Bargaining process and will use these to inform the next steps regarding the implementation of the recommendations.

Critically, and as made clear by the Lessons Learned report, the Scottish Government will maintain its position of not intervening directly in the national collective bargaining process.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-15725 on 16 March 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

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-15725 on 16 March 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

We are fully committed to delivering our Programme for Government and manifesto commitments. We will be able to provide further information in due course.

Our Programme for Government in 2021-22 committed to provision of high-quality child palliative care, regardless of location, supported by sustainable funding of at least £7 million per year through Children’s Hospices Across Scotland. Scottish Government officials are in discussions with CHAS about the sustainability and oversight of funding going forward.

It is the responsibility of Integration Joint Boards (IJBs) to plan and commission adult palliative and end of life care services for their areas using the integrated budgets under their control.

The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and myself met with hospice sector representatives on 14 March to discuss the pressures that the hospice sector are currently facing, including representatives of adult hospices and CHAS.

The Scottish Government does not collect statistics on the number of foster carers registered with local authorities or independent/voluntary service providers.

We do not hold the information requested on the number of Baby Boxes distributed to fostered and adopted babies.

There have been no material changes to the design of either the Baird Family Hospital or the ANCHOR Centre agreed to date. An important part of any large capital project however, is the ongoing testing and refinement of the design, in particular the mechanical and electrical aspects. This process, informed by a range of internal and external experts and subject to independent review led by NHS Scotland Assure, is intended to provide assurance of compliance with the most up to date standards and also that learning from recent large projects is incorporated appropriately.

The Scottish Government liaise closely on an ongoing basis with NHS Grampian to ensure that any emerging pressures on the project are managed appropriately and this includes the outcomes and recommended action arising from the design review processes. The report on the recent NHS Scotland Assure Review of the ANCHOR Centre Construction stage is expected shortly and any associated action will be reported to the next NHS Grampian Board meeting 6 April 2023.

On 1 January 2023, a one dose schedule was introduced in Scotland for all those eligible in the HPV vaccination programme up to their 25th birthday. We envisage that this programme change will increase the amount of people completing their vaccination schedule as it will remove the requirement to be recalled to receive a second dose.

We have outlined to Health Boards that some of the resource freed up due to the reduction in vaccination sessions due to the change to a one dose schedule should be re-directed to interventions that strengthen programme delivery, increase coverage rates and reduce inequalities.

Therefore, if someone misses their HPV vaccination, for whatever reason, there will be further opportunities to get it up to their 25th birthday. For example, some young people may be offered a rescheduled vaccination appointment within the next academic year.