Chamber and committees

The annual summary analysis report will be published on or before‎ 1 May on the Sustainable Scotland Network website ( Sustainable Scotland Network - The Sustainable Scotland Network ).

Our ambitious 10-year cancer strategy is nearing completion, with publication planned this Spring. The strategy will be under-pinned by action plans which will evolve with the changing cancer landscape. The strategy will take a comprehensive approach to improving patient pathways from prevention and diagnosis through to treatment and post-treatment care.

It will encompass a new earlier cancer diagnosis vision for Scotland and will continue to focus on those cancer types that are the largest burden and have poorer survival, in particular the less survivable cancers, including liver cancer.

A consortium of 12 NHS Health Boards has procured a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) for Scotland which is described as National LIMS.

NHS Fife will be the first Board to make use of the intelligent Liver Function Tests (iLFT) with the roll out of National LIMS in 2023. Roll out will then follow across the rest of the consortium over the next few years.

Whilst national LIMS implementation in Scotland is in its early stages, some NHS Boards already utilise iLFT and have this capability within their current LIMS.

Those Boards that are not part of the consortium can also procure the product should they wish to do so.

Following public consultation in 2019, the Scottish Government strengthened the legislative framework for public bodies’ annual reporting on compliance with their statutory climate change duties. The Climate Change (Duties of Public Bodies: Reporting Requirements) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2020 requires public bodies, where applicable, to report their target date for achieving zero direct emissions (scope 1) and, where applicable, their targets for reducing indirect emissions (scopes 2 and 3).

To support the strengthened reporting duties, the Scottish Government and Sustainable Scotland Network (SSN) co-developed guidance - Public Sector Leadership on the Global Climate Emergency - published in 2021. Further supplementary guidance and resources to support climate change reporting are available online on the SSN website.

The Scottish Government is working with SSN to co-develop new comprehensive statutory guidance on public bodies’ climate change duties for publication in 2025.

The Climate Intelligence Service, which we plan to establish this year, will provide local authorities with the data, tools and skills to help ensure that they are on the right trajectory for net zero and to embed climate impact into local decision making.

The Scottish Government does not formally assess the impact of clinical interventions.

Scottish Ministers remain committed to supporting Scotland’s fishing sector, which plays such a key role in contributing to our economic prosperity - especially in remote, rural and island communities.

Our Regional Inshore Fisheries Group (RIFG) Network is our main vehicle for delivering stakeholder-led fisheries management projects, as well as providing a forum for inshore commercial fishers and offering them a strong voice in matters that affect them.

Prior to the launch of our initial consultation, on 12 December 2022, Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) were discussed at a number of RIFG meetings –

• 7 October 2021 – All Chairs
• 4 November 2021 – All Chairs
• 5 November 2021 – West Coast
• 3 December 2021 – Outer Hebrides
• 13 December 2021 – North & East Coast
• 24 January 2022 – All Chairs
• 9 May 2022 – All Chairs
• 16 May 2022 – Outer Hebrides
• 17 May 2022 – Outer Hebrides
• 12 July 2022 – All Chairs
• 2 August 2022 – All Chairs
• 11 November 2022 – North and East Coast
• 29 November 2022 – West Coast

Officials also had regular ongoing discussions throughout 2022 with both the Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF) and the Scottish White Fish Producers Association (SWFPA) to hear their views as we developed our proposed approach to HPMAs. Meetings were held on –

• 11 October 2021
• 4 November 2021
• 10 December 2021
• 14 January 2022
• 4 March 2022
• 1 April 2022
• 29 April 2022
• 20 May 2022
• 24 June 2022
• 22 July 2022
• 26 August 2022
• 14 October 2022
• 11 November 2022
• 9 December 2022

Additionally, officials also had discussions specifically regarding HPMAs with the Communities Inshore Fisheries Alliance (CIFA) on 10 March 2022 and the Scottish Creel Fishermen's Federation (SCFF) on 29 March 2022.

At the moment, we are at the very early stages of developing HPMAs and are yet to consider where they might be located as part of a separate process. There will be further opportunities for those involved in the fishing industry to have their say on where and how we enhance our marine protection.

The Scottish Government has not assessed the impact of case by case assessment of patients with essential tremor on inequity of access to treatment.

The Scottish Government have hosted a number of stakeholder meetings to explore options to help facilitate a growth of shipping traffic and cargo across ports in Scotland.

Scottish Government Trade and Transport Scotland officials are working closely with industry to identify barriers and unlock opportunities to increase volumes of exports leaving Scottish ports and airports. We have also analysed export data on routes which key Scottish exports take to market, and the underlying drivers of these route choices. We are continuing to explore how to support trade including ensuring that Scotland’s transport network is able to accommodate our export growth ambitions.

Spend on our trunk road improvement projects is managed within the Capital Land and Works allocation of £121.9 million as part of the Motorway and Trunk Roads Spending Plans set out in the Scottish Budget: 2023-24. This covers preparation and delivery of a range of projects and programmes including A9 Dualling Perth to Inverness, the A83 Rest and Be Thankful medium and long options and improvements to the A96 corridor as well as a number of other projects and programmes. Spend on each individual project is managed with the Capital Land and Works allocation budget line which reflects the scope of work anticipated to be taken forward within the financial year.

In 2022-23, £6.554m was spent on the continuing maintenance and short-term measures for the A83 Rest and Be Thankful, and £3.913m was spent progressing the design and development of the both the medium and long term solutions to the landslip risks at the Rest and Be Thankful.