Chamber and committees

We know that those from areas of deprivation are less likely to take part in screening and more likely to delay presenting with possible symptoms. This is why we launched, and continue to invest in, our Detect Cancer Earlier (DCE) Programme with a focus on reducing health inequalities such as these. The Programme adopts a whole-systems approach to improving earlier diagnosis rates from public awareness & education to supporting primary care improvements.

We committed £2 million over 2021-22 and 2022-23 to tackle inequalities in cancer screening programmes and will invest a further £1 million in 23-24 to build on progress to date. This commitment will be reflected in the forthcoming cancer strategy. To direct and support this work, the first Equity in Screening Strategy is being produced in collaboration with NHS and third sector partners, setting out a vision to achieve equity for all those eligible for screening.

We regularly undertake research with people from areas of deprivation in Scotland to help inform and measure our Detect Cancer Earlier (DCE) Programme’s behaviour change campaigns. As a result of our most recent insight we developed and launched ‘Be the Early Bird’ on 6 March 2023 to increase awareness of possible symptoms and empower those concerned to act early. A roadshow is currently touring areas of deprivation across Scotland to reinforce this message and encourage prompt action.

A wealth of data and insight from varying sources has been analysed to help inform Scotland’s new cancer strategy, including incidence, survival, staging, socioeconomic insight and pathway timings to name a few.

The Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022 requires Scottish Ministers to publish a national good food nation plan. The Scottish Government expects to publish a draft of the national good food nation plan for consultation in summer 2023.

Increasing consumer uptake of whole-grain food varieties remains one of our key healthy eating messages.

The Scottish Government collaborates with the food industry on a number of funded programmes that support an increase in the use of healthier ingredients, including, where appropriate, whole-grains.

An example is the Reformulation For Health Programme . The Programme received £105,000 funding from the Scottish Government in 2022-23 and is administered by the Food and Drink Federation Scotland. Established in 2018, the Programme makes small and medium-sized businesses aware of the benefits in reformulating products to be healthier. It provides small grant funding, training and sharing of sector specific expertise. While the overall aim is to reduce calories, the Programme is also generating reductions in salt, saturated fat and sugar and increases in fibre. A key component of the latter can include whole-grains.

The Scottish Government provides annual funding to Energy Saving Trust (EST) who are an independent organisation working to address the climate emergency. EST then administer the Low Emission Zone Retrofit Fund and the Switched-on Taxi Loan on behalf of Scottish Ministers.

For the Low Emission Zone Retrofit Fund no funding has been paid to taxi owners/operators in Dundee. This is due to the taxi vehicles operating in Dundee mainly comprising of make/models that are unsuitable for retrofitting.

Since 2019 until the 28 February 2023 the Switched-on Taxi Loan has supported 12 taxi owners/operators in Dundee by providing interest free loans to support the purchase of new taxis.

NHS Boards regularly assess continence patients' needs, with the assessments undertaken by dedicated Bladder and Bowel Teams or community nursing staff. This ensures that patients' needs are met, either through treatment or provision of appropriate containment products. Referrals can also be made by patients' GPs where necessary, and also by a range of other healthcare professionals including pharmacists, consultants and care home staff.

Where a patient has been assessed as requiring continence products, these are provided by their local NHS Board's continence service on prescription. As such, any person that is suffering from incontinence should seek a referral to their local continence service in order that their incontinence can be assessed, treated where appropriate, or managed through the prescription of continence products.

Whilst NHS Boards follow the guidance contained in the Association for Continence Advice Scotland paper 'Guidance for the provision of absorbent pads for adult incontinence - Scotland' that the number of absorbent pads issued in each 24 hour period would not normally exceed 4, it is stressed that provision should meet assessed clinical need. This will include determining the amount of urine being passed daily by the patient, and consequently the appropriate absorbency level for the absorbent pads being prescribed.

There is no expectation for an individual to buy continence products where they have been assessed as requiring them, so any patient that feels that their prescription does not meet their needs should raise their concerns with their local continence service in order that their incontinence can be reassessed and their prescription adjusted if appropriate.

Once planning permission has been granted for a development, whether by the relevant planning authority or, as the case may be, on appeal to the Scottish Ministers, there is no further opportunity for third parties to challenge the decision under planning legislation.

The Scottish planning system is plan-led, with a focus on involving all interests as early and effectively as possible. There are multiple opportunities for local communities to get involved during both the plan-making and planning application stages of the planning and development process.

Furthermore, our ongoing planning reform programme has sought to further strengthen engagement and participation, including the introduction of Local Place Plans and improvements to statutory Pre-Application Consultation (PAC). These reforms have been geared towards front-loading community participation in planning rather than providing opportunity for conflict towards the end.

It is open to any person to seek judicial review of any decision through the Scottish Courts. It is also open to that person, if they are not entitled to legal aid, to seek a protected expenses order from the Courts. The purpose of such an order is to redress the potential imbalance of financial resources between parties in relation to funding litigation by limiting the liability to the applicant in paying costs if their case is unsuccessful.

Our 2018 Diet and Healthy Weight Delivery Plan sets out actions to support everyone in Scotland to eat well and be a healthy weight. These include actions in partnership with the food industry to raise awareness of healthier food options.

An example of collaborating with industry to raise awareness of healthy alternatives in food choices is the Healthy Living Programme (HLP). The HLP received £332,000 funding from the Scottish Government in 2022-23 and is administered by the Scottish Grocers’ Federation. Established in 2004, the programme raises awareness of healthier alternatives to convenience retailers and their customers. The HLP also runs Big Breakfast events that bring local schools, businesses and communities together to enjoy a healthier breakfast alternatives. Foods promoted in-store and at these events through the HLP include whole-grain bread and porridge.

A further example of collaboration with industry is the Scottish Government’s engagement with the Out Of Home sector on proposed measures in our 2021 Out of Home Action Plan . The plan sets out a range of commitments such as consulting on mandatory calorie labelling to help advise consumers about healthier options. This consultation was informed through engagement with 15 trade associations including providers and producers of whole-grain foods.

We are also working with food and drink providers to develop a new Eating Out, Eating Well Framework to support people to eat well when eating out of home. Food and drink providers are helping to shape the Framework, including by sharing their experience on how best to prepare, promote and provide healthier alternatives to their customers.

Our 2018 Diet and Healthy Weight Delivery Plan sets out actions to support everyone in Scotland to eat well and be a healthy weight. These include holistic actions in a variety of settings to raise awareness of healthier food options.

The Plan is underpinned by our Scottish Dietary Goals . Taken together, the actions articulate a holistic approach across the food chain and within society. These include proposals for a mix of: restrictions on less healthy food provision (such as those on promotions of food and drink high in fat, sugar or salt) and actions to make it easier to access healthier options.

An example of our holistic approach is Parent Club, which links together advice on diet with other issues that parents and carers may want advice on. The Parent Club Family Support Directory raises awareness of different food choices and links resources for healthy eating, including: Best Start Foods, free nursery milk, and information on free school meals and the Young Patients Family Fund. The Parent Club Recipe Database includes healthy, low cost options and alternatives approved by nutritionists.

In addition, Food Standards Scotland has published an online dietary guidance resource, Eat Well, Your Way | Eat well, your way (eatwellyourway.scot) , which delivers evidence-based dietary advice along with practical tips in a user-friendly format.

We are aware that flash glucose sensors, Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGM), and other diabetes technologies can significantly benefit people living with diabetes. Our Diabetes Improvement Plan, published in 2021, contains a key commitment to further increase access to existing and emerging diabetes technologies. A link to the Plan can be found at link: Diabetes Care in Scotland (www.gov.scot) .

Our national policy is to increase access to these life changing diabetes technologies to everyone who would benefit, and we expect NHS Boards to provide technology to all clinically suitable children and adults.

Between 2016 and 2021, the Scottish Government invested £15 million to support the increased provision of insulin pumps for adults and CGM for all ages.

Further funding of £14.6 million was then allocated to NHS Boards in January 2022 to support increased access to diabetes therapies, including the emerging closed loop system technology.

We work closely with the Diabetes Managed Clinical Networks (MCNs) within each board and ensure that all resource support is targeted to support the needs of local populations.

National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) was adopted on 13 February 2023 and our focus now lies on the delivery of NPF4. We are in the early stages of planning a gathering of authorities’ planning convenors in autumn 2023, to discuss a range of issues, including the delivery of NPF4.

Details of all Ministerial engagements are proactively published by the Scottish Government. The information can be accessed at the below link: https://www.gov.scot/collections/ministerial-engagements-travel-and-gifts/.